Winners of fantasy sports leagues generally find the best value picks available. There are only so many of the best players to draft, so finding those players to supplement a team is the key to being in the playoffs in September.
Here’s my top value picks by position for the infield in fantasy baseball. Be wise when drafting these players and get the best possible value out of them.
First Base
Eric Hosmer, Kansas City
There’s plenty to like about the trajectory of Hosmer’s career. The Kansas City first basemen has continually produced in several fantasy baseball categories and was at his best last season. He tallied 98 runs last season to go along with a .297 batting average, 93 RBIs and 18 home runs. He ranked third in runs among first basemen last season and fourth in batting average. He keeps getting better each season and if his ranking is any indication of where he will be picked, then he should provide a solid addition to any fantasy team. He’s ranked 65th overall by Fantasy Pros, a fantasy sports site featuring dozens of experts’ rankings. That puts him in the sixth round, which is good value for a player who can contribute in multiple categories.
Second Base
D.J. LeMahieu, Colorado
He’s not going to give you across-the-board numbers, but in the second baseman world, he’s competent enough to grab for your team. LeMahieu plays in Colorado, so that’s already a plus. He can also provide some solid numbers in specific categories. LeMahieu batted over .300 last season, tallied 85 runs and, most importantly, stole 23 bases. His stolen-base mark tied him for third among second basemen and finished fourth in batting average. If you’re as sold on LeMahieu as I am, then he’s worth the wait. He’s ranked 12th among second basemen and 159th overall, putting him toward the end of your upcoming fantasy baseball draft.
Shortstop
Brandon Crawford, San Francisco
This is why I’m taking Manny Machado in the first round if I get the chance. Machado is a third basemen, but you can also use him as a shortstop. And with the lack of talent available at this position, you’d be wise to follow that lead. But if you wait on shortstop, which isn’t exactly the best idea, Crawford offers some knack for producing in a category or two. He knocked in 84 runs and hit 21 homers, both tops in the shortstop category last season. Those were career-highs for Crawford. He’s still young enough that fantasy owners could expect a continued rise in production. He’s ranked by Fantasy Pros as seventh among shortstops and 163rd overall, so if he can lead shortstops in any categories at that value, he’d be worth a late-round pick.
Third Base
Maikel Franco, Philadelphia
I’m buying Franco on potential. The Phillies have to be better this season, so I’m going with a youth movement to at least get fantasy owners some voltage in the early going. Franco is in his second full season in Major League Baseball and he showed some flashes of solid play last season. Franco is rated 119th overall and 11th among third basemen, according to Fantasy Pros. In only 80 games last season, Franco registered 50 RBIs to go along with 45 runs, 14 home runs and a .280 batting average. It’s unrealistic to assume he’d double those numbers, but if he can get to 75 to 80 RBIs and runs, with a similar batting average, then he’d be worth a late-round flier.
