Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Sleepers 2008

In fantasy baseball, it is very easy to find good values in the outfield positions. Most traditional rotisserie leagues have 3 to 5 spots for outfielders, and this provides a great flexibility for fantasy owners, as many won't have to conform to LF, CF, and RF strict positions. Likewise, the outfield position can be viewed as somewhat of a utility position, as it allows for great flexibility with drafting players to fit the specific needs of a team.

Which fantasy baseball outfielders are the best values for 2008? Here are a couple names to highlight on your draft preparation sheets for your draft.

Jeremy Hermida, Florida Marlins

Jeremy is one of my favorite outfielder sleepers for this season. He absolutely raked the baseball after the all-star break last season, batting well over .320 with 10 home runs. He was a former top prospect who was very highly touted coming out of AAA ball, and though he has struggled with injuries over the past few seasons, he should be able to remain durable enough to provide a good return on your late-round investment. Batting high in the top-heavy Florida lineup, Hermida should deliver a solid batting average, with ample power and good run/RBI numbers.

Wily Mo Pena, Washington Nationals

Pena has one of the best power bats in the league, period. After being stuck in crowded outfields in Cincinnati and Boston, he was traded to the Washington Nationals and found everyday at-bats waiting for him. Now, with a full time starting gig and a more hitter-friendly Nationals Park, you have to love the power potential that Pena brings to the table. With increased power numbers, he should also see a slight uptick in his batting average as well. Pena is getting older, but still has time to make great strides and pan out as an everyday MLB outfielder. Look for him in the late rounds for a good source of power and RBIs.

Michael Bourn, Houston Astros

So you aren't really looking for power, but speed instead. Bourn, in a nutshell, has a ton of speed that should greatly help your chances at winning your speed category. If you are in a points-based league that offers bonus points for stolen bases, Bourn can deliver one of the best profits out of the outfielder crop this season. Runs, average, and steals can all be bolstered by the speedy Bourn, and with a full time starting gig in Houston's center field, pick him up and watch the stats roll in.

Other Sleeper Outfielders: Kosuke Fukudome (Chicago Cubs), Josh Fields (Chicago White Sox)