Fantasy baseball is an art form that takes diligence and an intricate knowledge of the league to truly excel above the rest of the competition. A major part of fielding a successful squad is finding sleepers on draft day.
Sleepers is a tough word to define in terms of fantasy baseball. They tend to be players that most participants avoid taking for a variety of reasons, whether it be injuries or lack of production last season.
Finding a sleeper that has an outstanding season is hard to do, but the gamble can pay off in a big way. Most aren’t privy to gambling come draft day, but the results can pay dividends.
There are a few guys that fit these criteria nicely this year. They are under-the-radar gambles that have potential to reward the risk-takers. These players are likely to be avoided by most, but it would be beneficial to take them early.
Opponents can mock the decision to take these guys in the early rounds, but they’re jeering will end quickly.
Geovany Soto
Soto’s career has been a bit derailed by injuries lately, but it’s looking like 2012 could be the year he finally bounces back. He hit a mediocre .228 last season but that’s bound to improve.
He’s had a slow start to the year but is poised to heat up soon. He’s still a young player that can light it up from the batter’s box once he finds his rhythm. Soto isn’t on most fantasy baseball players’ radars, and that’s a good thing.
Soto will continue to fly under-the-radar for now, so it’s a great time to pick him up.
Emilio Bonifacio
Emilio Bonifacio has been rapidly improving these past couple of seasons. It’s hard to wrap one’s head around his progress considering it is painfully obvious he has still hardly scratched the surface of his potential.
Bonifacio qualifies as a short stop third baseman and outfielder, and that has to be taken advantage of early. He’s got the potential for 40 to 60 steals as well, so it couldn’t hurt to take a gamble on him.
Witih the position being so weak it’s very questionable to pass on a player with upside like Bonifacio.
Edwin Jackson
Edwin Jackson is considered quite the gamble after a couple mediocre outings in Chicago and St. Louis. He is now part of a very talented Washington Nationals rotation that is set to take the league by storm.
Jackson is off to a fast start this year and there are likely many people kicking themselves for not picking him up. It looks as if Jackson is back to form—if not better than he’s ever been.
Grab up Jackson as soon as possible. It’s going to be a long season for him, and that’s a good thing.
David Freese
Freese is likely the riskiest player on this list. He’s ridiculously injury prone, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from taking him early. If offense is a need Freese is the answer.
Freese is a career .300 batter, and that’s all that really needs to be said. He has elite power and is a threat every time he steps into the box. He’s an effective enough base runner as well.
If Freese can manage to stay healthy he is going to put up ridiculous numbers for fantasy teams this season.
Stephen Strasburg
This should seem obvious enough. Stephen Strasburg is a huge name. It’s likely that his encounter with Tommy-John surgery that cut his last season short will likely deter most from taking him as their number one pitcher.
That would be a huge mistake.
Strasburg is going to light up the MLB this year. His arm is fine, and with the way medical technology has advanced the operation he had isn’t that much of a concern any more.
When healthy Strasburg is one of the best. He’s a legit starting pitcher and should be drafted as one. Take advantage of the opposition dragging their feet on Strasburg and pick him up immediately.
Mike Fontenot Brett Pill Pat Burrell Jhan Marinez Anibal Sanchez John Baker
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