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
Miguel Montero, $2,800 – One consideration I always make when choosing my FanDuel lineup is how hot a hitter is at the plate. Montero has been raking as of late with a .989 OPS over the last week. He's already surpassed his season totals from last season in home runs (12) and RBI (63), and he should be helped by the return of Mark Trumbo. Catcher has become a thin position and the price is excellent given his recent production.
First Base
Joe Mauer, $2,700 – It's still odd for me to see Mauer listed at first base rather than catcher; the same holds true with Victor Martinez. The price has dropped on Mauer due to his recent absence from the lineup with an oblique injury, but he has returned with a 5-for-12 performance that includes a home run. His splits suggest that he hits right-handed pitching away from home the best.
Second Base
Jonathan Schoop, $2,700 – He's been at a rock-bottom price for most of the season and recently, has been a pleasant DFS surprise. Schoop has been hot recently, with three home runs over the last two weeks. His numbers in the minors suggest his 11 home runs aren't a fluke, and at age-22 he's a good target if he's cheap in keeper formats as well as daily formats.
Third Base
Nick Castellanos, $2,600 – With all of the big bats in the Detroit lineup and their pitching injuries, it's easy for Castellanos to get lost in the shuffle when making your lineup. Castellanos has a 1.376 OPS over the last week, and has slashed .278/.342/ .528 since the All-Star break. That shows he's made some adjustments since earlier this season, and he's beginning to live up to his top prospect status.
Shortstop
Asdrubal Cabrera, $2700 – The switch to the National League has worked for Cabrera, who has reached base safely in eight straight games. Since being traded, he's shown excellent patience at the plate with a 7:6 K:BB ratio. Shortstop has become a tricky position to fill, but Cabrera offers a pretty safe floor if you need a player for cash games.
Outfield
Khris Davis, $2,900 – Davis is having a breakout season, yet he doesn't seem to get a lot of love from the fantasy community. He has 20 home runs already to go with 62 runs and 60 RBI. He'd probably have more RBI if he hit higher in the lineup for the Brewers. In many respects, he reminds me of Nelson Cruz – a player who blossomed later in his career and has more power than speed in his skill set. Davis has reached base safely in his last eight games and holds a .922 OPS over the last two weeks, making him a good value for his price tag.
NEWBIES
Shortstop
Christian Colon, $2,900 – Colon came onto my radar Thursday after going 3-for-4 with a stolen base. He hit .311 at Triple-A before his call-up, and has shown outstanding plate discipline throughout his minor league career. Colon has the speed/power combo that every fantasy owner craves, and will be an under-the-radar option in the near future.
Outfield
Michael Taylor, $3,000 – With Jayson Werth's shoulder injury, it looks like Taylor will see regular playing time for the near future while the Nationals try and secure a playoff spot. While it was only Double-A at age 23, Taylor's 22 home runs and 34 stolen bases are stats fantasy owners drool over. He's going to strike out a lot, but he has value given his speed/power skill set.
Rymer Liriano, $2,200 – To start, he's as cheap as they come being FanDuel's lowest price possible. Liriano is arguably the Padres' top prospect, and he should see regular playing time for the rest of the season. If you used him Wednesday in your DFS lineup you probably profited nicely after he crushed a two-run homer off Tyler Matzek. Liriano had 65 stolen bases at A-ball three seasons ago, and has a lot of power potential, even in Petco Park. He's the perfect player to put into your lineup if you need to punt the outfield position when paying up for top-tier pitching.
