This is somewhat of an update from an article linked here. Although, these players/rounds will reflect a more traditional 12-person, 25-player league. Let’s dive into it!
By this time in your draft, you’re probably wondering why you’re still drafting. However, these players are the backbones of a fantasy baseball team. Most fantasy baseball managers will gloss over these players, but getting early-round value out of players selected in the later rounds is what makes fantasy baseball so exhilarating.
According to FantasyPros 2020 rankings, players such as Brandon Lowe, Dylan Bundy, Sandy Alcantara, Luke Voit, and Mike Yastrzemski were selected outside the top 200 and turned in stellar seasons. I’m willing to bet the top teams in most fantasy baseball leagues had some sort of combination of the aforementioned players.
Now, let’s take a look at who those players could be this year!
For definition purposes, as of March 11th, these players are rated outside the top 200 on FantasyPros’ Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) and, therefore, will most likely be drafted in rounds 17 and later.
2020 Draft Kit: View printable cheat sheets, sleepers & mistakes to avoid
Round 17
Lorenzo Cain (OF – MIL): 207 ECR
Many fantasy managers will probably gloss over the former all-star centerfielder. Rightfully so, he has shown signs of major regression the last two years and is now dealing with an injury. However, you’re looking for upside and players to round out your team at this point in your drafts. The 34-year-old’s sprint speed has slowed down, but Cain is still going to leadoff for an underrated lineup and should be a good source of runs, stolen bases, and could flirt with 10-15 home runs. He makes for a great 4th or 5th outfielder.
Jameson Taillon (SP – NYY): 209 ECR
Taillon’s career has not quite lived up to the high expectations that scouts and fans put on him. That being said, he has still been a very serviceable pitcher throughout his career with a career 3.67 ERA, 3.55 FIP, and 3.58 SO/W. The former 2nd overall pick is switching teams for the first time in his career and going to the big city of New York. It’s funny because expectations are usually exceptionally high when going to the Bronx, but Taillon is a bit under the radar heading into the 2021 season, which should only benefit him. I believe he’ll put together a career season in his new environment and should bring back tremendous value at his current ADP.
Round 18
Mark Canha (1B/OF – OAK): 213 ECR
As I alluded to in my previous article, Canha is constantly overlooked in the fantasy baseball community. After the 2019 season, Canha was coming off a .913 OPS, 146 OPS+ campaign and was still overlooked in all facets of fantasy baseball. Canha was not even drafted in a few of my leagues. That’s just preposterous. Canha once again produced another solid season in 2020. He had a .795 OPS and 126 OPS+. There are reports he could leadoff for the Athletics this season, and therefore I am targeting him in all my leagues. I tend to view Canha as a poor man’s George Springer, which isn’t as far-fetched as it seems once you dive into the numbers.
Kyle Seager (3B – SEA): 221 ECR
Kyle Seager is another example of the fantasy community sort of overlooking a player. Although the numbers aren’t flashy (111, 122 OPS+ the last two seasons), Seager still produces. He was mostly off the fantasy baseball radar last year but turned in a surprisingly productive season. Seager’s strong season was largely due to his lowest K% of his career, 13.3%, while also posting a career-best 12.9% BB%. If Seager can build off this success, he could be in line to produce another strong season. I would feel comfortable waiting on a 3B and grabbing Seager in round 18.
Round 19
Aaron Hicks (OF – NYY): 226 ECR
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone recently made headlines by saying he “envisions” Hicks serving as the Yankees’ No. 3 hitter in 2021. That proposition would catapult Hicks’ value. Since joining the Yankees in 2016, Hicks has been a tremendous asset for the Bronx Bombers, posting an OPS above .790 in three out of five seasons. Health is also a concern with Hicks’ outlook and is ultimately factored into his ADP and ECR. However, hitting in Yankee Stadium will give any hitter a big-time boost to their fantasy projection, and if Hicks can hold onto the No. 3 spot, 100 RBIs shouldn’t be out of his realm of possibilities.
Brandon Nimmo (OF – NYM): 227 ECR
Simply put, Nimmo knows how to get on base. In 55 games last season, Nimmo got on base more than 40% of his at-bats. Last season wasn’t a fluke for Nimmo either, as he has posted an OBP of .370 or higher in four straight seasons. He should be in line to leadoff for what should be one of the most explosive lineups in all of baseball. Nimmo has displayed sneaky power, too, averaging 17 home runs per 162 games. If Nimmo can stay healthy, he should put together a career year. Target the Mets’ centerfielder with confidence.
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Round 20
Griffin Canning (SP – LAA): 235 ECR
Much like the previously mentioned Jameson Taillon, Griffin Canning came in with very high expectations. The Angels, along with many scouts, viewed Canning as an ace. Although he’s only pitched in 29 games, Canning has looked subpar. For his career, his FIP is an undesirable 4.35. But, signs are pointing to progression with Canning. His strikeout rate is high, and he limits home runs and walks. This could be the year Canning finally puts it all together, and this may be the last season that fantasy managers will be able to select Canning at such a steep discount.
Ha-seong Kim (2B/SS – SD): 247 ECR
I wrote about Kim in one of my previous articles, and I believe there isn’t enough hype surrounding him as we head towards Opening Day. Kim could find himself as the everyday 2B for a loaded San Diego Padres lineup. Hypothetically, Kim could be batting behind Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr, a place in the order that could easily produce 100+ RBIs. That being said, there’s a strong chance Jake Cronenworth and Kim platoon at the position, but Kim produced tremendously well in the Korean Baseball Organization. I believe he should be able to transition his solid hitting to the major league level. He could end up being one of the steals of the draft.
Round 21 or Later
Justus Sheffield (SP – SEA): 262 ECR
Sheffield quietly had a tremendous season last year, producing a 3.17 FIP and only giving up 2 home runs all season long. If Sheffield, now entering his age 25 season, can build off this success, he should be in line to post a career-best season. He makes for a tremendous upside pick and comes with virtually no risk as he is being taken outside of the first 20 rounds of fantasy baseball drafts.
Joc Pederson (1B/OF – CHC): 294 ECR
There will be a theme here, as these last three players are three targets I am all in on for my drafts. I have been all-in on Joc Pederson this season, and he is making me look smart so far. Joc has five home runs, a league-leading 11 hits, and a ridiculous 2.110 OPS in eight Spring Training games. And yes, Spring Training needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but this is a great sign for the hard-hitting lefty. He should play nearly every day for the Chicago Cubs, and he is a guy I am trying to snag in all my leagues. I wouldn’t mind taking him a few rounds earlier, but his ADP should continue to rise as we get closer to Opening Day.
Pete Fairbanks (RP – TB): 331 ECR
As I noted earlier, Fairbanks is a player I am trying to draft in all of my leagues. Fairbanks has tremendous stuff, and I can see him snagging the closer role from Nick Anderson sooner rather than later. There’s absolutely zero risk selecting Tampa Bay’s flamethrower as his ADP and ECR are so low. By this time next year, we will be talking about Fairbanks as one of the steals of the drafts. With his high strikeout rate, Fairbanks has all the right stuff to be a top-notch closer in this league. The Rays know what they have in the young relief pitcher, and fantasy managers will want to take a chance on Fairbanks.
Ty France (2B, 3B, DH – SEA): 333 ECR
Ty France is another player I have been selecting in my fantasy leagues, and again, much like Joc Pederson, he’s making me look smart so far. In seven Spring Training games, France is slashing .600/.667/1.333. And again, like Joc, these stats have to be taken with a grain of salt, but France is just simply dominating in Arizona. He should carve out a nice, middle-of-the-order role in a sneaky Seattle Mariners lineup. France’s ADP should continue to rise as we get closer to April, but continue to draft France with confidence and enjoy the show.
All statistics were taken from FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference.
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Travis Cain is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Travis, follow him @TravisCain_.