Fantasy Baseball > 2017 Rankings > Third Base
Fantasy Third Base Rankings: 2017
The Fantasy Third Base position is STACKED in 2017. Traditionally a source for power only, you can actually grab a good number of stolen bases at third base these days depending on who you draft. In general, the top 4 guys on everyone's third base rankings list are pretty interchangeable, but then there are a few guys below them who are also capable of taking over. We're not afraid of taking risks as you know, but we're also not going to ignore the guaranteed stats from certain players. Therefore, Nolan Arenado sits at the top of our list, virtually guaranteeing you 35-45 HR, 100-120 RBI, 90-110 Runs and a .280-.300 batting average. Kris Bryant could get you some steals, but he could also disappoint with a downturn in his sophomore year. We aren't predicting it, but he still strikes out a ton, and that's a sign of streakiness, both good and bad. Josh Donaldson could see a bit of a drop with Edwin Encarnacion leaving and Jose Bautista showing signs of slowing down, and Manny Machado is also a victim of his surrounding lineup. He, too, is streaky, and so is the rest of his team. Check below for the rest of the pack and take a look to see who can really, really help your fantasy team in 2017.
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Who Are the Top Fantasy Third Basemen in 2017?
A lot of new names are on the list this season, and some of the old names on the list could climb back up to the top. Jonathan Villar stole 62 bases in 2016 and there's no reason to think he won't crack at least 50 again this season (he's also eligible at Shortstop, too). He also stole all those bases while hitting .285 with 19 HR, 63 RBI and 92 runs scored - and he did it with the lowly Milwaukee Brewers. The main downside with Villar is that he's going to tempt you to put him on the bench. He struck out 174 times in 589 at bats, so when he goes cold, he won't get you any stolen bases or home runs. And you know how that goes: the instant you sit a guy like that down, he goes 3 for 5 with a HR, 2 stolen bases, 2 Runs and 4 RBI - all on your bench. Below is our top 20 third base fantasy rankings for your 2017 draft as well as a few more predictions and analysis of the top third basemen in baseball today.
Fantasy Third Base Rankings for 2017
Getting Stolen Bases Out of Your Fantasy Third Basemen |
Kris Bryant at #2?Yup, but only because we know what Nolan Arenado is going to do. Arenado has done it consistently for three years, and he's doing it in Colorado. Kris Bryant may get you a few steals, but he may also have a bit of a downturn being it's his second season. Also, 154 strikeouts sets off tat streaky alarm bell, but we're honestly not too concerned with it (otherwise he'd be even lower). The lineup around Bryant is still incredible and he's an exceptionally smart player. We see Kris Bryant dropping to around 100 runs scored, but we can easily see him cracking 45 HR with 120 RBI. he may even steal 10-15 bases which is something that we know Nolan Arenado can't do.
Josh Donaldson vs. |
First of all, getting 62 stolen bases out of a third baseman is ridiculous. Jonathan Villar did that last season while also hitting for decent power (19 HR) and a good average (.285). Then you have Todd Frazier who, traditionally, has stolen a good number of bases, especially for a prototypical third baseman. Frazier stole 15 bases last season, as well as 13 SB in 2015 and 20 in 2014. He's not getting any younger, but he's also not showing signs of slowing down. Keep in mind, Todd Frazier is also stealing these bases with a relatively-low on-base percentage. He steals bases with smarts, not speed, so we expect about the same stolen base performance out of Frazier in 2017 - and the same power numbers.
And then there's Eduardo Nunez... what do we think of Eduardo Nunez in 2017? We were tempted to rank him higher, but then the San Francisco Giants went and signed Conor Gillaspie, Gordon Beckham and Aaron Hill - all potential replacements (or even platoon partners) with Eduardo Nunez. Looking at Eduardo Nunez's stats, hes 29 years old and he has only played one full season (2016). He performed well, but the fact that the Giants signed a bunch of potential replacements for him, that shows us that they know something we don't - or something that we can only presume. Still, 40 stolen bases out of a third baseman who hits for decent power and average and who's in the middle of a solid lineup, we'd still take a flyer on him, but we'd make sure we have a good backup, too... just like the Giants are doing with him.