2022 Fantasy Baseball Outlook
Fantasy baseball can be one of the toughest sports to draft for because there are so many specific positions that need to be filled on a team.
For the sake of this article, you are drafting in a 10-team league, a snake draft format with the first pick being at number ten.
This would allow for back-to-back picks on multiple occasions.
For the first pick at 10, a logical pick would be Brandon Woodruff to anchor the pitching staff and at pick eleven, Trea Turner would be a solid pick to get a middle infielder who has both second base and shortstop eligibility.
At the start of the draft, be cautious of drafting an outfielder because there will be plenty more bargain opportunities later in the draft.
In the third round, try to draft Alex Bregman or another corner infielder of similar talent and then add another high-quality starter such as Zack Wheeler or Sandy Alcantara.
For the next set of picks, go add another big infield bat that has multiple positions of eligibility such as Jake Cronenworth or Ketel Marte and try and get a breakout starter such as Dylan Cease.
In rounds seven and eight, add either Carlos Correa or DJ LeMahieu and then add a first baseman in a talented lineup like Jose Abreu or Anthony Rizzo.
In the next two rounds, get two mid-tier starters with high ceilings such as Luis Garcia, Framber Valdez, Shane McClanahan, Sean Manaea or Pablo Lopez.
Then try to add another bat to the lineup in Yuli Gurriel who can play well in the Astros lineup and another one of the aforementioned pitchers if they are available.
Then add Matt Chapman in round thirteen to play utility and begin work on the outfield as players like Eddie Rosario, Tommy Edman and Austin Meadows are still available.
Continue to add to the outfield by adding two of Hunter Renfroe, Kike Hernandez, Tyler O’Neill, Charlie Blackmon, Randy Arozarena or Andrew Benintendi.
Good outfielders will still be there in rounds 17 and 18, so round out the outfield with two of either Renfroe, Benintendi, Mark Canha, Avisail Garcia, Mike Yastrzemski or Dylan Carlson.
The next part of the roster is the most difficult and that would mean adding four relief pitchers who can be relied on to gain points consistently.
In the later rounds, target Scott Barlow, who is projected to close out games for the Royals and Matt Barnes who can rebound for the Red Sox this season. Camilo Doval will also get opportunities for the Giants.
As the draft goes on, there are still some options in Corey Knebel of the Phillies, Taylor Rogers of the Twins, Gregory Soto of the Tigers and Andrew Kittridge of the Rays.
Then start to build up a bench with Cubs' second baseman Nick Madrigal, who has a real opportunity to break out this year and then bargain on starter Tanner Houck who has electric stuff but just hasn’t been able to get it past the fifth inning in the first full season.
Round out the bench with a position player with multiple positions of eligibility such as Pavin Smith (1B, OF), Ryan McMahon (3B, 2B) or Chris Taylor (2B, SS, OF).
Finally settle for a starting catcher with your last picks such as Sean Murphy, Omar Narvaez or Gary Sanchez.
This team’s weaknesses would be in the bullpen, catcher and corner infield but none would be glaring weaknesses that need to be fixed.
Overall, this team has enough talent that could push it into the playoffs and a few strategic trades could land a championship.
James Morrison is a second-year majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email jpm6920@psu.edu.
