KFFL's managing editors choose their favorite fantasy baseball sleepers for 2010.
Nicholas Minnix
| Player |
POS |
TM |
The what for |
| Matt Wieters |
C |
BAL |
OK, this is kind of obvious, but he's a natural. Cut him some slack for 2009 after less than 2 years in minors. Minimum: .280 BA, 20 HR |
| Jay Bruce |
OF |
CIN |
Packs 40-HR power and, after return from non-lingering wrist issue, demonstrated this: He gets it. BA will follow. |
| Colby Rasmus |
OF |
STL |
Cardinals have brought him along at just the right pace. Maturing, more fit youngster should hit in 2-hole and thrive. |
| Brian Matusz |
SP |
BAL |
Like to refer to him as slightly bigger Cole Hamels. Control artist with great changeup so polished that he'll shine in 2010. |
| Homer Bailey |
SP |
CIN |
Was never a believer ... until last year, when his supposed mid-90s velocity and head showed up. Now, about Dusty Baker.... |
Tim Heaney
| Player |
POS |
TM |
The what for |
| Jay Bruce |
OF |
CIN |
Look past that '09 BA. Wrist looks healed. Don't forget his farm performances. Start with 30 HR and an improved clip - don't look back. |
| Yunel Escobar |
SS |
ATL |
Elite batting eye = middle-round BA stability. Growing FB and ISO peg him as breakthrough material. Entering age-27 season. |
| Max Scherzer |
SP |
DET |
Strand rate hurt him last year. Needs to become more efficient, but K security hard to ignore in the middle rounds. |
| Rickie Weeks |
2B |
MIL |
Hard to discount injury history, but he showed maturity before his season ended. LD increase favors BA growth. Buy low. |
| Brad Penny |
SP |
STL |
The next Joel Piniero? Dave Duncan's next project has better track record, fastball. Penny thrived in switch to NL last year. |
Cory J. Bonini
| Player |
POS |
TM |
The what for |
| Russell Martin |
C |
LAD |
Health withstanding, I expect a big rebound in power and BA. Working on his approach, added muscle; great gamble as low-end No. 1 catcher. |
| Jose Valverde |
RP |
DET |
Change of scenery should help; should find plenty of save opps. Improved BABIP, declining K/9 and increasing BB/9 should come around. |
| Kevin Gregg |
RP |
TOR |
K/9-plus pitcher with a good chance at becoming CL; regained dominance last year and improved control. Needs to keep HR/9 down though. |
| Chase Headley |
3B/OF |
SD |
Moves back to natural position; drastically improved BB/K ratio in his first full year despite a lower BA; worth a late flier as CI or No. 5 OF. |
| Brandon Webb |
SP |
ARI |
He's risky, sure, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt after one injured season. Great No. 3 in mixed if you have security ahead of him. |
Bryce McRae
| Player |
POS |
TM |
The what for |
| Rickie Weeks |
2B |
MIL |
Wrist injury cut short Weeks' 2009 breakout season; great speed and power combo that should help at a very shallow position. |
| Vernon Wells |
OF |
TOR |
The most overpaid man in baseball one year removed from 2008 injuries; skills still there and less pressure will help in 2010. |
| Chad Qualls |
RP |
ARI |
Knee injury has people ignoring this closer; ARI doesn't have any great options to challenge Qualls, who should net 30-plus saves. |
| Homer Bailey |
SP |
CIN |
Bailey developed both confidence and a split-fingered pitch that helped him to a solid 2009 finish; won't take much to get him, either. |
| Jay Bruce |
OF |
CIN |
Other Cincy youngster is former minor league POY; has power and speed, and skills improvement suggest he'll finish 2010 in top 50. |
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