Fansided

Fantasy Baseball 2018: 3 outfielders to pick up in deep leagues

By Gavin Tramps

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 20: Mac Williamson
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 20: Mac Williamson /
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We would all like an outfield of Giancarlo Stanton, Starling Marte and Mitch Haniger but in deeper formats, but that just isn’t possible. Here are three outfielders with less than 15% ownership for you to consider adding.

It is always easier to pick up fantasy-useful outfielders from waivers rather than infielders. Of course, so much of their value will be dependent on whether they stick in the majors.

Franchy Cordero

The 23-year-old enjoyed a two-homer game in the middle of June and then hit .086 over the rest of the month before being optioned to the minors.

Since then, Franchy Cordero has developed into one of the most intriguing players in both real life and fantasy. He is slugging .511 with four home runs and two stolen bases while playing all three outfield positions for the Padres.

In a recent MLB article he was described as:

"Padres’ outfielder Franchy Cordero runs like Dee Gordon and hits as hard as Joey Gallo"

At 489 feet, one of the home runs he crushed was the longest tracked by Statcast this season and the ninth longest during the Statcast era.

Unlike most power hitters, Cordero has the speed to spare, having swiped more than 100 bags in his Minor League career.

Currently, he is not a first choice outfielder in San Diego with Wil Myers, Manny Margot and Jose Pirela, but to get Cordero’s power and speed into the lineup, Andy Green has found playing time for Myers at third base and Pirela at second.

He has 20-20 potential, and that doesn’t often appear on waivers in deep leagues.

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David Dahl

The crowded outfield situation is Colorado does no favors for fantasy baseball players, but with Gerardo Parra serving a suspension and Carlos Gonzalez banged up on the DL, the once highly-touted David Dahl has been recalled to the majors.

Back in 2016, Dahl posted .859 OPS with seven home runs and .315 AVG in his debut 63-game stint in the majors.

Injury wiped out 2017, but Dahl can use this opportunity to remind everyone that he can be valuable with his bat and on the basepaths.

As with all Rockies’ hitters, Dahl will benefit from the thin Colorado air to boost his production.

While he is in the lineup, expect consistent hitting from a player who started his big league career with a historic 17-game hitting streak.

He has above-average speed, having stolen 22 bags across all levels in both 2015 and 2016.

It is difficult to predict that he will remain up with the Major League club, but if he is hitting, the contending Rockies will not send him down.

Mac Williamson

Over his 92-game Major League career spanning the last three seasons, Mac Williamson has slashed .226/.295/.387. He is now 27 years old, and before this season there was nothing about him to excite the fantasy baseball world.

Williamson, in common with so many players, rebuilt his swing during the spring, but unlike most other players, it has resulted in an extraordinary boost in power.

He has crushed three home runs in his first five games, and we mean crushed. He is hitting the ball as hard as anyone, and the opposite field homer he hit against the Angels was spectacular.

Hunter Pence, who is hitting .172, will be eligible to return from the DL at the start of May, but Williamson is breathing some youthful vigor into the Giants’ veteran outfield that is lacking in power.

Next: Miguel Andujar is on fire at the plate

Cordero is a must-own in all dynasty formats, but both he and Dahl are in very crowded outfield situations. If they get playing time, they will be potentially exceptional fantasy contributors.

Williamson’s power and the relative lack of competition in the Giants’ outfield, make him the player to target in single-season formats.

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