Recent Articles from this Column
February 26, 2018
Beat DVR Recap: Waiting on Closers
What should you do if you don't get an elite closer like Kenley Jansen on draft day? Derek VanRiper tries to solve the puzzle in the wake of his 'Beat DVR League' draft.
February 3, 2018
The Wheelhouse: First Base Tiers
Is Freddie Freeman on the brink of becoming the best first baseman in fantasy? Derek VanRiper breaks down the position by tier for the upcoming season.
January 29, 2018
Statcast Year 3: Hits & Misses
Derek VanRiper looks at 2017 Statcast data in hopes of unearthing the next Aaron Judge (or Ryan Zimmerman).
January 18, 2018
The Wheelhouse: Catcher Tiers
Paying up for a top-three catcher looks very appealing as Derek VanRiper breaks down his catcher rankings by tier.
June 27, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Back to Cincy
Eric Thames has feasted on Cincinnati pitching in 2017 and he's cheap again Tuesday. Derek VanRiper breaks down the 15-game slate.
June 20, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Come Sale Away
Derek VanRiper looks at Tuesday's slate and wonders if there is a viable cash-game option other than Chris Sale.
June 13, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Back on the Cole Train?
Derek VanRiper considers the possibility of Gerrit Cole turning things around as a GPP option on Tuesday's 15-game slate.
June 6, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Banking on Big Maple
Derek VanRiper looks at the 15-game Tuesday night slate with the hope of getting a big night from Big Maple, Seattle lefty James Paxton.
June 5, 2017
June Starting Pitcher Rankings: Risers and Fallers
Derek VanRiper re-ranks the starting pitchers with two months of the 2017 season in the books.
May 30, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Sale Returns to Chicago
Derek VanRiper looks at the 14-game main slate for Tuesday night, which features Chris Sale's return to the south side of Chicago.
May 23, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Building the Machine
Derek VanRiper adds a pair of new tables to the mix while breaking down Tuesday's 15-game slate.
May 18, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Closer Watch
As ninth-inning roles turn over due to poor performance and injuries, Derek VanRiper shares his updated closer rankings.
May 16, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Go for Goldy
Derek VanRiper looks at a smaller than usual 13-game Tuesday night slate.
May 3, 2017
The Wheelhouse: DFS Thoughts - 5/3
Derek VanRiper tries to break out of a recent slump with a huge 14-game Wednesday night slate.
May 2, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Selling Schwarber? + 5/2 DFS
Is it time to sell Kyle Schwarber? Derek VanRiper considers it, and looks at Tuesday's 15-game slate.
May 1, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Slow Starters & 5/1 DFS Breakdown
Derek VanRiper breaks down Monday's 11-game slate, and takes a closer look at a few slow starters, including Alex Bregman.
April 28, 2017
The Wheelhouse: DFS Breakdown - 4/28
Derek VanRiper breaks down a heavy 15-game Friday night slate.
April 27, 2017
The Wheelhouse: DFS Breakdown - 4/27
Paul Goldschmidt and the D-backs look to tee off on Jered Weaver at Chase Field on Thursday night. Derek VanRiper takes a quick look at the four-game night slate.
April 26, 2017
The Wheelhouse: DFS Breakdown - 4/26
Another rainout Wednesday took one of the best starting pitching options of the board, but Derek VanRiper has a few backup plans in mind for Wednesday's slate.
April 25, 2017
The Wheelhouse: DFS Breakdown - 4/25
With one rainout already confirmed, Derek VanRiper breaks down the rest of Tuesday's 13-game slate.
April 10, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Building Around Four Arms
Derek VanRiper looks back at his NFBC Main Event draft strategy, which featured pitchers with each of his first four picks. Can it work?
March 28, 2017
The Wheelhouse: When Auction Plans Go Wrong
What do you do when an auction doesn't start off as planned? Derek VanRiper shares his experience from Saturday's Tout Wars Mixed League Auction.
March 23, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Job Battles A-Z (v. 2.0)
Derek VanRiper checks in on the key job battles for all 30 teams as the final week of spring training approaches.
March 15, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Punting Batting Average
Derek VanRiper considers the roster construction process without worrying about batting average.
March 10, 2017
The Wheelhouse: NL LABR Review
DVR enters 2017 without a $30 player on his NL LABR roster, but could Trevor Story prove to be an early value in Year 2 at $26?
March 9, 2017
The Wheelhouse: AL LABR Review
Clay Link reviews his AL LABR auction. What was the plan going in? Did he ute?
February 28, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Job Battles A-Z
Derek VanRiper takes a team-by-team look around the league at important job battles as spring training games are now underway.
February 21, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Finding Steals, AL Edition
In the second of a two-part series, Derek VanRiper takes a team-by-team look at the potential sources of steals for each American League team.
February 13, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Finding Steals, NL Edition
In the first of a two-part series, Derek VanRiper takes a team-by-team look at the potential sources of steals for each National League team.
January 30, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Building Around Kershaw
Derek VanRiper looks back at his team from the FSTA Draft and considers the implications of drafting Clayton Kershaw in Round 1.
January 16, 2017
The Wheelhouse: Utilizing Barrel Rate
Derek VanRiper takes a look at one slice of the new MLB Statcast data with the hope of finding undervalued bats for 2017.
June 1, 2016
DVR's Top 350: June Update
Gregory Polanco is among the biggest risers on the update Top 350 rankings, with 50-plus games in the books for each club.
May 5, 2016
The Wheelhouse: Re-Rank Fallout: Closers
Cubs closer Hector Rondon is moving up the overall ranks. Should he be considered a top-10 closer? Derek VanRiper takes a closer look.
May 3, 2016
DVR's Top 350: May Update
This time last year, Michael Conforto was in the Mets' minor league system. Where does he check in on the May update of the Top 350?
April 22, 2016
The Wheelhouse: Snellzilla Gets the Call
The Rays will bring up Blake Snell for his MLB debut Saturday. Derek VanRiper hashes out his value, and takes a look around the rest of the American League.
April 14, 2016
The Wheelhouse: The Pursuit of Saves
Chasing saves on the waiver wire can be costly, but is it necessary? Derek VanRiper takes a look back at 2015 to see where the saves came from as roles changed during the season.
March 8, 2016
The Wheelhouse: Going for Two
Derek VanRiper assesses the strengths and weaknesses of his NL LABR squad coming out of Sunday's auction.
February 24, 2016
The Wheelhouse: ADP Fallers: Starting Pitchers
In the first Wheelhouse of 2016, DVR looks at ADP fallers with the hope of unearthing underpriced arms on draft day.
January 19, 2015
The Wheelhouse: 25 Things You Should Know Before Draft Day
Derek VanRiper shares some of the tools that he uses to prepare during the offseason, along with some early discoveries about the player pool heading into 2015.
November 8, 2014
The Wheelhouse: 2014 Arizona Fall League Review
The Arizona Fall League is loaded with talent again in 2014. Derek VanRiper recaps the top players he saw on display over a recent one-week trip to the desert including Astros right-hander Mark Appel.
May 1, 2014
The Wheelhouse: An Update
If you have been missing The Wheelhouse, please click through for an update from DVR.
March 27, 2014
The Wheelhouse: A Simple Plan
With the pre-determined strategy of buying Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera, did DVR find enough talent to fill out the bottom of the roster for his Tout Wars squad?
March 7, 2014
The Wheelhouse: NL LABR Review
While there wasn't a $40 hitter in the National League pool during Sunday's LABR auction, Paul Goldschmidt might be a steal for DVR at $33.
February 8, 2014
The Wheelhouse: 30/30 - Pitching
Can Max Scherzer maintain the gains that made him an elite starter in 2013? DVR looks around the league in the first edition of the Wheelhouse of 2014.
September 6, 2013
The Wheelhouse: 30 Teams, 30 Thoughts - Part 2
Now that he's closing in on 1,500 big league plate appearances, is it time to give up on Mike Moustakas?
August 31, 2013
The Wheelhouse: 30 Teams, 30 Thoughts - August Edition
With Miguel Cabera and Mike Trout likely to occupy the first two spots on most 2014 boards, does Bryce Harper enter the conversation at No. 3 overall?
August 16, 2013
The RotoWire 200: August Edition
With approximately six weeks left in the season, Derek VanRiper takes a final crack at the Top 200 overall with the removal of Nelson Cruz and others suspended for their connection to Biogenesis.
August 9, 2013
The Wheelhouse: The Past 12 - August Edition
By a wide margin, Mike Trout has the best WAR in all of baseball over the past calendar year. Is he the consensus No. 1 overall pick for those looking ahead to 2014?
August 3, 2013
The Wheelhouse: So You Want to Be a GM?
After criticizing Royals general manager Dayton Moore's only trade at Wednesday's non-waiver deadline, Derek VanRiper retraces his steps over the past 18 months and questions some of his own decisions.
July 27, 2013
The Wheelhouse: All In
The Rangers are once again going all in while making a World Series push, and perhaps another move or two will follow the addition of Matt Garza. Derek VanRiper takes a look around the American League heading into the non-waiver trade deadline.
July 20, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Ike Survived Las Vegas
Ike Davis lived through a few weeks in Las Vegas, but could you last 30 straight days without leaving the Strip? DVR ponders that and takes a look around the National League coming out of the All-Star break.
July 1, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Don't Flush This Royal
Since the Royals brought in George Brett as their hitting coach, Eric Hosmer has been hitting the way many expected him to in his sophomore campaign. Should he have made DVR's Top 200?
June 28, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Can Anyone Stop MBP?
Opportunity may have knocked sooner than expected for Yasiel Puig this season. Where did he rank on Derek VanRiper's midseason Top-200 List?
June 21, 2013
The Wheelhouse: 30 Teams, 30 Thoughts - June Edition
Now that Papa Grande is Papa Cocida, the Tigers will finally look elsewhere for a closer. Derek VanRiper takes a look around the league as the end of June draws closer.
June 14, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Go For Go-Go
The value of Carlos Gomez is one of many topics that came up at the FSTA Conference. Derek VanRiper takes a closer look.
May 29, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Head of the Class
The Astros maxed out their value in the first 10 rounds by taking Carlos Correa first overall ahead of Byron Buxton last June, but Buxton has been the most impressive first-rounder in the 2012 draft class thus far.
May 24, 2013
The Wheelhouse: 30 Teams, 30 Thoughts - May Edition
Why doesn't Shelby Miller get as much attention as Matt Harvey? Derek VanRiper takes a look around the league closing in on Memorial Day.
May 18, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Feeling Blue
Ike Davis' slow start has left many owners concerned about a possible demotion. Is it time to jump ship?
May 10, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Just Say No?
For years, Ricky Nolasco has teased owners with an ERA well above his xFIP. Is his fast start in 2013 a sign of things to come?
May 3, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Stubborn or Stupid?
Should Jarrod Parker be downgraded from his preseason projection after a poor April? If so, by how much? Derek VanRiper takes a look.
April 26, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Dexter's Lab
Could Dexter Fowler reach new heights in Colorado with his power production this season?
April 4, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Checks and Balances
Derek VanRiper recaps the NFBC Main Event after taking Troy Tulowitzki ninth overall in Saturday's draft.
March 25, 2013
The Wheelhouse: New Approach - Mixed Tout Recap
In a league that switched from batting average to on-base percentage, Derek VanRiper made Giancarlo Stanton the anchor of his Tout Wars offense.
March 11, 2013
The Wheelhouse: On BABIP
Austin Jackson leads all qualified hitters with a .370 BABIP over the last three seasons. Is he bound for regression? Derek VanRiper takes a closer look.
March 1, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Early Spring Adjustments
With a heavy workload during the first week of spring training, Jose Bautista gets a slight bump up the board.
February 22, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Wasted Opportunities
Infield flyballs are just as costly to a hitter as strikeouts. Dan Uggla generated plenty of both last season. Should you write off a rebound? Derek VanRiper takes a closer look at hitters wasting opportunities.
February 15, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Misunderstood
Is the market failing to account for Joey Votto's extremely low infield flyball rate? Derek VanRiper takes a closer look.
February 4, 2013
The Wheelhouse: Top 50, Vol. I
If the initial rankings are any indication, DVR won't own Mike Trout in his one-year leagues in 2013.
August 3, 2012
The Wheelhouse: Reflecting on Reflections
Hanley Ramirez gets a fresh start in Los Angeles, but will he ever return to his pre-2010 peak levels?
June 29, 2012
The Wheelhouse: Things Change
Examining how adjustments, injuries and age can impact a players' performance
June 22, 2012
The Wheelhouse: Value Earned
Chris Sale's move to the rotation has paid off in a very big way for the White Sox thus far.
June 15, 2012
The Wheelhouse: 30 Teams, 30 Thoughts
Is there anybody out there still willing to trust Francisco Liriano?
June 8, 2012
The Wheelhouse: Market Watch
Giancarlo Stanton has rebounded from a slow start after missing time during spring training with a knee injury. Is he worth a top-five overall pick?
January 31, 2012
The Wheelhouse: Missing the Boat - Speed
Former Astro Michael Bourn is carrying a steep price tag on draft day. Could his replacement in Houston provide just as many steals at a fraction of the price in 2012?
January 13, 2012
The Wheelhouse: Missing the Boat - Power
Did you miss out on Curtis Granderson's monster 2011? It's time to learn from the mistake and profit elsewhere in 2012.
April 25, 2011
The Wheelhouse: Rewind: April 2010
Barry Zito started last season with a 1.53 ERA, but it didn't last. Which players hot this April are destined to cool off?
April 5, 2011
The Wheelhouse: Going 26.2
The Brewers are off to a slow start despite Ryan Braun's heroics, but there's still reasons for optimism over the long haul.
March 22, 2011
The Wheelhouse: ADP Spotlight: Starting Pitchers in the Top 100
Even with a low strikeout rate last season, could Trevor Cahill be undervalued in drafts this spring?
March 10, 2011
The Wheelhouse: Tiering the Closers
Derek VanRiper breaks down all the projected closers and tries to find values among their ADP's. Matt Thornton is one of his bargains.
February 16, 2011
The Wheelhouse: Finding Market Inefficiencies
You probably overpaid for roses on Valentine's Day, Don't make the same mistake during your draft.
January 31, 2011
The Wheelhouse: Player Movement -- NL to AL
Adrian Gonzalez's trade to Boston tops the list of players moving into the American League this season.
January 17, 2011
The Wheelhouse: Early Mock Risers
Cards starter Adam Wainwright may finally unseat Chris Carpenter as the first St. Louis pitcher off the board in 2011.
