You know their name, but can you trust their game? Here are some former fantasy studs that you should avoid on fantasy draft day.
Chipper Jones, 3B, Atlanta Braves
I love Chipper Jones. I believe he has put together a Hall of Fame career. I wouldn’t touch him this year, even with his reasonable 186 ADP. He hit just .264 and .265 the past two years. He has just one 500 at-bat season (2007) in his past seven years. It was easy to justify owning him when he was hitting well north of .300, but he’ll be 39 in April. He’s far to great of an injury risk to trust on your team. If he slides big time in your draft, maybe you can take a look at him since third base is so shallow, but he’s going (on average) before Placido Polanco, Chase Headley, Kevin Kouzmanoff and countless other that will like be more productive this year.
Alfonso Soriano, OF, Chicago Cubs
It’s not that Soriano shouldn’t be on fantasy rosters. I just think you can get far better value at his ADP of 98. Some of the outfielders that are going (on average) after him are Corey Hart, Nick Markakis, Delmon Young, Michael Stanton, Drew Stubbs and a rash of other superior options. Again, if he slides in your draft go ahead and take him, but his speed has diminished and his power is average. Take someone with more upside because Soriano is obviously on the wrong side of his career track.
Manny Ramirez, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Manny has just 28 home runs in his past 194 games. His OPS (.869) was the lowest since his first cup of coffee with the Indians back in 1993. It was just .739 in his 24 games with the White Sox. Do I believe Manny can still hit? Absolutely. The problem is whether or not he’ll be motivated. Can he stay healthy? There are a lot of questions for somebody with an ADP of 160.
Miguel Tejada, SS, San Francisco Giants
Tejada had an OPS of .693 last year for the Orioles and the Padres, which is a far cry for his career mark of .801. He rarely misses, so health shouldn’t be a concern. I just fear that his skills are eroding. After all he’ll be 37 in May. On top of that, Bruce Bochy already acknowledges that he will give Tejada plenty or rest this year. His ADP of 203 makes him a reasonable option. I just prefer guys with more upside.
Johnny Damon, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Had the Rays not signed Manny Ramirez, I would like Damon a little more. He would be able to get some at bats at designated hitter. Playing in the field could take its toll on Damon, who turned 37 in November. He hit just eight home runs last year, and I don’t see significant growth in that category. He could have hot streaks, in which I would entertain riding them out, but I’m not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling that his return to the AL East will be favorable.
Also check out:
- 2011 Fantasy Baseball Value Picks
- 2011 Fantasy Baseball Profiles
- 2011 Fantasy First Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only First Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only First Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Second Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Second Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Second Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Third Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Third Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Third Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Shortstop Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Shortstop Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Shortstop Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Catcher Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Catcher Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Catcher Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Outfielder Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Outfielder Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Outfielder Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Starting Pitcher Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Starting Pitcher Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Starting Pitcher Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Closer Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy A.L. Only Closer Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy N.L. Only Closer Rankings
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