3 years agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler became the new ace in town during the best season of his seven-year career. He rewarded fantasy managers after his K-rate skyrocketed from 18.4% in 2020 to 29.1% this past season while maintaining a low 5.4 BB%. Pair his improved strikeout numbers with 14 wins, a 2.78 ERA, and 1.01 WHIP over a career-high 213.1 innings, and you get a top pitcher in every format. His success wasn't the beneficiary of good fortune, as he posted a 94th percentile 2.71 xERA. Fantasy managers should expect some regression in his run prevention, though, just based on the difficulty of sustaining an ERA that low. However, he should be able to remain a great contributor in strikeouts and WHIP. He upped his slider usage and increased his fastball velocity for the fourth year in a row to 97.2 MPH, which also had a spin rate in the 70th percentile. These changes led to higher whiff rates, along with a career-high 28 CSW%. A lot of his value lies in the sheer volume of innings he'll provide — he ranks first in innings pitched since 2019 — as well as the ERA floor he's shown throughout his career. The 31-year-old should continue his role as a workhorse next season, and even if his rate stats don't stand out as much in 2022, he's a safe pick at his ADP of 23.--Spencer Seguin