2011 Fantasy Baseball: Deep Sleepers

2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide: Deep Sleepers

Deep Sleepers are based on a standard scoring system in mixed AL/NL fantasy baseball leagues for the 2011 season. Scoring system stats include: R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG

Deep Sleepers are based on players who are flying under the radar to begin the 2011 season. Deep Sleepers include players who are widely considered to be a backup player behind an incumbent starter, or are a minor league prospect with little or no major league experience entering the 2011 season. Deep Sleepers are players to select with your last pick in your fantasy baseball draft to begin the 2011 season, or simply keep an eye to begin the season.

For additional 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings and Info check out my blog at Hawk Fantasy Sports

Other Deep Sleepers:
Catcher 1B / First Base 1B / Second Base 2B / Third Base 3B / Shortstop SS / Outfield OF / Left Field LF / Center Field CF / Right Field RF / Starting Pitcher SP / Relief Pitcher RP

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Top 10 - Outfield (OF) Deep Sleepers

Peter Bourjos - LAA
With former starting centerfielders Torii Hunter and Vernon Wells getting up there in age, the 24 year old Bourjos is exactly the type of speedy CF that the Angels need to anchor their defense. Offering plenty of speed to spare, Bourjos has tallied 50, 32 and 37 stolen bases over his last three seasons, including racking up 10 stolen bases in 51 games played with the Angels in 2010. On the downside, Bourjos has shown a susceptibility for plate discipline, so his batting average could lag during the 2011 season. Yet on the upside, Bourjos could be looking at a 30 plus stolen base and 10 homerun season, as he likely settles in at the bottom of the Angels lineup until he can get on base more consistently.
2010 Minor League Stats: 414 AB, 85 R, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 27 SB, .314 AVG
2010 Major League Stats: 181 AB, 19 R, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 10 SB, .204 AVG
2011 Major League Stat Projections: 70 R, 10 HR, 50 RBI, 30 SB, .270 AVG

Michael Taylor - Oak
After an extremely disappointing 2010 season that resulted in Taylor hitting just 6 homeruns with a .272 batting average over 127 games at Triple-A, the top prospect light is fading quickly on this 25 year old. However given Taylor's tremendous talent and combination of power and speed, a turnaround in 2011 is absolutely within reach. Add in the fact that the Athletics outfield offers a bunch of midlevel to below average players, and any type of hot start to the 2011 season could easily have Taylor claiming a starting spot in the Athletics outfield at some point during the 2011 season. Offering 20 homerun and 20 stolen base ability, Taylor is one hot streak away from making a significant fantasy baseball impact in 2011.
2010 Minor League Stats: 464 AB, 79 R, 6 HR, 78 RBI, 16 SB, .272 AVG
2010 Major League Stats: no major league experience
2011 Major League Stat Projections: 50 R, 12 HR, 55 RBI, 12 SB, .275 AVG

Scott Cousins - Fla
With the Marlins trading once considered centerfield of the future in Cameron Maybin during the offseason, the starting CF spot in Florida has now been opened and is up for grabs entering the 2011 season. Luckily for the 26 year old Cousins, a very successful late season major league debut to close out the 2010 season, has positioned him as the leading candidate to claim the everyday starting CF job to begin the 2011 season. Offering a little bit of everything as a hitter, Cousins has 10 homerun and 15-20 stolen base ability over the course of a full season.
2010 Minor League Stats: 410 AB, 74 R, 14 HR, 49 RBI, 12 SB, .283 AVG
2010 Major League Stats: 37 AB, 2 R, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, .297 AVG
2011 Major League Stat Projections: 65 R, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 15 SB, .275 AVG

Casper Wells - Det
As a seasoned minor league outfielder, Wells earned himself his first major league call up during the 2010 season, and he definitely did not disappoint. Tallying a superb .333 batting average and .560 slugging percentage to go with his 4 homeruns, 15 rbi and 14 runs scored in just 84 at bats after the all-star game, Wells could easily force his way into a significant amount of playing time with the Tigers during the 2011 season. Offering the ability to play all three outfield positions, Wells and his 20 plus homerun potential should definitely be a welcome addition to the Tigers lineup during the 2011 season.
2010 Minor League Stats: 387 AB, 56 R, 21 HR, 46 RBI, 7 SB, .233 AVG
2010 Major League Stats: 93 AB, 14 R, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 0 SB, .323 AVG
2011 Major League Stat Projections: 55 R, 16 HR, 65 RBI, 5 SB, .270 AVG

Chris Carter - Oak
A mixture of LF, 1B, and DH is what Carter has been playing over his minor league career, and likely will play in the majors if given an opportunity during the 2011 season. After making his major league debut in August last season, Carter started in an 0-33 slump but he eventually caught up to speed and easily showcased his power hitting ability and run producing potential. Boasting 30 plus homerun potential, Carter is seemingly in the same mold as fellow slugger Adam Dunn. Much like Dunn, Carter strikes out a lot but he also draws a ton of walks, and when Carter is not strikeout out or drawing a walk, he is either hitting a homerun or a double. All in all, if given just 300 at bats in the majors during the 2011 season, Carter could be pushing 15-20 homeruns, 40-60 rbi, and a slugging percentage above .500.
2010 Minor League Stats: 465 AB, 92 R, 31 HR, 94 RBI, 1 SB, .258 AVG
2010 Major League Stats: 70 AB, 8 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1 SB, .186 AVG
2011 Major League Stat Projections: 50 R, 18 HR, 55 RBI, 2 SB, .265 AVG

Allen Craig - StL
A developed and proven minor league hitter with excellent homerun hitting ability, Craig is a man without a position in St. Louis. Having spent time playing first base, third base, left field and right field over the past few seasons, Craig is stuck behind Pujols and Holliday at 1B and LF, and with the Cardinals signing Lance Berkman to play RF, that only leaves the 3B spot open for playing time to begin the 2011 season. However given Berkman's age and health issues over the last two seasons, Craig is not that far away from being given an opportunity to see a great deal of playing time in RF. Add in his versatility, and Craig could become a top utility man for the Cardinals during the 2011 season. Offering 20 plus homerun and .290 plus batting average ability over the course of a full season, Craig is one backup role player that fantasy baseball teams will want to keep a close eye on in 2011.
2010 Minor League Stats: 306 AB, 57 R, 14 HR, 81 RBI, 1 SB, .320 AVG
2010 Major League Stats: 114 AB, 12 R, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 0 SB, .246 AVG
2011 Major League Stat Projections: 50 R, 12 HR, 65 RBI, 0 SB, .290 AVG

Yonder Alonso - Cin
The Reds 1st round pick 7th overall in the 2008 draft, Alonso is a natural 1B who has been moved to LF to try and give him his quickest opportunity for playing time in the majors. Stuck behind Joey Votto at 1B, Alonso will either need an injury to Votto or the more likely possibility of Jonny Gomes in LF struggling, to give him any significant playing time in the majors during the 2011 season. However, if either of these two possibilities happen, then Alonso could almost instantly become a top run producer in the Reds everyday lineup.
2010 Minor League Stats: 507 AB, 69 R, 15 HR, 69 RBI, 13 SB, .289 AVG
2010 Major League Stats: 29 AB, 2 R, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, .207 AVG
2011 Major League Stat Projections: 40 R, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 2 SB, .280 AVG

Ben Revere - Min
When you think of the Minnesota Twins offense and how they score runs, you probably think of a scrappy bunch of slap hitters who get on base and can steal bases with ease. Revere is built in this mold to a tee, as he can draw more walks than strikeouts and he can steal a base on any pitcher and catcher. While the Twins outfield is pretty stocked to begin the 2011 season, a speedy and versatile outfielder like Revere is the ideal replacement if an injury were to strike any of the starters. If given the opportunity, Revere could potentially become the Twins leadoff hitter at some point during the 2011 season. All in all, if Revere get playing time, then he is definitely worthy of a roster spot for fantasy baseball teams looking for stolen bases, runs scored, and a solid batting average that could register around .300.
2010 Minor League Stats: 361 AB, 44 R, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 36 SB, .305 AVG
2010 Major League Stats: 28 AB, 1 R, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, .179 AVG
2011 Major League Stat Projections: 55 R, 2 HR, 30 RBI, 25 SB, .290 AVG

Jerry Sands - LAD
After an outstanding 2010 season between Single-A and Double-A, in which Sands tallied 35 homeruns, 93 rbi, 102 runs scored, 18 stolen bases, and a .300 batting average while on his way to being name the Dodgers minor league player of the year, Sands appears to be on the fast track to making an impact at the major league level. While his primary position in 1B, Sands has been playing in the OF and 3B to see if the Dodgers can find a place for him so they can get his potent bat in the lineup. Entering the 2011 season, the Dodgers LF spot appears to be Sands' quickest way to the majors, however if an injury were to sideline either James Loney or Andre Either, then Sands could find himself playing 1B or RF during the 2011 season. For fantasy baseball purposes, Sands is all about potential if given the opportunity. I would definitely recommend filing this name away and keeping track of it in case of a midseason callup.
2010 Minor League Stats: 502 AB, 102 R, 35 HR, 93 RBI, 18 SB, .300 AVG
2010 Major League Stats: no major league experience
2011 Major League Stat Projections: 30 R, 10 HR, 35 RBI, 2 SB, .275 AVG

Nick Weglarz - Cle

Michael Saunders - Sea

Jordan Schafer - Atl

Chris Heisey - Cin

Josh Reddick - Bos

Fernando Martinez - NYM

Ryan Kalish - Bos

Jon Jay - StL

For additional 2011 fantasy baseball rankings, articles, and draft tips, check out my blog at Hawk Fantasy Sports