Core Players Report

One of the core tenets of BABS is that players are more alike than they are different. This comes into play more and more as you get deeper into your draft, but there are even commonalities to be found at the top. Yes, Ronald Acuna, Jr. may be in a class by himself, but there is a hefty price for that exclusivity. There are other players whose skill shape is not too dissimilar, and given year-to-year statistical volatility, they might offer a tempting package at a discount.

Core Players Report is a market analysis of the top 60 players being drafted, essentially all $20-plus purchases, those who will form the foundation of your team. In the below example, each player’s full BABS rating is shown; listed underneath are several alternatives, showing what you’d be giving up or gaining by targeting another similar player later in the draft.

Players in the same Asset Group as the target player are noted in blue. Lesser skills and higher risk scores are noted in red.

How to read this report: If you miss out on drafting Corbin Carroll or are looking for a lower cost alternative, here are some other options, along with what you may be gaining or losing. The alternatives are then listed in ADP order. Here, Turner provides the same skill set but lesser risk if you are picking later in the first round. With Harris, you’ll sacrifice some speed and add some injury risk. McLain and Lowe are further downgrades, but their skills shape is similar at a fraction of the cost.

Skills Index and Risk Index: At the far right are these two new metrics added to our analytical arsenal. For each, we set a baseline from the average of the top 350 players in each update and scale everyone else from 100. This provides a quick glance at which players offer the best skills/risk balance. Any player with a positive net is a safe player to draft. In the above example, it’s even more clear that there are better alternatives than spending your No. 4 pick/$40+ on Carroll. Trea Turner is much safer later in the round, or forego them all and wait for Josh Lowe over 70 picks later. Any player with a positive net — more skill than risk — is going to be a safe pick.

Although this report only covers the first 60 players, it still holds value deeper into the draft. All scans include player options outside the top 60. In the above example, if you are drafting at the beginning of the 5th round in a 15-team league and Matt McLain is already gone, this shows that you might still have a shot at Josh Lowe who possesses the same skill set but with lesser risk. Of course, the Master Spreadsheet provides all this information, with additional options, as well.

By looking at each core player this way, you can immediately evaluate your options should you get sniped or outbid.