If you’re a regular reader of RotoBaller (and how could someone as smart, funny, and handsome as you not be?), you’ve without a doubt already checked out our rankings assistant tool. We just finished rolling out the February update, and we’ll have one final revision for you later this month.

With draft season ramping up now, though, it seems like a good time to check our expert opinions against the wisdom of the crowds. Over the next several days, we’ll highlight players with notable discrepancies between their ADP and how the staff here at RotoBaller views their 2016 value.

Quoted figures are the players’ ranking at their position and not their overall ADP.

Catchers We Like More (Compared To Industry Rankings)

Russell Martin - ADP: 6^th | RotoBaller (RB) Rank: 3^rd | My rank: 3^rd

After Buster Posey and Kyle Schwarber, there’s a substantial drop in price to the next tier. Not much separates the players in that group, as there’s just a 17-pick difference between Jonathan Lucroy and Martin. Six of our seven rankers slotted Martin in as the best option outside of the top two, however.

Only seven players who qualified at catcher have logged more plate appearances than Martin in the last five seasons, and three of them either don’t play the position anymore (Carlos Santana), are no longer a viable fantasy option (Yadier Molina), or both (Joe Mauer). They say that 90% of life is showing up, and that holds true for a catcher’s fantasy value. Over that span, Martin ranks third in homers, fourth in runs, sixth in RBI, and first in steals. He’s also coming off a 23 HR season and hits in the best lineup in baseball. He does drag you down in batting average, but A) you’re getting quality production everywhere else and B) it’s 2016 for god’s sake, join an OBP league already.

Yasmani Grandal - ADP: 15^th | RB Rank: 7^th | My rank: 7^th

Grandal posted a .927 OPS in the first half and a .498 mark in the second. Thus far, it appears as though many fantasy owners are holding a grudge about the latter. It’s understandable, to a point. After rising through the minors as an elite prospect and a promising debut in 2012, Grandal got busted for violating the league’s PED policy and then stunk up the joint the following season. He was serviceable in 2014, and his awful post-break numbers essentially led to a carbon copy end result last season.

But we have a pretty clear explanation for that second-half swoon – Grandal was dealing with shoulder inflammation that completely wrecked his swing. He’s got pedigree, power, and patience, and he’s still only 27. Just 14 catchers have posted a 20 homer season this decade, and half of them aren’t eligible at the position or viable fantasy options at this point. Grandal is a good bet to eclipse that mark assuming health. If your league counts OBP, even better.

Nick Hundley - ADP: 20^th | RB Rank: 14^th | My rank: 17^th

I’m not quite as high on Hundley as my colleagues, falling right between his ADP and his RotoBaller ranking. Still, I can see the appeal. Few catchers are capable of hitting for average; last season, Hundley became just the eighth backstop this decade to hit .300 (minimum 350 plate appearances). He also added 10 homers and a surprising five stolen bases. Like most Rockies players, his production at Coors was fantastic and his performance on the road was lousy, but he does get that boost. He’s also the clear starter, so he makes for a fine option in deep league or two-catcher formats.

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