How to build an offensive juggernaut in fantasy baseball

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Evaluating the early rounds

Having an early-round pick flame out can derail any fantasy team. In order to avoid this fate, drafters should do their best to ensure that these coveted selections will continue to produce at the elite clip expected of them. Doing so will require a dive into player-specific statistics, but the work will help you secure a strong offensive floor and is especially important for younger players ascending up the fantasy ladder.

Recommended starting points include investigating how many of your player's homers last year were wall-scrapers vs. no-doubters, checking for unsustainable BABIPs and career-highs in hard-hit percentage or HR/FB percentage. For players moving to new teams, a look into how park factors may impact them is an absolute must.

Finding offensive balance

There's more to offense in fantasy baseball than just home runs. Though it's tempting to forego average and steals for home run potential, it might be more important than ever to spend a high pick on these categories.

Trying to find a source of steals on the waiver wire can cause year long headaches and with established thieves being harder and harder to come by, investing in a player who provides steals with respectable hitting stats is highly recommended. Since 2011, the number of players to register 20 or more steals has declined each year, falling to just 28 in 2016 from 50 in 2011.

Look to acquire a few of these few remaining assets whenever possible in your draft. It will provide you with a well-rounded team that spares you weekly headaches when trying to steam for steals.

Seek home runs in the middle and late rounds

Year-to-year data shows hitters launched 5,610 home runs in 2016, 701 more than in 2015. Last year was also the first since 2009 to produce 5,000 homers, while 100 or more players hit 20+ homers. If you're willing to let this trend impact your draft strategy, here's how to maximize its potential.

With intriguing offensive options like Kendrys Morales, Marcus Semien, and Brad Miller potentially offering a healthy number of HRs, RBIs, and runs at an economical price, fantasy owners should look to hoard the home run market come the middle portion of their fantasy draft. Spending a string of picks on these type of players could land you a handful of 20+ home run hitters rather than just one or two hit-or-miss candidates.

Your focus on power at this juncture will save you from fighting with league mates over the mediocre arms that fly off the board in the middle rounds and should you lend plenty of opportunity to nab these undervalued hitters.

Park factors and the AL East

Giving preferential treatment to players who play 81 games of their season in hitter-friendly parks helps maximize one of the variables you can control. Boston OF Mookie Betts, for instance, had 15 of his homers categorized as "just enoughs", with 25 of his 31 homers coming at either the hitter-friendly AL parks Fenway Park or Camden Yards.

Drafting players in the AL East might be one of the best ways to secure offensive upside. Last year, six of the top 16 home run hitters were AL East players and three of the divisions' four parks ranked in the top 10 of runs, according to ESPN. While Betts' power may not be as true inside other parks, his position in the AL East maximizes his offensive potential.

2-for-1 trading and waiver wire replacements

Depth is a great feature in any fantasy sport. But if you want elite offensive production, you're going to need elite-level talent. Exploring a trade where you swap two players for a clear offensive upgrade is one way to do it. Though it's tough to part with two players and lose their combined production, the opening of a roster spot can be used to stream a hitter and help complement your newly acquired crown jewel.

There is always going to be a sizzling player on the waiver wire. By trading 2-for-1, you'll have a roster position available and can jump on a hot bat. This streaming strategy will allow you maximize your weekly potential by focusing on a particular category, grabbing the hottest hitter with the most games, or selecting a split-based daily play.