Welcome to Episode 140 of Tablesetters.
Devin is joined by Chris Welsh, Host and Analyst for FantasyPros and BettingPros, co-owner of In This League, and the creator of The Prospect One Podcast.
With fantasy baseball draft season fully underway, this conversation is about stripping things back to what actually matters. Chris joins the show to discuss how heâs approaching drafts in 2026, how preparation has changed in an era of constant information, and where fantasy players can still gain real advantages despite ADP, rankings, and projections being more accessible than ever.
The episode opens with Chris reflecting on a recent trip to New Orleans before pivoting into where heâs at right now in draft seasonâwhether heâs already drafting in serious leagues or still focused on mocks, and what those high-stakes leagues actually look like in terms of format, depth, and risk tolerance.
From there, the discussion moves into player evaluation and draft dynamics. We start with regression candidates, using Cal Raleigh as a focal point at catcherâhow much regression to expect, how positional value factors into his lofty NFBC ADP, and whether taking a catcher that early is a bet worth making. Chris also shares additional players he believes may be overdrafted relative to expectation.
We then dig into Ben Rice, his eye-popping underlying metrics, and how roster constructionâspecifically the Yankeesâ decision to re-sign Paul Goldschmidtâcould impact Riceâs fantasy value and playing time outlook in 2026.
The conversation expands to players who have changed teams and whether those moves meaningfully raise their fantasy ceilings. From there, Devin and Chris tackle the downside of ADP itselfâhow it can make drafts feel rigid and formulaicâand identify the players Chris is willing to reach for anyway, trusting conviction over consensus.
On the flip side, Chris revisits the idea of âdisappointmentâ in fantasy termsâplayers whose production may not justify where theyâre being drafted. We also touch on Nick Kurtzâs aggressive ADP and whether the price tag makes sense.
Pitching strategy becomes the next focus, including how the Dodgers handle their arms, whether that caps fantasy value, and why Chris is hesitant to invest early picks in elite pitchers like Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, and Garrett Crochet despite their upside.
Later, Chris explains why the term âsleeperâ has become harder to define in modern fantasy baseball, offers his favorite sleeper for the season, and highlights his favorite âif he stays healthyâ player to target.
We close with a deeper look at Geraldo Perdomoâs puzzling ADP despite elite underlying production, a broader discussion of shortstop as one of the deepest positions in fantasy, keeper-league strategy surrounding Konnor Griffin, and a rapid-fire round of Would You Rather draft decisions featuring players with nearly identical NFBC ADPs.
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