After focusing our attention on the mound last week, it's time to swing our focus back to the batter's box. When digging deep late in drafts, there might only be one skill that separates a given player from the rest of the pack. With that said, we are going to focus on on a cheap power/speed combination this time around.
Just like in the kitchen, preparation is key to successfully mastering your fantasy draft, with one of the main ingredients being finding value in the later rounds. In most cases we call these players "sleepers," but not all of these players are fresh faces that we have never seen before. In fact, the majority of the players we find in the later rounds we fine aging veterans on the decline, players returning from injury or players who have been up and down between the minor and majors still trying to find a permanent home. Whatever the case may be, these are the players that could be the difference in bringing home the trophy come September.
Since the term "deep sleeper" can mean a lot of different things, all players discussed in this series will hold an average draft position (ADP) of 250 or higher based off the most recent mock draft results of Fantasy Alarm's own Howard Bender and the Mock Draft Army. If you haven't checked out the Mock Draft Arm series,, be sure to give it a look as Howard continues to assemble some really good ADP information based on a series of mock drafts featuring experts from throughout the industry and fans alike. Now that we laid out the ground rules let's get cookin'...
Drew Stubbs, OF (COL)
Mock Draft Army ADP: 309.0
After a solid first season with the Rockies, Stubbs appears to have turned his career around, although he may not guaranteed a starting gig come Opening Day. In 388 at-bats in 2014, Stubbs slashed .289/.339/.482 with 15 home runs, 43 RBI and 20 stolen bases as he served as the team's utility outfielder. While it is uncertain whether or not he would have been able to maintain that rate given a full workload, his production is certainly someone to take a look at heading into draft season.
Prior to his move to the Mile High City Stubbs' stock was quickly falling as he finished with a batting average under .250 for three straight seasons while struggle to hit right-handed pitching (.209 vs. RHP) in that stretch. Both his power and speed where never in question as he totaled 39 home runs and 87 stolen bases in that stretch, but his playing time slowly started to dwindle away after just four full seasons in the big leagues. However, after given a chance to prove himself in the prime of his career, Stubbs was able to turn things around relatively quick.
Although his 2014 production was over less than 400 at-bats, he did managed to set career-highs in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, but he still logged his fair share of strikeouts (136). In fact, his 32.1 percent strikeout rate was a career-worst, so there is certainly some doubt that maybe he was playing over his head a season ago. Either way, when dealing with a player that has drastic splits like Stubbs has given his fantasy owners over the years, there is really no telling what 2015 may bring.
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As it stands right now, Stubbs will be splitting time between all outfield spots like he did a season ago, but with the injury concerns circulating around Carlos Gonzalez and the bust potential of both Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson there is still room for optimism. Not to mention there have been rumors that the Rockies are shopping Cargo, so there is a chance a spot could open up for Stubbs sooner rather than later.
Best case scenario Stubbs joins the everyday starting lineup at some point this spring with the worst case being part of a platoon with Dickerson when facing right-handed opposition. Either way he is someone worth targeting as it is extremely hard to find players that provide both power and speed in the later rounds of drafts with as much experience as Stubbs. Those in daily lineup leagues will certainly want to keep him on watch list's outside of shallow league formats.