With the ever-changing landscape of fantasy sports, we see more formats to play and more statistics to target in those formats. One of the formats growing in popularity is points leagues. Head-to-head points leagues have been favored, but even roto-style points leagues are in play. Also, a handful of leagues are starting to embrace on-base percentage (which points leagues already do) instead of using batting average.
OBP and points leagues make different types of players more attractive. A few stand out, and some take big jumps in ADP. Points leagues open up the player pool, as fantasy managers are not as concerned about grabbing five-category studs. For instance, a player who steals a lot but does not hit home runs becomes more attractive. Looking at the overall player instead of all five categories becomes essential.
In looking at FantasyPros consensus ADP, I will break down five players to target between ADP 100-200 and may do an article on even deeper targets in the coming weeks. Please feel free to reach out to me on Twitter (@bdentrek).
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In batting average leagues, Gallo is a problem. He has some of the most elite power in all of baseball, but he also hit below .200 in each of the last two seasons and has hit over .209 only once in his career. The batting average will make many look elsewhere in drafts, and for a good reason. He is much more appealing in OBP/points formats.
When we look at Gallo from an OBP perspective, he is terrific. Last season, he had a .351 OBP (while batting .199), and in 2019, he had a .389 OBP. In addition, Gallo has displayed great plate discipline over his career with a 15% walk rate, and when you combine that with high-30s or even 40+ home runs, he is much more attractive.
He will again play in Yankee Stadium, which bodes well with the short porch. Batting average may forever be an issue with Gallo unless MLB abandons the shift, but do not miss out on him in your OBP/points leagues. His FantasyPros consensus ADP of 136 is not rotten, but for OBP leagues, expect a jump into the 80s or 90s.
Straw is another tough draft pick for me in regular 5×5 formats, as he hits for an excellent average, scores some runs, and steals a ton of bases, but he provides no power or RBI. The steals are what everyone loves, and he is a much better play in OBP/points leagues. The steals are a great point scorer. He’s not as good as home runs, but good. More important than the steals is Straw’s OBP.
Last year, Straw had a .349 OBP. Back in 2019, he had a .378 OBP in 56 games. Outside of 2020, Straw has had a walk rate over 10% to go with his decent average, runs totals, and all those steals. The projection sites have Straw walking around 10% of the time, with another OBP over .340 to go with 25+ steals. His FantasyPros consensus ADP of 163 will go up a couple of rounds in OBP/points leagues, so be a bit more aggressive if you would like a leadoff hitter with all of his OBP/points upside.
Turner usually gets pushed down in drafts due to injury concerns, but he should not be. Last season, Turner played in 151 games after playing 42 games in the shortened 2020 season and 135 games in 2019. When Turner plays, he is excellent, as he hits for an average of .270 or higher with 20+ home runs. In OBP, leagues he is even better.
Over Turner’s career, he has a walk rate of 8.9%, but he has improved his walk rates since 2017, walking over 10% of the time in four of five seasons. The improved walk rate coupled with his power and average skills will boost him nicely in an OBP/points league. Not to mention that Turner will be one of the biggest benefactors of the universal DH. So look to move Turner up a few rounds from his FantayPros consensus ADP of 145, especially at a shallow third base position.
I am admittedly biased when it comes to Hoskins, but based on his FantasyPros consensus ADP of 126, I need to convince more fantasy players. Most are hesitant of Hoskins due to past injury concerns, but we need to realize just how good he is even if he only plays 120 or so games. In just 107 games last year, Hoskins hit 27 home runs with a .334 OBP. In 2018 and 2019, he played in 153 and 160 games, respectively, and had at least 29 home runs, 86 runs, 85 RBI, and a .354 OBP in each of those seasons.
Hoskins will be playing in a great hitter’s ballpark in an outstanding lineup for fantasy production. The BAT X has Hoskins projected for 35/83/90 and a .354 OBP in only 132 games. Hoskins is one of my favorite targets in OBP leagues and standard 5×5 formats, so do not sleep on him on draft day.
Last year, Grossman helped many fantasy players win their leagues with his 23 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He even tacked on 88 runs scored. However, based on his FantasyPros consensus ADP of 182, it is clear that some are hesitant of a repeat season, and his .239 average is a bit of a hindrance.
Well, in OBP/points leagues, the batting average is not a concern, and he takes an even more significant leap for your teams. Last season Grossman had a .357 OBP, and he’s had an OBP over .334 in every season since 2016. He has a career walk rate of 13%, and it has been at least 10.9% since 2016. Even if Grossman’s power and speed decline some, his OBP and runs scored should still be great assets. Move Grossman up your draft board a few rounds in OBP/points leagues.
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