Sometimes fantasy owners get swept up in the pennant race side of baseball. The Yankees and Phillies players tend to have a little more appeal because they are part of a winning organization. Every time they contribute to a victory, it’s amplified by the fact that it impacts a winning team. This article is for those of us that have forgotten about the players that put up valuable fantasy points, but are not a part of a winning team. The guys I will mention in this article are the ones buried in obscurity, or forgotten about on a club whose playoff hopes ended long ago.

Shin-Soo Choo OF, Cleveland Indians

78 R, 20 HR, 86 RBI, 22 SB, .297 AVG, .400 OBP

Shin-Soo Choo–outfielder or Pokémon? The fact that many MLB fans might not know the answer to this question is a little shocking. We are talking about a guy that is doing the things that the much better known Grady Sizemore is SUPPOSED to be doing. While Sizemore spends his time either on the disabled list or in the hot tub with his ladies when he isn’t struggling to hit over the Mendoza line, Shin- Soo Choo Is trying to make a name for himself. Looking purely at the numbers, he’s doing a pretty good job of that. This season, Choo has scored 78 runs, hit 20 round-trippers, with 86 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, a .297 BA and an excellent .400 OBP. While he may not have the teenage heartthrob affect like Sizemore, this guy is a certified fantasy STUD.

José Bautista 3B/OF, Toronto Blue Jays

106, 52, 119, 8 .261 .381

This guy has may have come out of nowhere, but one thing’s for sure–the upstart Blue Jays have a bona fide slugger in the middle of their lineup. Bautista’s 52 home runs lead the league. The tough thing about being in Toronto–aside from the being across the border–is the Blue Jays play in what is by far baseball’s toughest division. The Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays won’t be feeling sorry for the Jays anytime soon. The good news is that José may last a little longer in next year’s draft as a result.

Billy Butler 1B, Kansas City Royals

75, 15, 77, 0, .329, .389

Besides having great alliteration in his name, Billy Butler is a perfect example of a solid fantasy contributor that slips because of where he plays. He does not have the sexiest first base numbers, but they are more than serviceable. You could do a lot worse than 15 bombs and 75 RBIs while checking in at a .316 batting average and .385 on-base percentage. These are the kind of numbers that are a plus in four different categories. In Layman’s terms, 12 Billy Butlers would put you in pretty good shape for your fantasy season. In next year’s draft, don’t hesitate to pick up Butler in the mid rounds and plug him in as your every day first sacker or utility man.

Hunter Pence OF, Houston Astros

92, 25, 91, 18 .286, .331

The Astros are one of those teams that you can easily forget about. Hunter Pence is one of the best fantasy outfielders nobody knows about. He kind of reminds me of a little known all-category producer. Think a healthy Carlos Beltran. With about little under a week left to play this season, Pence has scored 92 runs, hit 25 home runs, driven in 91 and stolen 18 bases all with a serviceable .286 BA. Those who took a flier on Pence in the middle rounds of this past year’s draft have been rewarded immensely. It’s also worth noting that the 27-year-old is entering the prime of his career. Don’t be the guy that lets this under-the-radar stud outfielder go in 2011!

Ryan Zimmerman 3B, Washington Nationals

85, 25, 85, 4, .307, .388

Another young buck is in the building. Zimmerman is only 26 years old and a legitimate cornerstone for his franchise. Why, then, does he get no love on draft night? Well first of all, he plays for the Nationals. Secondly, reread what was first. Zimm is the kind of guy you can count on to be productive as the former No. 4 overall pick has a successful pedigree. This year, he showed what he can do when healthy over the course of a whole season. As of this writing, he had scored and driven in 85 runs and smacked 25 bombs while batting .307 and reaching base almost 39 percent of the time. I look forward to penciling him in as my starter next season over Alex Rodriguez or David Wright.

The stick swingers are not the only valuable producers out there. Here are some of the guys on the hill that deserve their due time in the fantasy spotlight:

Jered Weaver SP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

13 W, 3.02 ERA, 229 K, 1.07 WHIP

This guy has been an effective pitcher in big postseason runs, so people may be thinking Jered Weaver does not belong on this list of the obscure. His emergence as a true ace, fantasy and otherwise, is the reason for his inclusion. There are few pitchers in the game that I would chose over Weaver if I had to win one game and because this is a fantasy column, it’s important to note that his numbers reflect it. Featuring a quirky delivery, Weaver has struck out 229 batters, boasts a sparkling 3.02 ERA and tops it off with a miniscule 1.07 WHIP. Those numbers are unreal, particularly in the American League where the designated hitter accounts for an uptick in offense. If you are looking for a top-of-the-line anchor at a bargain bin price for next year’s rotation, Jered Weaver is your man.

Carlos Marmol RP, Chicago Cubs

2 W, 2.62 ERA, 134 K, 1.22 WHIP, 36 SV

A speeding bullet fastball, an electric slider and a losing ball club. If those things brought an image of Carlos Marmol to your head, then you’re not alone. Although he wasn’t given a whole lot of save opportunities this season by the Chicago Cubs, Marmol is still one of the most dynamic closers in baseball. On average, Marmol strikes out nearly two batters per inning and his 2.62 ERA is pristine. He could definitely walk fewer batters, but at 28 and still a fresh face in the league, he should correct that moving forward. The Cubs do have deep pockets, so take a flier on this guy and with any luck, he will have many more save opportunities moving forward.