Fantasy baseball: First basemen you can wait on in drafts

Last season, I waited at first base, and the results literally could not have been any better. I drafted Pete Alonso in the 16th round, and he went on to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. I will start this article by saying I do have a sleeper on my radar with that much upside. Alonso is one of my favorite sleepers of all time. The first baseman rankings are pretty set in stone, but there is still value to be found at the position, whether it is a veteran people have faded too hard, or youngster owners are undervaluing. The key here is that chances are, you aren’t going to find a first baseman with a balanced game. These guys usually mash, so even if you are playing categories let’s take a look at some guys who can put up some monster numbers at their current ADP.

Edwin Encarnacion

Edwin is getting up there in age, but one thing is for sure: he can still rake. Encarnacion is coming off his eighth straight season of 30 or more home runs, yet his current ADP is sitting at 173. That is the 18th round in 10 team leagues, a tremendous value! If he had stayed healthy all of last season, he would have had a legitimate shot at 50 home runs with the “juiced baseballs.” Not to mention, he will be joining a White Sox offense that has the potential to be one of the leagues best, allowing him plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. Forget the age, it’s not like fantasy baseball involves defense. This guy is in Nelson Cruz territory and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Christian Walker

Walker had a tremendous 2019 in what was finally his first full season as a pro. He hit 29 homers with 73 RBI and even had a handful of steals. He is a forgotten man at a very deep position but has breakout potential given 2019 was essentially his rookie year. Walker mashed at every level of the minors, and his power skillset is legit. Now, the Diamondbacks are looking like a super sneaky team, and he will have the recently acquired Starling Marte ahead of him in the lineup, and a year under his belt. A guy who has serious 40 homer potential, Walker is being drafted outside the top 200 in drafts. If you whiff in your drafts at first base, he can be a fantastic last resort.

Michael Chavis

Chavis enjoyed an excellent rookie season, posting 18 homers and 58 RBI in just 95 games with the Sox. He was their best player on offense for some stretches. Chavis should have multi-position eligibility between first and third base and could be a breakout star in 2020. Even if you do not necessarily need a first baseman late in your drafts, he is just a good guy to have at the end of your roster due to the upside. With his ADP being at 262, the local kid out of Sprayberry High School is virtually free and has the talent to be a league winner.