2014 RotoGraphs Staff Picks

Ever wanted all that sweet RotoGraphs analysis in one place? We aim to please here at the site, and are happy to post our official RotoGraphs Staff Picks for the upcoming fantasy season. Think of this as a one stop shop cheat sheet for your fantasy drafts. One of the problems we run into at RotoGraphs is that some of us may have the same sleepers, but only one of us will write up that player. These lists give you a better idea of how many of us at RotoGraphs like, or dislike, a certain player, and which deep sleepers we are targeting. Read on if you can handle the awesomeness.

You’ll immediately understand most of the categories, but some require an explanation.

Deep Sleeper is a player who isn’t a mixed-leaguer, but may end up in a role and perform well.

Best Flyer is more of a desperation heave. Very few of the Best Flyer candidates will be drafted in most leagues, but are perfect for in-season watch lists. Monitor their progress throughout the year, and strike when you can.

There was also some confusion with the Best Sophomore Pitcher category, which was completely my fault. The goal here was to focus on the bunched up group of Michael Wacha, Gerrit Cole, Sonny Gray, etc. Jose Fernandez is a consensus top-10 pitcher, so he’s the obvious answer here, and I should have made it clear he was excluded from the process. Alas, I messed up. But if you want to know which of that later group some of us like, you’ll get that here.

Here are the results.

RotoGrapher Sleeper Deep Sleeper Bust NL Rookie AL Rookie Comeback Player 2nd Half Closer Best Sophomore Pitcher Best Flyer
Michael Barr Ike Davis Robbie Grossman Anibal Sanchez Kolten Wong Masahiro Tanaka Brandon Beachy Rex Brothers Jose Fernandez Scott Baker
Chad Young Matt Dominguez Drew Stubbs Hunter Pence Archie Bradley Xander Bogaerts Yasmani Grandal Tanner Scheppers Jose Fernandez James Paxton
Alan Harrison Eddie Butler George Springer Jean Segura Billy Hamilton Xander Bogaerts Jason Heyward Rex Brothers Jose Fernandez James Paxton
J.P. Breen Rick Porcello Rickie Weeks Freddie Freeman Archie Bradley Jose Abreu Brandon Beachy Rex Brothers Jose Fernandez Oswaldo Arcia
David Wiers Kole Calhoun Rajai Davis Robinson Cano Travis d’Arnaud Jose Abreu Jason Heyward Joaquin Benoit Tony Cingrani Darin Ruf
Zach Sanders Kole Calhoun Dustin Ackley Ian Kinsler Travis d’Arnaud Jose Abreu Miguel Montero Joaquin Benoit Danny Salazar James Paxton
Brad Johnson Rajai Davis Billy Burns Cole Hamels Archie Bradley Jose Abreu Josh Reddick Sergio Santos Sonny Gray Erik Johnson
Scott Strandberg Abraham Almonte Jonathan Singleton Coco Crisp Travis d’Arnaud Jose Abreu Brandon Beachy Rex Brothers Jose Fernandez Marcell Ozuna
Jack Weiland Jed Lowrie Peter Bourjos Starling Marte Billy Hamilton Jose Abreu Carlos Quentin Joaquin Benoit Sonny Gray Mike Olt
Colin Zarzycki Wilson Ramos Michael Choice Masahiro Tanaka Archie Bradley Xander Bogaerts Brett Anderson Sergio Santos Sonny Gray Burch Smith
Scott Spratt Scott Kazmir Billy Burns Yasiel Puig Jameson Taillon Marcus Stroman Jason Heyward Edward Mujica Gerrit Cole Daniel Webb
Brett Talley Rick Porcello Justin Ruggiano Masahiro Tanaka Archie Bradley Jose Abreu Johnny Cueto Brandon Kintzler Jose Fernandez Corey Dickerson
Jeff Zimmerman Mike Moustakas Brett Marshall Miguel Cabrera Archie Bradley Jose Abreu Trevor Bauer Joakim Soria/Neftali Feliz Jose Fernandez Melky Cabrera
Mike Podhorzer Oswaldo Arcia Carlos Carrasco Max Scherzer Carlos Martinez Jose Abreu Jason Heyward Arodys Vizcaino Jose Fernandez Marcus Semien
Blake Murphy Corey Dickerson Justin Ruggiano Billy Hamilton Kolten Wong Jose Abreu Josh Reddick Sergio Santos Gerrit Cole Oswaldo Arcia
Eno Sarris Anthony Rizzo Tyler Skaggs Anibal Sanchez Gregory Polanco Jose Abreu Yasmani Grandal Sergio Santos Gerrit Cole Kevin Gausman
Chris Cwik Anthony Rizzo Edinson Volquez Robinson Cano Kolten Wong Jose Abreu Yasmani Grandal Joaquin Benoit Danny Salazar Cameron Maybin
Howard Bender Kelly Johnson Nate Jones Yasiel Puig Archie Bradley Jose Abreu Joakim Soria Vic Black Sonny Gray James Paxton
Ben Duronio Jed Lowrie Marcus Semien Yasiel Puig Gregory Polanco Masahiro Tanaka Josh Reddick Arodys Vizcaino Julio Teheran Erik Johnson





Chris is a blogger for CBSSports.com. He has also contributed to Sports on Earth, the 2013 Hard Ball Times Baseball Annual, ESPN, FanGraphs and RotoGraphs. He tries to be funny on twitter @Chris_Cwik.

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NCPhilly
10 years ago

The obvious question, for Jeff Zimmerman: why do you pick Miguel Cabrera as your bust?

MDLmember
10 years ago
Reply to  NCPhilly

And why is Trevor Bauer his comeback player, if Bauer only has 33 career innings pitched in at the MLB level?

NCPhilly
10 years ago
Reply to  MDL

I see Bauer as more of a post-hype sleeper. He was a heavily hyped pitching prospect while with and coming from Arizona, then totally bombed when he made it in the bigs with Cleveland. The walks and total lack of command really did him in and diminished his star. In that way, he is a comeback player, but I typically think of veterans as comeback players, whether coming from a down year or returning from an injury.

sgtjuniormember
10 years ago
Reply to  NCPhilly

I think he was concerned about the abdomen injury.

But he sure does have the deepest deep sleeper!

Jeff Zimmermanmember
10 years ago
Reply to  NCPhilly

Injury/playing time issues with Cabrera.

hayzer13
10 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Zimmerman

playing time? How many weeks in to the season do you think Ausmus will bench him?

jake
10 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Zimmerman

Seems like the injury prediction for Cabrera is just a random guess (like many of these predictions likely are). He is playing 1B/DH now (way less demanding than 3B) and his injury from last year was not a chronic one.