Top Utility Players in Fantasy Baseball
By: Caleb Luketic
The game of baseball is evolving into so much more than what it used to be. Now sabermetrics are being used along with shifts to better increase chances of winning games. The uses of utility players are becoming more and more common, and the value of these types of players is rising. Utility players play a pivotal role in fantasy baseball because of their flexibility. Utility players are super valuable, and you need to know which ones are the most valuable. Here is a list of the top utility players heading into 2015:
Chris Davis – Baltimore Orioles 1B/3B
Chris Davis earned the nickname “Crush” in 2012 when he hit 33 home runs. The nickname really stuck when he crushed 53 home runs in 2013. Davis’ numbers took a bit of a dip in 2014 when he only hit 26 home runs, but I look for his numbers to bounce back in the 2015 season. Davis’ value extends beyond his ability to crush the ball because he can play 1st and 3rd base. This flexibility allows him to move to either position in a fantasy lineup when he is playing that position. Davis needs to be on your radar for top utility players heading into 2015.
Jonathan Schoop – Baltimore Orioles 2B/3B
Jonathon Schoop played his first full season in 2014, and he hit 16 homeruns and had 45 RBI. Schoop mainly plays 2B, but he also plays 3B. Schoop has some incredible potential to hit 20 plus home runs every year. Schoop isn’t well known, which means that you can draft him in a late round. Schoop will be one of the better second basemen in 2015 in terms of fantasy.
Xander Bogaerts – Boston Red Sox SS/3B
Xander Bogaerts is one of the young and upcoming talents in baseball. Bogaerts hit 12 home runs and had 46 RBI in 2014. Bogaerts played his first full season in 2014, and he played in a total of 144 games for the Red Sox. I look for Bogaerts to continue that success he had as a rookie season into 2015. He will be a late round draft pick, but he will have success in the regular season.
Todd Frazier – Cincinnati Reds 1B/3B
Todd Frazier is an intricate part of the Cincinnati offense. He is one of their best hitters, and he has a solid glove. Frazier had a career season last year hitting 29 homeruns and he had 80 RBI. Frazier is a top pick at 1st base in fantasy this year, and I look for Frazier to continue his career year from 2014 over into 2015. Frazier is going to be a valuable asset to any fantasy team because of his ability to play either corner of the infield, and he has insane power to hit 20 plus home runs a season.
Josh Harrison – Pittsburgh Pirates 3B/OF
Josh Harrison had a career year in 2014. Harrison stepped up to play third base when Pedro Alvarez had the biggest slump of his career. Harrison came in and was playing like an All-Star, and he was selected to his first All-Star appearance. Harrison hit 13 home runs and had 52 RBI in 2014. Harrison has earned the third base job for the Pirates, and I look for Harrison to have an even better year than in 2014 because he will get a full season to show what he can do at the hot corner.
Brandon Moss – Cleveland Indians 1B/OF
Brandon Moss was traded to the Indians this offseason from the Athletics. Brandon Moss was used mainly in the outfield for the A’s, but he was also heavily used at first base. Moss’ value will continue to rise with Indians because they will use him in a similar fashion that the A’s did. Moss hit 25 home runs and had 81 RBI in 2014. Moss will be a valuable asset to any fantasy team because he can play first base and the outfield, but also because he has power to drive in runs.
Photo: fansided.com
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