5 Tips to Finding a Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

2017 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper Tips

[the_ad id=”567″]If you’re like me, by this time of the year you’ve consumed countless hours of podcasts and read dozens of articles in preparation for the upcoming Fantasy Baseball season. Your goal is to try and find that nugget that no one else has unearthed. But let’s face it, with as much coverage as there is these days and the means of consuming it, everyone has opined by now on almost every player of note that may or may not be that “out-of-no-where” performer we all covet. You, in fact, are reading this article as probably the very last hope that someone somewhere might know something you don’t.

The following MLB Fantasy tips are a few things hopefully that will help you research for sleepers in deep leagues. Sometimes you can find a one year wonder, a savior for the season, or in even more rare cases a fantasy All-Star.

1. Utilize Your Watch List

Most leagues have some form of a Watch List. Sleepers aren’t always going to be guys you draft right away. Sometimes they are guys who get hot. Sometimes they are a much-needed injury replacement. They may be someone that gets “thrown in” to a trade. You just never know where these players are going to come from. The Watch List often goes under-utilized by a large number of fantasy players. Ideally, Watch List are comprised of players who are in position battles, rookies getting a “cup of coffee”, or just about any player you’ve come across that piques your interest. You can literally watch an infinite number of players in most leagues. You don’t have to try and recall a guy you read about in Spring Training later in July if you’ve been keeping an eye on him all season utilizing this tool. Just as important as keeping guys in your list is purging those who don’t pan out. This list should not be forgotten about, it should be worked and re-worked regularly. If you are in a Dynasty League, your Watch List moves with you from season to season and can be a very useful draft prep tool as well.

2. Don’t Over Think It

Just because a guy has been written about doesn’t mean you should pass him by. Sometimes we are so consumed with being the one who unearths a gem; we pass up the guy that has been given his due coverage. It all depends on what is most important to you. Do you want credit for finding a guy or do you want points and the win!? Keep in mind that not all sleepers are unknown rookies. Don’t fall into that trap! Playing time is the key component to all potential sleepers. Those opportunities could come in many different ways to all levels of the main league players.

3. Identify the Easy Targets

As mentioned above position battles are great places to find potential sleepers. Often these playing situations are less palatable to us when we are drafting or creating our fantasy teams. We pass these up with an eye for the players who have guaranteed AB or Innings. Platoons, veterans returning from injury, and players with multi-eligibility are great players to watch. Increased opportunity for playing time is hard to forecast much less guarantee for anyone, but those who give themselves the most chances to be utilized will get the first crack at proving they can perform.

4. Sum of the Parts, not Part of the Sum

Guys will sometimes slip through the cracks based on a lousy September call-up opportunity, or a drop in performance from one year to another. Do the research and find out how each player has performed from year to year, including minor leagues. A lot of fantasy owners I know will drop prospects after years of carrying them in dynasty leagues based on small sample sizes in the majors. They lose that luster if they don’t immediately live up to the hype and owners will move on to the next shiny object. If they are still getting opportunities to play, someone in their professional organization sees potential in them. All they need is that chance to shine.

5. Never Stop

You should read everything you can through the season, listen to the podcasts, and pay attention to Hot Sheets. Not all Sleepers are found on draft day. There are countless numbers of fantasy performers every year picked up off the waiver wire. Don’t be afraid to mix and match or play the hot streaks. If you set idly by on the sidelines waiting for your guys to pick up the pace, you may be passed by those who are bold enough to take a chance. Remain flexible. You never know what real life circumstance will take your fantasy team hostage, and you need to be ready when or if they do!

Here are two I’m watching based on the criteria above:

• Scott Schebler – OF – Cincinnati: Schebler is getting every chance to at least win the strong side of a platoon in LF. He’ll be pushed from prospect Jesse Winker and will be provided ample motivation to perform. His lifetime triple slash in over 2500 minor AB is .276/.342/.499 and although he only has 290 major league at-bats that slash line is well within character. He has decent patience, power, and enough speed for double digit steals. Playing on a Wiffle Ball field in Cincy and a team that likes to run there is plenty to like here.
• Chris Owings – SS/CF – Arizona: Owings is being dismissed by most publications and prognosticators out there. It wasn’t long ago that he was a perennial top 10 prospect in the Arizona system. He may be utilized as a super-utility type, but he will be getting plenty of opportunities to play every day. He is a sneaky complete player with a .294/.324/.442 triple slash line in over 2000 MiLB AB.

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