Fantasy Baseball 2018: 3 second basemen to target late

If you miss out on one of the elite options, we have three second base targets you can aim for with a late-round pick.

Whether you play in deep league formats, AL/NL-only leagues or simply need to wait to draft your second baseman as you are too busy filling other positions in the earlier rounds, sometimes we all need to look toward the bottom of the draft board.

We have identified three second basemen that are available in the late rounds (after pick 300), who could return excellent value for their draft position.

Devon Travis (ADP 439)
The often-injured Blue Jays’ second baseman continually lures fantasy baseball managers with the potential of speed, on-base skills and a bit of pop, but his health has let him down.

Devon Travis has failed to reach 450 plate appearances in a season since 2012 when he was still in Single-A. He has also failed to recapture the form that saw him hit 16 home runs with 22 stolen bases and .936 OPS.

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His potential is too enticing to ignore. Second base is shallow and very few players offer Travis’ upside this late in the draft. If 2018 is the year he plays 135 games, the 27-year-old could return excellent value.

Neil Walker (ADP 459)
Lost in the confusion of the offseason free agency, Neil Walker has drifted down draft boards and risks being the forgotten man of the 2018 preseason.

With .801 OPS, the 32-year-old was a top-10 second baseman last year, which was an impressive return considering his struggles against left-handers and that he lost 50 games to injury.

He made significant improvements to his approach at the plate, which manifested itself with double-digit percentage walks for the first time and a career-high OBP.

Depending on where Walker secures employment will affect his draft position. Take a flyer on him now and hope that lands in a favorable location. He would be an upgrade over anyone the Rays, Dodgers or Padres have at second base. Walker has 15-20 home run potential with the expectation of 75 runs/75 RBI and a batting average of around .270.

Derek Dietrich (ADP 553)
You need to play in a very deep league for the Marlins’ Derek Dietrich to be valuable but he could have a surprisingly good season if he gets 450 plate appearances.

The 28-year-old is out-of-options so he will make the Marlins’ Opening Day roster and until Starlin Castro is moved, Dietrich will patrol left field in the depleted Miami lineup.  He has dual 2B/OF-eligibility in most formats.

Dietrich finished the season in impressive fashion slashing .273/.371/.507 in the last two months, including eight home runs, seven doubles and two triples in 150 at-bats. That production will work at second base or middle infield in deeper leagues, especially if he can maintain a similar level for a full season.

Maybe the left-hander will be platooned when there is a southpaw on the mound, but expect him to bat leadoff against right-handers. Rebuilding teams offer intriguing fantasy potential by giving playing time to hitters who would otherwise have no fantasy value.

Next: Wait on outfield to win your league

These three players are probably only worth speculating on in deeper leagues, although if you want another second baseman available toward the end of the draft, then take another look at Ben Zobrist (ADP 288). The Cubs’ utilityman is coming off his worst season, but much of that can be attributed to a wrist injury. Although he will share playing time, the 36-year-old is 2B/OF-eligible and is a late round pick with bounce back potential