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Fantasy Baseball 2016 > Rankings > Third Basemen > Rankings Archive 2015
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2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Archive:
Third Base

(Standard 5 x 5 Fantasy Stats)

Justin K. Moreau
The Third Baseman Fantasy Rankings archive is a prime example of believing in the hype, or not believing in the hype. First, the hype surrounding Anthony Rendon after his unbelievable 2014 campaign was crazy strong and fantasy nerds were going crazy over the 100+ runs and 15-20 stolen bases they were expecting out of him. Then the toxic dugout in Washington DC and the injuries hit Rendon. His season was so bad that the injury bug may have been more of a blessing for fantasy owners as it forced them to pull the plug on Rendon and scour the waiver wires for a better third baseman. Josh Donaldson, on the other hand, lived up to the hype surrounding him in Toronto, and then some. Josh Donaldson won the AL MVP and he was an absolute fantasy stud from start to finish, just like we predicted. We told you he would significantly improve on his 2014 campaign and he did. He crushed it. Check out the rest of of fantasy archive from last season, then compare these stats to this year's rankings to help you make a solid decision on draft day.
PlayerGABRHRRBISBAVG
1Donaldson, J1586089329988.255
2Rendon, A153613111218317.287
3Beltre, A1485497919771.324
4Frazier, T15759788298020.273
5Arenado, N1114325818612.287
6Seager, K1595907125967.268
7Zimmerman, R61214265380.280
8Machado, M823273812322.278
9Longoria, E1626248322915.253
10Harrison, J14352077135218.315
11Ramirez, A1334944715663.285
12Sandoval, P1575886816730.279
13Valbuena, L1494786816511.249
14Plouffe, T1365206914802.258
15Chisenhall, L1424786213593.280
16Lawrie, B702592712380.247
17Carpenter, M158595998595.272
18Bryant, K (AA/AAA)1384921184311015.325
19Alvarez, P1223984618568.231
20Moustakas, M1404574515541.212
21Headley, C1354705513497.243
22Wright, D134535548638.269
23Turner, J109288467436.340
24Semien, M64231306283.234
25McGehee, C160616564764.287


Josh Donaldson
Josh Donaldson's move to Toronto's lineup and hitter-friendly ballpark make him the irresistible #1 fantasy third baseman in 2015.
To tell you the truth, we were going to put Anthony Rendon at the top of our list, but then we took a few more fantasy draft factors into consideration.

  1. One great season isn't always an indication of great things to come, at least not right away.
  2. Third Basemen are typically drafted as a source for power. 21 HR from Rendon isn't bad, and we like his 17 stolen bases, but you can get stolen bases elsewhere. We want guaranteed power.
  3. Josh Donaldson's move from Oakland to Toronto is a huge upgrade, both in terms of the ballpark and in terms of the lineup around him.
Josh Donaldson leads our fantasy third baseman rankings for 2015 because he hits for power, and he drives in runs. In Toronto (and barring injuries), he can easily add 10 more home runs due to the ballpark alone, and/or he can add 10 home runs with the protection around him in the lineup.
Anthony Rendon, keep in mind, will not disappoint fantasy owners in 2015. His runs may go down to the 90s, and he may even increase his power numbers to about 25. Still, you can expect 20-25 stolen bases no matter what his power numbers look like, but we're still expecting 85 runs, 20 home runs, 80 RBI and 25 stolen bases. His projected batting average is a bit of a toss-up: his 58 walks and 104 strikeouts in 2014 lead us to wonder as to whether pitchers will learn the holes in his swing first or if he'll learn to be more patient at the plate in just his second year. Nonetheless, even if he falters a bit in 2015, his batting average will still be .265 at worst. Draft him and don't worry. You can even draft him ahead of Donaldson if you'd like.
Of course, if you can't pull the trigger on Josh Donaldson or Anthony Rendon, Adrian Beltre is about as consistent as they come at third base. Once again, Beltre had a stellar season, even with an injury-plagued, below-average team around him. Beltre hit .324 with 19 HR, 79 runs and 77 RBI with no protection around him and a slumping, banged-up group of players ahead of him in the lineup. If Prince Fielder comes back in 2015 to play 150 games, 25 HR and a .270 average, you can bet Beltre will add a few home runs and about 10 runs and/or RBI to his totals. Adrian Beltre will be 36 this season, so it's one of your last chances to have him on your fantasy team. Also keep in mind that when we say he's consistent, that doesn't just mean his annual, yearly stats. Beltre is one of those guys who always finds a way to fill up a box score, no matter what. Whether it's a sac fly RBI, a run with no hits, or a 3-for-4 game, he seemingly contributes every day.
Adrian Beltre
Adrian Beltre turns 36 in 2015, and the Rangers' lineup should be a bit healthier this season. We expect at least one more, solid season.
We also had trouble ranking Nolan Arenado and Kyle Seager, but we put Arenado ahead. Seager is consistent, and he's hitting in the middle of a menacing lineup in Seattle. Arenado is hitting in an equally-potent lineup, but a much better hitters' park. Also, players tend to get more plate appearances in Colorado due to the high-scoring affairs, so Arenado's stats may benefit a bit more than Seager's.
Nolan Arenado
Nolan Arenado is poised for a breakout year at the age of 24.
Kyle Seager
Kyle Seager's ballpark is tough, but the lineup around him is stacked.

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Is Todd Frazier for real? You'd better believe it. Todd Frazier may have shown up as a rookie (officially) a little late in the game in 2013 as a 26-year-old, but last season showed that he's settled in as the next big thing in Cincinnati. Frazier hit 29 HR with 88 runs, 80 RBI and a .273 batting average. If the Reds' lineup isn't such an injured, slumping mess this season, you can count on him to crack 25-35 HR, 90 runs and 90 RBI, easy. Also, keep in mind that he only hit 22 doubles and one triple last season. As he matures, he'll hit the ball harder into the gaps more - that is, unless they leave the yard more. Either way, you win. Oh yeah... Todd Frazier led all third basemen with 20 stolen bases. If his batting average and team support were better, he'd be in our #1 or #2 spot among all fantasy third basemen.

Top 20 Fantasy Third Basemen: Batting Average

RANKPlayerAVG
1Turner, J.340
2Beltre, A.324
3Harrison, J.315
4Uribe, J.311
5Rendon, A.287
5McGehee, C.287
5Arenado, N.287
8Ramirez, A.285
9Prado, M.282
9Gillaspie, C.282
11Holt, B.281
12Chisenhall, L.280
13Sandoval, P.279
14Machado, M.278
15Frazier, T.273
16Carpenter, M.272
17Wright, D.269
18Seager, K.268
19Johnson, C.263
20Freese, D.260
20Solarte, Y.260
22Castellanos, N.259
23Plouffe, T.258
23Valencia, D.258
25Donaldson, J.255

Top 25 Fantasy Third Basemen: Stolen Bases

RANKPlayerSB
1Frazier, T20
2Harrison, J18
3Rendon, A17
4Aviles, M14
5Amarista, A12
5Holt, B12
7Donaldson, J8
7Wright, D8
7Alvarez, P8
10Seager, K7
10Headley, C7
12Johnson, C6
12Turner, J6
14Longoria, E5
14Carpenter, M5
16McGehee, C4
17Ramirez, A3
17Chisenhall, L3
17Prado, M3
20Plouffe, T2
20Castellanos, N2
20Arenado, N2
20Machado, M2
20Johnson, K2
25(6 tied)1

Fantasy Sleepers at Third Base 2015

Believe it or not, Nolan Arenado didn't get enough airtime last season to solidify him as a top pick, despite our rankings. That said, he won't exactly be your normal, late-round, $1 sleeper in your draft, but he will go a tad later than he should, unless there's a Rockies fan in your league.Instead of being a top 5 round pick, you may be able to draft Arenado around the 6th-8th rounds in a standard draft, or you might get him for $4-$8 in an auction. So while he's not exactly a sleeper, he'll go later than he should considering his upside.

The Real Sleepers at Third Base

Lonnie Chisenhall tore the league a new you-know-what in the first half of 2014. Before the All-Star break, Chisenhall hit .332 with 9 HR, 41 RBI, 39 Runs and 20 doubles. Pace those stats out for a 600-at-bat season and it comes out to 21 HR, 94 RBI, 89 Runs and 46 doubles. Chisenhall is 26 years old and is, well, primed to hit his prime in 2015. Also, the Indians have 5 other bats in the lineup who could each hit 20 home runs Look for Chisenhall to bring in 20 HR, 80 RBI, 75 Runs and a couple of hot streaks that can carry your team for a week at a time... and don't expect such a huge flop in the second half this season.
Lonnie Chisenhall
Lonnie Chisenhall was unbelievable before the All-Star break in 2014 (and terrible after). We think he'll find a good balance in 2015 as a solid sleeper pick.


Other Positions:

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Top 25 Fantasy Third Basemen: Runs Scored

RANKPlayerRuns
1Rendon, A111
2Carpenter, M99
3Donaldson, J93
4Frazier, T88
5Longoria, E83
6Beltre, A79
7Harrison, J77
8Seager, K71
9Plouffe, T69
10Sandoval, P68
10Holt, B68
10Valbuena, L68
13Chisenhall, L62
13Prado, M62
15Arenado, N58
16McGehee, C56
16Solarte, Y56
18Headley, C55
19Wright, D54
20Freese, D53
21Dominguez, M51
22Gillaspie, C50
22Castellanos, N50
24Ramirez, A47
25Turner, J46

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Top 20 Fantasy Third Basemen: Home Runs

RANKPlayerHR
1Donaldson, J29
1Frazier, T29
3Seager, K25
4Longoria, E22
5Rendon, A21
6Beltre, A19
7Arenado, N18
7Alvarez, P18
9Sandoval, P16
9Valbuena, L16
9Dominguez, M16
9Francisco, J16
13Ramirez, A15
13Moustakas, M15
15Plouffe, T14
16Harrison, J13
16Chisenhall, L13
16Headley, C13
19Prado, M12
19Machado, M12
19Lawrie, B12
22Castellanos, N11
23Solarte, Y10
23Freese, D10
23Asche, C10
23Johnson, C10

Top 20 Fantasy Third Basemen: RBI

RANKPlayerRBI
1Donaldson, J98
2Seager, K96
3Longoria, E91
4Rendon, A83
5Frazier, T80
5Plouffe, T80
7Beltre, A77
8McGehee, C76
9Sandoval, P73
10Ramirez, A66
10Castellanos, N66
12Wright, D63
13Arenado, N61
14Chisenhall, L59
14Carpenter, M59
16Prado, M58
16Johnson, C58
18Dominguez, M57
18Gillaspie, C57
20Alvarez, P56
21Freese, D55
22Moustakas, M54
22Uribe, J54
22Harrison, J52
25Valbuena, L51


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Kris Bryant, in all honesty, may not start the season in the big leagues, but that's only because the Cubs are stubborn. But looking at his stats in AA and AAA combined last season, there's no way the Cubs will be able to justify keeping him in the minors past the end of May at the longest. Right now, Arismendy Alcantara is supposed to be the starting third baseman for the Cubs on opening day, but just give Cubs fans a couple months of his act and they'll boo him off the field and demand to see Kris Bryant.In actuality, they're both potential 200-strikeout guys, but Bryant's production (strikeouts-be-damned) are more like Mike Trout's than Ancantara's. Draft Bryant late or for $1 or $2 (much more in keeper leagues, though) and hold onto him until June. The payoff could be huge.
Trevor Ploufe was supposed to be the next big thing in Minnesota at third base - and he kinda was in 2012, but then he had a sub-par, forgettable fantasy season in 2013, and 2014 didn't seem much better... or did it? Trevor Plouffe's overall fantasy stats didn't improve much, hitting just 14 HR in both 2013 and 2014, and hitting just .254 and .258, respectively. Last season, however, saw a huge jump in RBI, from 52 in '13 to 80 last season. Some of that had to do with Brian Dozier being all over the base paths, but it also had to do with some of Plouffe's statistical indicators that don't show up in the fantasy 5x5 stats. For one thing, Plouffe showed a significant improvement in patience at the plate, walking 53 times (instead of 34 in 2013). He also struck out 3 fewer times in 2014 despite getting 43 more at bats. Beyond even those indicators, Plouffe hit 40 doubles in 2014, compared to just 22 the season before. Those extra doubles are a direct result of his patience at the plate - waiting for a better pitch to hit and just hitting it hard, but not trying to take it out of the ball park. Plouffe's maturation, we believe, will land him in the .270+ average range along with 18-22 home runs, 70 runs scored and 70+ RBI.
Trevor Plouffe
Trevor Plouffe is very likely to improve his average and HR totals in 2015.
Casey McGehee is another guy who, even though he kinda had a comeback year last year, his lack of power is a big turnoff for fantasy owners. Keep in mind that he still has 15+ home run power in him (he hit 28 HR in Japan in 2013) even in San Francisco. McGehee will also have a super-solid lineup around him in SF, so the opportunities to see good pitches will be plentiful. Also, don't underplay the fact that he's a Bay Area guy. He grew up in a Northern California beach town (Soquel), so he's playing in his own backyard, so to speak. Believe it or not, that can be a big factor, especially for a guy who spent a couple of crappy seasons in Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and New York, and then went to a foreign land in Japan. Don't expect dominance, but do expect 10 HR, 70 runs, 70 RBI and a .270-.290 average in San Francisco.
Casey McGehee
Casey McGehee had a pretty good comeback season in 2014. We expect an even better one this season playing near his home in Northern California.

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