Author: Jake Ciely, Senior Writer
Join AccuScore now using the code SALE50 for $50 off an annual All-Sports premium membership. For all others this is $349, but as you are reading this article, it is only $299... Join Today
Or hear the crack of the bat?
*Shivers*
Baseball is almost here.
As a reminder, I rank according to my projections and replacement value. It’s what led to my No. 1 overall accuracy at Fantasy Pros, as numbers don’t lie… they may be off or wrong, but numbers aren’t influenced by being fond of a prospect or having been burned by a pitcher. I’m going to highlight just a few players at each position that might stand out, so if you want the real meat and in-depth info, get the Xclusive Edge package… and listen to FNTSY Radio from 11a-1p for On Target, when I give out the discount code each day!
2017 Fantasy Baseball Rankings
Catcher Rankings
Matt Wieters is with the Nationals, and for landing spots, I am a big fan. The park isn’t much of a downgrade from Camden Yards, and the lineup is just as good and certainly better than the rumored Rays possibility. Austin Hedges has all of the tools to hit 15-20 home runs with 50-60 Runs and RBIs. Yasmani Grandal has the power but not much else, and his average will hurt. Grandal sees a nice boost in OBP leagues though.
First Base Rankings
Obviously, Kendrys Morales and Victor Martinez only qualify at DH for most leagues, so let’s focus on two others. Tommy Joseph dramatically improved his plate discipline near the end of July, striking out less and walking more. The power is real, and Joseph has 30-plus home run power. As long as the plate discipline improvement sticks, Joseph will be this year’s first base breakout. Josh Bell doesn’t have the power of Joseph, but he can hit in the mid teens for home runs with a strong average. Add in the 60-70 Runs and RBIs, and Bell will be a high-end corner infielder… as long as he’s healthy.
Second Base Rankings
Not a ton of eye-catching rankings here, but Neil Walker deserves more respect for his Fantasy production, as has been the case for much of his career. Devon Travis would rank even higher if he could put together a full season finally. Lastly, Raul Mondesi would jump higher if he locks in the full-time job, as he has 30 stolen base potential… but that average won’t be pretty.
Third Base Rankings
His team may be one of the worst, but Maikel Franco has the potential to be one of the best third basemen. Last year was just a glimpse into Franco’s potential. He can improve his average, and in doing so, near 30 home runs with 70-plus Runs and 90-plus RBIs, despite playing for the Phillies. Within the same division, many overlooked Adonis Garcia last year. An aged rookie, Garcia improved throughout the year and hit .293 with nine home runs, 43 Runs and 39 RBIs in the second half, all of which were dramatic improvements in the same amount of games from the first half.
Shortstop Rankings
Yes, Jonathan Villar is the top shortstop on pure value. How many players can hit double-digit home runs and steal 60 bases? Speaking of speed, now that Jose Peraza has a clear path to the starting job and can hit for a high average and steal 40-plus bases… easily. Get on board with Tim Anderson before it’s too late, as a 70/10/50/20 line is doable and would rank him just outside the Top 10 shortstops.
Outfield Rankings
Eric Thames failed in his first MLB stint, but he’s back, and he was putting up a 40/40 season in Korea just two years ago. Last year, he had 40 and 13 in 121 games. We can’t simply carry his stats over, but 70/23/75/12 with a .265 average is doable, and that would rank Thames this high. If you want the full breakdown on why Keon Broxton is a terrific value in drafts, check out Bounce Back Hitters in the Draft Kit. Yasiel Puig‘s ranking may seem aggressive, but Puig would finish much higher if he can finally put a full season together and start 140-plus games. Tyler Naquin won’t carry a BABIP as high as last year’s, but the kid has real skill and 70/15/60/10 is reasonable.
Starting Pitcher Rankings
How quickly people forget that Dallas Keuchel was a Top 10 pitcher just two years ago. Even a modest bounce back with a mid-3.00 ERA and 170-180 strikeouts would put Keuchel inside the Top 20. Jameson Taillon is the real deal, and while his strikeouts won’t do much for you, his ERA and WHIP will improve your ratios and provide strong value. Someone with Michael Pineda‘s talent just can’t continue to struggle like this. See more about him in the Bounce Back Pitchers piece. Wei-Yin Chen may seem high, but he’s really a poor man’s Taillon. Matt Harvey is a huge boom/bust pick, but this ranking calls for a 3.69 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with eight wins and 122 strikeouts. Think about that before clamoring to move him higher.
Closer Rankings (Relief Pitcher)
Stop looking for reasons to dislike Shawn Kelley… unless, the Nationals trade for David Robertson of course. Who is Grant Dayton? Well, if you like the high-K, ratio helpers like Kyle Barraclough, etc., he needs to be a name you know. Carter Capps is returning from injury and is not only the best closer option the Padres have, he has plenty of Fantasy upside if he returns 100 percent.
Main Image via Juan Salas/Icon Sportswire
The Fantasy Radio Sports Network (FNTSY) is the premier FREE 24/7 Fantasy Sports radio channel on the planet! Listen live or on demand and get the app in the ITunes Store or on Google Play. It’s the new home of the RotoExperts in the Morning and brand new shows featuring your favorite hosts, such as Tony Cincotta, Scott Engel, Jake Ciely, Nando Di Fino, Corey Parson, Pat Mayo, Joe Pisapia and many more!