The 2017 MLB season is in full swing and for some baseball fans, that means fantasy baseball is underway too. Plenty of under-the-radar closers are available and could make an impact for any fantasy roster.
The closers’ role is a risk/reward position in fantasy baseball. A blown save could immediately result in negative points depending on your league’s scoring. On the other hand, a save is a quick way to gain points.
Plenty of dominant closers end up on fantasy teams during league drafts. Closers like Zach Britton, Aroldis Chapman, Craig Kimbrel, Wade Davis, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon along with others rarely make it to free agency in fantasy leagues.
Instead of relying on starters to carry a fantasy pitching staff, look for closers who can pitch multiple games in a row. Although starters can rack up points quicker, they can also lose points fast and they only pitch once every five days.
Depending on the league, closers can rack up a save category or they can add valuable points in a head-to-head matchup.
Closers are risky overall in baseball. Besides for guys like Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman and a few select others, closers are hard to rely on for an extended period of time. For fantasy purposes, though, when it is easy to add and drop players, closers can lead to weekly wins and even championships.
In regular fantasy leagues, some underrated closers could still be available. For dynasty leagues, that more than likely isn’t the case. Here are five fantasy closers to pick up if they are still available.