It seems like everyone who plays fantasy sports has their sleepers, busts, keepers, and break-out players lists.
It is easy to make a list, but much more difficult to put that list to work in an actual fantasy draft.
If you have read my break-out, sleepers, and busts slide show, you will see how I maximized my Yahoo MLB draft based on the players “Average Draft Position”—meaning what number they went overall.
I will give you two scenarios: One, drafting first overall in a 12 team league, and the other drafting 12th overall.
This will give you a better idea of which players can and will be available at your particular pick in the draft. Team A will have the 1st overall pick and Team B will have the 12th overall pick based on a 12 team league.
Here are how my two teams would shake out based on players current draft positions.
We will base this draft on the normal 5×5 Rotisserie Leagues. Our starters will be as follows which is standard in a Yahoo league:
C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, (3) OF, (2) Utility/DH, (2) SP, (2) RP, (4) P
The players average draft position is in the parentheses, while the number off to the side represents their actual draft position.
Below is how I would maximize my team from both draft slots on draft day.
Round 1
Team A – Troy Tulowitzki (4th) Draft Overall 1st
Team B – Evan Longoria (14th) – Draft Overall 12th
Round 2
Team B – Carlos Gonzalez (13th) – Draft Overall 13th
Team A – Andrew McCutchen (28th) – Draft Overall 24th
Round 3
Team A – Tim Lincecum (27th) – Draft Overall 25th
Team B – Carlos Santana (40th) – Draft Overall 36th
Round 4
Team B – David Price (51st) – Draft Overall 37th
Team A – Brett Lawrie (50th) – Draft Overall 48th
Round 5
Team A – Jay Bruce (56th) – Draft Overall 49th
Team B – Yovani Gallardo (60th) – Draft Overall 60th
Round 6
Team B – Eric Hosmer (71st) – Draft Overall 61st
Team A – Howie Kendrick (80th) – Draft Overall 72nd
Round 7
Team A – Drew Storen (86th) – Draft Overall 73rd
Team B – Jason Heyward (90th) – Draft Overall 84th
Round 8
Team B – Matt Moore (93rd) – Draft Overall 85th
Team A – Brian Wilson (104th) – Draft Overall 96th
Round 9
Team A – Daniel Hudson (101st) – Draft 97th Overall
Team B – Ricky Romero (114th) – Draft 108th Overall
Round 10
Team B – Joel Hanrahan (118th) – Draft 109th Overall
Team A- Brandon Beachy (121st) – Draft 120th Overall
Round 11
Team A – Freddie Freeman (137th) – Draft 121st Overall
Team B – Jordan Walden (133rd) – Draft 132nd Overall
Round 12
Team B – Cameron Maybin (141st) – Draft 133rd Overall
Team A – Jesus Montero (155th) – Draft 144th Overall
Round 13
Team A – Huston Street (152nd) – Draft 145th Overall
Team B – Erick Aybar (157th) – Draft 156th Overall
Round 14
Team B – Peter Bourjos (174th) – Draft 157th Overall
Team A – Max Scherzer (169th) – Draft 168th Overall
Round 15
Team A – Jeff Francouer (181st) – Draft 169th Overall
Team B – Jason Kipnis (200th) – Draft 180th Overall
Round 16
Team B – Wandy Rodriguez (194th) – Draft 181st Overall
Team A – Bud Norris (201st) – Draft 192nd Overall
Round 17
Team A – Wilson Ramos (213th) – Draft 193rd Overall
Team B – Dexter Fowler (206th) – Draft 204th Overall
Round 18
Team B – Lucas Duda (216th) – Draft 205th Overall
Team A – Matt Joyce (229th) – Draft 216th Overall
Round 19
Team A – Austin Jackson (238th) – Draft 217th Overall
Team B – Ryan Raburn (253rd) – Draft 228th Overall
Round 20
Team B – Brandon McCarthy (246th) – Draft 229th Overall
Team A – Brennan Boesch (260th) – Draft 240th Overall
Round 21
Team A – Devin Mesoraco (265th) – Draft 241st Overall
Team B – Addison Reed (323rd) – Draft 252nd Overall
Round 22
Team B – John Mayberry (310th) – Draft 253rd Overall
Team A – Greg Holland (312th) – Draft 264th Overall
Round 23
Team A – Justin Smoak (347th) – Draft 265th Overall
Team B – Brandon Belt ( 357th) – Draft 276th Overall
RESULTS
Team A
C – Wilson Ramos
1B – Freddie Freeman
2B – Howie Kendrick
SS – Troy Tulowitzki
3B – Brett Lawrie
OF – Andrew McCutchen
OF – Jay Bruce
OF – Jeff Francouer
UT – Jesus Montero
UT – Matt Joyce
SP – Tim Lincecum
SP – Daniel Hudson
RP – Drew Storen
RP – Brian Wilson
P – Brandon Breachy
P – Huston Street
P – Max Scherzer
P – Bud Norris
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BENCH: Austin Jackson, Brennan Boesch, Devin Mesoraco, Greg Holland, Justin Smoak
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Team B
C – Carlos Santana
1B – Eric Hosmer
2B – Jason Kipnis
SS – Erick Aybar
3B – Evan Longoria
OF – Carlos Gonzalez
OF – Jason Heyward
OF – Cameron Maybin
UT – Peter Bourjos
UT – Dexter Fowler
SP – David Price
SP – Yovani Gallardo
RP – Matt Moore
RP – Joel Hanrahan
P – Ricky Romero
P – Jordan Walden
P – Wandy Rodriguez
P – Brandon McCarthy
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BENCH: Lucas Duda, Ryan Raburn, Addison Reed, John Mayberry, Brandon Belt
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Below is a list of the notable Undrafted Players (players falling out of 277th Overall that I did not draft):
C Miguel Olivo
1B Adam Dunn, Justin Morneau
2B Jose Altuve
SS Alcides Escobar, Stephen Drew, Zack Cosart
3B Nolan Arenado, Danny Valencia, Casey McGehee
OF Chris Heisey, Colby Rasmus, Carlos Quentin, Jason Bay, Mike Trout
SP Trevor Bauer, Ryan Vogelsong, Julio Teheran, Drew Pomeranz, Jake Peavy, Trevor Cahill, Chad Billinglsey, Francisco Liriano
RP Jonathon Broxton, Kevin Gregg
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I hope you enjoyed reading this article on maximizing your draft based on the average draft positions. If you are in a deeper or shallower league you can adjust these players draft positions/rankings to maximize your team. Hopefully this can give you a better idea of who to target and when you should pull the trigger on getting them. Now go draft!
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