Elijah Dukes - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 1 of 12

I had high hopes for Elijah Dukes as an up and coming fantasy baseball stud when I wrote about him last June - Elijah Dukes, Troubled Fantasy Baseball Star in the Making. While he showed flashes at times he never fully put it together due to injuries. The big question that last season answered for me is where his head was at. Dukes claimed to have rededicated himself to baseball and apparently has turned his life around - so far.

Upside - Dukes turns 25 this season so he's still very young which potentially gives him a very high ceiling. He went 13/13 last year in 276 ABs with a 265 batting average. That easily projects to high 20s in HRs and SBs over the course of a full season which is in line with his minor league numbers. 30/30 is not out of the question for Dukes either. His career batting average in the big leagues is only .235 in 460 ABs but he did hit 265 last year and he was consistently between 287 and 331 in the minors.

Elijah Dukes has a shot to put up Grady Sizemore-light type numbers this year - allowing him to far exceed his fantasy baseball value on draft day. It has been stated that he'll battle Lasting Milledge for center field and with the addition of Josh Willingham the Washington Nationals are loaded in the outfield. Dukes is probably the best of the bunch right now and as a fantasy keeper other than Milledge but watch playing time this spring.

Elijah Dukes is pictured in a Topps 2007 rookie card.

Pick up Elijah Dukes baseball cards and other gear on eBay!

More fantasy baseball sleepers,
Anibal Sanchez - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 2 of 12
Delmon Young - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 3 of 12
Ian Kennedy - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 4 of 12
Clint Barmes - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 5 of 12
Carlos Guillen - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 6 of 12
Alexi Casilla - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 7 of 12
Jeff Francis - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 8 of 12
Jonathon Niese - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 9 of 12
Juan Rivera - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 10 of 12
Jeff Clement - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 11 of 12
Joey Devine - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers , Part 12 of 12