2009 FBS Sleeper Player: Mike Napoli

Team: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Bats: Right

Position: C

Napoli isn't a sleeper in the sense that he is a player that we haven't heard of that will have a good season, everyone knows about him. However, between injury, Jeff Mathis, Jose Molina, and general ineffectiveness, Napoli has never played more than 99 games in a season. However, Mathis has not shown that he can be a major leaguer, and Molina is now in the Bronx. So, as long as Napoli can stay healthy and hit consistently, there's no reason that he can't get up to 130 games. He has shown some impressive power throughout his career in the majors, and his batting average has climbed for three straight seasons. Given his major and minor league statistics, hoping for that average to get higher than the .273 it was in 2008 seems unrealistic. He is, however, one of the best options at the position if you are looking at power. Napoli hit twenty homers in just 78 games, but somehow he only drove in 49 runs. In a roto league, Napoli will have more value than in a points league given his power, he won't kill you in batting average, but isn't as much help in RBI and runs as you would like. Another 20+ homer season seems a given, and his other numbers should continue to improve as well.

Prediction: .264 avg, 27 HRs, 69 RBI, 57 runs