10th pick in 14-team Roto (Draft Strategy)

[jason_boris]

LEAGUE VARIABLES
14-Team
5x5 Roto
Non-Keeper

STARTING REQUIREMENTS
C - 1
1B - 1
2B - 1
3B - 1
SS - 1
OF - 4
CORNER INFIELD - 1
MIDDLE INFIELD - 1
UTILITY - 2
SP - 6 (my estimation)
RP - 3 (my estimation)

10TH PICK DRAFT STRATEGY

First off, I do not like this pick at all, but I have to play the cards that I'm dealt. Trying to decide between three possible scenarios and I'm curious to get some other input and opinions.

#1) Take the best stud first baseman (Howard, FIelder, Cabrera) with the 10th pick and then take Ryan Zimmerman (3B) in the second round. Will be looking to address 2B (Cano, Hill, Phillips), SS (Zobrist) or C (McCann) with my third and fourth round pick.

#2) Take Tulowitski (SS) with my first pick and follow it up with Zimmerman (3B) in the second round. And will be looking to lock up 2B (Cano, Hill, Phillips) and C (McCann) with my third and fourth round picks. As fpr 1B, maybe someone like Billy Butler in round 5.

#3) Do something I've never ever done before in a fantasy baseball draft. Draft Lincecum in the first round and Halladay in the second round and don't look starting pitching again until after round 10. Has anyone considered toying around with this idea or is it just plain stupid????

I can make a case of pros and cons for each of the above scenarios and I think I know which direction I'm leaning. My draft is this weekend, so I'l appreciate any suggestions, analysis, or insights you can provide.

I have been playing fantasy sports for MANY years, but constructive criticism is always beneficial and can always help to make your fantasy team better. Looking forward to hopefully hearing some valuable insights. Thanks!!!

[TheGuru]

I love the idea of taking tulo at this point of the draft. but in such a deep league, you have to get the production one of those big 1B gives you. so go with the 1B. but i cant argue with tulo.
just dont go with lincecum + halladay. you can always take 2 big bats, then take 2 stud SPs in round 3 and 4. the 2 studs you get here (greinke + verlander? you might even be able to do better than verlander) are not too far behind lincecum + halladay. plus, you wont have to play catch-up with your offense.

viewtopic.php?t=404915

[jason_boris]

That was my intial thought, but after more research, I started leaning towards the second option (based on position scarcity). I felt that I could get a decent 1B a few rounds later (Butler, Lee), but if I passed the Tulo, the best I could get at SS is probably Zobrist.

[dave knight]

I'd probably take a big first baseman in the first round, then if I can, go with Sizemore/Pedroia/Crawford/Gonzalez/Mauer in the next. I think there's too much raw production available to reach for Zimmerman in the 2nd.

[down.by.law]

I' d do a combination of the 2. I'd grab lincecum in the first and the best poss. non-1B bat in the 2nd. If Mauer, Sizemore, or Zimmerman are still hanging around in the 2nd grab them. In the 3rd, target a second tier 1B (Butler, Lee, Berkman).

I'm not big on highly ranked SS's. At short, I'd rather grab a high average, r, sb guy later in the draft.

Good luck!

[hopsjr2]

I recently drafted 11 in a very similar 14 team league and picked up Howard in Round 1 and Wright in Round 2. It seems like you are very focused on certain players (Tulo and Zimmerman) but you really have to go with best availabe and players that compliment each other well.

That being said, I'd certainly take one of the 1B if they are available. I also think that there are better values in round 2 than Zimmerman, like Matt Holliday. If you are able to pick up a solid offensive player in Round 1, I think Halladay could be in the picture, but I'd probably wait a bit for a SP.

Can you check mine?

viewtopic.php?t=404956

[Fenris-77]

Don't over-value position scarcity. If you draft Tulo in the first you're just asking for trouble IMO, especially over guys like Fielder. In a deep league you need to grab your studs when they're available. I'd go BPA for the first three rounds and see where that leaves you (more or less anyway). I really dislike firm plans for the first handful of rounds in any draft - let that bad boy come to you and see what's there when it's your pick.

[jason_boris]

Thanks for all the advice guys, but just to make things clear, I'm definitely not locked in to any draft strategy prior to the draft. I'm just trying to guess which players will be gone when it's my turn to pick and then have some type of "plan" in place on what I want to do.

[jason_boris]

Any other thoughts on this one.......draft is fast approaching!