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Head-to-head category leagues add a lot of different strategy possibilities, depending on your lineup configuration. It's much easier to punt a category in this format, and if you don't have regulations on starting pitcher/relief pitcher, you can go with a RP-heavy strategy and give yourself a 3-2 advantage in the pitching categories most weeks. This draft required five starters and two relievers, so that specific strategy was out the window and I settled for a balanced approach. Just keep an eye on your lineup requirements.
If you aren't punting any offensive categories, the two to keep a close eye on are steals and batting average. They played largely into my selection of Trea Turner in the first round and caused some consternation when I just missed on Lorenzo Cain in Round 5. My selection of Michael Brantley in Round 7 and Mitch Haniger in Round 9 left me feeling secure enough in average to grab Jonathan Villar in Round 10.
As far as pitching in this format, I want a couple of possible aces early in the draft for ERA and strikeouts, and I definitely want two secure closers. Having SPARPs mostly taken out of consideration, closer gets thin relatively early in the draft. After that, I'm looking for high-upside pitchers. There will be streaming options available, so there's really little reason to settle for innings eaters unless you're desperate for wins and they're on a great team.
One person who had better hope there are streamers available is Chris Towers, because he took a completely different approach. Towers filled his entire lineup of hitters before taking even one pitcher. The result is a stunning lineup that includes Paul Goldschmidt, Christian Yelich and J.T. Realmuto as well as phenoms Vladimir Guerrero and Eloy Jimenez. He even grabbed Billy Hamilton for steals. It will be tough to win an offensive category against his team.
Of course, that left his pitching staff long on hope and short on floor. His best two pitchers are Robbie Ray and Masahiro Tanaka. His two relievers are Jordan Hicks and Shane Greene, neither of which inspire confidence. But his offense won't need much help to put together a winning record.
One of the best things about the H2H categories format is the variety of strategies it encourages and you'll see several below in the results.
The participants in this mock draft were:
- Mike Kuchera, The Fantasy Man (@TheFantasyMan)
- Chris Mitchell, Fantrax (@CJMitch73)
- B_Don, Razzball (@DitkaSausagePod)
- Matt Williams, Fake Teams/Turn Two Podcast (@MattWi77iams)
- Ariel Cohen, CBS Sports (@ATCNY)
- George Maselli, CBS Sports
- Heath Cummings, CBS Sports (@heathcummingssr)
- Scott Zeidman, CREATiVESPORTS
- Tom Ogonowski, Future Studskis (@ProspectFiend)
- Adam Aizer, CBS Sports (@AdamAizer)
- Chris Towers, CBS Sports (@CTowersCBS)
- Scott White CBS Sports (@CBSScottWhite)
Let's get to the results:
So which Fantasy Baseball sleepers should you snatch in your draft? And which undervalued pitchers can help you win a championship? Visit SportsLine now to get Fantasy Baseball rankings for every single position, all from the model that called Scooter Gennett's huge breakout last season, and find out.