Fantasy Baseball 2015: Utility Players Who Will Come Up Big in the Playoff Race

Utility players are often undervalued assets who provide solid production at multiple positions. Just like in MLB, utility players can also have great value to fantasy teams.

Players who are able to play multiple positions find their way into lineups when injuries occur or when everyday players just need a rest. A few years ago, Omar Infante, then a Brave, found himself on the NL All-Star team as a super utility player.

For starters, let’s clarify "utility players." We’re not talking about guys who can only fill the utility slot on your fantasy team. In fact, that’s the opposite of what we’re talking about.

Utility players who make this list will range from guys who are bona fide must-own players to players who could be under-the-radar targets to help your squad during a postseason run.

To make this list, players must have multiple position eligibility (other than DH) based on ESPN standard league. This article also assumes your league has utility and middle and corner infield slots.

Chris Davis—1B|3B|OF

Super-obvious studs like Buster Posey and Todd Frazier aside, Chris Davis is likely the top utility player out there.

After an abysmal 2014 season that saw him hit .196 with 26 home runs, Crush has bounced back to hit .243 with 24 home runs already this year.

While the average is obviously not going to win you any roto points, it’s not quite low enough to really blow up your team’s average either.

And the 24 homers are tied for ninth in baseball. He’s been on a 50-home-run pace since the middle of June.

Davis started the season with first and third base eligibility, making his power a must-have at the hot corner. But in recent weeks, he’s also picked up outfield availability, giving him a total of five possible positions in points and roto leagues.

The more positions the merrier, especially for a guy who’s on pace to swat 40-plus bombs.

Josh Harrison—2B|3B|OF

Last year’s super-utility monster Josh Harrison got off to a slow start in 2015, posting a sub-.200 average until around the middle of May, prompting many who drafted him to drop him.

But from May 12 to July 5, Harrison hit .338 with a .370 OBP. For those nearly two months, Harrison was the multi-position talent that made him a top-150 draft-day target.

An ulnar collateral ligament injury in Harrison’s thumb required surgery earlier in July, shutting down the 2014 All-Star for the foreseeable future. But a recent report by Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette brought hope that Harrison’s timetable for return could be slightly ahead of the initial six-week estimate.

“Josh Harrison took grounders and played catch Sunday (July 26) with a glove on his (injured) hand,” Brink said.

While fielding grounders and playing catch shouldn’t exactly incite rejoicing, it is a step in the right direction for Harrison, who could be ready for action as soon as late August.

During that near-two-month stretch, Harrison was on pace for about 10 home runs and 30 steals over the course of a full season. While the power certainly is unlikely to help down the stretch, particularly due to the nature of his injury, the speed and average potential Harrison possesses make him a potential DL stash with eligibility at six total positions. His ownership percentage is down to just 54.1 percent, according to ESPN.

Kelly Johnson—1B|3B|OF

Kelly Johnson was quietly having a solid season for the Braves before an oblique injury kept him out of the lineup for almost a month.

While obviously speculative given the number of games played, Johnson was on pace for a 35-home run and 105-RBI season before the injury. Since his June 10 return, Johnson’s productivity still has him on pace for nearly 20 home runs and 80 RBI.

The wild card about Johnson is how much playing time he’ll get. He was given the chance to start often in Atlanta due to Freddie Freeman’s injury, but since being shipped to the Mets on July 24 along with Juan Uribe, Johnson’s playing time may be slightly up in the air.

He’s certainly worth monitoring, however, as he offers availability at five standard-league positions and could be a nice replacement for a starter getting a day off or a potential fill-in for an injury.

Carlos Santana—1B|3B

Things haven’t been so smooth for Santana this season. A weak .225 average has the top-100 draft pick scuffling at an 86.4 ownership percentage.

While that percentage likely means he’s only available in eight-team leagues and select 10-teamers, he could be a really nice buy-low candidate.

Last season, Santana hit a paltry .207 before the All-Star break. But from then on, Santana rocked a .260 average while putting 13 over the wall. In the 11 games following this year’s All-Star break, he’s hit .256, albeit with just one home run and four RBI.

If you can get him for cheap (or better yet free), his third base eligibility could make him a nice bench option at the least if he has another strong second half this season.

Logan Forsythe—1B|2B

Let’s be honest, you’re not going to start Forsythe at first base (unless a horrible injury befalls you there), so Forsythe’s real value comes in the middle infield eligibility he holds.

Forsythe is a career .248 hitter with 10/10—home run/steal production. That definitely means this year’s 11 homers and seven steals mean he’s likely having a career year.

But why not jump on board?

If he starts to taper off, you can always drop him. He’s only owned in just over 50 percent of leagues anyway.

And if he keeps up his near 20-homer pace with occasional steals and a .280-plus average, he could help you out down the stretch. He’s the eighth-best points-league second baseman, after all.

Oh, and he’s outscored Robinson Cano to this point.

Daniel Murphy—2B|3B

Murphy finished 2014 as the surprise No. 12 second baseman. He’s not far off from that this season.

Murphy missed about a month’s worth of action in June due to a quad injury and has since hit just .247. So why is he a potential difference maker?

He’s a career .285-plus hitter in August and September and is available to play middle and corner infield spots.

His numbers might not jump out at you, but in points leagues he could provide unspectacular-but-solid production for you, possibly while you wait for Josh Harrison to come back.

Delino DeShields—2B|OF

DeShields offers you zero power. None. He has zero career home runs in his 200-plus at-bats, so if you’re in need of power, look elsewhere.

If you need speed that thrills, however, look no further than this 33.9-percent-owned, multi-position threat.

DeShields only has one net stolen base since June 5, but he is still on pace to swipe 40-plus bags over a 162-game season.

He’s not going to wow you anywhere else, but a .272 average is solid at least and should provide many stolen-base opportunities going forward.

In five-outfielder leagues, he could be a cheap source of speed if you need a bump in stolen bases. He’s not exactly Billy Hamilton, so don’t expect him to be the difference in you winning a title or not. But if you need cheap speed, chances are he’s unowned in your league and can play four positions for you.

Alex Guerrero—2B|3B|OF

This guy got his ear bitten by Miguel Olivo, leaving plenty of speculation about the kind of clubhouse guy he is. That must be why the Dodgers aren’t starting him more often, because when he’s in the lineup, this guy rakes.

To be fair, he’s only hitting .245, but how much of that can be attributed to inconsistent playing time is anybody’s guess. Guerrero has also hit 10 home runs, putting him on pace for 23 in about half of a season’s worth of at-bats.

Playing time is the only reason Guerrero isn’t on more radars. But there’s been recent speculation about a possible trade, which theoretically would be to a team that needs him to do more than pinch hit.

Guerrero’s ownership is low, at just 12.4 percent, so chances are you can hold off on picking him up until you know his playing time is going to improve. If he is traded, scoop him up as fast as you can.

Ryan Zimmerman—1B|3B|OF

Zimmerman is back from his plantar fasciitis injury, and while his production following the foot ailment remains to be seen, he could help out with power as you prep for a playoff run.

This hasn’t been Zimmerman’s best year by any stretch of the imagination. He was hitting just .209 before the injury sidelined him for about a month and a half. But Zimmerman, when healthy, provides about 25-homer-per-season value.

The only question, really, is how healthy he is.

He’s only owned in 57.6 percent of leagues, so you should be able to apply the wait-and-see approach. But be prepared to jump quickly if need be—his name still carries value.

Joey Gallo—3B|OF

Another speculative playing-time candidate, Gallo could provide serious pop if an opportunity presents itself.

Gallo homers and he strikes out. It’s that simple.

If your league counts strike outs against you, you may want to steer clear. If not, however, Gallo could provide a huge bump in home runs.

During his brief time up, Gallo was on pace for 32 home runs, 13 steals and 279 strike outs. As a point of reference, Gallo Kd 43 times in 87 at-bats.

Obviously, plate discipline is an issue for Gallo, and since his demotion to Triple-A (his first time playing at that level), he’s hitting just .181 with 35 Ks in 83 at-bats. But that doesn’t mean he won’t get another chance at the MLB level this season.

Josh Hamilton certainly isn’t exactly the picture of health, and the Rangers have been mentioned as front-runners in the Cole Hamels sweepstakes, due in large part to their minor league sluggers.

If Gallo is traded to the Phillies, they’d have little reason not to let him test the MLB waters again. And that ball park is a launching pad for left-handed hitters. Just ask Ryan Howard.

All stats and info are courtesy of Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted.

Follow Aaron Brand on Twitter: @AaronBrand47