Fantasy Third Base Rankings: 2016Josh Donaldson (#1) is absolutely the top-ranked third baseman in fantasy baseball. We told you last year (not that it made us oracles or anything) that Donaldson would improve on his 2014 statistics significantly with his move to Toronto, and we were right. Better stadium, better lineup - didn't take a genius. Likewise, we told you that Nolan Arenado (#4) was primed to have a breakout year if he stayed healthy, and he did. Like Donaldson, playing in an extremely hitter-friendly ballpark certainly helped, although we don't want to pigeon-hole him into the "he's only good because he plays in Colorado" category. Arenado is a stud with the glove, too, so he'd be a superstar anywhere he played in the majors, and his bat would fit in anywhere, too.
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The point is that both of these guys carried fantasy teams on their backs last season and there's no reason to think they won't do it again in 2016. Expect the same from Arenado and Donaldson, but be willing to use a first-round pick on them (duh) or over $60 in an auction draft.
Top Ranked Fantasy Third Basemen
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We took some pretty bold steps this year to guide you to who we think will have the best fantasy season at third base. Some guys scare us more than others; other guys got a little benefit of the doubt because they're proven players instead of one-year (so far) wonders.
Click on the players' names below for more fantasy analysis on why we ranked them where we ranked them and how you might use our statistical indicators to come up with your own conclusion. Notable Top-Ranked Fantasy Third BasemenFantasy Sleepers at Third Base for 2016Fair warning: there are some guys on this list who we considered putting on the top 20 list, but their numbers just didn't justify it for whatever reason. The first guy on the list is a fat guy who has been overrated for years but should still take up a roster spot on your fantasy team, just in case he has a hot streak before getting hurt (or getting benched):
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Fantasy Third Base Rankings: 2016
Click here to read our 2015 Third Base Archives.
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Pablo Sandoval (Red Sox) |
#19 Trevor Plouffe (Twins) |
 Pablo Sandoval is listed at 5'11', 255 lbs. Whatever, man. Just stay off the DL, Pablo.
Pablo Sandoval, as we predicted before last season, was a big, fat bust in 2015 after signing a PHat contract to play for the Boston Red Sox. We weren't sure what the Red Sox were thinking with Sabdoval, Hanley Ramirez and Dustin Pedroia all on the same roster. Unsurprisingly, all three of those guys spent significant time on the DL, including Pablo Sandoval. For the record, we don't even want to call him the Kung Fu Panda any more as the novelty has worn off. We only played in 126 games and hit just 10 HR with 47 RBI. Not exactly a good ROI for the Red Sox. Still, though, is you can get Sandoval for under $3 in an auction draft, or after the 15th round in a straight draft, take a shot with him. He's bound to have one or two of those weeks where he catches fire and just hits everything where they ain't, but once those weeks are done, put him back on your bench and leave him there until he gets hurt again.
Jed Lowrie (A's)Did you know that Jed Lowrie was on pace for a 20+ HR season in 2015? Yeah, man... and, he'll be going back to play in Oakland in 2016. I know, you're waiting for the good news, but actually, he played there in 2013 and 2014, so he's going back to a comfortable surrounding. Also, managed to hit .290 with 15 HR, 75 RBI and 80 Runs scored with the A's in 2013. Sure, his 2014 numbers weren't quite as impressive, but given his power surge last season, we're confident Lowrie will hit 15 HR with 70 Runs and 60 RBI at least, assuming he stays healthy. He turns 32 this season, so age may not be a significant factor just yet. We wouldn't recommend him in a keeper league, but as a sleeper on a one-year team, he may come in handy as a solid backup who can still produce.
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 Nothing fancy, nothing superb, but Plouffe's power stats are solid and they may improve.
It's not customary to include a guy in your sleeper list when he's also in your top 20, but Trevor Plouffe is easy to overlook. First of all, he's in Minnesota, and the Twins get overlooked all the time. Second of all, Miguel Sano is stealing the fantasy spotlight as a third baseman for the Twins, but Sano will most likely be a full-time DH while Plouffe covers third base. Looking at Plouffe's career stats, they're nothing tremendous, but they're above average. Best of all, he performs in the fantasy 5x5 categories... well, at least three of them. Plouffe may only hit in the .240-.250 range, but he's a lock for 70 Runs, 20+ HR and 80+ RBI. He isn't flashy, but if you have above-average guys around the rest of your fantasy baseball diamond, Trevor Plouffe is a good pick. He has the potential to hit 30 HR with 100 RBI and 80 Runs, hence the sleeper pick: his upside, even as he turns 30, is solid with an improved lineup around him.
David Wright (Mets) David Wright is another guy who, WHEN HEALTHY, can help your fantasy team in every 5x5 stat.
Look, man... to be honest, we're tired of David Wright's act of always being hurt all year, every year. Okay, so not all year, and not every year, but he's missed significant time due to injury in 4 of the last 5 seasons. He's also 33 years old which, normally, we wouldn't panic about, but when he's physically such a mess already, it's hard not to think he's gonna hit the DL again his season. HOWEVER... David Wright came back last year - finally - and he looked really good out there/ Better than he has in a long time. Projecting his fantasy stats to a full season, you're looking at 20+ HR, 70+ RBI and 100+ Runs. That doesn't mean he'll do that this season, but it does mean that, while he's healthy enough to be in your lineup, he is very valuable in terms of fantasy stats. Not to mention he was also on pace for 8+ stolen bases in his short cross-section of statistical data in 2015. It's not much, but getting a stolen base at all out of your third baseman is like finding a $5 bill in the washing machine. Take what you can get out of David Wright. Some New Yorker in your league may overbid for him or take him too early in your draft. If that's the case, let him go. But if you can get him for $5 or less or after the 10th round, go ahead and take a flyer on him as a great sleeper pick.
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