X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Three Post-Hype Sleepers Primed for 2016 Breakouts

My recent article on over-hyped prospects advised fantasy owners against buying too high for relatively small or non-existent sample sizes. Baseball trumps every other sport, except possibly international soccer, in terms of labeling minor leaguers as future legends before they have proven their worth on the big stage. On the other side of the coin are players who have been written off by the age of 23 because they did not immediately live up to the lofty expectations set by scouts and the media.

It wasn't too long ago that Bryce Harper, reigning NL MVP, was being called a bust.  To quote Axl Rose, sometimes all you need is a little patience... Here are some fallen stars who might provide surprising fantasy value this season.

Editor's note: Read about more draft values and sleepers with our daily updated list. Make sure to also bookmark our fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. Our rankings assistant tool consolidates all our staff ranks in one easy place. Filter, sort, and export various rankings for various leagues - mixed leagues, AL/NL only, top prospects, dynasty, keeper values, and more. And it's all 100% free!

 

Undervalued Draft Targets

Matt Moore (SP, TB)

Tampa Bay knows how to develop young pitchers (e.g. Chris Archer, Alex Cobb, David Price, etc). Moore was supposed to be the ace of the Rays staff at this point in his career, but injuries have derailed him. Moore missed almost the entire 2014 season and the first half of 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery. What may be forgotten is that Moore was an All-Star in 2013, posting a 17-4 record and 3.29 ERA despite pitching in the AL East. Now healthy, Moore has the ability to bounce back in a big way. His numbers upon returning late last season look worrisome, but further inspection indicates that he just needed time to shake off some rust. In his final six starts of 2015, Moore posted a 2.97 ERA.

These Tampa Bay Rays aren't the same team from three years ago and Moore may not ever be the same pitcher. Don't expect an ace, but if all goes well he can be a solid third starter for the Rays and your fantasy team. Moore is going undrafted in many leagues and should definitely be available after pick 200. At that point, instead of reaching for a rookie or journeyman fifth starter, consider Moore to fill out your rotation.

 

Nick Castellanos (3B, DET)

Only 24, it seems like Nick Castellanos has been around forever. I swear I've seen a picture of him on the field with Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker and Darrell Evans... but I digress. Castellanos has logged 1100 big league at-bats so far and driven in 139 RBI over two full seasons. He has been injury-free so far and at 6'4"/210 he has the frame and potential to become an elite slugger, as indicated by his first-round draft status.

So why is he being picked no higher than 20th at his position, behind the likes of light-hitting Josh Harrison and late-blooming Justin Turner, neither of whom have matched his power numbers over their careers? It would seem too early to give up Castellanos, but impatience rears its ugly head when expectations aren't immediately met. The problem is that he hasn't shown much progress from one year to the next. In his rookie season, he hit .259/.306/.394 while playing every day. The following season, a nearly identical line of .255/.303/.419 was met with disappointment to those expecting a breakout. His strikeout rate also took a downward turn as he posted a 25.5% K rate. He has yet to hit more than 15 HR either, so it's not as if the power is making up for his lack of contact.

So why consider Castellanos? Simple - he's only 24 years old. Often, star players who have an immediate impact as a rookie will see their numbers dip the following season (the dreaded sophomore slump), before returning to form. Bryce Harper has already proven that we can dissect the numbers all we want, but you can't simply overlook talent. Castellanos didn't have that slump, so a sharp uptick in production is definitely reasonable. Even if he hits for a mediocre average, he could very well go for 20+ HR and 80+ RBI on a loaded Tigers lineup. At a position where premium power hitters are becoming increasingly rare, Castellanos might be worth the bet.

 

Wil Myers (OF, SD)

Nothing hurts a player's chances of success as much as, well, being hurt. Myers is becoming a poster child for fragility, so the Padres have decided to move him to first base in an effort to prevent him from shattering into tiny pieces on the outfield grass. Myers slashed .293/.354/.478 with 13 HR/53 RBI in only 88 games en route to winning Rookie of the Year in 2013. Since then, wrist injuries have limited him to 147 games over the past two seasons combined. In the time he has played, Myers has not displayed the power or contact rate that had scouts raving about him as a prospect in the Kansas City farm system. He has gone from being the centerpiece of major trades to a reclamation project in short time. While rising stars Joe Ross and Trea Turner are ready to make an impact in Washington, the Padres are hoping for Myers to stay on the field.

So why invest in Myers this year? Moving to San Diego is not a move that typically inspires a spike in offensive production, particularly in the power category. Switching defensive positions might do the trick though. Instead of moving around the outfield,  he can focus on one position - a relatively stationary one at that. The main issue here is his wrist. Nothing saps power from a hitter like a wrist injury. Even after coming back presumably healthy in 2014, he wasn't quite the same hitter. After experiencing similar issues last year, it is obvious he wasn't 100% upon his return. Given his track record in the minors and early success in the majors, we know Myers can hit. The good news? Even playing with the wrist issues in a pitcher-friendly park, Myers' .174 ISO is above average. If he can stay on the field, this may be the year he puts it all together. 25 homers might be his ceiling at Petco, but for a first baseman currently ranked in the 30s for his position, that's a pretty good value.

 

MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-12" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cole Custer

Is Cole Custer a DFS Option in Mexico?
Spencer Strider

Registers 13 Strikeouts
Hunter Brown

s Records 12 Strikeouts
Royce Lewis

to be Placed on Injured List
Byron Buxton

Exits Early on Saturday
Evander Kane

Drops to Fourth Line Saturday
Kasperi Kapanen

Won't Play on Saturday
Calvin Pickard

Starts Game 5 for Oilers
Jaxson Dart

Working as No. 2 QB During Offseason Workouts
Xavier Gipson

Roster Spot Could be in Jeopardy
Josh Reynolds

the Front-Runner for WR2 Duties
Garrett Wilson

Stock Up This Offseason
Breece Hall

Motivated Going into 2025 Season
Brandon Aiyuk

Making Good Progress From Knee Injury
Keon Coleman

Inconsistent at Minicamp
Mitchell Trubisky

Not a Lock for Backup Job
Dalton Kincaid

Adds Strength and Bulk
James Cook

a Full Participant in Mandatory Minicamp
Tyrese Haliburton

Struggles in Friday's Loss to OKC
Jacob Misiorowski

Expected to Make Next Start
Chet Holmgren

Dominates the Glass in Game 4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads the Way in Game 4
Jalen Williams

Has a Quality Showing on Friday Night
Charlie Morton

Continues Good Work With 10 Strikeouts
James Wood

Homers, Drives in Four
Agustín Ramírez

Agustin Ramirez Homers Twice to Snap Skid
Isaac Paredes

Astros Hopeful Isaac Paredes Can Avoid the Injured List
Royce Lewis

Dealing With Hamstring Strain
Kodai Senga

Diagnosed With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain
Gleyber Torres

Goes Deep Twice on Friday
Jonathan India

Leaves With Apparent Shoulder Injury
Evan Carter

Leaves Early With Wrist Soreness
Anthony Richardson

Should be Fine for Training Camp
Russell Westbrook

to Decline Player Option
Kevin Durant

Trade Could Happen in the "Next Few Days"
A.J. Puk

Pauses Throwing Program
Matt Chapman

Can Begin Rehabbing in a Week
Logan Gilbert

Next Start Could Come in the Big Leagues
Cam Akers

Joining Saints
Yordan Alvarez

Still Not Hitting
Michael Mayer

to Get More Involved
Aaron Rodgers

DK Metcalf Building Chemistry with Aaron Rodgers
Colston Loveland

Likely to be Primary Tight End
Jacob Wilson

Returns on Friday
Justin Martinez

Out 12-13 Months With UCL Sprain
Will Johnson

Returns to Practice
Harold Fannin Jr.

Could Have Big Role in Rookie Season
Matt Chapman

Could Miss the Rest of June
Quentin Johnston

Still Running With Starters
Rashawn Slater

Takes Part in Minicamp
Jack Bech

Mostly Working With Second-Team Offense
Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Makes Strides This Offseason
Joaquin Buckley

Set For Main Event
Kamaru Usman

An Underdog At UFC Atlanta
Miranda Maverick

Set For Co-Main Event
Rose Namajunas

Looks To Bounce Back
Andre Petroski

Looks To Extend His Win Streak To Four
Edmen Shahbazyan

A Favorite At UFC Atlanta
Raoni Barcelos

Set To Take On Former Champion
Cody Garbrandt

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Cody Brundage

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Alonzo Menifield

Opens Up UFC Atlanta Main Card
Oumar Sy

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Connor Hellebuyck

Wins Vezina And Hart Trophies
Aleksander Barkov

Records Two Power-Play Assists Thursday
Sam Reinhart

Collects Three Points in Thursday's Loss
Matthew Tkachuk

Notches Three Points in Losing Effort
Calvin Pickard

Joins Exclusive List with Thursday's Win
Mattias Ekholm

Logs Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Leon Draisaitl

Delivers Victory in Overtime Thursday
Myles Turner

Playing Through Illness
Reed Sheppard

Will Play in the NBA Summer League
Kevin Durant

Deal Could Come Sooner Rather Than Later
Dorian Finney-Smith

Undergoes Ankle Surgery
Anze Kopitar

Wins Third Lady Byng Trophy
Sergei Bobrovsky

Heading Out for Win No. 15
John Klingberg

Won't Play in Game 4 Against Panthers
Viktor Arvidsson

Sits Out Game 4 Against Panthers
Stuart Skinner

Remains in Oilers Crease Thursday
Chris Kreider

Ducks Acquire Chris Kreider From Rangers
Jalen Williams

Leads Thunder in Scoring Wednesday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Settles for 24 Points in Game 3 Loss
Pascal Siakam

Does Everything for Pacers Wednesday Night
Tyrese Haliburton

Gets Close to Triple-Double in Game 3 Win
Bennedict Mathurin

Leads All Scorers with 27 Points Wednesday
Brandin Podziemski

Has Second Offseason Surgery
Cale Makar

Wins His Second Norris Trophy
Lane Hutson

Voted NHL's Best Rookie
CGY

Adam Klapka Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Considered a Game-Time Call Thursday
Jaylen Brown

Undergoes Successful Knee Procedure
Kevin Porter Jr.

Likely to Decline Player Option
Matt McCarty

Comes Off Season-Best Showing at RBC Canadian Open
Justin Thomas

Desperate to Continue Good 2025 Season
Kevin Durant

Knicks Not Looking to Trade for Kevin Durant
Jon Rahm

Seeks Revenge at U.S. Open
Tom Kim

Aiming for Improvement in U.S. Open
PGA

Sungjae Im Expects Solid Performance at Oakmont
Brian Harman

Aims to Rebound From the Memorial
Tony Finau

has Been Up and Down at U.S. Open
Patrick Cantlay

Hoping This is the Year at Oakmont
Akshay Bhatia

Improving in Time for U.S. Open
Xander Schauffele

Primed for Another Major Championship Run
Cameron Young

May Struggle at U.S. Open
Collin Morikawa

Eyeing Third Major Championship Title
Matt Fitzpatrick

Seeks to Avenge Oakmont Collapse
Jordan Spieth

Can Contend at Oakmont
Shane Lowry

a Strong Value Play at U.S. Open
Brooks Koepka

Seeks Another Major Win at Oakmont
Viktor Hovland

Still Can Improve at U.S. Open
Michael Kim

a Boom-or-Bust Value Play at U.S. Open
Russell Henley

Looking to Play the Weekend at Oakmont
Tyrrell Hatton

a Safe Option at U.S. Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Eyeing Third U.S. Open Title
Darius Garland

Kings Targeting Darius Garland
Kevin Durant

Expected to Be Moved Soon
Denny Hamlin

Charges Late to Win at Michigan
Carson Hocevar

Michigan Run is Derailed by A Late-Race Flat Tire
Kyle Larson

Up-and-Down Day Ends With Top-Five Finish at Michigan
Ross Chastain

Quietly Finishes Sixth at Michigan
Corey Perry

Nets Power-Play Goal in Monday's Loss
Chris Buescher

Takes Second Place After William Byron Runs Out of Fuel
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Has a Great Points Day to Build Buffer Over the Playoff Cut Line
Ryan Blaney

Flat Tire Results in Poor Finish for Ryan Blaney
Alex Bowman

Playoffs in Doubt After Stage 2 Crash at Michigan
Sean O'Malley

Submitted For The First Time In His Career
Merab Dvalishvili

Defends Bantamweight Belt At UFC 316
Julianna Peña

Julianna Pena No Longer A Champion
Kayla Harrison

Is The New Champion
Joe Pyfer

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Kelvin Gastelum

Drops Decision
Patchy Mix

Drops Decision In His UFC Debut
Mario Bautista

Extends His Win Streak
Vicente Luque

Submitted At UFC 316
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF