Andrew McCutchen should be targeted this year.
As fantasy baseball drafts get into full swing, we can’t be afraid to splurge for the guys we want. Last year, Andrew McCutchen was a buzz guy who was thrown out by some as being “overdrafted.” Big mistake. This year, these are the guys worth circling with a green highlighter and reaching for.
The Natural
Bryce Harper was never a sleeper. He was the best 19-year-old in the history of baseball and will likely be the best 20-year-old ever as well. At this point, it’s just a contest to see how high we’re willing to take him. Considering Harper projects to see his homers and steals rise toward the 30/30 level as he matures, the end of the first round is not crazy. He’ll be batting third, between Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman.
Chapped up
When guys have dominant talent, we take them and let the chips fall where they may. Aroldis Chapman is a perfect example of this. He might start; he might close; he might be capped at 200 innings. But no matter what, we know he’s going to be an asset in fantasy.
Golden Boy
Paul Goldschmidt burst onto the scene last year with 20 homers in 136 starts. That’s child’s play. In 2011, Goldy smashed 30 jacks in just 457 plate appearances while playing in Double-A. Now settling into an everyday role, the power upside is huge.
