The controversial December trade bringing statistically awesome lefty closer Aroldis Chapman to the New York Yankees from the Cincinnati Reds probably wasn't so well-received by Dellin Betances fantasy owners in keeper formats. After all, lefty Andrew Miller was already in the way for Betances to earn saves, and the Chapman addition figures to push the 6-foot-8 right-hander further down the depth chart. I see the point but when I'm selecting relief pitchers for my fantasy teams, it's not all about the saves, so I don't view Betances as any lesser an option than I did before Christmas.

Sure, we all want and need to compete in saves, perhaps the worst fantasy category around for myriad reasons, but saves aren't everything. Wins are a problem, too, but they've always been around, make more sense at least for team purposes and weren't randomly introduced by a sportswriter and then held as ridiculous gospel by uncreative managers who decided they had to not only create and define roles but make nearly all their late-game decisions because of said statistic. Think about it, it's pretty silly. Alas, the point here is that while only relief pitchers can aid fantasy owners in saves, great relief pitchers can overcome the lack of them.

Let's try it this way: Is Betances a better pitcher than Los Angeles Angels right-hander and long-time closer Huston Street? By every measure except saves he is and it's not remotely close, either. Street, however, earns saves and most fantasy owners will look his way before standard mixed drafts are half over. I don't really take issue with that except for the fact that saves aren't particularly difficult to accumulate over the course of a fantasy season and I'd prefer to use mid-round picks elsewhere. In most seasons at least a third and probably half of all closer roles turn at some point, and saves are generally available on free agency. Pitchers like Betances, however, rarely are.

It comes down to being a proponent of drafting skills over roles, and when it comes to pitchers not entrusted to begin games, there's often a clear delineation. Not all closers are among the most effective of short relievers and let's face it, most closers really help fantasy owners in one category, since they don't pitch enough innings. The average closers tend to be the ones to flutter away their roles and only then will a manager look toward the next man up, who perhaps is the better pitcher for strikeouts, keeping the bases clean, simply getting outs. But I digress.

Of course I like to leave each draft with what I feel are enough saves to compete in the category, because it can be a tad dangerous in highly competitive leagues to assume midseason acquisition of saves, whether through trade or free agency. After all, most owners are constantly on the lookout for the next ninth-inning options, too. I just want to shine some love on those that are, by most non-save measures, the top relief pitchers in the sport because they help fantasy owners more than most realize.

Despite saving a mere 10 games the past two seasons, Betances has been one of the 10 most valuable relief pitchers in fantasy, which is extraordinary. His ERA (1.45) and WHIP (0.89) over an average of 87 innings per is significant, and helps make up for mistakes of other pitchers on your teams, like the Yordano Ventura types. Betances has averaged 133 strikeouts per year, or more than quite a few starting pitchers (including Yovani Gallardo), sans the risk of rough peripherals. He doesn't win or save enough for some or perhaps most, but Betances is incredibly underrated. Street saved 40 games in 2015. Brad Boxberger saved 41. Betances still topped them on the Player Rater anyway.

The bottom line on this debate is not all fantasy teams can afford to bypass 40-save options for Betances or others of his more dominant ilk. I get that. Sometimes I must adhere to this more conventional style as well, though for now I rank Betances ahead of Street, Boxberger and the closers for all but six National League squads (it's ugly in the NL, really ugly). It's also worth pointing out that most relief pitchers can't sustain success for more than a few seasons, and Betances could fall into that group. Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel has been an exception, but there were subtle signs in his 2015 numbers creating slight concern. Betances throws so many dominant, valuable innings that the lack of saves isn't so critical. You can get saves. They aren't tough to find. Relievers that fan 133 hitters per season, however, are.

Here are 10 other relief pitchers that may not initially save games -- bet on the skills and they'll probably end up with saves at some point -- who I'll be looking at when others seem way too content with drafting Santiago Casilla, Steve Cishek and Glen Perkins.

Andrew Miller, Yankees: The Yankees currently boast the only three relief pitchers in baseball who struck out 100 or more hitters last season. That should make up for a lot of bad CC Sabathia outings. I happen to believe Miller can find a way into 10 saves, too, as Chapman shouldn't be overworked.

Carter Capps, Miami Marlins: A funky and perhaps illegal delivery helped him strike out an incomprehensible 16.8 batters per nine innings last season. The numbers are real, we just need double the innings. He's better than A.J. Ramos and should usurp the closer role in March. If he doesn't, draft him anyway.

Carson Smith, Boston Red Sox: He has permitted a .183 batting average against in his big-league career, in 79 outings, and with more than four times as many whiffs as walks. Kimbrel's setup man might be a better pitcher than he is, and I'm not being facetious.

Darren O'Day, Baltimore Orioles: I don't think saves are in his future, but his four seasons in Baltimore have produced a 1.92 ERA, sub-1 WHIP and more strikeouts than innings. He also has won five or more games each season. Justin Verlander won ... five of his 20 starts last year.

Kevin Jepsen, Minnesota Twins: He's not an elite K guy so he gets overlooked, but he has allowed a .199 batting average against the past two seasons. And Perkins doesn't seem as if he can keep the closing role much longer.

Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates: The setup man for Mark Melancon has posted a 1.77 ERA and 0.98 WHIP the past two seasons, with 14 wins and enough strikeouts. And no pitcher has appeared in more games in that span.

Keone Kela, Texas Rangers: His rookie season went well. Nothing against Shawn Tolleson, but Kela is better and will eventually get save chances.

Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs: He has to be one of the quietest elite relievers in the game since joining the Cubs. He boasts a 2.63 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in the NL, with at least 10 K's per nine innings each season. Consistency counts.

Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers: Will Smith and Jeremy Jeffress will compete for saves initially, but Knebel, a closer in college at Texas drafted for this purpose, is biding his time. Saves are in his future and until then, plenty of whiffs.

Mychal Givens, Orioles: He doesn't have the track record of the others, with a mere 30 big-league innings to his credit, but hitters couldn't touch him in 2015. Perhaps it's an Orioles thing. Brad Brach is pretty good, too.

Others to watch: Brett Cecil, Blue Jays; Hunter Strickland, Giants; Silvino Bracho, Diamondbacks; Kelvin Herrera, Royals; Will Harris, Astros; Kyle Barraclough, Marlins; Frankie Montas, Dodgers; San Diego Padres right-handers not named Fernando Rodney!