It seems like everyone who plays fantasy sports has their sleepers, busts, keepers, and break-out players lists. 

It is easy to make a list, but much more difficult to put that list to work in an actual fantasy draft. 

If you have read my break-out, sleepers, and busts slide show, you will see how I maximized my Yahoo MLB draft based on the players “Average Draft Position”—meaning what number they went overall. 

I will give you two scenarios:  One, drafting first overall in a 12 team league, and the other drafting 12th overall. 

This will give you a better idea of which players can and will be available at your particular pick in the draft. Team A will have the 1st overall pick and Team B will have the 12th overall pick based on a 12 team league. 

Here are how my two teams would shake out based on players current draft positions.

We will base this draft on the normal 5×5 Rotisserie Leagues. Our starters will be as follows which is standard in a Yahoo league:

C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, (3) OF, (2) Utility/DH, (2) SP, (2) RP, (4) P

The players average draft position is in the parentheses, while the number off to the side represents their actual draft position.

 

Below is how I would maximize my team from both draft slots on draft day.

 

Round 1

Team A – Troy Tulowitzki (4th) Draft Overall 1st

Team B – Evan Longoria (14th) – Draft Overall 12th

 

Round 2

Team B – Carlos Gonzalez (13th) – Draft Overall 13th

Team A –  Andrew McCutchen (28th) – Draft Overall 24th

 

Round 3

Team A – Tim Lincecum (27th) – Draft Overall 25th

Team B – Carlos Santana (40th) – Draft Overall 36th

 

Round 4

Team B – David Price (51st) – Draft Overall 37th

Team A – Brett Lawrie (50th) – Draft Overall 48th

 

Round 5

Team A – Jay Bruce (56th) – Draft Overall 49th

Team B – Yovani Gallardo (60th) – Draft Overall 60th

 

Round 6

Team B – Eric Hosmer (71st) – Draft Overall 61st

Team A – Howie Kendrick (80th) – Draft Overall 72nd

 

Round 7

Team A – Drew Storen (86th) – Draft Overall 73rd

Team B – Jason Heyward (90th) – Draft Overall 84th

 

Round 8

Team B – Matt Moore (93rd) – Draft Overall 85th

Team A – Brian Wilson (104th) – Draft Overall 96th

 

Round 9

Team A – Daniel Hudson (101st) – Draft 97th Overall

Team B – Ricky Romero (114th) –  Draft 108th Overall

 

Round 10

Team B – Joel Hanrahan (118th) – Draft 109th Overall

Team A- Brandon Beachy (121st) –  Draft 120th Overall

 

Round 11

Team A – Freddie Freeman (137th) – Draft 121st Overall

Team B – Jordan Walden (133rd) – Draft 132nd Overall

 

Round 12

Team B – Cameron Maybin (141st) – Draft 133rd Overall

Team A – Jesus Montero (155th) – Draft 144th Overall

 

Round 13

Team A – Huston Street (152nd) – Draft 145th Overall

Team B – Erick Aybar (157th) – Draft 156th Overall

 

Round 14

Team B – Peter Bourjos (174th) – Draft 157th Overall

Team A – Max Scherzer (169th) – Draft 168th Overall

 

Round 15

Team A – Jeff Francouer (181st) – Draft 169th Overall

Team B –  Jason Kipnis (200th) – Draft 180th Overall

 

Round 16

Team B – Wandy Rodriguez (194th) – Draft 181st Overall

Team A – Bud Norris (201st) – Draft 192nd Overall

 

Round 17

Team A – Wilson Ramos (213th) – Draft 193rd Overall

Team B – Dexter Fowler (206th) – Draft 204th Overall

 

Round 18

Team B – Lucas Duda (216th) – Draft 205th Overall

Team A – Matt Joyce (229th) – Draft 216th Overall

 

Round 19

Team A – Austin Jackson (238th) – Draft 217th Overall

Team B – Ryan Raburn (253rd) – Draft 228th Overall

 

Round 20

Team B – Brandon McCarthy (246th) – Draft 229th Overall

Team A –  Brennan Boesch (260th) – Draft 240th Overall

 

Round 21

Team A – Devin Mesoraco (265th) – Draft 241st Overall

Team B – Addison Reed (323rd) – Draft 252nd Overall

 

Round 22

Team B – John Mayberry (310th) – Draft 253rd Overall

Team A – Greg Holland (312th) – Draft 264th Overall

 

Round 23

Team A – Justin Smoak (347th) – Draft 265th Overall

Team B – Brandon Belt ( 357th) – Draft 276th Overall

 

RESULTS


Team A

C – Wilson Ramos

1B – Freddie Freeman

2B – Howie Kendrick

SS – Troy Tulowitzki

3B – Brett Lawrie

OF – Andrew McCutchen

OF – Jay Bruce

OF – Jeff Francouer

UT – Jesus Montero

UT – Matt Joyce

SP – Tim Lincecum

SP – Daniel Hudson

RP – Drew Storen

RP – Brian Wilson

P – Brandon Breachy

P – Huston Street

P – Max Scherzer

P – Bud Norris

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BENCH: Austin Jackson, Brennan Boesch, Devin Mesoraco, Greg Holland, Justin Smoak

 

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Team B

C – Carlos Santana

1B – Eric Hosmer

2B – Jason Kipnis

SS – Erick Aybar

3B – Evan Longoria

OF – Carlos Gonzalez

OF – Jason Heyward

OF – Cameron Maybin

UT – Peter Bourjos

UT – Dexter Fowler

SP – David Price

SP – Yovani Gallardo

RP – Matt Moore

RP – Joel Hanrahan

P – Ricky Romero

P – Jordan Walden

P – Wandy Rodriguez

P – Brandon McCarthy

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BENCH: Lucas Duda, Ryan Raburn, Addison Reed, John Mayberry, Brandon Belt

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Below is a list of the notable Undrafted Players (players falling out of 277th Overall that I did not draft):

C Miguel Olivo

1B Adam Dunn, Justin Morneau

2B Jose Altuve

SS Alcides Escobar, Stephen Drew, Zack Cosart

3B Nolan Arenado, Danny Valencia, Casey McGehee

OF Chris Heisey, Colby Rasmus, Carlos Quentin, Jason Bay, Mike Trout

SP Trevor Bauer, Ryan Vogelsong, Julio Teheran, Drew Pomeranz, Jake Peavy, Trevor Cahill, Chad Billinglsey, Francisco Liriano

RP Jonathon Broxton, Kevin Gregg

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I hope you enjoyed reading this article on maximizing your draft based on the average draft positions. If you are in a deeper or shallower league you can adjust these players draft positions/rankings to maximize your team. Hopefully this can give you a better idea of who to target and when you should pull the trigger on getting them. Now go draft!

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