Since those aforementioned "stars" receive all the glory in fantasy, I am going to shed some light on the players that can be just as important when trying to win your league title but are severely underappreciated. This is my "All-Underappreciated Fantasy Team". Featured on this team will only be players who are currently owned in less than 50% of ESPN standard leagues (I do recommend adding Ryan Madson, Fernando Rodney, or even the injured Brad Boxberger if you need saves, as they are owned in less than 50% of leagues, but I will not be putting any closers on here):
C - Miguel Montero, Chicago Cubs
1B - Chris Carter, Milwaukee Brewers
Carter hit 66 home runs between 2013 and 2014. Sure, he struck out a ton, but that doesn't matter in most fantasy formats. In only 129 games last year, he swatted 24 homers. In Milwaukee now (he spent the previous three seasons in Houston), Carter projects to play in a lot more games this season. He has played in all but one of the Brewers games so far, and he is off to a hot start at the plate. His average could destroy your team (.199 last year), but if you need power, he is a great option. I never remember seeing first base so thin with talent before, making Carter more attractive.
2B - Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles
3B - Travis Shaw, Boston Red Sox
This one was easy, and by tomorrow Shaw will probably be owned in more than 50% of ESPN standard leagues because of his stellar showing at the plate today. He hits behind David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez, which should give him plenty of RBI opportunities. Modeling his swing after the great lefty first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Shaw swings a powerful bat and is off to a stellar start. It also helps that he has first base eligibility in addition to his third base.
SS - Jonathan Villar, Milwaukee Brewers
My second Brewer on the list made it by a hair over Jose Iglesias (DET) and Asdrubal Cabrera (NYM). Villar makes it because of his speed potential. Last season, in only 116 at bats, Villar swiped 7 bags. Each of the previous two seasons he stole over fifteen. Now at 24 years old, Villar has an everyday job in Milwaukee and if he can improve his OBP with a more disciplined approach, his steal totals may take off.
OF (3) - Joey Rickard, Baltimore Orioles; Michael Saunders, Toronto Blue Jays; Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins
Ozuna is looking to re-find himself after a stellar 2014 season turned into a horrible 2015 where he saw a demotion back to the minors. His current average is under .200, which is certainly alarming, but he is only 25 years old and has the power to return to being a 20 home run hitter. He got off to a nice start today after belting a home run off of Max Scherzer.
SP (5) - Matt Moore, Tampa Bay Rays; Jerad Eickhoff, Philadelphia Phillies; Drew Pomeranz, San Diego Padres; Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox; Adam Conley, Miami Marlins
(Just missed: Josh Tomlin, Cleveland Indians; Rich Hill, Oakland Athletics)
Eickhoff is a personal favorite, as he helped me win my most important fantasy league last season. In his eleven starts as a major leaguer, Eickhoff has a 2.44 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 70 innings. It is a small sample size, but those numbers are outstanding. There will be bumps and he will be tested, but he has met every challenge he has faced so far in his young career.
I have been waiting for Drew Pomeranz to break out for a very long time now. He was brutal in Colorado, showed flashes of excellence in Oakland but was hit with injuries and juggled back and forth between starter and reliever. Now in San Diego, Pomeranz has a firm grasp on a spot in the rotation. He has a minuscule ERA (2.04) and has struck out 25 in 17.2 IP. Once a highly touted prospect, it is conceivable that he may finally tap into that potential in the massive Petco Park.
Conley had an outstanding Spring Training after going 4-1 with a 3.76 ERA through 11 starts his first year in the majors. He strikes a lot out (12.5 K/9 so far in 2016) and his spot in the rotation is secure. He is off to a bit of a rough start, but that is largely due to facing the Washington Nationals twice and the New York Mets once as his only three starts. Once he starts facing the other teams in the division - Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves - his ratios will lower.