To win your fantasy baseball league, focus on drafting players who consistently score, avoid early injury risks, and build a balanced team across different categories. A proven strategy involves researching player stats, understanding your league’s scoring, and having a clear game plan before draft day. Focus on value, not just name recognition.
Drafting the right players in fantasy baseball can feel like a huge puzzle. Many beginners get overwhelmed with all the stats and player names, leading to disappointing teams. It’s easy to feel frustrated when your carefully chosen players don’t perform, or when you see other managers snagging superstars from under your nose. But what if there was a simpler way? This guide will break down exactly how to approach your fantasy baseball draft, using proven strategies that work, even if you’re new to the game. Get ready to impress your league mates and build a winning team!
Who to Draft for Fantasy Baseball: A Beginner’s Proven Strategy
Welcome to the exciting world of fantasy baseball! Drafting is arguably the most crucial part of your season. Get it right, and you can set yourself up for success. Get it wrong, and you might be playing catch-up all year. This guide is designed to give you not just tips, but a solid, repeatable strategy for knowing who to draft for fantasy baseball, even if you’re just starting out. We’ll cover everything from understanding player value to building a balanced roster.
1. Understand Your League’s Scoring System
Before you even look at a player list, you absolutely must know how your league scores points. This is the foundation of everything. Different leagues value different statistics. Some might heavily reward home runs and RBIs (often called “Categories” or “Roto” leagues), while others focus on total runs scored, stolen bases, and batting average. Points leagues can have their own unique scoring weights. Knowing these specifics will dramatically change who you consider valuable.
Common Scoring Categories:
- Runs Scored (R): How many times a player crosses home plate.
- Home Runs (HR): The ultimate power stat.
- Runs Batted In (RBI): Driving teammates home.
- Stolen Bases (SB): Speed kills!
- Batting Average (AVG): How often a player gets a hit.
- On-Base Percentage (OBP): A measure of how often a player reaches base.
- Slugging Percentage (SLG): Power hitting efficiency.
- Wins (W) for pitchers: A traditional mark of success for starting pitchers.
- Earned Run Average (ERA): How many runs a pitcher allows per nine innings.
- Strikeouts (K): A pitcher’s ability to shut down hitters.
- Saves (SV): For closers who finish games.
- Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched (WHIP): A measure of how many baserunners a pitcher allows.
For example, in a league that heavily weights OBP, a player with a .300 batting average but a .400 OBP might be more valuable than a player hitting .320 with a .350 OBP. Always check your league’s specific settings. Many commissioners provide a document detailing the scoring rules at the start of the season. Read it!
2. Leverage Player Rankings and Tiered Lists
Player rankings are a great starting point, but don’t follow them blindly. These lists are created by experts and often use past performance, projected stats, and expert analysis. Think of them as a guide, not a rigid rulebook.
A more advanced approach is using tiered rankings. Instead of just a long list, players are grouped into tiers based on their expected fantasy production. For instance, Tier 1 might be your elite, can’t-miss superstars. Tier 2 would be the next best group, and so on. This helps you identify when a “drop-off” in talent occurs, which is crucial for making draft decisions.
You’ll find many reputable sources for these rankings, such as:
- ESPN Fantasy Baseball
- Yahoo! Fantasy Sports
- CBS Sports Fantasy Baseball
- FanGraphs (for advanced stats and projections)
- MLB.com Fantasy
Remember to adjust these rankings based on your league’s scoring. If your league doesn’t count Earned Run Average (ERA) heavily, that pitcher ranked high might not be as valuable to you.
3. The “Camel” Strategy: Balancing Hitting and Pitching
A common mistake for beginners is to focus too much on one area, like loading up on hitters early and neglecting pitching, or vice versa. A balanced approach is key. Some fantasy managers use a “Camel” strategy, which emphasizes having a strong core of hitters and a solid foundation of pitchers.
When you’re thinking about who to draft for fantasy baseball, you need to consider how to fill all your offensive and pitching categories. Don’t reach for a player at a position you already have covered well unless they are a significant upgrade. Equally, don’t leave a position completely bare for too long.
Balancing Your Roster:
A good way to visualize this is to consider your roster construction. Most leagues have a set number of starting spots (e.g., C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, 3 OF, UTL, SP, SP, RP, RP). You’ll want to fill these spots with players who contribute across multiple categories.
For hitters, aim for players who provide:
- Power (HR)
- Run Production (RBI, R)
- Speed (SB)
- High Batting Average or OBP
For pitchers, target those with:
- High Strikeout Rates (K)
- Low WHIP and ERA
- Potential for Wins (W) for SPs
- Reliability in Save Situations for RPs
Don’t be afraid to take a risk on a high-upside player, but always have a backup plan. You can’t win with just superstars; you need consistent contributors to fill out your lineup.
4. Draft by Position, But Don’t Be Rigid
While you need to fill every position, some are more critical than others. Shortstop (SS) and Catcher (C) are often considered premium positions because there are fewer elite players at these spots compared to others like First Base (1B) or Outfield (OF). If you can snag a top-tier player at SS or C, it can give you a significant advantage.
On the other hand, positions like First Base and Outfield tend to have more depth. This means you might be able to wait longer to draft players at these positions and still find excellent value. This is where understanding player tiers really helps.
Positional Value Cheat Sheet (General):
This is a broad guideline and can change year to year. Use it in conjunction with your league’s specific scoring.
| Position | General Dynasty Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Catcher (C) | High | Fewer elite options, often provides less offensive production overall. |
| First Base (1B) | Medium | Often has significant slugging and RBI potential, deep talent pool. |
| Second Base (2B) | High | Can be a blend of power and speed, talent drops off. |
| Third Base (3B) | High | Elite options offer power and AVG, but injuries/decline can be common. |
| Shortstop (SS) | Very High | Generally the thinnest position for elite offensive talent. |
| Outfield (OF) | Medium | Deepest position for fantasy production, plenty of value to be found. |
| Starting Pitcher (SP) | High | Elite aces are gold, but consistent middle-of-the-rotation arms are valuable. |
| Relief Pitcher (RP) | Medium (for Saves) | Closers can be volatile; often a good place to wait and stream if needed. |
When you’re on the clock, consider ADP (Average Draft Position). This is the average spot a player is being drafted in other fantasy leagues. If a player is consistently going much later than their ranking suggests, they might be a great value pick. Conversely, if a player is going much earlier than their material, you might want to avoid them unless you really love them.
5. Target-and-Reach Strategy
This is a dynamic approach that involves identifying players you really want and being willing to take them a round or two earlier than their ADP if needed. This is especially important for your key positions or players you believe are undervalued.
Conversely, you can also punt a category or two. For example, if you decide you’re not going to draft many players focused on stolen bases early on, you create opportunities to grab more power hitters. You can then try to make up for stolen bases later in the draft or through waiver wire pickups. This strategy requires careful planning and understanding how to compensate for the sacrified category. For instance, if you punt stolen bases, you can then focus on players who excel in runs, home runs, and RBIs, creating a powerful offensive core.
You might also decide to heavily invest in pitching early and punt an offensive category. The key is to make these decisions before the draft and stick to your plan, adapting only when necessary. For instance, if you’re in a league that heavily rewards OBP, you might “target” players with elite walk rates, even if they don’t hit for a ton of power. This is about exploiting your league’s scoring system to your advantage.
6. The “Zero-RB” or “Zero-SP” Strategy (Advanced Consideration)
These are more advanced strategies that some fantasy managers use, particularly in deeper leagues or dynasty formats. The concept is to completely bypass a certain high-priced position group early in the draft.
- Zero-RB: This strategy involves waiting until the middle or late rounds to draft running backs. Instead, you load up on elite hitters (arguably less volatile than RBs) and starting pitchers in the early rounds. The idea is that you can find value RBs later or rely on a committee approach.
According to research from sites like Rotoviz, the volatility of running backs makes this strategy popular as injuries and busts are common. By avoiding the top-tier, expensive RBs, you may find cheaper alternatives with similar production.
- Zero-SP: This involves waiting to draft your starting pitchers until the later rounds. You fill your early and middle rounds with elite hitters and potentially a closer or two. The idea here is that starting pitcher value can be found later in the draft, and many pitchers are prone to injuries or performance dips. You can then draft a larger pool of pitchers and hope a few pan out or rely on streaming pitchers from the waiver wire.
This approach comes with risks. If you can’t find reliable starting pitchers later on, your pitching staff could lag significantly. It’s generally more successful in leagues where pitcher performance doesn’t dominate the scoring. For pitching, consider looking at pitchers who get a lot of strikeouts and have low walk rates. Sites that track advanced metrics can be very helpful here.
For more on pitching strategy, consider resources from FanGraphs, which provides in-depth statistical analysis and draft advice.
For beginners, these strategies can be a bit much. It’s often best to start with a balanced approach and then experiment with these more niche strategies as you gain more experience. The key to who to draft for fantasy baseball is often adaptability.
7. Draft for Value, Not Just Need
This is a fundamental drafting principle for any fantasy sport. Value is essentially getting more production than expected for the draft slot a player is taken in. If a player ranked to go in the 5th round falls to you in the 7th, that’s great value!
Don’t pass up on a player who represents significant value just because you drafted someone at that position earlier. For example, if you drafted a solid shortstop in round 4, but an elite shortstop (who you projected to go in round 1) falls to you in round 6, you should seriously consider taking him. You can then trade or drop the earlier shortstop to make room. This is the essence of an opportunistic draft.
The flip side is reaching. Reaching is taking a player much earlier than their ADP or ranking suggests, often out of desperation or personal bias. While you might get a player you really like, you’re often surrendering value by passing up on more established or analytically sound picks at that draft slot.
8. Draft Picks Aren’t Forever: Draft Day Strategy vs. In-Season Management
Remember that your draft is just the beginning of the season. You will make adjustments. You will find players on the waiver wire who outperform their draft stock. You will trade players to fill needs or acquire undervalued assets.
This means you don’t have to draft a “perfect” team on draft day. Your goal is to build a team with enough upside and core talent to compete. Don’t overthink every single pick. Sometimes, you just need to grab the best available tool for your fantasy baseball toolbox, as baseball expert MLB.com often advocates.
As you draft, think about your teams on a macro level too:
- Are you strong in power categories but weak in speed?
- Do you have a good mix of veteran consistency and young, upside players?
- Are your pitchers likely to help with strikeouts and low ERA/WHIP, or are they more focused on wins?
Don’t be afraid to draft players from teams you dislike or players who play for rivals. Fantasy is about performance, not team loyalty!
9. Draft Catchers Early If Your League Values Them Highly
Catchers are a unique position. In leagues that heavily weight offensive categories like batting average, home runs, and RBIs, a top-tier catcher can be a massive advantage for a significant portion of the season. However, the offensive production from catchers tends to fall off sharply after the top few players.
If your league gives points for things like “passed balls” or “stolen bases allowed,” then your catcher strategy might change. Always check your league nuances. In many leagues, the drop-off in production from catcher #3 to catcher #15 is more significant than the drop-off from, say, outfield #10 to outfield #25. This reality often pushes owners to draft a strong catcher earlier than they might draft other positions.
If you don’t draft one of the top few catchers, you might be better off waiting until your final rounds and grabbing a catcher with high upside or one who gets a lot of playing time. You can often find decent production from this group via free agency or the waiver wire during the season if you miss out on the top options.
10. Pitching Strategy: Balance SPs and RPs, Or Go Deep
Pitching can be tricky. Many managers like to grab an ace early. However, the supply of good pitchers is often deeper than the supply of elite hitters.
Consider your league’s structure. If your league requires you to start two relief pitchers (RPs) and three starting pitchers (SPs) every week, you’ll need a robust pitching staff. If you only need one RP and two SPs, you might be able to get away with a lighter pitching workload.
A common and effective pitching strategy is to:
- Draft a solid, reliable starting pitcher in the early to middle rounds who you expect to be a workhorse.
- Look for pitchers with high strikeout potential and good control (low WHIP).
- Secure a primary closer or two in the middle to late rounds. Closers can be volatile, so don’t overpay or draft them too early unless you are certain they will get the saves.
- Fill out the remaining pitching spots with high-upside pitchers, pitchers who might be undervalued, or pitchers with favorable upcoming schedules.
When assessing pitchers, look beyond just wins. Advanced metrics like FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and xFIP can give you a better picture of a pitcher’s true performance, removing the influence of their defense. Sites like Baseball-Reference are excellent for digging into