There’s so many viable options at the top of the outfield rankings, it almost hurts more when you bust in this position.
Of the top 60 players available in the 2018 fantasy baseball draft, 17 are outfielders. There will be plenty of outfielders chosen in the first five rounds, and some, inevitably, will be busts. Here’s three outfielders who have bust potential in the 2018 fantasy baseball draft.
Andrew Benintendi, OF, Boston Red Sox
I don’t doubt that Benintendi is going to be a better fantasy baseball player in 2018 than he was during his rookie campaign in 2017. I’m just not fond of the value being placed on him heading into this year.
Benintendi’s average draft position is 42nd overall, 11th among outfielders. His potential is high, especially since he appears to be a guy who can not only hit for some power, but also steal bases. That’s a valuable commodity for any fantasy baseball player.
At that price, though, I’d have to have a little more evidence of what to expect this season. In one full year of action, he stole 20 bases, to go along with 20 home runs, 90 RBI and 84 runs. Those are more than respectable. He faded in September last year, so are we sure he can handle a full year, putting up those numbers once again? Maybe, but that value is too high for my blood.
Justin Upton, OF, Los Angeles Angels
I’m not buying that resurgence from 2017. Upton was a disaster in 2016, only to become a halfway decent option in 2017, minus his late stretch with the Angels, when he batted .245 and failed to produce in pretty much any category other than runs.
He’s not going to be a threat stealing bases. He’s striking out more than he ever has in his career. And last year just feels like an aberration. 2017 marked his first 100-RBI campaign since 2014. It also was a career-year in home runs.
It’s not sustainable, so I’m confused why fantasy baseball owners are risking their 45th overall pick on Upton.
Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees
His strikeouts scare me.
He’s going to hit for power. I don’t believe he’ll go for more than 50 home runs again this year and a ridiculous 128 runs. His RBI could elevate, since he only went for 114 in 2017. That’s a solid number, but a bit low with 52 homers.
Can I really trust him, though, if he’s going to strike out more than 200 times in a season? Better yet, am I willing to risk a top-20 pick in the fantasy baseball draft with those numbers?
He’ll get his power numbers, but I don’t anticipate they will be as high as we saw in 2017. And if those strikeouts don’t drop, I’m worried Judge’s value will sink. He has an ADP of 18 overall, seventh-best among outfielders. Be careful if depending on Judge.
