This article is part of our The Daily Duel series.
This column will focus on players that are good "Values" in FanDuel's salary cap contests. Typically, I'll try to cover a player or two at each position every week throughout the season. Remember a value here could be a minimum-priced player ($2,200) or a higher-priced option that is still undervalued based on expected production.
VALUES
Catcher
Salvador Perez, $2,600 – Perez's low price is somewhat surprising since a .741 OPS isn't terrible for a catcher. He continues to hit cleanup for the Royals and is one home run (12 right now) away from equaling last year's total. He's a great GPP play as someone who will have a low ownership number and has the most upside of anyone within his price range at the position.
First Base
Chris Davis, $3,200 – While I usually profile players who have a price tag south of $3,000, I can't pass up Davis at this price. Miguel Cabrera is $1,800 higher but I feel Davis has a similar upside despite his poor showing so far this season. He hasn't played since Sunday, missing three starts due to an illness so his price might drop even more. The good news is that he has three home runs over the last two weeks, and he'll be in the friendly confines of Camden Yards over the weekend.
Second Base
Dustin Pedroia, $2,900 – I'm curious to see how some of the veteran players on the Red Sox play the rest of the season now that they've traded away most of their rotation. There was a huge letdown by the team when the "chicken and beer" incident happened a few years ago, and it will be tough to get up for games with the team clearly playing for next season. I have to think Pedroia will still get up for every game, and he's a steal at this price despite struggling this season. He's started heating up lately with two hits in four of his last six games.
Third Base
Aramis Ramirez, $2,500 – I was surprised to see how low Ramirez's price has gone considering he was just in Minnesota for the All-Star Game. His .751 OPS isn't overly impressive and a huge drop to a four percent walk rate has hurt his daily fantasy value here. He typically hits cleanup for the Brewers, a good spot with Ryan Braun and Carlos Gomez hitting in front of him. The best time to use Ramirez is against southpaws, against whom he has a 1.043 OPS this season.
Shortstop
Didi Gregorius, $2,900 – Gregorius appears to be figuring out major league pitching and has a .922 OPS over the last two weeks with two stolen bases. He will sit against left-handed pitching in favor of Nick Ahmed, but he can be useful against righties. Manager Kirk Gibson has been using him towards the top of the lineup and Gregorius has rewarded him with three straight two-hit games.
Outfield
Jay Bruce, $2,800 – Bruce has been away from the team the last few days due to the passing of his grandfather, but he is expected to rejoin the team Friday night. A few days off will probably do him so good after posting a .325 OPS over the last two weeks. Bruce is a notoriously streaky hitter, but he's still in a great hitter's park. He has the upside to hit another 10 home runs the rest of the season, and his .215 batting average has nowhere to go but up.
NEWBIES
Second Base
Jedd Gyorko, $2,800 – Gyorko has made this column earlier in the season based on the idea he could turn things around given his successful rookie campaign. He's hit safely in all four games since his return off the DL, and he has home runs in two consecutive games heading into Friday night. His second of those two home runs was especially impressive as it was an opposite-field shot off Shelby Miller in Petco Park. The lineup around him isn't great, but Gyorko presents a great buy-low opportunity right now.
Shortstop
Chris Taylor, $3,000 – Taylor caught my eye since he was put in the two-spot of the Mariners' batting order as soon as he was called up. At 23, Taylor isn't a huge prospect, but he has some decent upside based upon his minor league track record. He's consistently hit above .300 in the minors and has shown the ability to swipe a bag every now and then.
