Round 2 Fantasy Baseball Draft Analysis (2020)

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While the delay to the start of the MLB season is hard on everyone, it does allow for deeper dives into different aspects of fantasy baseball. You’ll notice that we’re doing this on a team-by-team and player-by-player basis with a pair of series we’ve put together. Additionally, we’re going to examine fantasy baseball on a round-by-round basis, covering 12 players per article and providing you a plethora of info specific to each fantasy baseball round.

We’ll get things started with Round 2. You can find the complete series here.

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Round 2 Player List

Expert Analysis*

 
*Value: A total assigned to how the overall fantasy value of the round compares with other rounds relative to ADP/ECR (10 = most value : 1 = least value); Risk: A total assigned to how much potential risk exists compared with other rounds (10 = most risk : 1 = least risk); Studs: the number of potential league-winning players that can be found in the round; Busts: the number of potential busts that can be found in the round.

Q1. Who has the most league-winning potential of any Round 2 fantasy pick?

 
Q2. Who has the biggest bust potential of any Round 2 fantasy pick?

 
Q3. What is your general strategy tip for Round 2?

My goal for round two is to grab one of the established veteran bats with locked-in production rather than chasing upside with the less-proven quartet of Tatis Jr., Buehler, Devers, or Flaherty. Navigating landmines in these early rounds is critical and the established hitters available in round two are as safe as it gets. Of the veterans in this tier, I’m particularly bullish on Ramirez, Arenado, Freeman, and Martinez.
– Jarad Evans (@Jarad_Evans)

For the most part, you should still be targeting the best player available. Since I prefer stability in the early rounds, Arenado, Freeman, and Martinez particularly stand out as four-category studs with high floors.
– Andrew Gould (@AndrewGould4)

I am still going to be focused on either starting pitching, steals, or batting average in this round. I typically do not want to get into round four without a starting pitcher, so this might be the time to pull the trigger on the best available hurler if you didn’t in the first round. I love taking Freeman here since first base is very shallow this year, but Harper might actually be the best value you can find here if you’re in an OBP league.
– Jon Anderson (@JonPGH)

Round one is where you set the tone, but round two is where you begin to set your team. Your second player will be “paired” with the first in that, from this point on, you’ll be filling gaps around these players. In 2020, I’ve felt a stronger need to secure one pitcher and one hitter through two rounds, and I’ve approached every draft with an ‘if-then’ mentality. “If” I can guarantee a solid pitcher in the second round, then I’ll take a bat with my first pick. Otherwise, I’ll consider the opposite.
– Mario Mergola (@MarioMergola)

I’ve been going hitter-hitter in most leagues, so I’m likely taking a hitter that fell relative to my rankings. That pair is typically Jose Ramirez and J.D. Martinez. I’m comfortable with taking my SP1 in the third round, given that we’ve seen the pitching environment is very volatile, even at the top of the draft. I don’t feel a need to reach for a pitcher as a result.
– Carmen Maiorano (@carmsclubhouse)

Once Arenado is off the board, your focus should immediately swing to J.D. Martinez then Bryce Harper. If they are gone, Clayton Kershaw and Stephen Strasburg could come into play closer to the turn. Martinez and Harper are both extraordinarily safe with major upside as well.
– Bobby Sylvester (@bobbyfantasypro)

It’s hard for me to get out of the first two rounds without any starting pitchers, so I usually will jump on Buehler if he is there. Other than that, I would love to grab Ramirez, Tatis, or Marte, as securing stolen bases early is a general part of my overall strategy,
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

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