What is going on, Ball Boys and Ball Girls! I hope you all are doing super well. Thank you so much for being here; as we approach the 2021 season, I want to give you guys some fantasy input for who my top 15 targets are at each position. Most fantasy baseball leagues are 8-10 players; scoring formats vary from league to league, structure, and server. You can check out my fantasy tips and tricks here. I will break down the players into categories: Obvious targets, above average, better than average targets, and lastly, a few if you're desperate names. Let me know what you guys think over in the Fantasy Forum. 2B is one of the thinnest positions in baseball and wasn't hard to rank out.
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Obvious Targets, a.k.a. don't pass on these players:
#1 Jose Altuve- As much as I don't like putting any member of the Astros atop any list, Altuve is deserving when you take out the Astros bias. Despite it all, I would target Altuve for my fantasy team. Altuve can give you 25+HR, 90+RBI, 10+SB, and a .290AVG. You can go wrong getting Altuve as the first 2B off the board in the early 2nd round.
#2 Ozzie Albies- If you believe in the ATL Braves as much as I do, you should believe in the 2nd best offensive option, in my opinion. Ozzie will be a stat sheet stuffer for fantasy teams. 20+HR, 80+RBI, 12+SB, and a .285+BA. Ozzie will probably get overshadowed in your league, and you can honestly probably take him in the late 3rd early 4th.
#3 DJ LeMahieu- I mean, LeMahieu is a stud! You can't get my better of a pure hitter than LeMahieu. No matter where he plays in 2021, you should quickly get 20+HR, 85+RBI, .300+BA, and lineup flexibility with DJ at 1B and 3B. You should be able to get DJ late 4th early 5th.
#4 Brandon Lowe- Lowe, like many other 2B on the list, gives you the option to slot him into an OF spot. Lowe is a very appealing option at 2B for many a fantasy owner as we know he could give up serious pop at hitting 14HR in just 56G. He was on pace for a 35+HR season in 2020 with 95+RBI and a .275+AVG, which is what he should give you. Lowe may not go into 2021 as underrated as he was in 2020. But using a 3rd or 4th round pick doesn't seem too awful.
#5 Gleyber Torress- I think Gleyber is a beast. Also, you can use him in your SS spot in most fantasy formats. Gleyber plays for the Yankees, so you have the benefit of the short porch. You can get 30+HR, 90+RBI, .270BA while taking him in around the 3rd round.
Above Average, you just missed out:
#1 Whit Merrifield- I did a lot of research on Merrifield, and he is one of the favorites in many people's opinions to be a top 3 at the position. I get he had the 2019 breakout, but he carries a lot of boom/bust potential for any fantasy team, despite the option to use him in an OF spot. The Royals should field a decently competitive team in 2021, and Merrifield should give your team 20Hr/20SB potential with about 70+RBI and a .275+AVG. You should be able to score him in the 4th or 5th round.
#2 Jake Cronenworth- I am a massive fan of Cronenworth as well as Alec Bohm. These two rookies do not care about where you shift; they are going to hit it past you, in a gap, and get on base. Cronenworth should give your team about 15+HR, 60+RBI, .285+BA while playing on the 2nd best offense in baseball. Cronenwoth carries massive upside, and you can target him a bit later, probably around 7-10 if not later. He should also carry OF eligibility depending on how the positioning happens with Ha-Seong Kim.
#3 Keston Hiura- He strikes out a lot, and that's his most significant drawback. But the Brewers need one of their young INF to step up and be a threat in the order with Yelich and Hirua looks up to the task. The return for drafting Hiura in the 5/6 round could pay dividends for your team. He should give you 25+HR, 85+RBI, 10+SB, and a .270+AVG. He has youth on his side and could be a significant steal, even in the previously mentioned rounds.
#4 Cavan Biggio- Biggio carries 20HR/20SB upside and could be a multi-position option for your lineup at 3B or the OF spots. Throw in 65+RBI with a .250+AVG. You could do worse with a 2B, the Blue Jays are a young and exciting team, and I am in on their young INF core. Biggio should fall to the 8th or 9th round, so why get a steal.
#5 Max Muncy- The most significant upside with Muncy is the multi-position option. Muncy plays on one of the best, if not the best offense in baseball. Muncy should give you a team. 25+HR, 75+RBI, and a lower than desired .240+AVG. Muncy should fall to the 6th or 7th round for you.
Better than Average, you could have done better:
#1 Dylan Moore- Yes, there may be a little hometown bias, and that's okay. Before the injury in 2020, Moore was making a name for himself. Moore carries 20HR/20SB if not 30HR/30SB potential. The SB numbers will also be higher as he is an excellent baserunner. Moore is also a "utility" player, which means you can play him at 2B, SS, and the OF in your lineup. Unless you are playing in my league, you can get Moore late because he is coming off the injury in rounds 8/9, if not later, or off waivers and thank me later.
#2 Mike Moustakas- You can't hate the Mous. Going into 2020, of the last four seasons, he had 30+HR in 3 of them. The power is there as well as the 3B option for your team. He should also give you about 90+RBI and a .260AVG, which is well worth the 8th or 9th round pick.
#3 Nick Solak- I am not crazy about Solak after the poor showing in 2020. But the Rangers want to move on from Odor at the position, and Solak is up. I think he has the potential to be a quite producer in your lineup with 10+HR, 15+SB, 60+RBI, and a .270AVG. He def will not sink your team for sure. You can honestly target Solak with one of your final picks.
#4 Ha-Seong Kim- I am beyond excited to see Kim lineup with the Padres and set the table with Cronenworth for Tatis Jr, Machado, Myers to do damage. Kim is fast and will quickly steal 25+SB and hit on an excellent avg .275+, mix in a lot of R scored, and you have a quality option. Kim should carry SS and OF eligibility come the draft. Much like Solak, you should be able to use a later round pick on him.
#5 Ketel Marte- Find him under the Outfielders, but he carries a high upside at 2B if you can score him as a 2B.
Desperate times, or you auto-drafted:
If and when Jonathan Villar and Kolten Wong sign with a team, they are excellent options not mentioned.
Eduardo Escobar, Starlin Castro, Rougned Order, Tommy Edman, Kevin Newman,
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