Deeper Shortstop Draft Sleepers

This year could be the most fantasy friendliest for the shortstop position with six having an ADP of 25th or lower (according to current NFBC draft data) and nine with an ADP of 42nd or lower. You may be forgiven for thinking that you don't need to look deep into drafts for a shortstop. While […]

Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball: Statcast xStats

Statcast is a valuable tool for fantasy analysis, and it can be easy to look at a stat called "Expected Batting Average" and blindly use it as your projection moving forward. Of course, proper use of these metrics is a little bit more nuanced than that. First, a disclaimer: This article is about the "Expected […]

Hitters Primed for Comebacks After Injury-Plagued Seasons

Injuries can be tough to manage for fantasy managers, especially coming off of a 2020 season that saw coronavirus have a significant effect. Additionally, injuries can sometimes be freak accidents, and it can be difficult to separate concerning injuries from noise. Still, there are general truths about injuries that can help fantasy managers properly value […]

2021 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers - Yusei Kikuchi

Eric Samulski of RotoBaller analyzes Yusei Kikuchi as a 2021 fantasy baseball sleeper and undervalued draft pick. He breaks down Kikuchi's pitches, improvements from 2020, and other factors that could make him a sneaky late-round starting pitcher breakout candidate. Fantasy players should consider drafting Kikuchi for their drafts this MLB Season. Be sure to also […]

Pierre Camus' Bold Predictions for 2021

Can any prediction really be considered bold after 2020? We hope for a return to normalcy but we also have to remember that the very definition of normal is constantly changing. I've never shied away from pushing the envelope when it comes to this bold predictions column, so this year will be no exception. I […]

Late-Spring Closer Report: Unsettled American League Bullpens

"Spring stats don't matter." "Grapefruit and Cactus League games don't count." "Everyone is just working on something." These are all things we hear before baseball season, and they're mostly true. However, injuries certainly count, and there have been a few major ones already in March when baseball doesn't count. The National League seems to have […]

Top College Basketball Betting Picks for the NCAA Tournament - Elite 8

A thrilling Sweet 16 has whittled the NCAA Tournament field down to the final 8 contenders. Be sure to also check out the rest of our NCAA Tournament coverage and analysis including previews, predictions, sleepers, busts, and betting picks. During the Sweet 16, our expert betting picks ended up with a 3-1 record. On the losing side, […]

National League Outfield Draft Sleepers

The outfield position is deep in fantasy baseball. However, if you play in an NL-only league, or draft a team in a league where you need to start five outfielders the position can thin out rather quickly in the later rounds of deep league drafts. Traditionally, some of baseball’s best all-time sluggers have been outfielders. […]

Mitch Garver Returns To Lineup Monday

Minnesota Twins catcher Mitch Garver (finger) is back in the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates. Garver fouled a ball off his left finger in Thursday's Grapefruit League game, though the Twins didn't believe it to be a serious ailment at the time- and his quick return to action supports that sentiment. The 30-year-old […]

Fantasy Baseball ACES and POWA with Aaron Sauceda - Benched with Bubba (Episode 356)

Bubba (@bdentrek) is joined by Aaron Sauceda (@RotoPope) of The Athletic Fantasy to discuss a couple of his awesome metrics, ACES, and POWA. They will go over each metric, how to use the metric, players for the metric, and so much more to help with your fantasy baseball analysis. Be sure to subscribe to the Benched […]

Which Batters Are Being Overlooked in 2021?

Pre-season analysis has achieved peak velocity, and at this point, we've started to hear certain names mentioned again and again: Jarred Kelenic, Andrew Vaughn, Randy Arozarena. Those three examples follow the expected pattern: young, exciting players whose potential outstrips the established knowledge. Put more simply, there are interesting things to say about Kelenic, Vaughn, and Arozarena. But […]

Second Base Draft Sleepers

As you probably know by now, second base is not a loaded position this year. It’s top-heavy with D.J. LeMahieu, Ozzie Albies, and Whit Merrifield but gets pretty dicey after that. I think it’s deeper than the casual observer may think, though. You can find batting average, OBP, stolen bases, and some pop down the […]

Finding Breakout Power Hitters Using Barrel Rates

In part one of this article, I explained how important Statcast is to determining surface stats and the usefulness of barrel rates. Before continuing, I would recommend checking out that article if you're interested in learning how Statcast metrics affect surface stats and player outcomes, and which Statcast metrics are the best predictors of success (hint: […]

2021 NFL Mock Draft - Updated Round 1 Breakdown

The NFL offseason is in full swing.  With the 2021 NFL Draft just over a month away, free-agent signings and trades are changing the NFL landscape by the minute.  Pro days are also happening, as the media catches up on athletic testing numbers NFL teams may have already known about. This is my second mock […]

Relief Pitcher Preview: Fantasy Baseball 2021 ADP Analysis

Host Anthony Aniano of RotoBaller discusses 2021 fantasy baseball relief pitcher rankings and relief pitcher draft sleepers who can be sneaky later-round picks. He breaks down and compares the ADPs of six different MLB players at the relief pitcher position. Fantasy players should consider picking up these players for their drafts this MLB Season. Be sure […]

NBA Fantasy Weekly Streamers for Week 14 (Mar 29 - Apr 4)

With fantasy playoffs coming up in a couple of weeks (or even less), for teams that are in pursuit of a playoff spot or a higher seed, streaming is a powerful tool. With bottom-of-the-bench guys having less and less time to prove their value, if their schedule doesn't help you, it might be a good […]

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 14

Welcome back! The trade deadline has happened, shaking up how the league looks. The Magic got rid of everyone! LaMarcus Aldridge is a Net! Check out my winners and losers piece from the trade deadline for some other information on how fantasy basketball changed this week. Our staff at RotoBaller has great insight and daily […]

Fantasy Basketball Category Streamers - Week 14

Now the dust has settled and we will see a ton of the same faces in new places after a crazy trade deadline. The buyout market also created some interesting situations with the rich getting richer in the NBA. With a bunch of teams with new identities, let's see how we can navigate the streaming […]

Fantasy Basketball Deep League Adds: Week 14

The deeper a fantasy league, the harder it is to hit a winner with your last few picks. It is also harder to find decent help from the waiver wire if your late-round picks don't do you justice. If you picked up a few stinkers, don't lose hope just yet. I will try to help […]

Lou Trivino Looks Good In Cactus League Play

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Lou Trivino has looked good in Spring Training having thrown 7 1/3 shutout innings over eight appearances. Trivino struck out eight against three walks and only one hit allowed. The 29-year-old righty was the team's eighth-inning man in 2018 pitching to a 2.92 ERA and a 27.4 percent strikeout rate while […]

Trevor May Having A Solid Spring

New York Mets reliever Trevor May has had a solid spring posting a 3.86 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and a 9:3 K:BB in seven innings pitched in Grapefruit League action. May will be the lone, primary set-up man to Edwin Diaz for the early part of the 2021 campaign, with Seth Lugo (elbow) starting the […]

Mallex Smith Optioned To Minor League Camp

New York Mets outfielder Mallex Smith was optioned to the team's minor league camp after being advised that he did not make the Opening Day roster on Sunday. Smith hit just .176 with three RBI and three stolen bases in 17 at-bats in Grapefruit League action. In 2020, Smith hit a paltry .133/.170/.178 in 45 […]

Hanser Alberto Contending For Starting Job

Kansas City Royals infielder Hanser Alberto could be the Kansas City Royals starting third baseman when they break camp. Alberto came to the Royals this offseason as a non-roster invitee, but has had a solid spring thus far as he is now 11-for-29 with two RBI and six runs scored. He provides exceptional value against […]

Kevin Pillar Closing Out A Solid Spring

New York Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar has posted a .333/.395/.515 slash line, with three doubles, two triples, and two stolen bases across 39 Grapefruit League at-bats. It has been a very solid spring for Pillar who will likely serve in a fourth outfielder/defensive replacement role for the Mets in 2021. Pillar is also coming off […]

CBB DFS Prop Picks for Monday (3/29/21) - Monkey Knife Fight

March Madness continues with the first day of Elite 8 action as there are two college basketball games on the slate. Let the madness begin again. MonkeyKnifeFight.com continues to be ahead of the curve with their canceling of contests amid postponements, so don't worry about wasting money on a player or game that might not play. […]

Dallas Keuchel Looks Good In Final Spring Start

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel went five innings in his final tune up before the start of the regular season. Keuchel allowed five hits, two runs, no walks and struck out four versus the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. The veteran lefty is likely to open the season as the White Sox number two […]

Chad Pinder To Occupy Super Utility Role

Oakland Athletics infielder Chad Pinder is again slated to be a "super-utility player" for the team this season, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Pinder's versatility makes him a very valuable player for the A's, but less so in fantasy, even if he finds himself starting four or five games per week. Non-starters can have […]

Jordan Luplow Goes 0-for-3 Sunday

Cleveland Indians outfielder Jordan Luplow went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 3-3 tie with the San Diego Padres. Luplow has had a slow start to the spring since returning from an ankle injury as he is yet to record a hit through his first 12 at-bats. He was leading off in this one, but will likely see […]

Taijuan Walker Using Analytics To Rejuvenate Career

New York Mets starting pitcher Taijuan Walker used technology and numbers provided by Driveline Baseball, an analytics-based player development organization in Kent, Washington to help improve his mechanics and spin numbers after the 2019 season. The results were impressive. In 2020, over 11 starts and 53 1/3 innings pitched between the Mariners and Blue Jays, […]