Fantasy: 5 bounce-back candidates
Every year in fantasy, owners roll the dice on potential bounce-back candidates - players who had down years but have proven to be valuable in seasons prior.
The five players listed below stand out as some of the top bounce-back candidates available in drafts this season.
(Average draft positions as of Mar 4, courtesy of FantasyPros)
(Projections courtesy of Steamer on Fangraphs)
Kris Bryant - Cubs - 3B/OF - ADP 32
| STATS | PA | AVG | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 457 | .272 | 59 | 13 | 52 |
| Projected 2019 | 631 | .275 | 93 | 28 | 87 |
Those who selected Bryant last season - presumably in the first round - were disappointed by an injury-riddled campaign which resulted in career lows in homers, runs, and RBIs. The former National League MVP is currently being taken as the sixth third baseman in most leagues, behind Jose Ramirez, Nolan Arenado, Manny Machado, Alex Bregman, and Javier Baez. Bryant averaged 31 homers and 91 RBIs over his first three seasons before last year and is worth grabbing late in the second round or early in the third.
Gary Sanchez - Yankees - C - ADP 63
| STATS | PA | AVG | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 374 | .186 | 51 | 18 | 53 |
| Projected 2019 | 490 | .245 | 66 | 27 | 76 |
Following an incredible 2017 campaign which included 33 homers and 90 RBIs, Sanchez let down a lot of people last season, in both fantasy and real life. He appeared in only 89 games, hit a paltry .186, and wound up likely wasting a roster spot on most teams as owners waited for a turnaround that never came. Expect Sanchez to be better this year. He got his shoulder fixed in the offseason and should be good to go by Opening Day. He's the best catcher available in drafts after J.T Realmuto and can probably still be had in the fifth or sixth round.
Josh Donaldson - Braves - 3B - ADP 98
| STATS | PA | AVG | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 219 | .246 | 30 | 8 | 23 |
| Projected 2019 | 553 | .257 | 77 | 26 | 74 |
From 2015 to 2017, only Mike Trout was a better real-life player than Donaldson (according to FanGraphs' WAR), and those numbers translated to fantasy success, too. Last season was tough for Donaldson owners. He appeared in just 52 games, in which he batted .246 with eight homers and 23 RBIs. But the former American League MVP looked like his old self during a 16-game stint with the Indians and will be motivated to have a big year after he bet on himself and took a one-year deal with the Braves this offseason. The former second-round fantasy pick can be had beyond the eighth this year.
Yu Darvish - Cubs - SP - ADP 161
| STATS | GS | IP | W | ERA | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 8 | 40 | 1 | 4.95 | 49 | 1.43 |
| Projected 2019 | 24 | 139 | 10 | 3.76 | 157 | 1.21 |
After signing a six-year, $126-million deal, Darvish killed the hopes and dreams of Cubs fans and fantasy owners alike last season. He pitched in just eight games and wasn't very good during those contests. His 4.95 ERA and 1.43 WHIP were far worse than his career averages. The 32-year-old is pitching confidently in spring, looks healthy, and should be a worthwhile gamble in middle rounds. If he stays healthy, the strikeout totals alone will be worth the risk.
Miguel Cabrera - Tigers - 1B/DH - ADP 167
| STATS | PA | AVG | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 157 | .299 | 17 | 3 | 22 |
| Projected 2019 | 557 | .283 | 72 | 22 | 77 |
From 2004 to 2016, Cabrera was a must-have for fantasy owners and consistently returned early-round value. The past two years have been a completely different story. Miggy appeared in just 38 games last year, and though he was productive over that small sample size (.299 AVG, 22 RBIs), the 2012 Triple Crown winner's lack of plate appearances made him essentially worthless in fantasy. His biceps is fixed and his ailing back got some much-needed rest, so a bounce-back campaign wouldn't be surprising. Look for him to be available in the 14th or 15th round.