Whether it’s early in the season, the middle of July, or late in the year, it’s always good to know where you stand in your Roto league.
Of course, perusing your league’s standings accomplishes that fairly quickly. However, numbers can often be misleading. Is your team producing at the level it should be as a league leader compared to the vast majority of other Roto leagues?
Are there underperforming players on your team, or available via waivers each week that could help you significantly in specific, or multiple, categories moving forward? This column aims to, and will, answer all those questions on a weekly basis, regardless of league size.
Essentially, it’s an almanac for Roto leagues and NFBC or TGFBI leagues, showing you not only the watermarks your team should be hitting category-wise to be truly elite but also the specific players that will help you get there. What’s more, it’ll also cover the top performers in each category, as well as some under-the-radar options for each metric as well.
Notes
A couple of quick notes before we begin. For metrics like ERA, WHIP, batting average, and on-base percentage, only qualified or close to qualified pitchers and hitters (respectively) were considered, especially at this time of year with smaller sample sizes running rampant.
Additionally, all rostered rate numbers are via FantasyPros as of Monday. Furthermore, in part due to NFBC leagues, all stats (as well as the rostered data) are via the previous week’s Sunday.
All the data in terms of Roto league production is from last year’s numbers.
Where You Should Be Producing In Each Category
Below is data for both 15-team and 12-team Roto leagues from last season and the average statistical totals that each placed team finished with. This is for the entirety of a season. Basically, if you want to do well in these two formats, these are the season-long watermarks to shoot for.
There’s also SGP data for both 15-team and 12-team formats.
Before we get any further, a massive thank you to Pitcher List Director of Data Analytics and Research Kyle Bland for getting a hold of the data.
And now, without further ado, the 15-team data, which comes from 2023 TGFBI leagues:
15-Team Leagues
(Quick reminder, the far left-hand column is where the team finished in the standings.)
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And here’s the 15-team, SGP data:
12-Team Leagues
And now for the 12-team, SGP data:
Category Power Rankings
Batting Average (AVG)
Leaders
Of Note: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The trade deadline has come and gone, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is still a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. And while a deal to a more fantasy-friendly (read higher scoring) lineup would certainly have helped where his counting stats are concerned, the Blue Jays’ trade deadline activity didn’t exactly sap the lineup around him of solid hitters either.
Sure, Toronto traded Justin Turner, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Danny Jansen, and Kevin Kiermaier, but they also acquired Joey Loperfido and didn’t trade Davis Schneider, George Springer, or Ernie Clement. With Bo Bichette potentially returning at some point as well, Guerrero Jr. should have no trouble approaching at least 90 runs scored and 90 RBI for the third time in five seasons.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: Amed Rosario.
Hitting .306 mainly due to a .368 BABIP and a 17.7% strikeout rate in 282 plate appearances, Rosario hasn’t produced much from a quality contact standpoint, logging a 4.5% barrel rate and a 36.0% hard-hit rate.
Now in Los Angeles after a trade deadline deal between the Rays and Dodgers, Rosario’s ability to maintain a high BABIP and a low strikeout rate (and thus a high average) could do wonders for his counting stat upside in a loaded Los Angeles lineup. He makes for a must-add in fantasy leagues with 14 or more teams.
On-Base Percentage (OBP)
Leaders
Of Note: Jurickson Profar.
After such a strong start at the plate that saw him hit at least .280 in each of the first three months of the season, including a .344 number in May, Profar came back down a bit from mid-June through mid-July.
The veteran hit a still good (but not great) .256 with a .307 on-base percentage, four home runs, and a stolen base in 89 plate appearances during that span.
Any worry about Profar’s numbers continuing to drop off for the rest of the season, though, has quickly faded away. The Padres outfielder is batting .273 with a .385 on-base percentage, five home runs, 11 runs scored and 12 RBI (not to mention a .309 ISO) in 65 plate appearances since July 17.
Start him with confidence as a top-50 overall fantasy player the rest of the way, regardless of league size or scoring format.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: Connor Wong.
Like Rosario, Wong has benefitted immensely from a high BABIP this year, logging a .364 BABIP in his first 330 plate appearances while hitting .301 with a .361 on-base percentage, 10 home runs, and six stolen bases for the Red Sox.
However, somewhat similar to Rosario, the trade deadline has impacted Wong’s rest-of-season fantasy outlook.
Unlike with Rosario, a trade hasn’t helped the backstop’s fantasy ceiling the rest of the way.
Wong himself wasn’t traded, but the Red Sox did acquire Danny Jansen from the Toronto Blue Jays.
And while it remains to be seen if Wong will ever move to a reserve role, given his sky-high BABIP, good but not great strikeout rate (21.5%), and a number of underwhelming quality of contact metrics, notably a 4.8% barrel rate, and a 34.3% hard-hit rate, it’ll be worth watching to see if he maintains a regular place in the lineup if any sort of statistical regression sets in.
Home Runs (HR)
Leaders
Of Note: Brent Rooker.
Rooker’s fantasy prospects could’ve certainly benefited from a trade to a team with a higher-scoring lineup and a more hitter-friendly ballpark, but staying in Oakland isn’t the end of the world for the slugger this season.
Rooker is actually hitting .295 with 12 home runs, 11 doubles, a .377 on-base percentage, a .401 wOBA, and a 172 wRC+ at home this season.
Now might be the time to try a fantasy trade if the manager in your league with Rooker on their roster isn’t crazy about the prospect of the slugger continuing to hit in a lower-scoring lineup.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: Jo Adell.
It feels like there’s some sort of positive regression coming for Adell’s stat line this season.
There’s a nearly .040 point gap between his wOBA and xwOBA (with the latter being higher), not to mention a .227 BABIP that is also the third-lowest among qualified hitters.
The outfielder is also providing elite bat speed along with an 11.9% barrel rate, a 45.4% hard-hit rate, 16 home runs, and 14 stolen bases.
With his ability to make an impact in terms of both home runs and stolen bases, not to mention the loud contact, the 25-year-old has a chance to be a fantasy difference-maker down the stretch if the BABIP evens out.
Runs Scored (R)
Leaders
Of Note: Anthony Volpe.
Volpe is no longer a fixture atop the Yankees lineup. Since July 4 he’s hit higher than sixth just three times (he batted fifth all three times), but that hasn’t stopped him from scoring runs at an above-average rate.
During that span he’s scored 16 runs in 105 plate appearances, batting .277 with a .305 on-base percentage in the process. Only 32 hitters during that span have scored more runs than the Yankees shortstop.
And while if that trend continues he probably won’t stay on this list for too many more weeks, Volpe’s regular place in the Yankees’ lineup is helping ensure he remains a quality fantasy option.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: Eugenio Suárez.
Don’t let Eugenio Suárez’s .228 average and .307 on-base percentage for the season fool you. While his overall season numbers (which also include 16 home runs and a pair of stolen bases in 430 plate appearances) might seem like those of a player who’s probably only rostered in deeper leagues, Suarez is very much worth adding in most all fantasy leagues.
The veteran infielder is on a tear at the plate. The third baseman has collected 10 home runs and seven doubles in his last 115 plate appearances, batting .317 with a .383 on-base percentage, a .442 wOBA, and a 188 wRC+.
And while hot streaks at the plate are always key from a fantasy standpoint, now’s the time of year when a hitter having a strong stretch at the plate could be the difference between making the fantasy playoffs (and potentially or ultimately winning a championship) and not.
Run, don’t walk, to add Suarez via the waiver wire.
RBI
Leaders
Of Note: Vinnie Pasquantino.
One of two new names to this particular leaderboard this week, Pasquantino has been on a tear as of late, in part due to a lack of strikeouts.
The first baseman has struck out just 10.1% of the time in 119 plate appearances since the start of July. Though it’s not just the strikeouts, or lack thereof rather. Pasquantino is batting .313 with a .322 on-base percentage, five home runs, and a stolen base in that span, adding 11 runs scored and 24 RBI in the process. The 24 RBI are tied for the sixth-most among all hitters during that span, checking in ahead of the likes of Vladimir Guererro Jr., Aaron Judge, Anthony Santander, James Wood, José Ramírez, and Corey Seager.
As long as he’s hitting third in the Royals’ lineup and making this kind of contact, Pasquantino should continue to be one of the league’s best RBI options down the stretch.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: Josh Bell.
Bell, like his teammate Suarez, is in fine form at the plate as of late. He’s hitting .300 with a .407 on-base percentage in his last 59 plate appearances, collecting seven home runs (!) and a double in the process.
Like Suarez, he’s worth adding in most all fantasy formats as someone who can be a difference maker in not only weekly matchups down the stretch, but in Roto formats as well.
Stolen Bases (SB)
Leaders
Of Note: Jazz Chishom Jr.
Much will rightly be made of the fact that Jazz Chisholm Jr. collected four home runs in his first three games with the Yankees, but the 26-year-old is continuing to steal bases as well, with a pair already in a New York uniform that’s pushed his season-long total to 24, a new career-high.
Now with fantasy eligibility at third base, the former Marlin should continue to be a fantasy-difference maker down the stretch. And oh yeah, he’s just three home runs away from setting a new career high in that category (his career-high tally for home runs is currently sitting at 19 from the 2023 season) as well.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: David Hamilton.
Hamilton has been one of fantasy’s best in terms of stolen bases this season. And while he has 28 this year, the infielder has logged just seven since the start of July, with two of those seven coming in one game on Sunday.
It’s certainly something to watch moving forward, particularly considering Hamilton is batting just .217 with a .280 on-base percentage, one home run, and a 30.7% strikeout rate in 75 plate appearances since July 1.
Pitchers
Strikeouts (K)
Leaders
Of Note: Dylan Cease.
You’re probably keeping Dylan Cease in your fantasy lineups because, well, he’s been excellent this season, particularly in terms of missing bats.
But Cease could see even more fantasy success with strikeouts in the coming weeks. Assuming the Padres rotation continues as is without interruptions, Cease will make three of his next five starts against teams (the Rockies, Rays, and Marlins) who rank in the top 13 in the league in strikeout rate.
The Rockies start is in Colorado, something that shouldn’t entirely be cast aside and left behind, but the Rockies also have the second-highest total strikeout rate this season at 26.0% and are striking out 23.9% of the time at home, tied for the sixth-highest mark in the league this season.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: Tyler Anderson.
The Angels traded away a few veterans at the deadline, though all of their subtractions from the major league roster were relief pitchers, with Carlos Estévez being dealt to the Phillies and Luis Garcia having been traded to the Red Sox.
That was it, however.
With Anderson staying in Los Angeles with the Angels for the rest of the season, his fantasy ceiling probably isn’t quite as high as it could’ve been had he been traded elsewhere.
What with a 3.05 ERA and a 4.41 FIP in 135.2 innings, Anderson could’ve benefited immensely from a more high-scoring lineup that would give him more run support. Now, staying with the Angels, his fantasy upside won’t nearly be as high, particularly with potential statistical regression coming, especially considering his lower strikeout rate (18.3%) and higher walk rate (9.2%).
ERA
Leaders
Of Note: Brady Singer.
Brady Singer has largely been excellent for the Kansas City Royals this season, pitching to a 2.88 ERA and a 3.74 FIP in his first 12 innings while adding eight pitcher wins in 22 starts and surrendering just 2.59 walks and 0.94 homers per nine innings.
He’s also allowed one run or fewer in six of his last eight starts entering play this week.
However, he might not have the best fantasy schedule on the horizon. Assuming the Royals’ rotation continues as planned without any interruptions or changes, Singer will make his next three starts either against a top-10 run-scoring unit (at Minnesota and home vs. Philadelphia) or in an extremely hitter-friendly ballpark (at Great American Ball Park, which has the fourth-highest overall park factor, per Statcast, in the last three seasons).
He’s certainly not a candidate to be benched for each start. Singer’s recent run of allowing one run or fewer did include a start in Colorado, but fantasy managers should proceed with a bit of caution.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: Hayden Birdsong.
Speaking of the trade deadline, it saw veteran starter Alex Cobb traded by the Giants to the Cleveland Guardians, clearing rotation innings for Birdsong the rest of the way. There are a number of injury list options to stash in IL spots here, but Birdsong nonetheless has the highest upside of the group.
He gave up two runs or fewer in five of his first six major league starts – the only start that didn’t qualify was one in which Birdsong allowed three earned runs in his first major league outing – and gets to make half of his starts in one of the league’s pitcher-friendly stadiums. Realistically, his rostered rate should be approaching twice what it is now.
Wins (W)
Leaders
Of Note: Luis Gil.
After an unideal stretch in which he allowed 16 earned runs in 12 innings and three starts, Gil has been much better as of late.
The 26-year-old right-hander followed that stretch by allowing just six total runs in his next four outings, three of which came in the same start in Philadelphia the day before the trade deadline.
He could be in for more fantasy success moving forward as well if this form continues. Should the Yankees’ rotation continue as is without any interruptions, Gil will see his next five scheduled outings come away to Chicago, home to Detroit, home to Colorado, away to Washington, and away to Texas.
All five teams entered play Monday ranked in the bottom-5 in the league in runs scored.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: Héctor Neris.
One of a number of relief pitchers around the league whose fantasy ceiling was significantly impacted by trade deadline dealings (more on some of them in a bit), Héctor Neris might have been the biggest beneficiary of the group. The Cubs didn’t trade the veteran and now he gets to stay in Chicago with a team for which he’s dominated the save chances despite a rather high walk rate (14.4%) and a reasonably high FIP (4.37).
Quality Starts (QS)
Leaders
Of Note: Luis Castillo.
The only new name on this particular list this week, Castillo is once again posting an ERA (and a FIP) under the 4.00 mark for the sixth consecutive season. The fact that his 8.58 strikeouts per nine frames are on track to be a new career low certainly isn’t ideal, but Castillo has continued to be a decidedly above-average fantasy starter.
You’ll want to keep him in fantasy lineups for his upcoming slate of starts. Assuming the Mariners rotation continues as is, Castillo will get the Mets at home before a five-game stretch that sees him match up with the Pirates (on the road), San Francisco (at home), Tampa Bay (also at home), the A’s (also at home), and the Cardinals (on the road).
Besides the Mets, the Giants are the only team on that list to be in the top half of the league in runs scored, but San Francisco ranks ahead of only 15 teams and just traded away Jorge Soler.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: Michael Lorenzen.
Traded from the Texas Rangers to the Kansas City Royals last month, Lorenzen has been a useful streaming option in the right matchups this year, posting a 3.69 ERA in 107.1 innings.
A 5.03 FIP, 6.71 strikeouts, and 4.19 walks per nine innings aren’t ideal, but the veteran’s move from Texas to Kansas City further underscores his standing as a solid streaming option moving forward. If anything it’s a more fantasy-friendly situation considering the Royals entered the week having outscored the Rangers by 61 runs.
Saves (SV)
Leaders
Of Note: Kyle Finnegan.
If Finnegan wasn’t traded at the deadline, his fantasy ceiling figured to remain considerably high as the Nationals’ top saves option.
With the trade deadline come and gone and top setup reliever Hunter Harvey having since been traded to the Royals, Finnegan has a real shot at a 40-save season.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: Players Impacted By Trade Deadline Deals.
A number of relievers on this list were actually traded last month, notably Kopech, Stanek, and Beeks. All three are in new fantasy environments where save chances (however consistent or not) might not be as plentiful given the construction of their new team’s bullpen. Alvardo and Hoffman might also see fewer save chances than they did in the first half, though that’s mainly due to Carlos Estévez’s arrival in Philadelphia.
WHIP
Leaders
Of Note: Zack Wheeler.
Since May 23 in a 12-start stretch, Wheeler allowed nine hits, eight earned runs, and four walks in 4.1 innings on June 16 and seven hits, seven earned runs, three walks, and three home runs on July 29.
Otherwise, he’s given up two earned runs or fewer each time out in that stretch and has reached the seven-inning mark five different times. That the two poor starts came against the Yankees and on the road in Baltimore takes the sting out of them a bit.
Either way, Wheeler looks like a top-5 fantasy starter the rest of the way, particularly with Garrett Crochet throwing fewer innings per start as of late.
Wheeler was excellent in his last outing, limiting the Mariners to two hits and a walk in eight scoreless innings (while striking out nine) at T-Mobile Park.
Rostered in 50% or Fewer Leagues
Of Note: Spencer Schwellenbach.
A deeper league waiver wire option with league-winning potential, the rookie right-hander has been excellent as of late, with 21 strikeouts in his last 14 innings, scattering just eight hits, three earned runs, and a pair of walks in the process.
Look a bit farther back, more specifically to the start of July, and Schwellenbach has posted a CSW% between 33% and 37% in four of his five starts.
There are few if any pitchers with this much fantasy upside and ability available via waivers in so many fantasy leagues.