Fantasy Baseball Roundtable - Catcher Edition

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TheScore put together a comprehensive series of rankings for each position. This week, our fantasy analysts will discuss the positions and several concerns heading into draft season.

Stud = Player expected to have a high floor (excluding the most obvious top names)
Dud = Player expected to drastically underperform ADP/or hurt a team
▲ = Player whose value will be on the rise from previous years
▼ = Player whose value will be on the decline from previous years

ADP Consensus can be found at FantasyPros.

Why is Gary Sanchez a more appealing option than Kyle Schwarber?

Jason Wilson: I'm not targeting either one on draft day because their vaunted ADP, but in a vacuum Schwarber's injury combined with the insistence that he will play in the outfield makes him an easy fade. Schwarber could easily repeat his injury in the first week. Sanchez is the safer pick even if he comes nowhere close to his power pace from 2016's debut.

James Bisson: In my mind, cost has to be the biggest consideration here - and in leagues where Schwarber has catcher eligibility, the two are neck-and-neck in FantasyPros ADP. All things being nearly equal, Sanchez represents slightly better value due to Schwarber's struggles versus left-handed pitching. It's close, but Sanchez gets the nod here.

Josh Ghatak: I don't see a vast difference between the two. Yes, Sanchez's breakout campaign was better than Schwarber's but each sample size consists of fewer than 275 plate appearances. While Schwarber struggled against lefties, Sanchez's .189 average against southpaws isn't too appealing, either. Sitting 20 spots behind Sanchez in ADP, Schwarber interests me from a contrarian angle.

Josh Wegman: My worry with Schwarber revolves around his inability to hit left handers. He might get a chance to play everyday to start the season, but the Cubs have such a deep roster and Joe Maddon loves his platoons, so Schwarber could very well be riding pine whenever a lefty takes the hill.

Who is the most appealing fantasy catcher in Boston?

Wilson: Sandy Leon over-performed by wide margin in 2016, and I'm not prepared to buy into it, especially with his .396 batting average on balls in play (BABIP). I have to go with Blake Swihart. He hit well throughout the minors and showcased some decent power. I wouldn't encourage drafting him in mixed leagues, but he needs to go on your watchlist in case he finally plays to his potential.

Bisson: Can I pick "none of the above"? Leon is in line for the majority of the work going into the season, but nothing about his .310 BA with Boston in 2016 looks sustainable. Swihart battled through injury last season, and the jury remains out on whether he will contribute this season. Don't be surprised if the top fantasy C in Boston is someone not yet on the roster.

Ghatak: As echoed by our other writers, there isn't much fantasy appeal in any of Boston's backstops. Though Leon is the candidate to own, he's unlikely to notch another .392 BABIP or plus .400 batting average for stretches at a time. If Leon is your first option behind the plate in fantasy, you've made a mistake.

Wegman: I won't be targeting any Red Sox catchers in any 10- or 12-team leagues, but if I had to choose it would certainly be Sandy Leon. His extremely high BABIP was a major reason why he hit .310 last year. Neither Blake Swihart nor Christian Vazquez have given any indication they can fantasy relevant players. Swihart may have the most upside, but my answer still has to be Leon.

When are you realistically thinking about drafting a catcher?

Wilson: I hate this position. Unless Buster Posey falls to an absurd spot in the middle rounds, or Yasmani Grandal is still around in the 14th, I'm waiting. I don't care if I wind up with Francisco Cervelli and his empty .300 batting average. At least he won't actively hurt my team like some of the other options ahead of him.

Bisson: It isn't worth reaching for an elite catcher when even the top-flight options don't produce enough to warrant their draft slot. I'm snagging my first catcher after everyone else in the league has at least one. I will still end up with a top-15 backstop, and one that has a better than decent chance of outperforming a handful of guys taken ahead of him.

Ghatak: Looking at ADP, the time to target a catcher is between picks 120-180. You can pick up a legitimate name at this juncture such as Evan Gattis, Grandal or Welington Castillo. Waiting too long at the position can cause season-long headaches, so sign me up between rounds 11-14.

Wegman: I'll be targeting Grandal in the middle rounds. With no backup catcher stealing plate appearances from him, he could very well hit 30 homers and post a high OBP. If I miss out on him, I'm content with scooping up a bottom-tier catcher like Welington Castillo and perhaps streaming catchers throughout the season.

Evan Gattis was the most polarizing figure in the catcher rankings. Defend your position.

Wilson: Gattis is my 6th ranked catcher. This may seem high, but I love cheap power at this position, and that's exactly what he represents. The addition of Brian McCann muddies the water a bit, but he'll get playing time thanks to his pop. If Yuli Gurriel struggles, Gattis could see some time at first, too.

Bisson: I ranked Gattis 14th at the position, and even that might wind up being generous. He's facing a logjam at every position he plays, and while he'll likely force his way into the lineup 4-5 times per week, that hardly makes him worth being the fifth catcher off the board (according to NFBC ADPs). Leave him to someone else and get a full-time catcher later.

Ghatak: Sixth may seem high but fifth is just a touch higher and that's where I have him. Catcher can be a sink hole for many fantasy owners, so I'm in love with the powerful upside Gattis brings. Playing time could definitely be an issue, but if he continues to pummel the ball, he'll force himself into plenty of at-bats. I'm eyeing another 30-homer campaign.

Wegman: I have Gattis has my 14th ranked catcher because he doesn't have guaranteed playing time. McCann is going to start behind the plate, Gurriel will likely start at first, Carlos Beltran will be the DH and with the additions of Norichika Aoki and Josh Reddick, there is no room in the outfield.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)