We all know that the top tier players are not what wins or loses your fantasy season but rather those low round bargains that you were able to snipe and have lead to your ascension up the rankings. Here are 5 pitchers and 5 hitters grabbed in the lower rounds or early weeks free agencies that have made tremendous impacts.
JJ Hardy - So, JJ Hardy leads the National League in homers? I think it's safe to say that Hardy's performance over the course of the first month and a half is by far the most surprising in the league. In one player per position leagues, he was probably not drafted period. In two shortstops leagues he was probably a lower end second SS pick. Right now he's hitting .325 with 12 homers and 37 RBIs and is currently the 3rd ranked player in fantasy behind only Arod and Jose Reyes. Buy or Sell: Sell JJ has never hit more than 12 homers in a season in his career, sell him while his price is maxed out.
BJ Upton - Many people including myself avoided drafting Upton in their drafts simply because it didn't look like he had a position to play everyday, then the Drays sent down Cantu and gave Upton the 2nd base job and he's has hit fantastically. And since it's fantasy baseball his ineptitude in the field doesn't matter at all. Buy or Sell: Sell Comin down to earth this month.
Ian Kinsler - Second baseman typically stink and while Kinsler should have been sold at his highest value a few weeks ago, if you have Kinsler and his 10 home runs and 5 steals right now it has certainly helped. His average has been atrocious as of late, and he probably won't keep up the power totals, but for the first month he was terrific. Buy or Sell: Sell The average has plummeted, show off the ten homers and hope you get something good.
Mike Lowell - Lowell has this same exact explosive start the season last year so maybe it should have been expected and maybe you should sell him high right now, but he is currently hitting for power and is 5th in the American League in RBIs. Buy or Sell: Sell Too bad of a second half last year to believe he's not just a hot starter. Sell him prior to the All-Star break.
Gary Matthews Jr. - There was much bashing about drafting Gary Matthews Jr. prior to the season due to the HGH rumors, and the fact he only had one good season his entire career but thus far this season Matthews has been terrific. Hitting over .300 and contributing to steals, runs, rbis and HRs. Buy or Sell: Hold He's hitting in front of Vlad right now.
John Maine - I started this yesterday when John Maine was close to leading the NL in ERA, well last night he got rocked. But still Maine has for the most part been terrific this season and there's no way he went anywhere near the middle rounds, unless you have a few die hard Met fans in your league. Buy or Sell: Sell Last night was a sign of things to come.
Brad Penny - For those that forgot, Brad Penny started the all star game last year, and perhaps if he didn't try to gas himself in the all star game he would have been equally good in the second half, instead he was done in September and sliud too late in everybody's draft. Buy or Sell: Buy If Penny stays away from trying to throw 100+ every pitch in the all star game he could have a solid 2nd half.
Jason Marquis - Here's someone I would have never drafted. Marquis finished the season last year so miserably the cards didn't even put him on the postseason roster, then the Cubs gave him some cash to be a back end of the rotation guy which lead to a few head shakes. And thus far, he's been terrific, who knew. Buy or Sell: Sell Not a believer
James Shields - Looking at Shields' numbers from last year it shouldn't come as that much of surprise at his improvements this season, however because he plays with the Devil Rays no one had probably ever heard about him until he started racking up shutout inning after shutout inning. Buy or Sell: Buy Look at his career numbers almost a K per inning and always throws a ton of innings, he's solid.
Al Reyes - The Drays were incredibly hush at the start of the season with who they were going to use as their closer so most likely Al Reyes was there either very close to your last round or in the free agency pool week 1. Reyes has been terrific thus far this season and looks as if he should hold the closer role all season no problem. Buy or Sell: Hold A Closer who has a job for good is someone to hold onto.
JJ Hardy - So, JJ Hardy leads the National League in homers? I think it's safe to say that Hardy's performance over the course of the first month and a half is by far the most surprising in the league. In one player per position leagues, he was probably not drafted period. In two shortstops leagues he was probably a lower end second SS pick. Right now he's hitting .325 with 12 homers and 37 RBIs and is currently the 3rd ranked player in fantasy behind only Arod and Jose Reyes. Buy or Sell: Sell JJ has never hit more than 12 homers in a season in his career, sell him while his price is maxed out.BJ Upton - Many people including myself avoided drafting Upton in their drafts simply because it didn't look like he had a position to play everyday, then the Drays sent down Cantu and gave Upton the 2nd base job and he's has hit fantastically. And since it's fantasy baseball his ineptitude in the field doesn't matter at all. Buy or Sell: Sell Comin down to earth this month.
Ian Kinsler - Second baseman typically stink and while Kinsler should have been sold at his highest value a few weeks ago, if you have Kinsler and his 10 home runs and 5 steals right now it has certainly helped. His average has been atrocious as of late, and he probably won't keep up the power totals, but for the first month he was terrific. Buy or Sell: Sell The average has plummeted, show off the ten homers and hope you get something good.
Mike Lowell - Lowell has this same exact explosive start the season last year so maybe it should have been expected and maybe you should sell him high right now, but he is currently hitting for power and is 5th in the American League in RBIs. Buy or Sell: Sell Too bad of a second half last year to believe he's not just a hot starter. Sell him prior to the All-Star break.
Gary Matthews Jr. - There was much bashing about drafting Gary Matthews Jr. prior to the season due to the HGH rumors, and the fact he only had one good season his entire career but thus far this season Matthews has been terrific. Hitting over .300 and contributing to steals, runs, rbis and HRs. Buy or Sell: Hold He's hitting in front of Vlad right now.John Maine - I started this yesterday when John Maine was close to leading the NL in ERA, well last night he got rocked. But still Maine has for the most part been terrific this season and there's no way he went anywhere near the middle rounds, unless you have a few die hard Met fans in your league. Buy or Sell: Sell Last night was a sign of things to come.
Brad Penny - For those that forgot, Brad Penny started the all star game last year, and perhaps if he didn't try to gas himself in the all star game he would have been equally good in the second half, instead he was done in September and sliud too late in everybody's draft. Buy or Sell: Buy If Penny stays away from trying to throw 100+ every pitch in the all star game he could have a solid 2nd half.
Jason Marquis - Here's someone I would have never drafted. Marquis finished the season last year so miserably the cards didn't even put him on the postseason roster, then the Cubs gave him some cash to be a back end of the rotation guy which lead to a few head shakes. And thus far, he's been terrific, who knew. Buy or Sell: Sell Not a believer
James Shields - Looking at Shields' numbers from last year it shouldn't come as that much of surprise at his improvements this season, however because he plays with the Devil Rays no one had probably ever heard about him until he started racking up shutout inning after shutout inning. Buy or Sell: Buy Look at his career numbers almost a K per inning and always throws a ton of innings, he's solid.Al Reyes - The Drays were incredibly hush at the start of the season with who they were going to use as their closer so most likely Al Reyes was there either very close to your last round or in the free agency pool week 1. Reyes has been terrific thus far this season and looks as if he should hold the closer role all season no problem. Buy or Sell: Hold A Closer who has a job for good is someone to hold onto.
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