The fantasy baseball draft season is in full force, so it is time to start narrowing down the player pool. With over a week of Spring Training in the books and the start of the season just a few weeks away, it is go time!!!! This cheat sheet should prepare you to walk into any draft room and dominate your draft.
First things first, this list is not the end all be all. It is a guide to help navigate the player pool. There will be times when you jump a player’s ADP or enjoy the fall in ADP simultaneously. Of course, the ADP referenced in this article is the FantasyPros Consensus ADP. When it comes to the avoid list, I only went 150 deep, and there are different arguments for different players based on your roster construction; if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter (@bdentrek).
And check out our other Draft Cheat Sheets:
Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit: View cheat sheets, sleepers & mistakes to avoid
Targets By Position
Catcher: J.T. Realmuto (C – PHI), Yasmani Grandal (C – CWS), Willson Contreras (C – CHC), Daulton Varsho (C,OF – ARI), Elias Diaz (C – COL), Omar Narvaez (C – MIL), Max Stassi (C – LAA)
First Base: Rhys Hoskins (1B – PHI), C.J. Cron (1B – COL), Joey Votto (1B – CIN), Josh Bell (1B,LF – WSH), Brandon Belt (1B – SF), Jonathan Schoop (1B,2B – DET), Bobby Dalbec (1B,3B – BOS)
Second Base: Trea Turner (2B,SS – LAD), Ozzie Albies (2B – ATL), Javier Baez (2B,SS – DET), Brandon Lowe (2B,OF – TB), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B,SS – MIA), Jonathan India (2B – CIN), Kolten Wong (2B – MIL), Jean Segura (2B – PHI)
Third Base: Jose Ramirez (3B – CLE), Manny Machado (3B – SD), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B – PIT), Ryan McMahon (3B,2B – COL), Josh Donaldson (3B – NYY), Jeimer Candelario (3B – DET), Jonathan Villar (2B,3B,SS – CHC)
Shortstop: Trea Turner, Bo Bichette (SS – TOR), Tim Anderson (SS – CWS), Javier Baez, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jorge Polanco (2B,SS – MIN), Willy Adames (SS – MIL), Dansby Swanson (SS – ATL), Amed Rosario (SS,CF – CLE)
Outfield: Juan Soto (RF – WSH), Luis Robert (CF – CWS), Teoscar Hernandez (LF,RF – TOR), Nick Castellanos (RF – PHI), Randy Arozarena (LF,RF – TB), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (1B,LF – TOR), Avisail Garcia (RF – MIA), Robbie Grossman (LF,RF – DET), Andrew Benintendi (LF – KC), Jo Adell (LF,RF – LAA), Tommy Pham (LF,CF – CIN)
Utility: Nelson Cruz (DH – WSH)
Starting Pitcher: Gerrit Cole (SP – NYY), Max Scherzer (SP – NYM), Brandon Woodruff (SP – MIL), Freddy Peralta (SP – MIL), Max Fried (SP – ATL), Jose Berrios (SP – TOR), Charlie Morton (SP – ATL), Frankie Montas (SP – OAK), Dylan Cease (SP – CWS), Nathan Eovaldi (SP – BOS), Eduardo Rodriguez (SP – DET), Jordan Montgomery (SP – NYY), Alex Wood (SP – SF), Cal Quantrill (SP,RP – CLE), Alex Cobb (SP – SF)
Closer: Jose Iglesias (RP – LAA), Emmanuel Clase (RP – CLE), Kenley Jansen (RP – ATL), Jordan Romano (RP – TOR), Taylor Rogers (RP – MIN), Gregory Soto (RP – DET), Matt Barnes (RP – BOS)
Targets By Round (12-Team League)
1st: Trea Turner, Jose Ramirez, Bo Bichette, Gerrit Cole
2nd: Max Scherzer, Brandon Woodruff, Luis Robert, Ozzie Albies
3rd: Teoscar Hernandez, Cedric Mullins (CF – BAL)
4th: Tim Anderson, Sandy Alcantara (SP – MIA)
5th: Freddy Peralta, Nick Castellanos, J.T. Realmuto, Tyler O’Neil
6th: Randy Arozarena, Max Fried, Jose Berrios, Javier Baez,
7th: Charlie Morton, Emmanuel Classe, Jorge Polanco, Dylan Cease, Frankie Montas
8th: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jonathan India
9th: Yasmani Grandal, Kenley Jansen
10th: Dansby Swanson
11th-15th: Rhys Hoskins, Josh Bell, Joey Votto, Nathan Eovaldi, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Nelson Cruz, Eduardo Rodriguez, Ryan McMahon, Avisail Garcia, Robbie Grossman
16th-20th: Josh Donaldson, Taylor Rogers, Andres Benintendi, Kolten Wong, Jordan Montgomery, Alex Wood, Jean Segura, Jo Adell, Jonathan Schoop, Jeimer Candelario
21st-25th: Matt Barnes, Alex Cobb, Elias Diaz, Omar Narvaez, Tommy Pham, Jonathan Villar
Post-300 ADP: Bailey Ober (SP – MIN), Andrew McCutchen (LF – MIL), Nestor Cortes Jr. (SP,RP – NYY), Randal Grichuk (CF,RF – COL), Patrick Corbin (SP – WSH), Max Stassi
Players To Avoid Near ADP
Mike Trout (CF -LAA) (11)
Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS,OF – SD) (24)
Starling Marte (CF – NYM) (25)
Marcus Semien (2B,SS – TEX) (31)
Giovanny Gallegos (RP – STL) (113)
DJ LeMahieu (1B,2B,3B – NYY) (117)
Austin Meadows (LF – TB) (119)
Chris Taylor (UTL – LAD) (132)
Shane Baz (SP – TB) (140)
Joey Gallo (LF,RF – NYY) (148)
Adam Wainwright (SP – STL) (150)
Strategy/Advice
The key to “winning” your draft is knowing the entire player pool. Of course, everyone knows the early rounds, but knowing the mid-round picks and even the endgame targets can help make a great team.
Knowing who you want in the mid-rounds and late-rounds allows you to approach the early-round picks in various ways.
I like to get at least one ace, one high-end closer, and at least one stud catcher, if not two. Devaluing catchers can be a big misstep in drafts.
Steals can dry up early, so look to target five-category studs early and fill in your other categorical needs as the draft goes on. Also, try and draft players who can contribute in steals at all times, even if it is 8-10 steals.
A balanced and boring team may not sound fun, but it can help build a great fantasy team. Do not take too many chances in injured players, prospects, or massive boom/bust players.
Use a cheat sheet, or you can create your own right here at FantasyPros.
Connect your league to FantasyPros Draft Assistant.
Thanks for stopping by to read my cheat sheet. I wish you a happy draft season and the most success in your leagues in 2022!
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