Fantasy Baseball Thoughts: Takeaways from Week 16

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

If you are reading this it probably means one of two things. Either your fantasy baseball team still has a fighting chance to win your league, or you clicked on this link by accident instead expecting to find reassurance that using a top ten pick on Montee Ball in your upcoming football draft will be a wise move.

Screw football, it’s crunch time in baseball, so keep calm and let the Crackerjacks help you bring home a title. Here are some fantasy baseball thoughts that will help you do that.

Batters:

• Carlos Santana, just when I think I couldn’t possibly be any dumber for owning you, you have a week like this and totally redeem yourself…err…myself…thanks.
• Troy Tulowitzki finally made his annual trip to the DL. I was reading all kinds of articles that the Rockies should have traded him during the break. Turns out fantasy owners should have too.
• It is time to jump on the Corey Dickerson bandwagon. Drew Stubbs rolled an ankle and is possibly going to get traded, opening up even more playing time for Dickerson. Even with Dickerson sitting a game every series, his production has significant fantasy value. Do not wait on this one.
• David Ortiz, went off this week, tweaked his back, but still finished strong. Five HRs in one week, thank you sir, may I have another?
• Hey, Todd Frazier, don’t you go dying on me now.
• Coco Crisp always seems to be under-valued, until now. He has had a nagging neck injury that has forced him to miss considerable playing time this month. He is headed to see a specialist, but should be benched and possibly even dropped until he can prove he can stay in the lineup.
• Until Allen Craig or Oscar Taveras remove their bat from their sphincter, neither one is worth a lick to your team right now.
• Lucas Duda….hey if you need pop, get him while he’s hot, but be prepared to cut bait in the near future.
• For some, the home run derby hurts your swing, and then there are players like Yoenis Cespedes. Make sure he is in your lineup, until he pulls a lat a breaks a hip on his follow through.
• Matt Holliday was not in the derby this year, but he has had four HRs since the break, make sure he is your lineup too.
• If you own Yadier Molina and are still looking for a stopgap, check out Wilson Ramos. But he only has three HRs you say, well so does Bryce Harper. I’m not trying to imply anything there, I just wanted to point out Bryce Harper has 3 HRs.

Pitchers:

• I am not sure how much value Drew Smyly holds for the remainder of this year, but after his double digit K performance against the Halos this week, well you should definitely keep him in your thoughts come next year’s draft.
• Jake Peavy was traded to the NL and a pitcher friendly park, but I’m not buying him until he can string some consistent outing together. Add to your scout team.
• Brett Anderson had a gem his last time out, which means, if the law of averages holds true, he will get hurt his next time on the bump.
• Tyson Ross is absolutely filthy right now, not Clayton Kershaw filthy, but pretty damn filthy.
• Jimmy Nelson might be a stretch run, waiver wire gem. Wait and see how he does his second time against the Cards this week, and if all goes well, see if he fits a need.
• Cliff Lee still does not appear to be right, bench him until he gives you reason to start him.
• Jacob deGrom had been the de shiz lately, start him while he is hot.
• Beyond deGrom the Mets rotation as a whole, has been getting healthy and providing Jenrry Mejia more chances at the back end to earn saves. Add Mejia immediately if you need saves.
• Danny Salazar is starting to pitch like you wanted him to when you drafted him back in March. If he sticks in the rotation when Justin Masterson comes back, he high K potential warrants consideration.
• Jorge De La Rosa, I feel like I have talked about him a lot this year. Well, his name is circulating in trade rumors, and if he does get dealt away from Coors Field, that will only increase his fantasy value.