So, you are struggling and cannot seem to get out of your own way. The fantasy offense you put together is slumping and your pitching staff continues to be lackluster at best.
What can you do?
The best players are gone off of waivers and the only players left are scraps. Nothing that can fix your team, right? Wrong. Take a look at these comparisons of players over the last 30 days. Even when there is nothing seemingly available, something can help you out if you know where and how to look.
All stats are over the last 30 days.
Player A: .294 AVG, 6HR, 18 RBI, 13 runs, 15 percent owned
Player B: .284 AVG, 6HR, 17 RBI, 16 runs, 100 percent owned
While you certainly would not be out to cut Player B, having Player A on your roster would certainly have helped soften the blow!
In this scenario, Player B is Albert Pujols while Player A is Russell Branyan. Since being traded to Seattle, Branyan has found himself steady playing time and has found the swing that made fantasy owners drool early in 2009.
What is the point? There is some help available for those that need power out of the corners if only to ride the wave of the hot hand.
Player A: .242 AVG, 6HR, 20 RBI, 11 runs, 84 percent owned
Player B: .250 AVG, 4HR, 21 RBI ,15 runs. 23 percent owned
In deeper leagues, there are those that are required to play a corner infield position. These leagues often go to places that most owners never dare to venture. There would be no other way to explain the ownership of some players at all.
In this case, though, we are talking about a very limited difference to gain some decent numbers in these deeper arenas.
Do either have spectacular numbers?
No. If you were looking to make a trade for Player A, though, you would be just as well off picking up Player B.
In this case, Player A is Adam LaRoche while Player B is Ike Davis. Not a big swing in the numbers, but one will cost you much less and hurt you very little if you need to make a change at the position.
Player A: .382 AVG, 1HR, 10 RBI, 15 runs scored, 54 percent owned
Player B: .350 AVG, 2HR, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored, 100 percent owned
Let us start by saying that Player B has not performed up to any sort of expectations this year beyond hitting for a solid average. In every other capacity, the draft pick that was spent on him does not necessarily correlate to the production being received.
That player is Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis. Markakis is drafted early enough each year that many continue to hope for the .325/30/100 type season that he is thought to be able to produce.
It just has not been there of late.
Player A may not have the same cache, but he is worth owning over the long-term.
That outfielder is David DeJesus.
The Kansas City stalwart has hit for average and is producing as effectively in as equally poor a lineup. Best part, he did not cost owners a top-five round choice.
Player A: .320 AVG, 3HR, 15 RBI, 15 runs scored, 1SB, 100 percent owned
Player B: .314 AVG, 4HR, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored, 7SB, 50 percent owned
Right now, this is my favorite comparison. Player A is on one of his patented hot streaks where he hits well over .300 for a stretch before going down in flames and hitting .200 for another stretch. Just how he rolls.
Owners that have had Dan Uggla, our Player A, on their roster know this for a fact. He is fantastic in stretches. Then there are times when he will not hit a home run for what feels like weeks.
Another second basemen though is on the prowl. Injuries forced the Rays to use Sean Rodriguez, Player B, more than they probably anticipated.
Now, the struggles of Jason Bartlett and B.J. Upton have opened up spots for him to continue to get regular playing time.
Rodriguez had quite the month and it is still largely going unnoticed. Given the injuries to players like Dustin Pedroia and Chase Utley, it is a surprise that he is not more widely owned already.
Grab him now and hold him hostage for the owners that were slow on the uptake.
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