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Basic Stats:
Final Record: 87-75
Runs: 3rd
Home Runs: 21st
Stolen Bases: 26th
ERA: 17th
Saves: 4th
Strikeouts: 18th
The Rockies were one of the many feel good stories of 2017. The franchise reached the postseason for the first time since 2009 and looks poised to make another run at it in 2018. The high powered offense was 3rd in baseball in runs scored. Playing half of their games at the friendly confines of Coors Field certainly helps but the Rockies have some legit boppers in their lineup. The offense is always fantasy friendly so without further delay...
Let’s take a look towards 2018.
The Superstar: Nolan Arenado/Charlie Blackmon
It’s not often one team can have two top 5 fantasy options but the Rockies have just that with Arenado and Blackmon. In 2017, Blackmon finished #3 overall and Arenado finished #15 overall in roto formats. In 2016, Blackmon was #12 overall and Arenado was #16. How about that consistency? Blackmon was actually the #1 overall player in points leagues last year, ahead of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge. The Rockies outfielder was my personal choice for NL MVP. This factored in fantasy reasons, plus that sweet mullet! I have Blackmon #4 and Arenado #5 heading into 2018 but its hard to see either of them outside anyone’s top 10.
The Sleeper: Trevor Story
This could go to Ian Desmond because I believe he will have a bounce back 2018 but I’m worried his draft day price will be too high for my liking. I’ll go with another player who had a down 2017 in Trevor Story. Story had 24 HR 82 RBI and 7 SB in 2017 but his .239 batting average dragged his value down. He finished the #25 overall SHORTSTOP. This was right behind the likes of Freddy Galvis and Jedd Gyorko. To put his batting average in prospective; had he hit .272, like he did in 2016, he would have finished in the top 15 at the position. That’s without adding any counting categories which would also have improved provided more hits for the Rockies SS. Fun fact, Story finished #12 at SS in 2016 despite playing only 97 games! I’m looking for a bounce back season and I think his draft day value will suffer from the bad taste 2017 left in fantasy owners’ mouths.
Bonus Sleeper: NL only and 2-catcher league owners need to keep Chris Iannetta in mind. He should get 90-110 starts behind the plate and Coors Field y’all!
The Guy to Avoid: DJ LeMahieu
Why is a player who has averaged 8 HR 58 RBI and 12 SB per season since 2014 constantly ranked inside the top 100, if not higher?!? Sure, the batting average is solid and he is hella consistent, but do you really want to spend that draft pick on the 15th best 2B while everyone else is drafting top 20 outfielders and starting pitchers? Yoan Moncada, Javier Baez, Whit Merrifield, and Chris Taylor are all going after LeMahieu in drafts and I would rather have each and every one of them before the empty batting average! I’ll even wait till after pick 200 and take Josh Harrison who is honestly overlooked. Harrison might have a .285 clip compared to .310 from LeMahieu but Harrison should be equal or better in HR, RBI, and SB. LeMahieu goes inside the top 100... Harrison is outside the top 200!
The Prospect To Watch: Brendan Rodgers
Rodgers has been on the dynasty league radar since being drafted in 2015. He’s been a top 20 prospect across multiple sources since 2016. He was even #3 overall in the top 100 prospects compiled by our Faketeams staff! Rodgers is arguably a top 5 prospect heading into 2018 and the #2 infielder behind Gleyber Torres. In 2017, between class A+ and AA, Rodgers hit .336/.373/.567 with 18 HR 64 R and 64 RBI in just 89 games. That’s easily a 30 HR 100 R 100 RBI player without even factoring in Coors Field. Have I mentioned the Rockies play in Coors Field? I feel like I’m just now remembering this so I thought I’d share my findings. Back to Rodgers. He just turned 21 this year by the way. The K/BB ratio is dreadful (5.07 in 2017) but that’s to be expected from such a young power prospect. If Rodgers makes his debut in 2018, the fantasy world will be going crazy and rightfully so!
Bonus Prospect: I’m being too nice. ‘Tis the season, I suppose. Unfortunately not BASEBALL season! Sadness aside, don’t forget about David Dahl. A top 50 prospect since being drafted in 2012, Dahl did not play in the majors at all in 2017. During his first big league run in 2016, Dahl hit .315 with 7 HR and 5 SB over 63 games. The Rockies need another outfielder with Carlos Gonzalez gone. If healthy, Dahl could be positioned for a big 2018. He’s currently going undrafted in almost all formats.