2018 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Trout missed significant time in 2017 with a torn UCL in his thumb, which marred an otherwise truly elite season. He hit 33 home runs and stole 22 bases in just 114 games, setting career-bests in both walk-rate and strikeout-rate. Simply put, the 26-year-old is as good as he's ever been, and with an improved lineup around him, the sky is the limit in 2018.

If anyone is ever going to challenge Mike Trout for the top spot in fantasy baseball, it's Altuve, one of the true five-category producers in the game. Altuve's strikeout-rate jumped a few points last year, but he otherwise had nearly a carbon copy of his fantastic 2016 season. With an elite batting average and outstanding counting stats, Altuve should once again have a dominant fantasy season batting near the top of an excellent Astros lineup.

Arenado has become one of the most consistently elite performers in baseball, as 2017 marked his third straight season with at least 37 home runs and 130 RBI. Batting in Colorado certainly helps, but Arenado's numbers on the road (.283 batting average and a .531 slugging percentage) show that he's not merely a product of Coors Field. Even if he were, he'll remain in Colorado for the foreseeable future, and Arenado owners can put about 40 homers, 130 RBI, and outstanding production in the other fantasy categories in the bank for 2018, making him an easy top-five pick.

Turner missed more than a third of the season after fracturing his wrist from a hit-by-pitch, but he did nothing to make fantasy owners doubt his status as a true fantasy stud. Turner stole an incredible 46 bases in just 98 games, making him the most elite base-stealer in the game. The fact that he also chipped in 11 home runs, 75 runs, and a decent batting average only makes him all the more desirable. Given the scarcity of steals in the game, Turner is a sure-fire first-round pick, and can easily be considered in the top-five.

Betts had a "disappointing" season in 2017, but the world would be a better place if everyone could disappoint that way. The majority of his counting stats (other than steals) dropped a bit, but the big falloff was in batting average, where he dropped from .318 in 2016 to just .264 in 2017. That precipitous drop seems largely luck-based, as his batted ball profile and speed simply do not support the .268 BABIP that he had last year. Either way, when a disappointing season is a .264-101-24-102-26 line, you know you've arrived as a fantasy stud. Betts should be drafted in the first round again with confidence.

Goldschmidt had another truly elite season, bouncing back from his minor power outage in 2016 to hit 36 home runs and finish as the fifth-ranked player in fantasy. There's little to discuss with Goldschmidt at this point - he's just 30 years old, has been an elite fantasy producer for five years, and shows no signs of decline. In fact, he had his highest hard-contact rate of his career in 2017. The addition of a humidor puts a minor damper on Goldschmidt's outlook, but don't overthink it, as he remains an elite hitter on the road. He's a top-10 pick in all fantasy formats this year.

Blackmon won the National League batting title last season, and also hit a whopping 37 home runs while totaling an impressive 137 runs scored. It's difficult to expect a repeat of those numbers, which far surpassed anything Blackmon had done in the past. On the downside, his stolen base output (and efficiency) continued to dip, as Blackmon stole just 14 bases in 24 attempts. Blackmon is a first-rounder, for sure, but betting on the soon-to-be 32-year-old to put up a repeat performance is a bit aggressive. Look for closer to his excellent 2016 numbers (.324 average, 29 home runs and 111 runs scored) and you'll probably be satisfied with his output in 2018.

Harper was well on his way to a career season before a grotesque knee injury knocked him out for a significant portion of the year. It wasn't all great news for Harper - his walk-rate dropped, his strikeout-rate rose, and he barely contributed in the stolen base department. But his 29 home runs and .319 batting average through 111 games showed just how high the ceiling is. Entering a contract year, expect a motivated Harper to give it everything he has this year and, health-willing, put up an elite fantasy season.

Stanton finally had the year that fantasy owners had been waiting for, and boy, was it worth the wait. His counting stats (59 home runs, 123 runs scored, and 132 RBI) were off the charts, but he also made significant gains as a hitter. Stanton dropped his strikeout rate to just 23.6%, by far the lowest of his career, and raised his walk-rate. Now batting in one of the most homer-friendly stadiums in the game in the middle of a stacked lineup, the sky is the limit for Stanton. Although it seems implausible for him to improve on last year's numbers, it's not out of the range of possibilities, particularly because his hard-contact rate was the lowest it had been in five seasons. Simply put, Stanton should be a fantasy stud this season.

Bryant had a bizarre year, in that he disappointed with just 29 homers and a shockingly low 73 RBI. But he showed plenty of signs of growth as a hitter, cutting his strikeout-rate and raising his walk-rate significantly. In the end, Bryant still bats near the top of an elite lineup, and he is just now entering his prime. Expect the home run and RBI totals to rise (even if he continues to bat second as he did most of last year), and for him to provide first-round production in 2018 and beyond.

Correa left his sophomore slump in the past last season, putting up career-highs in home runs, runs scored, and batting average, despite playing in just 109 games because of a thumb injury. There's little reason to doubt his ability to contribute meaningfully in four offensive categories, but it's worth noting that he stole just two bases last season. Given that Correa has always had a solid success rate, it seems like this was simply a conscious choice, and considering his thumb injury was a result of a slide on the basepaths, he may simply avoid stolen base attempts to stay healthy in the future. If so, that puts a minor damper on Correa's fantasy prospects. But his pedigree, his position, his performance to date, and his place in an outstanding lineup, keeps him as a first-rounder heading into 2018 regardless of his steals.

Votto, who has been an elite fantasy option for several years, somehow took his game to another level last year in his age-33 season. He tied his career-high in runs scored, and came close to matching his career-highs in home runs, RBI, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and walk rate. He also had the lowest strikeout rate of his career (just 11.7 percent) by a wide margin. Simply put, he was as good as he's ever been last year, and there's no reason to doubt him this season. Even with the depth at the first base position, taking Votto with an early pick is an obviously safe and wise move.

Machado had a "down" year, which was largely the product of a terrible first two months of the season. But other than in the batting average department, where he batted a career-low .259, his numbers largely wound up in the range of his career-norms. That batting average drop appears to be a mirage, as Machado set a career-high in hard-contact percentage but had a career-worst .265 BABIP. Expect his batting average to jump back closer to his .279 career mark this season, and with soon-to-come dual eligibility, Machado should once again be considered a borderline first-rounder.

Absent his wrist injury that cost him more than six weeks of action, Freeman easily would have had his best season ever. Regardless, he showed that the power gains he made in 2016 were real, and he posted the lowest strikeout rate and highest ISO of his career. Playing in the bandbox that is SunTrust Park, there's little reason to doubt Freeman's ability to be an elite power hitter going forward. Especially if he has third-base eligibility in your league, Freeman should be a very early pick and can be relied on as one of the building blocks of your fantasy team.

Rizzo has been perhaps the most reliable fantasy player in the game over the past four seasons, hitting either 31 or 32 home runs in each season, tallying between 89 and 99 RBI, and throwing in a handful of steals. But although his fantasy numbers remained consistent, he showed plenty of gains last year, cutting his strikeout rate and increasing his walk rate significantly. In other words, there's still plenty of room for growth for the young slugger. He remains one of the top first-base options in the game right now, but to the extent he gained second-base eligibility thanks to Joe Maddon's quirky shifts, he should be considered a truly elite fantasy option this year.

After a lengthy dance, Martinez finally signed with the Red Sox in mid-February, placing him in an ideal situation. Martinez had an other-worldly year last season, hitting 45 home runs in just 119 games and leading the league in hard-contact rate. He'll now bat in the middle of a strong Boston lineup, one that should allow him to surpass both 100 runs scored and 100 RBI. It's unclear whether Martinez has truly morphed into a potential 60-home-run-hitter, but his move to Boston essentially guarantees that he will be an elite fantasy outfielder this season.

After an embarrassingly awful cup of coffee in 2016, Judge went crazy in 2017, hitting an incredible 52 home runs and easily winning rookie of the year. Although he was plagued by a shoulder injury and slumped after the All-Star break, he rebounded nicely in September, showing that he could adjust when things got tough. Judge's strikeout-rate (30.7%) likely means that his .284 batting average is going to drop this season, though he hits the ball so incredibly hard (45.3% hard-hit rate) that he's bound to have a high BABIP. Either way, you can easily give away some batting average for the massive power Judge is guaranteed to bring. And don't ignore his nine steals last season, either. If he comes anywhere close to a repeat performance in 2018, he'll likely find himself a perennial first-rounder for the foreseeable future.

Lindor, like many hitters, had an absurd power jump in 2017, hitting 33 home runs, more than he had in his last two seasons combined. The good news for fantasy owners is that he looked like almost an identical hitter to his previous years, with the same exact walk and strikeout percentages to his 2016 season. All Lindor did is start doing what many hitters did - hit the ball in the air more. The results were predictable - more home runs and a lower batting average. Whether he continues with that same approach or returns to his previous one, he'll be one of the elite fantasy shortstops in the game in 2018.

Ramirez's 2017 numbers didn't look all that different from his 2016 numbers, with one drastic exception - a dramatic increase in power. Ramirez upped his home run total to what was a then-career-high of 11 in 2016 to 29 in 2017, and increased his doubles from 46 to 56. Nothing about the gains seems particularly fluky, as Ramirez appears to have made a conscious effort to pull the ball and hit more fly balls last year, which usually does (and did for Ramirez) produce a jump in power. If he stays with that approach, he should have little trouble keeping his power gains, and should once again be one of the most valuable infielders in all of fantasy in 2018.

Springer's stolen base totals are trending in the wrong direction, but that's essentially the only negative thing you can say about him. His home runs have risen in three straight seasons, he dropped his strikeout percentage by more than six points last year, and he set a career-high in batting average and RBI. In short, Springer has developed into a reliable four-category producer, and he'll at least chip in a bit in the fifth category (steals). Add all that up and Springer should be considered a borderline second-rounder, one with significant upside even at that price.

Absent Aaron Judge's season, the baseball community would have been talking about Cody Bellinger's rookie year as perhaps the greatest of all time. Despite beginning the year in the minors and missing time on the disabled list, Bellinger swatted 39 home runs, and added 10 steals to boot. He did struggle some in the playoffs, especially in the World Series, where he struck out 17 times in 28 at-bats. That could mean that there's a book out on Bellinger, which could result in more strikeouts and a bit of a sophomore slump. Still, there's plenty of room for regression with the youngster, and he should still be an excellent fantasy option this year, even if his numbers dip a bit.

Donaldson finally succumbed to the calf injury he seemed to have been battling for the last two seasons, and missed six weeks on the disabled list. Although he struggled mightily for a bit after his return, he found his form in the second half, hitting 24 home runs for a total of 33 in just 113 games. Donaldson's strikeout-rate jumped significantly last year, which is always a little worrisome as he likely begins the downside of his career. But playing in a hitter's park and in his walk year, Donaldson should at least have one more big season in the bag, and should return to being an elite hitter this year.

Sanchez followed up his sizzling 53-game stretch in the majors in 2016 by smacking 33 home runs in just 122 games in 2017. He easily finished as the top catcher in fantasy despite missing time with injuries. Sure, his walk rate and hard-contact percentage dropped a tiny bit, but there's no reason to nitpick. Batting in the middle of an incredible (and somehow improved) Yankees lineup, Sanchez should once again top 30 home runs and be drafted as the top fantasy catcher in the game in 2018.

Abreu has quickly established himself as one of the most consistent players in all of fantasy baseball. In his four seasons in the majors, he's never hit fewer than 25 home runs, driven in fewer than 100 RBI, or batted lower than .290. The fact that his numbers were so gaudy last year (.304/.354/.552) is particularly impressive given the dearth of offensive talent on the White Sox roster. Essentially, there are no concerns at this point with Abreu, and his safety makes him a rock-solid option at first base, just behind the elite names.

Dozier came close to repeating his career-best numbers from 2016, but his fantasy owners certainly weren't complaining. Dozier continues to be a strong four-category player with a batting average that won't hurt you. His best trait may be his durability, as he has played in at least 152 games in each of the past four seasons. Even if you took his worst single-season totals over that stretch, he would still give you a 101-23-71-12 line, and his outstanding floor keeps him near the top of the second-base ranks. With an improved walk-rate and little signs of decline elsewhere, Dozier makes an outstanding pick in the early rounds.

Seager is an outstanding real-life ballplayer, but his fantasy totals don't really stand out anywhere. He's not much of a basestealer and has yet to top either 26 home runs or 77 RBI. Still, it's obvious that there's potential for much, much more with the young shortstop, and your worst case scenario is a player who will contribute in four categories and provide elite production in one (batting average). That safety makes Seager a valuable asset with upside, worthy of an early-round selection.

After he missed half of the 2016 season with a PED suspension, Gordon got right back to work in 2017, hitting above .300 and stealing 60 bases. Gordon put the ball in play more then ever, putting up just a 13.4% strikeout rate, best of his career. His reward was a trade to the Mariners, where he'll move from second base to center field. The trade shouldn't impact Gordon's value much, as he'll continue to bat leadoff in front of a strong lineup. And with soon-to-be dual eligibility, Gordon's fantasy stock only rises.

It took long enough, but the phenom finally broke out 10 years later. Last season, Upton went for 35 homers, 100+ runs, 100+ RBI and 14 steals. In fact, he got better as the season went on so don't be surprised to see him repeat his stellar campaign.

Encarnacion got off to a very rough start with the Indians, but in the end, he wound up with his standard stat line. He hit at least 34 home runs and tallied 98 RBI for the sixth consecutive season, his strikeout rate remained constant, and he actually set a career-high in walk rate (15.5%). In the end, there's little to suggest a decline is imminent, even as Encarnacion enters his age-35 season. With enough appearances at first base to retain eligibility at the position, Encarnacion can and should once again be valued as a strong fantasy option.

It's rare that a 20-20 rookie season feels disappointing, but that's exactly how it was for Benintendi. Always a high-average hitter in the minors, Benintendi hit just .271, the lowest he has hit in any level. But all the signs are there that Benintendi will improve on his already impressive numbers this year. He dropped his strikeout-rate and upped his walk-rate significantly from his 2016 cup of coffee, and his numbers against lefties (.622 OPS) are bound to come up. That means that Benintendi's average is bound to rise, and so too will his already excellent counting stats. A breakout is likely coming, so buy in accordingly.

Yelich is coming off another fine season, which saw him hit 18 home runs, steal 16 bases, and finish as the 20th-ranked outfielder in fantasy. But with his trade to the Brewers, he should be drafted significantly higher this season. Marlins Park has greatly depressed Yelich's numbers over the past two seasons. He hit 24 of his 39 home runs in that span on the road, and had an OPS 126 points lower at home 2017 and 170 points lower at home in 2016. Not only does he move out of Miami, but he goes to a hitters' haven in Miller Park, to a team that had the second-most stolen bases last season. Simply put, Yelich could easily go 25-25 this year and is knocking on the door of the top-10 outfielders.

Cruz is now 37 years old so you might be inclined to think his career is well on the downturn, but he was actually superb again last year. He now has 40+ HR, 100+ RBI, 90 R and a .287 or higher average in 3 of the last 4 seasons.

Marte obviously had a disappointing year considering he missed half the season after a PED suspension, and his .275 batting average and .379 slugging percentage were career-lows. But had he simply reached his average plate appearances from 2013-2016, he would have wound up with a .275-80-12-52-35 line, which essentially puts his floor at Lorenzo Cain-like production. With speed and batting average difficult to fill, Marte should be considered a borderline top-10 outfielder, even with the lack of a supporting cast.

Ozuna may have been the breakout player of the year, driving in an extra 50 runs from the previous season, batting 45 points higher and hitting for substantially more power. Another bump could come this year now that he is out of the Marlins' pitcher-friendly park.

Both in his 49-game cameo in 2016 and his full season last year, Bregman got off to a painfully slow start before coming on strong in the latter part of the season. He carried over his excellent second half last year (.903 OPS) into the playoffs, where he became a household name with home runs in the World Series off of Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen. All the signs point to a breakout for the youngster, as his strong strikeout- and walk-rates, and his rare power-speed combination, make him an intriguing option. The problem is that Bregman is exactly the type of guy who will be on everyone's "breakout" list, and you'll likely need to pay a high price for him if you want him on your team.

Rendon simply had a fantastic year in 2017, batting over .300 with solid counting stats all around. Perhaps most impressively, Rendon upped his walk-rate and dropped his strikeout significantly, so much so that he was one of just a few players to have more walks than strikeouts last year. The only thing truly keeping him down was Dusty Baker's insistence on batting him sixth, which depressed his run scored total (just 81). That shouldn't be a problem this year under Dave Martinez and, health-willing, Rendon should continue his growth as a hitter and perhaps put up a career-best season.

Hoskins had an incredible season between Triple-A and the majors, swatting 47 home runs and totaling 115 RBI between the two levels. His 48 RBI in his first 50 Major League games is the best mark ever by a rookie, and his incredibly high walk rate and manageable strikeout rate suggests that his performance was not a fluke. With an improving Phillies lineup and another year under his belt, the sky is the limit for Hoskins heading into this season, and he should have dual-eligibility at both first base and outfield.

Somehow Davis has now batted exactly .247 each of the previous three seasons. That won't kill you if he repeats in 2018. This is among the most reliable sources for power and RBI, so put 40 HR and 100 RBI in ink if you add him.

While there may be much more depth at second base this year than in years past, the second tier is a bit bare. Schoop leads the pack thanks to elite power for the position and a reliable batting average from year to year.

Andrus has now gone nine consecutive seasons stealing at least 20 bases. He is a near-lock to play 150+ games and pile up the runs scored while helping you quite a bit in batting average. Even the power came on last season!

Myers' batting average dropped and his strikeout rate rose in 2017, but those are really the only negatives you can point to. He went 30-20, increased his walk rate to a career high 10.8%, and set a career high in hard-contact rate by a large margin. Yes, his runs and RBI totals dropped significantly, but those declines are hardly his fault, as the Padres' abysmal offense prevented him from padding his totals in those categories. Although the Padres may not be strong offensively again, Myers' combination of power and speed makes him an outstanding fantasy option at first base in 2018.

Pham's 20-20 breakout season came out of nowhere, as the 29-year-old had barely produced at the major league level before last season. Buoyed by a correction of a vision problem (that had apparently affected his depth perception) and an everyday role, Pham thrived, cutting his strikeout-rate significantly and developing into one of the few true power-speed threats in fantasy. If you believe the narrative, then there's little reason to have Pham outside of your top-20 outfielders. But we've also seen plenty of random excellent years from players late in their career that ultimately tend to be outliers. Your best bet is to proceed with caution, and draft Pham expecting about 80% of what you got last year, which still makes him plenty valuable in fantasy.

Pollock is not the same top 20 fantasy player that we saw three seasons ago, but a 20-30 season seems probable even with the humidor in Chase. Even with a mediocre batting average, that power/speed combo makes him a top 50 asset.

Cano might not be the .320 hitter he was for most of his career, but you can still bet on .280 with 20+ homers and a bunch of runs and RBI. That should be enough to tempt you into snatching him in the first 70 picks.

Many were proclaiming Buxton to be the breakout player of the year. It just so happens that he needed a few months to figure the league out like another former top overall prospect, Mike Trout. Now clearly Buxton is not nor will ever be on Trout's level, but he was superb in the second half, batting .300 with 11 homers, 13 steals, 40 runs and 35 RBIs in just 207 at bats. We have not even seen the youngster in his prime. Perhaps this year he stretches it out to 25 HR and 40 stolen bases.

Xander started to turn it around at the end of the season, but the final numbers looked quite bad. We have, however, see him hit .320 and score 115 runs with 20+ homers, so the potential is there for a top 20 fantasy season and he still is young enough to have not reached his full potential.

McCutchen was unbelievably good in the second half, but before you jump up and proclaim he is a top 40 fantasy player again, keep in mind that he now plays his home games in San Francisco and may see a dip in power.

A bulked-up Cespedes could not stay healthy last year, missing significant time with hamstring issues. Even when he played, he was essentially battling through on one leg all season, which makes his production all the more remarkable. Despite playing hurt and in a depleted lineup, if you gave Cespedes his average plate appearances throughout his career, he would have wound up with a line of .292-85-31-78, which is more than respectable. Now healthy and with a better supporting cast, Cespedes should once again be a solid four-category producer and a valuable fantasy asset.

Fantasy owners should be salivating over Cain's move to the Brewers. Miller Park is one of the best hitter's parks in baseball, and the Brewers have led MLB in stolen base attempts since Craig Counsell took over as manager. There are some warning signs under the surface for Cain's power, so dreams of a 25-homer season may be a little optimistic. But batting near the top of an outstanding lineup and in a great park, he should be in line for one of the best seasons of his career.

Hosmer had a career-year at just the right time, hitting 25 home runs for the second consecutive season but raising his batting average to an impressive .318. That season garnered him a large contract from the Padres (after a lengthy wait), where he'll man first base for the next several seasons. Petco Park isn't nearly the pitcher's park it once was, and Hosmer shouldn't see too much of a dip in power with the move from Kauffman Stadium. The bigger issue for Hosmer is whether he can keep his average gains despite an extremely high ground ball-rate (fourth-highest in the league among qualified hitters last season). If he does, expect him to be a low-end starting first baseman in mixed leagues or a strong corner infielder.

Segura seems to be a steady .300 hitter all of a sudden the past few years. If he had stayed healthy all year, he likely would have hit 15 homers with near 30 steals. That is a quality middle infielder in a time where offensive shortstops don't grow on trees.

Cabrera had the worst season of his career by far, batting just .249 and hitting just 16 home runs. He battled back and hip injuries for pretty much the entire season, and although he tried to play through them, he was clearly not the same player. His jump in strikeout rate and drop in walk rate suggests that age may also be catching up to the slugger as he enters his age-35 season. But Cabrera has had down years before (i.e., 2015) and bounced back with superb seasons, so it's probably unwise to write him off completely. But the days of needing to take him with an early pick appear to be over.

If there were any lingering doubts that Murphy had completely changed as a hitter, last year put them to bed. With another season of more than 20 home runs, at least 90 RBI, and at least a .320 batting average, Murphy has firmly established himself as an elite fantasy option at second base. There were a few warning signs last year as Murphy continues to age - his strikeout rate jumped more than three percentage points, for example. But the biggest worry is that Murphy had knee surgery in the offseason and is questionable to be ready for Opening Day. Monitor his status closely this spring. If he looks like he'll miss little or no time, then you should have few concerns and draft him with confidence expecting similar numbers to the last two years.

It seemed as though it would never happen, but Braun seems to have finally hit a wall. He finished last year with just 17 homers, 52 RBI and a .268 batting average because of multiple lingering injuries. If he can stay healthy, he may bounce back, but your expectations ought to be closer to what we saw last season.

If not for a strained hamstring that limited him to just 117 games last season, Contreras likely would have been a top-three catcher. As it is, he still finished ranked sixth at the position, swatting 21 home runs, knocking in 74 RBI, and throwing in five steals. All the underlying numbers support his breakout, as he boasted a 10.5% walk rate with a .223 ISO and a passable 22.9% strikeout rate. Batting in the middle of a strong Cubs lineup, expect Contreras to be one of the top catchers in fantasy again in 2018.

From a fantasy standpoint, Posey had perhaps the worst full season of his career last year, hitting just 12 home runs and knocking in just 67 RBI, though he still finished as the third-best catcher in fantasy baseball. But his dip in performance was largely based on his lack of supporting cast, as he had the second-highest batting average and on-base percentage of his career. That supporting cast should look much better this year with Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria on board. Posey will be just 31 years old on Opening Day, and should still have another year or two before the inevitable "catcher decline." Though he may have been surpassed by Gary Sanchez, he's still an easy second choice at the position.

Shaw had a true breakout season with the Brewers, swatting 31 home runs, totaling 101 RBI, and throwing in 10 steals. His ability to hold his own against lefties led to him keeping the everyday job at third base, and though he struggled a bit down the stretch as he fought through injuries, there are few warning signs heading into this season. Shaw set career-bests in walk percentage and strikeout rate, and he should be a fine fantasy option at the hot corner this season.

If we knew Billy Hamilton would have a job all year, it might make sense to add his 60 steals and just deal with the crummy batting average and power numbers, but he has been so bad that 400+ at bats is nowhere close to a guarantee.

Odor is a good lesson in how important batting average can be. The fact that the young second baseman topped 30 homers yet again and added 15 steals to boot should make him a desirable fantasy commodity. But a .204 batting average and his inability to get on base generally has taken the shine of Odor this season. That batting average, however, is bound to come up, as a player with Odor's speed who does not hit the ball in the air at an egregious rate should do much better than a .224 BABIP. If he can raise his batting average to just the .230 range, which would still be well below average, the effect on his overall numbers would leave him as a top-10 second baseman, without question. Draft him with those expectations.

You cannot find five hitters in all of baseball with more power than Sano. We haven't seen it fully realized quite yet, but he is still just 24 and hasn't played more than 120 games in his career. If he does this year, don't be startled if he knocks 45 out of the yard with a healthy batting average and a load of RBIs.

You may have missed this one, but Whit actually led the American League with 34 steals last season. He also added some power to his game to accompany a .286 career average. If you are waiting on second base, Whit will be a great option.

At this point, it seems as though the now 39-year-old Beltre might play until he is 50. He is still cruising along with a .312 batting average and a pro-rated 30+ HR, 100+ RBI rate over a full season. Draft away still in the top 100.

Puig had the best fantasy campaign of his career in 2017 and it wasn't even close with 28 HR and 1 SB. In fact, batted ball numbers indicate his BA may further climb in 2018.

We saw an amazing hitter at times and a 20-year-old who wasn't ready at others. I can't quite tell you which Devers we will see in 2017, but know that the upside is that of a superstar and the floor is that he gets sent back down to the minors for more tuning up.

Seager went from being the most consistent hitter in all of fantasy baseball to the most consistent hitter with an odd BABIP-induced drop in his batting average. Expect his usual 25 HR, .270 BA and 90 RBI this season.

Yes, the batting average is disgusting and will almost certainly remain that way, but you can't easily replace the 40 to 50 homers we should expect this year. Plus, we have to consider that he got substantially better each year in the minors so growth in the BA department can't be ruled out.

Story had a disappointing 2017. hitting just 24 home runs with a .239 batting average. He improved significantly in the second half, coming in with an .834 OPS, but even those gains can't make up for his nearly 35% strikeout rate. Story's production - even if he repeats his 2017 numbers - isn't awful, but with Brendan Rodgers waiting in the wings, it's unclear if it will be enough for him to hold his job all year. In the end, Story is a high-risk, high-reward player, who could easily hit 35 home runs or be out of a job by July. Whether you draft him depends on your risk tolerance and how desperate you are for power.

LeMahieu is one of those players that fantasy owners hate to draft. He contributes significantly in two largely forgotten categories (batting average and runs scored) and is just sort of there, without helping or hurting, in the other categories. The good thing is that LeMahieu rarely misses time - he's played in at least 146 games in each of the last four seasons - and his home park pretty much guarantees that he'll contribute. But there are no signs that a power jump or an uptick in stolen bases is imminent, making LeMahieu the grilled cheese sandwich of fantasy baseball (reliable but unexciting without much upside).

If you draft Santana, just know that the Brewers may trade him to a team like the Rays, who's ballpark would be a big blow to Santana's production. If he stays in Milwaukee, we are looking at a potential repeat of 30 HR and 15 SB with plenty of R and RBI.

While Ender won't exactly provide power or RBIs, you can expect a .290 BA with 20+ SB and seeing that he was one of only nine players who did that last year, it's fair to say he is a solid 10th or 11th round pick.

Adam Jones does not steal bases anymore, but he is one of the games most durable players and a safe source of power and a useful batting average.

Castellanos has consistently been a batted ball outlier in the fact that his data screams for positive regression. For whatever reason, it hasn't quite happened yet, but a 30 HR, .290 season with 100+ RBI may be right around the corner.

A former top prospect, Smoak was largely forgotten in fantasy circles heading into last season. But he exploded for 38 home runs, setting career highs across the board. The only truly dramatic change in Smoak's underlying numbers was a significant decrease in strikeout rate, which seemed to come from a legitimate effort by him to lay off on pitches outside the strike zone. Though it's always a worry to rely on a breakout season from a 30-year-old, Smoak's profile suggest that his gains are legitimate and repeatable.

Albies has a historically good season for a 20 year old in the majors, but that came without many homers or RBI. Repeating that efficiency as a sophomore will be a challenge, but he does possess 20 HR/40 SB upside and may end up the breakout of the season.

Santana had a decent season overall and played in at least 152 games for the fifth-consecutive season. But his home run total dropped from 34 to 23, suggesting that 2016's surge was an outlier. He should have the opportunity to move his home run number back in the opposite direction, however, as his move to the Phillies and hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Ballpark should lead to a bit of a power spike. Regardless, you know what you'll generally get from Santana - a mediocre average, decent counting stats, and a bunch of walks. Although he's more valuable in points formats and OBP leagues, his safety is valuable in rotisserie leagues, too.

Lamb was superb in the first-half last year, but really fell off in the second-half. With the humidor now in place, don't expect 30 HR or 100 RBI again this year. That .250 BA won't seem as manageable without all the power in place.

Olson played in only 59 games with the A's last year, but hit an incredible 24 home runs in that span. Although there's little reason to doubt his status as a power hitter, his HR/FB rate was an unsustainable 41.4% last season, meaning dreams of him hitting 50-plus home runs are likely unrealistic. Still, Olson should provide plenty of pop, along with a mediocre batting average and tons of strikeouts. Although his skillset isn't particularly unique, he should provide decent fantasy value in 2018, particularly in rotisserie formats.

Weighed down by a league-leading 62.7% ground-ball rate, Desmond failed to take advantage of playing in Coors Field, hitting just seven home runs in 95 games last season. He missed significant time with a fractured hand early and a strained calf in the middle of the season, and just never seemed to get in a groove. Despite his troubles, he still managed to steal 15 bases in limited time, and his .274 batting average certainly didn't hurt you in today's landscape. With dual-eligibility at both first base and outfield, Desmond should be able to bounce back to being a reliable fantasy option if he can get get the ball in the air a bit more next season.

The first 250 at-bats of Taylor's career were uninspiring, but he had always been a solid hitter in the minors. A repeat of his 21/17 season seems unlikely, however, so don't draft him as the top 50 hitter he was in 2017.

For a while, Moose seemed like a bust, but he has been improving each year lately and suddenly became a 38 HR masher in 2018. With him finally signing, he becomes a fringe top 100 pick. It would have been substantially better had he landed in the Bronx.

While there is no doubt about it that Acuna has MVP type upside, he is still extremely young and his swing has too many holes in it. The hype has gone too far and we shouldn't expect a Cody Bellinger type season from Acuna. Plus, he is starting the season in the minor leagues.

Polanco has always left fantasy owners with the feeling like he should be much better than he is. With excellent speed and burgeoning power, he has all the makings of a perennial 20-20 player, but injuries have held him back. He drastically cut his strikeout rate last year, however, and has embarked on an extreme training regimen this offseason. If he can manage to stay healthy for most of the season, he could finally have that breakout year. But he warned - the total lack of supporting cast in Pittsburgh could keep in check his runs scored and RBI numbers, even if he does have that breakout season fantasy owners are waiting for.

Zimmerman went largely undrafted in 2017, but turned in one of the most surprising seasons in recent memory. Buoyed by a torrid April in which he bashed 11 home runs and batted over .400, Zimmerman set career highs in both home runs and RBI in 2018. He slowed down a bit in the second half but he kept his power gains, showing that he was a fantasy-relevant first base option regardless of his hot start. Even if Zimmerman regresses as expected, there's plenty of room for him to remain a fantasy-relevant option even with decreased numbers. There are always question marks surrounding his health, but don't be afraid to buy into last year if your league gives you a discount.

Rosario has been generating some hype around the industry and for good reason. He knocked 27 homers and stole 9 bases with a .290 batting average last season and likely hasn't reached his ceiling. He is a quality mid-round pickup this season.

We only got to see 23 games from Eaton last year, but he looked as good as ever before. With a full season in 2018, we can expect 10 to 15 homers, 15 SB and a quality average to go with plenty of runs scored.

Didi won't steal you any bases, but shorstops with 20+ HR and a .275+ batting average don't grow on trees and that's what he'll give you.

Mazara hasn't found his potential yet, but he is still just 22 years old and drove in 101 runs last season. Don't be shocked if he swats 35 out of the yard this year with a .270 batting average.

If we can guarantee Happ a full season worth of at-bats, we'd be looking at a middle infielder with 35 homers and double-digit steals. The problem is that the Cubs are so loaded that he will probably only see 400 at-bats unless an injury opens up full playing time.

Carpenter's batting average dropped to a career-low .241, but the rest of his numbers remained almost entirely consistent with his career norms. He may have been one of the few victims of the fly-ball revolution, as his large jump in fly-ball rate (50.8%) led to a career low in BABIP (.274), despite a strong hard-contact percentage. In the end, don't let the .241 batting average fool you. Carpenter has not declined much if at all, and he should once again put up excellent numbers in 2018 batting at or near the top of a strong Cardinals lineup.

Bruce had another fine year at the plate last season, hitting 36 home runs and totaling 101 RBI between his time with the Mets and the Indians. He'll return to the Mets on a three-year deal, playing a mix of outfield and first base and batting in the middle of the order. Bruce's underlying metrics have remained steady, as his walk rate and strikeout rate remained generally consistent with his career norms. All in all, there's little reason to expect a decline from Bruce heading into 2018, and another season of 30-plus home runs, around 100 RBI, and a .250-ish batting average can be penciled in with confidence.

Kinsler is a bit old and his batting average plummeted, but the batted ball rates indicate he should be back around .270 this season, which when paired with 20 HR, 15 SB is a quality second basemen.

It is easy to forget that Baez is still just 25 years old and that we likely haven't seen his prime yet. That may be 30 HR and 10 SB with a .280 average. For a middle infielder, that is well worth a top 100 pick.

Gardner was one of many examples of the fly ball revolution that took place last year. He jumped from 7 to 21 homers while retaining his streak of 5 straight seasons with 20+ steals. While the batting average is merely mediocre, that power-speed combo will help out in the mid rounds of drafts.

Overall, it was a mildly disappointing season from Bell, who despite being a high-average hitter in the minors, struggled to the tune of a .255 batting average. Both his walk rate and strikeout rate were significantly worse than he showed in his 45-game stretch in the majors in 2016, and he simply didn't take the leap that some people expected. Still, Bell did hit 26 home runs and made strides over the second half of the season, so there's reason for optimism going forward. But there's little currently to suggest a true breakout in 2018, and he should be considered more of a roster-filler than a potential difference-maker in fantasy leagues in 2018

There is significant bust potential with Schwarber, who struck out 150 times in just 129 games while batting .211. With that said, he may be the only catcher besides Gary Sanchez with a shot at hitting 40 bombs. If you want to buy a lottery ticket, Schwarber is your man.

Turner missed time with leg injuries but he proved, once again, that he is a completely changed hitter. He set career-bests in walk rate, strikeout rate, and OPS, and even threw in seven steals to boot. Injuries will always be an issue - last year's 130 games played were the second-most of Turner's career - but there is no reason to doubt his production when he's in the lineup. Forget the part-time player that the Mets cast off years ago - Turner's a legitimate fantasy stud when he plays, and is worthy of an early-mid round pick.

This may be the biggest lottery pick of the fantasy season. If his shoulder injury lingers, it will be a waste of a pick, but we are looking at a player with .280/40/100 potential if he gets a full season.

Longoria was fantastic in 2016, so his 2017 season may have seemed like a major disappointment. The fact is, however, that it was very much in line with what he did in both 2014 and 2015, so don't be banking on a bounce-back.

Suarez doesn't offer much in the way of batting average or stolen bases, but he is useful in the other three main categories and makes for a reliable mid-round third basemen.

There are some major holes in Moncada's screen, as indicated in his 54 game sample size last year, but his ceiling is enormous. We could be talking about a 20/40 fantasy player if he realizes his potential. There is substantial bust-potential, though, so draft at your own risk.

At this point, it is quite clear that Herrera will give us a .280 batting average with a hint of power and speed. It is nice to have a reliable asset like that later on in drafts, but his upside is limited.

There's little reason to doubt Bour's ability at this point, as he's established himself as a legitimate power hitter over the last three seasons. An increase in hard-contact rate led to a 26% HR/FB rate last season, which was 13th-best in the league despite Bour playing his home games in Marlins Park. The total lack of supporting cast this season is certainly worrisome for Bour, and his RBI totals may take a dip. But he should still be considered a relatively safe source of home runs heading into 2018.

Margot played more than expected last season, but didn't put up nearly the counting stats fantasy owners hoped for. His upside is that of a 20/35 power/speed combo, but virtually all projections have him performing near the mediocre stats he put up in 2017.

There is much to love about Kiermaier's game as a whole, but it doesn't quite carry over to fantasy baseball. Sure, he could steal 25 bases, but without much in the way of power, plus he carries just a .262 career batting average. On top of that, he plays reckless enough that injuries seem to follow him around.

Mancini quietly had an extremely productive season for the Orioles, batting .293 with 24 home runs. Although his HR/FB rate was a bit high for his profile (19.8%, 29th-best among qualified hitters), little in his underlying metrics suggested that his season was unsustainable. Batting in an excellent hitter's park in Camden Yards atop an above-average lineup, Mancini should once again deliver solid counting stats and decent all-around numbers in 2018.

For two straight seasons now, Duvall has hit 30+ HR and driven in 99+ runs. The batting average isn't pretty, but won't single-handedly kill your team in that category.

While Realmuto showed last season that his .303 batting average from 2016 was a fluke, he did tack on 6 more homers and 17 extra RBIs. He is also the most stolen base friendly catcher, so depending on the makeup of your team, you may want to target him toward the middle of your drafts.

The batted ball data suggests that Dejong's power is legitimate. He does have holes in his wing, however, and may see the batting average drop to around .255. Still, with 30+ homers and at shortstop, that is a quality mid-round pick.

Marwin broke out in the first-half last season with a top 10 OPS in all of baseball. He took a step backward after the all-star break but was still more than a quality fantasy asset. The concern will be playing time, as Derek Fisher and others are breathing down his neck.

Gattis missed tons of time with injuries last season, playing just a bit more than half a season, but his poor performance wasn't just about his missed time. His power output shrank significantly, as he hit just 12 home runs and posted his lowest HR/FB rate of his career. But there were positive signs, too, as Gattis posted a career-low 15.4 percent strikeout rate. For his 2018 outlook, the most important thing is that with Carlos Beltran's retirement, it appears that Gattis should get most of the at-bats at DH, which should keep him in the lineup most days and lead to good health. Considering that the entire league saw an uptick in power last year, Gattis' low home-run totals should probably be considered a one-off and blamed on his injuries. If fully healthy coming into Spring Training, getting back to the 30-homer plateau should be well within reach.

You might not have noticed, but Garcia batted .330 last season with 18 homers. While those numbers will certainly be difficult to attain again in 2018, it is worth noting that he improved as the season went on so it may not have been a fluke.

Davis had nearly a carbon copy season to his dreadful 2014, and he was essentially unplayable in fantasy. Never one to make much contact, Davis's strikeout rate ballooned to a league-worst 37.2%, and he simply could not hit lefties at even his usual anemic rate. Davis's skillset doesn't play well in the new environment where 35 home runs simply does not mean what it used to. He's still young enough to bounce back, and he obviously did so after his similar 2014 season. But he's much more of a late-round flyer than anything else.

Nunez was an all-star two years ago, but was actually better last season, driving his batting average up to .313 and swatting 12 homers with 24 steals in just 114 games. He may reach 20 and 35 this season if he can stay healthy.

The Rangers appear to be set on DeShields opening the season as a starter. If he can stick around in the lineup, 40+ steals is a virtual certainty. He won't provide a lick of power, but the batting average will be above league average.

Although he was sidelined late in the season with a strained intercostal muscle, Perez had perhaps his finest fantasy season, posting a career-high 27 home runs and 80 RBI. His power spike was significant (his .227 ISO was nearly 40 points higher than his previous season-best), but even if he goes back to his career norms, the fact remains that he has now topped 20 home runs three years in a row. Yes, you can count on him slumping hard in the second half, but on draft day, he should be considered just a tick behind the truly elite names.

Villar may have been the biggest non-injury bust in fantasy baseball last year. You may be sensing a trend here, as Villar is like many of the other names on this list having put up a terrible first-half. He still finished the season with double-digit homers and 20+ steals, which is a far cry from the 20/60 line he put together in 2016. With that said, it isn't crazy to think he can cut the difference in half going 15/40 with the .280 batting average he put together after the all-star break and throughout both 2015 and 2016. That, folks, is a top 30 fantasy hitter, and worth far more than just a few bucks.

Long gone are the days where Choo will bat .300 or even help you at all in average, but he is still swatting 20 homers a year with double-digit steals and near 100 runs every season. That is well worth a mid-round price.

Fowler puts up quality numbers whenever he is on the field, but he has only played more than 125 games once in the past five seasons. If he can stay healthy, we can bet on 20 HR, 10 SB and 90 runs, but that is a big if.

Molina's value often came from just a heavy workload, as his ability to compile stats usually resulted in a top-12 finish at the catcher position, even if it didn't seem like a great ride. But his 2017 was truly miraculous, as he swatted 18 home runs and stole nine bases, both of which were the second-best marks at his career. His solid year was backed up by a decline in his ground-ball percentage and career-high in hard-contact rate, suggesting it was no fluke. Molina has seen an incredibly high workload in his career and will be 36 years old this season, so the ride should likely end sometime soon. But at an incredibly weak position, he's certainly a safe bet to provide decent and starting-caliber fantasy numbers.

Zimmer ended the season batting ust .241 with a .692 OPS, but he showed flashes of the type of fantasy player he can be. While he may be risky, don't be shocked if he posts a .270 BA with 20 HR and 35 steals as this year's breakout player of the season.

Souza certainly won't help you in the batting average department, but he is a quality source of homers and steals. Bonus points if you play in an OBP league.

Ramos missed the majority of 2017 recovering from a torn ACL he had suffered the year prior and, as a whole, underwhelmed on the season, with just a .737 OPS in 64 games. But his poor numbers were largely the result of a terrible start as he shook off the rust. He rebounded in August to bat .274, and then truly rounded into form in September when he batted .317 with five home runs and a .600 slugging percentage. His last two months are more in line with what we can expect from Ramos this year in a full season with the Rays. He's certainly below the elite tier of catcher, but he should be one of the few reliable options at the position in 2018.

Bird looked like a breakout candidate after a big spring training, but a late ankle injury got his season off to a terrible start, before he finally missed a large chunk of the season with the injury. When he returned, however, he showed how dynamic he could be, hitting eight home runs over his final 29 games and playing well in the postseason. Bird should be the everyday first baseman and, given the Yankees' lineup and home park, and Bird's performance to close out the season, he should once again be a prime breakout candidate heading into 2018.

It is remarkable how far Kipnis has fallen after batting .275 with 23 HR, 15 SB, 90+ runs and 80+ RBI in 2016. Just know that while last year was a disaster, he isn't far enough removed from those numbers to discount a significant bounceback. Plus, he has been killing it in Spring Training, which may not mean much, but has to be a little encouraging.

Last season, Haniger got off to a great start, but he missed 60 games and many appear to have lost of impressive he is. The struggled in Spring Training have only multiplied that, but he should be a reliable source of power and average late in drafts.

Ok, so maybe Car-Go isn't quite a stud anymore, but he is significantly better than his overall 2017 numbers indicated. Apparently, he was playing through an injury to start the season, but once he got right, we were looking at the same ole' numbers. He batted .314/.390/.531 over the second half, thanks primarily to a September in which he was the best hitter on the planet. We may get a top 50 fantasy player 150 picks later if he can stay on the field for the Rockies.

We all rememeber how phenomenal Thames was to start last season, but don't forget that he only hit 8 homers and drove in 20 runs in the second half last year. That isn't to say he will be a complete flop, but be advised that his 2018 numbers are unlikely to mirror his 2017 breakout.

Franco has been around long enough that you may think we know exactly who he is, but he's still just 24 years old and could break out into a 30 HR, .270 BA type of monster any time. If you need a lottery ticket late in drafts, Franco fits the description.

After a resurgent 2016, Ramirez disappointed last season, hitting just 23 home runs and batting a career-low .242. There was certainly some noise in Ramirez's numbers, as he batted just .179 against lefties after hammering them his whole career, and the underlying metrics, such as his increased line-drive percentage, suggested that he saw his fair share of bad luck. Still, Ramirez is 34 years old at this point and has earned his draft position just once in the last four seasons. While another rebound season is certainly possible, it's not worth wasting significant draft capital on.

Anderson traded batting average for some pop last season and offers fantasy owners 20/20 potential this year in the middle infield.

Simmons is without question the best defensive shortstop in the world, but his bat was also quite good last season. He batted .278 with 14 homers and 19 stolen bases. He is just now coming into the prime of a hitter's career so don't be so quick to dismiss him as a fluke.

Brantley finally looked healthy last season and while another injury might be right around the corner, he offers .310 BA upside with 15 homers and 15 stolen bases which is a near-impossible combo to find late in drafts.

Everyone remembers the hitting streak and that many were calling for him to be a future star, but he's got a career batting average of .239 and his best tool is his mediocre power so be careful with the lingering hype surrounding him.

Dickerson's batting average bounced back up last season to his career line of .280 and the power stayed despite playing his home games in Tampa. He should have no trouble repeating his 25 HR, .280 BA output in Pittsburgh if he can stay healthy.

While it is reasonable to expect Scooter to take a major step back after last year's major breakout, even regression would leave him as a .270 hitter with 20 homers which is a plenty useful fantasy middle infielder.

Peralta is as good of a bet as you will find in the middle of drafts to bat .290, but he might not even provide a dozen homers with the humidor now in action.

Alonso wasted away to begin his career in San Diego after being recognized as a top prospect. He joined the fly ball revolution last season, swatting 28 homers and scoring 70 runs. Now that he is out of a pitcher's park and into Cleveland, which plays just fine for hitters, we may just see 30+ bombs from him.

Reddick has been consistently improving his batting average each season, all the way up to the .314 he gave us in 2017. The issue with him is whether the Astros will hold of Derek Fisher for his behalf. If they do, Reddick may be a draft day steal.

Semien missed half the season and still managed double-digit steals and homers. While he likely won't bat .260, getting both power and speed from a shortstop is a rare combo.

It took Gurriel a while to get going after a few seasons away from baseball, but he ended the season batting .299 with enough homers, RBIs and runs make him a worthwhile mid-round first basemen if he can get off the disabled list quick enough to get 450+ at bats.

You may not have noticed, but Cozart broke away from his typical .250 BA and lackluster power to become a .300 hitter with plenty of pop last season. He won't be playing in the Great American Ballpark this year, and he is now a third basemen, but should still be worth rostering in fantasy leagues.

Frazier had a rough year splitting time between the White Sox and the Yankees, but he still clubbed 27 home runs. Although his batting average was anemic even by his standards (just .213), he set a career high in walk rate at 14.4% and his strikeout rate remained consistent. Now batting in the middle of suddenly solid Mets lineup and playing close to his home town, Frazier should be able to once again top 25 home runs with decent counting stats. If he gets his steals back up into the double digits, he could be a draft day bargain.

Despite his advancing age, Castillo had a fine, though injury-plagued season last year with the Orioles, hitting a career-high 20 home runs in just 96 games. Though he clearly benefited from playing in Camden Yards, his underlying numbers, including his strikeout rate and hard-contact percentage, remained right in line with his career-marks, suggesting that his strong season was anything but a fluke. Though he'll leave the friendly confines of Baltimore, he'll find himself in another hitter-friendly home venue with the White Sox in Guaranteed Rate Field. That suggests that Castillo should be able to put up similar numbers to last year's, and he could be an excellent option at the catcher position if he can manage to stay healthier.

Zunino finally reminded everyone why he was such a heralded prospect, hitting 25 home runs with an .840 OPS in just 435 plate appearances last season. But the idea that Zunino has truly figured things out seems far-fetched, as he struck out nearly 37 percent of the time, the highest mark of his career. That number, as well as his inflated BABIP of .355, suggests that his passable batting average of .251 last season is simply unrepeatable. Unlike previous seasons, Zunino likely bought himself some time heading into this year, and so he probably won't be immediately sent down if he reverts back to his ways of a sub-.200 batting average. But don't buy in completely, and only move on Zunino if you have a strong batting average team otherwise and are in a shallow league where replacement level catchers will be available.

Until last season, Morrison had never topped 500 at bats or 25 homers, but he earned himself a full-time gig and broke out for 38 homers. Even if he takes a step backward, 30 homers with a .240 batting average is nothing to sneeze at with a late pick, and his power might actually improve with the home ballpark change.

Arcia may be a defense first shortstop, but he also offered fantasy owners 15 homers, 14 steals and a .277 batting average last year. Even a repeat would be welcomed in fantasy lineups, but he was just 22 years old last year so perhaps he takes another step or two forward.

Over the past three seasons, Morales has averaged 27 homers, 95 RBI and a .265 batting average. If he can come close to maintaining that in his age 35 season this year, you've got yourselves a steal to fill your bench late in drafts.

It may be tempting to assume Trumbo's career is on the backend and that his 23 HR, .234 BA are now the new expectation, but don't be so quick to forget that he led baseball with 47 homers in 2016 and a bounceback, while not likely, is by no means out of the question.

After two productive seasons to begin his career, Piscotty's numbers dropped off last season as he dealt with personal issues. Now that he is in the Bay Area with his sick mother, don't be surprised if he returns to 20+ homers, a .270 BA and 80+ runs and RBI.

Calhoun isn't a sexy pick by any means, but he always provides 75+ runs, 75+ RBI and 17+ HR with a batting average that won't kill you. You could do much worse late into drafts.

 

McMahon batted .355 with 69 extra-base hits and 11 steals in just 119 minor league games last season. He offers elite rookie potential playing half of his games in Coors if he can earn the starting job out of Spring Training.

Peraza is certainly no source of power, but he is a .277 hitter through his MLB career thus far and averages 34 stolen bases per 162 games played. He is a safe source of steals late into drafts as we can virtually guarantee he holds onto the starting job all season even if he struggles a bit.

Kemp can still mash, but his durability and defensive liabilities may keep him out of the lineup for a third of the season. The .275 BA with 20 HR and 65 RBI he gave us last year is about what we should expect in 2018.

Castro does take a sizeable ballpark factor dip this season which could knock his HR, RBI and R down, but let's try to not be so quick to forget that he batted .300 last season and was on pace for over 20 homers for the second straight season if it weren't for his injury.

Kingery has the skill-set to push the envelope. If he ends up slated to start opening day, consider him a top 200 overall fantasy player, otherwise he is merely a draft and stash play for deeper leagues.

Grichuk's ribs are banged up, but even if he misses opening day, he should be back and ready to go in no time. He possesses 30+ home run type of pop if he can stay in the Blue Jays' lineup all season.

Belt's batting average dipped last season as he struggled to stay healthy, but if he can get on the field this year, we know Belt should return to delivering a .275 BA with 15 to 20 HR, 65+ RBI and 70+ runs. That isn't a great fantasy player, but it is a useful bench asset for sure.

It may seem like a boring pick to you, but Hernandez has now hit over .290 in consecutive full seasons and scored 85 runs last year. He won't hit for much power, but the 15 to 20 stolen bases certainly help.

Hicks hasn't been able to play more than 400 plate appearances once in his 5-year career, but last season showed plenty of fantasy upside. He hit 15 homers and stole 10 bases in just 301 at bats. If he can stay healthy, we are looking at a 25/20 player.

After being dealt to Baltimore last summer, Beckham broke out to hit .306 with 10 HR in 50 games. No one is expecting him to keep that pace, but if he bats .280 with 20 homers, that would be well worth a late-round pick.

Russell is more well known as a result of the Cubs' success and his wizardry in the field than for his offensive prowess. The potential for 25 HR is there for the youngster, but his .240 career batting average tells the story about his limits.

We won't pretend it is likely that Pujols will bounce back as a 38 year old, but it is entirely possible considering he hit 31 and 40 homers in two of the past three seasons. Even if he just sustains his recent production, 100+ RBI, 20 HR and a .240 BA is well worth owning in fantasy baseball.

Calhoun has the pop to win AL Rookie of the Year if the Rangers are wise enough to call him up some time soon. It is a risk to draft him and let him sit on your bench while you wait, but a risk worth taking at the end of your fantasy drafts.

We knew Taylor possessed fantasy potential for a while, but he finally put it together last season. In less than 400 at-bats, he posted 19 homers and 17 SB with a solid .271 BA. Pro-rated to a full-season, we could be looking at a 25/25 type of player.

Healy had a nice season for the A's and now averages 28 HR, 84 RBI, 75 R and a .282 batting average over his career per 162 games played. The problem here, is that he might start the season on the DL with a hand injury. If he is healthy, you'll end up with a late-round steal.

Lew was beyond abysmal in his cup of coffee last year, batting .106 with just 1 steal, but in the long-run, that is not who he is. More likely, we are looking at a .250 hitter with both power and speed in the same mold as Carlos Gomez or Michael Taylor.

McCann's nine-season streak of at least 20 home runs was snapped last year, as injuries limited him to just 399 plate appearances and 18 home runs. There were warning signs for the veteran, such as a career-low in hard-contact rate, but overall, his numbers remained relatively consistent. He'll continue to sit against lefties, but his consistent power stroke and his place in a strong lineup keeps him as a definite starter in mixed leagues, even as he reaches the wrong end of the aging curve for catchers.

Grandal had a fine fantasy season for a catcher last season, swatting 22 home runs. But his production dropped off in the second half, and by the end of the season, he had lost significant playing time to Austin Barnes. In the Dodgers' 15 playoff games, Grandal started just two of them, suggesting that he should be in a platoon (at best) with Barnes this year. Still, Grandal has passed the 20-homer plateau in each of the last two years and plays fine defense, so unless word comes out that his playing time will be significantly reduced this year, he can still be drafted as a borderline starter in mixed leagues.

The former top prospect is flying under the radar despite offering 25 homer potential with a near 300 batting average. He will even steal some bags for you.

Kepler has crazy potential but hasn't quite put it together yet. You may get the .243 BA with limited power and speed we saw last year, or he may end up as the top breakout of the season. He is a risky pick, but there isn't much to lose by drafting him late.

There is a little too much hype surrounding the offensively raw rookie who hit just .248 with no power last season. Sure, he batted .328 in Triple-A, but Las Vegas is the minor league equivalent to Coors Field, and the power was still absent. He may steal 20 bags in the Bigs this season, though.

Harrison's power has been up and down over the last few seasons, but you can be sure he will get you a .270 batting average with double digit steals and around 60 runs scored. The homers may or not be there, but that is a quality late-round utility player.

Jedd has 50 HRs in his last 825 at bats and batted .272 last season. If he remains the starter, fantasy owners will have a bargain utility player late in drafts.

We've seen Altherr go white-hot for an extended period of time so thee is definitely upside to be found here, but the second-half did not paint a pretty picture so proceed with risk in mind.

Lucroy has dealt with injuries the last few seasons and although he is leaving Coors Field for Kansas City, he should still offer fantasy teams a quality batting average and mediocre pop making him a top-end second catcher in two-catcher leagues.

Chapman is not only one of the league's best young defenders, but he's got some pop in his bat too. If you extend his 14 homers out to a full season, he would have knocked 27 with 75 runs and 77 RBI. The batting average will obviously hurt some, but the power more than makes up for it.

 

 

 

Soler is a former top 10 prospect who has struggled in and out of injuries to start his career. He is still young, though, and swatted 6 homers in Spring Training so don't rule out a post-hype breakout. He is an excellent flyer late in drafts.

Maybin nearly led the AL in stolen bases last season with 33 of them. He offers more power than speed-only guys like Deshields and Mallex Smith too. If he can get that average back up to .260 this year, we'll be looking at a total steal late into drafts.

Dahl has five-tool upside and could very well turn into another Carlos Gonzalez for the Rockies. The issue here, is that the Rockies are expected to start him in the minor leagues and he'll have to knock off an established major leaguer or two to get his crack at big league at-bats.

 

Pederson made the Dodgers' roster and they are teaching him to play some first base. He might not get 300 at-bats once again this season, but he if can find a way on the field, his upside is tantalizing.

Winker is the player who will slip under the radar despite being a former top 40 prospect then proceeding to rake in the majors after his debut. In 47 games, he batted .298/.375/.529, which if extended to a full season, compares favorably to George Springer and Andrew McCutchen. Now, he won't steal more than a handful of bases, but even without it, he is likely to be vastly overlooked.

 

 

The power and speed are apparently gone for Pedroia at this stage in the career, but he was playing through an injury. With that said, he will miss the start of the year on the DL. When he returns, expect a batting average up near .300, plenty of runs and not much else.

With Crawford's power keeping him below 15 homers and his lack of steals, Crawford's fantasy impact will be dependent on whether his batting average ends up around the .275 mark we got two years go or the .250 mark that he has sat at virtually his entire career. The RBIs and runs will be there, but without the average, he is only a fringe fantasy asset.

 

You may not like the .233 batting average that he offered fantasy owners last season, but he did knock 30 homers and there is no subsitute for that kind of late round power.

Broxton is a quality fantasy asset, having it 20 homers and swiped 20 bases last year, but his batting average is low plus the Brewers don't have room for him to play. At this point, he is merely a stash or a waiver wire watch.

 

 

Duda's batting average killed fantasy owners last year, but he has managed 27+ homers in each of the last three seasons that he stayed healthy. That makes up for the batting average deficiencies and makes him a worthwhile fantasy bench bat.

Marte has now hit just 8 homers over his first three seasons, but he won't hurt you in batting average and could steal 20 bases if he gets a full season of playing time in Arizona this year.

The Dodgers used Barnes and Grandal in a platoon type situation last year. That doesn't mean Barnes is guaranteed at-bats, however, in 2018. If he does, it is safe to expect him to take a step back well outside of the top 12 at his position.

If you are looking for a cheap source of steals late in drafts, look no further than Mallex who will be starting and batting leadoff with Dickerson out of the equation. He's got 40 steal upside and shouldn't kill your team batting average.

 

While Forsythe is much better in on-base percentage leagues, you've got to recognize that his .224 BA last year must have been a fluke. He hit .281 and .264 the previous seasons with 27 combined homers and 15 combined stolen bases. That is much more in line with what his 2018 expectations ought to be.

 

 

 

Walker is still looking for a big league team to join, but he is a quality enough player that one will eventually pay up to get him in the starting lineup. From there, we can expect him to continue his trend of hitting .260 over higher with about 15 runs.

Mauer won't hit homers or steal any bases, but he offers a likely .290 BA once again with 65+ runs and 65+ RBI. He doesn't qualify at catcher anymore, but that is plenty useful if you need a safe option to fill out your bench.

Pence was once a player who never missed a ballgame, but over the past three seasons he has been struggling through injuries. He still has 20 homer upside with a solid batting average but the steals are gone.

 

 

 

Had Solarte played a full season last year, he likely would have hit 22 or 23 homers. That was in Petco, so imagine what he may do playing his games in Toronto. 30 is a distinct possibility, and coming with a .267 career batting average, that is a very useful late-round fantasy pick.

 

 

 

You may be surprised to see this, but Colby Rasmus nearly had a .900 OPS last season. Granted, he didn't play all that much then retired, but the bat is still there and if he can stay on the field for the Orioles, he may prove to be a quality late-round investment.

After starting his MLB career with a bang in 2016, Swanson has a rough 2017, batting .232 with just 6 homers and 3 stolen bases. The bat will come along eventually, but it may not be this year. With that said, the upside is there for him to be a top 12 shortstop if he puts it all together in 2018.

If you are looking for upside, you've come to the wrong place, but in terms of a floor, you won't find a better middle infielder late into drafts. He is a strong bet to hit 15 homers with a solid batting average and both runs and RBI help for your fantasy squad.

If you whiffed on your top catching targets, there is no need to fret, you can get Avila late and he may just be a top five catcher this year. Last season, his batted ball rates were through the roof. Even with Chase Field adding the humidor, he may be in for a breakout campaign.

You won't see the 24-year-old drafted in most standard leagues this year, but you can bet he will be a hot pickup after a few weeks of starting for the Tigers. Prior to last season, he was a top 100 prospect who always hit well in the minors. He was dealt to the Cubs and most people seem to have forgotten about him because he had a BABIP driven .265 BA in Triple-A before he was called-up. While Jeimer isn't a star in the making, Detroit may have another Travis Fryman on their hands.

 

 

 

It may seem as though Heyward will never hit sufficiently again, but it is easy to forget that he is still young. There is untapped upside here so feel free to take a flier, especially in a an OBP league where even his floor isn't worthless.

Unless you are in a 15-team league or there is some odd manager hoarding catchers, there isn't much of a draw to select Martin because of how limited his ceiling is.

 

 

 

 

Wieters never quite lived up to his lofty potential and struggled to stay healthy for a while, but at this point in his career, we have a pretty good idea that he will offer us a lackluster batting average and enough pop to be serviceable as a C2.

 

Renfroe did not provide a useful batting average last year, but he does have 30 to 35 homer pop if he gets enough at-bats. With that, obviously, comes plenty of runs and RBIs.

There is a reason Robles is among the top prospects in baseball. Not only does he carry all five tools, but his stats have been downright amazing in the minors against much older competition. It is only a matter of time before he forces his way into a big league lineup and when he does, you will want to own him quickly.

 

 

Tomas has tremendous upside and has flashed it for half a season before his 2017 injury. The issue is that the D-Backs have a loaded outfield so he will fight for playing time. If he gets plugged into the starting lineup, you should pick him up immediately.

 

 

 

Senzel may not make the big leagues out of Spring Training, but he is the top draft and stash candidate in fantasy baseball. He should help in all five categories from the moment he arrives in Cincy.

 

Polanco was suspended 80 games for PED use on 3/18 which means he should be avoided in drafts.

There is plenty of reason to be excited about Gleyber, who is a consensus top 5 prospect. With that said, he has just 81 at-bats above Double-A and is coming off of a significant injury so it might make sense for the Yankees to let him take his time in development before they call him up.

Through his career, Flores has only given fantasy owners 350 or more at bats once. If he can compile 500 at-bats, we should see 25 to 30 homers to go with his steady .260 batting average. It further helps that he qualifies at three positions.

While d'Arnaud hasn't offered fantasy owners much over the first handful of years, try to remember that he is a former top prospect and that catchers develop much more slowly offensivley than other positions. He has the upside to swat 20+ homers while batting around .250.

 

Galvis is never going to hit for average, and now that he is moving from Philly to the Padres, his power should dip, but there is still fantasy value in a shortstop who knocked 32 homers and stole 31 bases over the past two seasons with plenty of runs and RBIs.

 

There is no doubt about it that Zobrist is on the last leg of his career, but after hitting .270 or higher for five consecutive years, his .232 line screams positive regression. Zobrist will still hit double-digit homers and tack on both runs and RBI for you.

 

 

 

 

 

If you've got a deep bench, Mejia is a terrific late-round flier to take a shot on. He's got the talent to force his way onto the Indians' opening day roster, and if he does, he will likely get 3B at bats while qualifying at catcher. Some have said he can bat .280 as a rookie with decent pop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If Wong could stay on the field for a full season, we would see that he has 15 HR, 15 SB upside to go with his .285 batting average from last season. With that said, he has only managed even 420 at bats just twice in his career so a full bill of health may be a pipe dream.

 

 

He is a former top 20 prospect who despite already having two major league seasons under his belt, is still just 22 years old. He has struggled thus far in less than 200 MLB at-bats, but in that time he has stolen a base 30% of the time he got on. To put that into perspective, that is the same rate as Trea Turner and barely behind Billy Hamilton. While it won't matter much if Mondesi never gets on, it is worth noting that he did bat .305 last year in Triple-A. That isn't all though, Mondesi also carried a .234 ISO which measures raw power. Anthony Rizzo had the same exact .234 line in the bigs. Mondesi is a legitimate power/speed threat like his old man who was a multi-time 30/30 guy.

 

 

Tulo missed nearly 100 games last season and struggled while he was on the field, but try to remember that he managed to swat 24 homers and drove in 79 in just 490 at-bats during the 2016 season. If he can stay healthy are return to form, he still possesses top 10 fantasy upside at the shortstop position.

Reyes is far removed from hitting .337 with near 80 stolen bases, but he does still offer 20+ steals to go with a sudden on-surge of power that can help your fantasy team from multiple positions late into drafts.

 

 

 

 

Crawford was once a top 20 prospect and many considered him a favorite to eventually take over as number one overall. He has struggled in the minors, however, but the tools are not gone. The Phillies' new long-term shortstop is your classic case of a big-time boom or bust rookie. Invest at your own risk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last season, Suzuki was suddenly among the most efficient hitters in all of baseball. If you are counting on that in 2018, you are in for a wake-up call, but that doesn't mean he can't produce as a fringe C1 if the Braves continue to feed him at-bats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the Yankees having traded for Brandon Drury, it seems unlikely that Andujar will arrive in Yankee Stadium for a few months. With that said, he has enough talent to push the envelope so make sure to watch his progress just in case he steals the job outright.