X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

2018 Stolen Base Risers and Fallers - What We Learned

He did it again! For the third time in four seasons, Dee Gordon held the top spot of the steals leaderboard. He concluded the 2017 season with 60 swipes. Gordon is averaging 53 SB over the past four years. That includes the 2016 season where Gordon missed 80 games due to a suspension. The Seattle Mariners had a need for speed and made a trade with Miami, sending the speedster to the Pacific Northwest. Gordon will likely transition to the outfield, but still qualifies at second base.

It was more of the same from the likes of Billy Hamilton (59), Jose Altuve (32), and Jarrod Dyson (28). These usual suspects have cracked the top 10 regularly since 2014.

Now that we’ve talked about the familiar faces, lets go over the players who surprised us, both in a positive and negative way.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

Stolen Base Risers

Whit Merrifield (2B/OF), KC - 34 stolen bases

Welcome to the SB community, Mr. Merrifield! After stealing only eight bases in 2016, the Royals second baseman boosted his production to 34 steals in 2017. He finished with the fourth-most SB and led the AL. With 2B studs like Altuve, Jose Ramirez, and Brian Dozier (among others), Merrifield will get lost in the shuffle. However, he’s not a one-trick pony. Merrifield blasted 19 home runs, with 12 coming after the All-Star break. He also finished with a .288 AVG in 587 AB. Also, don't be worried that Merrifield could be a one-and-done contributor to the SB leaderboard. While in the minors, he stole at least 20 bases four times in six seasons. Merrifield swiped 32 bags in 2015 with the Kansas City Triple-A affiliate (Omaha Storm Chasers).

Byron Buxton (OF), MIN - 29 stolen bases

From 2014, when he missed most of the season due to wrist injuries and a concussion, to the end of 2017, Buxton has come a long way. Last year, he played in 140 games (462 AB) and stole 29 bags. Only 29 players compiled 20 stolen bases last season. Before that, 28 players accomplished that feat in 2016 and 30 players do so in 2015. The act of pilfering bags is a lost art and players, like Buxton, are becoming more and more of a commodity. Keep Buxton in mind when selecting outfielders late in fantasy drafts.

Tommy Pham (OF), STL - 25 stolen bases

What’s up, Pham?! In his first full season as a starter, Pham finished with 25 SB (tied for 13th-most), 23 HR, and a .306 AVG. I mentioned earlier that only 29 players stole 20 bases in 2017. Well, only only nine players were members of the 20/20 club last season. Pham’s phenomenal performance launches him into the top 25 of outfielders for 2018 fantasy drafts. Batting between Matt Carpenter and Marcell Ozuna should help Pham’s production, as well.

 

Stolen Base Fallers

Hernan Perez (2B/3B/OF), MIL - 13 stolen bases

After his 34 SB in 2016, all eyes were on Perez for 2017. While his HR and RBI numbers were nearly the same, the SB dropped substantially. Also, while his playing time increased from 404 AB to 432 AB, Perez struggled against right-handed pitchers (.239 vs. RHP, .316 vs. LHP). Until we see most consistent numbers from the Brewers utility player, I’d steer clear in 2018.

Odubel Herrera (OF), PHI - 8 stolen bases

A big factor in Herrera’s drop could be due to his power. Herrera doubled the amount of doubles he produced from one year to the next. In 2016, Herrera hit 21 doubles and stole 25 bases. Then, the following season, Herrera hit 42 doubles and swiped only eight bags. This is a case where fantasy owners may be disappointed in Herrera’s SB production, but will be happy as long as he continues to provide solid AVG and OBP numbers.

Leonys Martin (OF), DET - 7 stolen bases

Remember when Martin had back-to-back season of at least 31 stolen bases for the Rangers from 2013-2014? Since then, Martin has struggled to stay on the field. Seattle traded for the outfielder in 2016 and Martin stole 24 bases. Then, he bounced around between the Mariners and their farm system before the Cubs acquired him in 2017. In December, Detroit signed Martin to a one-year deal where he’ll patrol center field at Comerica Park. The Tigers have been looking for stability in the CF position since 2014, after Austin Jackson was traded to Seattle. While Martin is in the “faller” section for now, he could make the transition to the “riser” side following the 2018 season.

 

2018 MLB Risers and Fallers




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NASCAR53 mins ago

Bubba Wallace Wrecked at Las Vegas, but Showed Promising Speed
Alex Bowman55 mins ago

Recovered From Loose Wheel to Finish Seventh
Austin Cindric56 mins ago

Won Stage 1, but Loose Wheel Foiled Victory Bid
William Byron58 mins ago

Lost Las Vegas Race on Strategy, but Still Expanded Points Lead
Ryan Preece59 mins ago

Earned Best Career Non-Drafting Oval Finish at Las Vegas
Mookie Betts6 hours ago

Won't Play In Tokyo Series Against Cubs
Tee Higgins6 hours ago

Becomes Highest-Paid WR2 In NFL History
Ja'Marr Chase6 hours ago

Bengals Make Ja'Marr Chase The Highest-Paid Non-QB In NFL History
Brandin Podziemski7 hours ago

On Track To Return Tuesday
Christian Braun7 hours ago

Tagged As Probable On Injury Report
Aaron Gordon7 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Monday
Jamal Murray7 hours ago

Iffy For Monday
Nikola Jokić7 hours ago

Nikola Jokic May Sit Out Meeting With Warriors
Quinten Post7 hours ago

Uncertain For Monday
Stephen Curry7 hours ago

Questionable To Play On Monday
Vince Williams Jr.9 hours ago

Returning On Monday
Coby White9 hours ago

Tagged As Probable For Monday
Josh Giddey9 hours ago

Doubtful For Monday
Gary Trent Jr.9 hours ago

Cleared For Sunday
Scotty Pippen Jr.9 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Monday
Ja Morant9 hours ago

Won't Play Monday
Aaron Nesmith9 hours ago

Questionable Versus Minnesota
Tyrese Haliburton10 hours ago

On The Injury Report For Monday Night
Michael Tonkin10 hours ago

Will Open Season On Injured List
Aaron Wiggins10 hours ago

Returns To Action Against Bucks
Michel Otañez10 hours ago

Michel Otanez Shut Down From Throwing
Myles Turner10 hours ago

Questionable Against Minnesota
Kyle Kuzma10 hours ago

Ready To Play Sunday
Pascal Siakam10 hours ago

Won't Play On Monday
Damian Lillard10 hours ago

Good To Go Sunday
Giannis Antetokounmpo10 hours ago

Available Against OKC
Brandon Marsh10 hours ago

Exits Early Sunday
Royce Lewis10 hours ago

Expected To Begin 2025 On Injured List
Miami Dolphins10 hours ago

Ryan Stonehouse Signs With Dolphins
Sam Darnold10 hours ago

Could Opt Out After One Season
Mark Andrews11 hours ago

Unlikely To Be Cut
Igor Shesterkin12 hours ago

Remains In Rangers Crease Sunday
John Gibson12 hours ago

Still Out On Sunday
Nick Bjugstad12 hours ago

Returns For Utah Sunday
Filip Chytil12 hours ago

Questionable For Sunday
Jiri Kulich12 hours ago

In Concussion Protocol
Adam Pelech12 hours ago

Out On Sunday
Zach Hyman13 hours ago

A Game-Time Call Sunday
Bailey Falter13 hours ago

Ready To Go For Monday
Yu Darvish13 hours ago

Dealing With Fatigue
Clarke Schmidt13 hours ago

Won't Start On Monday
Mark Leiter Jr.13 hours ago

Should Be Ready For Opening Day
David Bednar13 hours ago

Not Officially Named Closer
Yoán Moncada13 hours ago

Yoan Moncada Could Land On Injured List
Atlanta Falcons14 hours ago

Keith Taylor Signs With Falcons
Atlanta Falcons14 hours ago

Storm Norton Back With Atlanta
Ronnie Rivers14 hours ago

Re-Ups With Rams
Mason Adams15 hours ago

Diagnosed With Flexor Strain
Joey Gallo15 hours ago

White Sox Release Joey Gallo
Sean Burke15 hours ago

Named Opening Day Starter
Jung Hoo Lee15 hours ago

Expected To Remain Sidelined For A Few Days
Max Kepler15 hours ago

Exits Early On Sunday After Collision
Eiberson Castellano16 hours ago

Could Win Bullpen Job
Kyle Freeland16 hours ago

Rockies Name Kyle Freeland Their Starter For Opening Day
Royce Lewis16 hours ago

Exits Early On Sunday
Ramón Urías16 hours ago

Ramon Urias Expected To Return On Thursday
Emmanuel Rivera16 hours ago

Dealing With Sore Shoulder
New York Jets17 hours ago

Derrick Nnadi Signing With Jets
Washington Commanders17 hours ago

Eddie Goldman Joins Commanders On One-Year Deal
Cooper Rush17 hours ago

Agrees On Two-Year Deal With Ravens
Baltimore Ravens20 hours ago

Ben Cleveland Remaining With Ravens
Seattle Seahawks20 hours ago

Shemar Jean-Charles Signing With Seahawks
Velus Jones Jr.20 hours ago

Signs With Saints
Christopher Bell21 hours ago

Quest For Four Wins In A Row Just Got More Difficult
Kyle Larson21 hours ago

Should Contend For Another Win At Las Vegas
Ryan Blaney21 hours ago

Once Again The Chalk DFS Pick At Las Vegas
Ross Chastain21 hours ago

Fastest In Practice At Las Vegas
Chris Buescher22 hours ago

Has Sneaky Upside This Weekend
Quinton Byfield22 hours ago

Scores In Sixth Straight Contest
Chase Elliott22 hours ago

May Be A Sneaky DFS Option For Las Vegas Lineups
Artemi Panarin22 hours ago

Extends Point Streak To Eight Games
Pyotr Kochetkov22 hours ago

Shuts The Door On Flyers On Saturday
William Byron22 hours ago

Expect William Byron To Compete For The Win At Las Vegas
Tyler Reddick22 hours ago

Is One Of The Top DFS Options For Las Vegas
Anthony Cirelli22 hours ago

Strikes Twice On Saturday
Denny Hamlin23 hours ago

Could Denny Hamlin Be A Quality Driver For DFS At Las Vegas?
Alex Ovechkin23 hours ago

Scores Goal, Adds Assist In Victory
Connor Dewar23 hours ago

Scores Twice On Saturday
NASCAR23 hours ago

Bubba Wallace Could Be A Solid DFS Option For Las Vegas
Brad Keselowski23 hours ago

Qualifies Deep In The Field For Las Vegas
Erik Jones23 hours ago

Is Erik Jones Worth Rostering At Las Vegas This Week?
Daniel Suarez23 hours ago

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Daniel Suarez At Las Vegas?
Carson Hocevar23 hours ago

Showcases Speed And Can Be Worth Rostering At Las Vegas
Ryan Preece23 hours ago

Is Ryan Preece A DFS Fade For Las Vegas Lineups?
Joey Logano1 day ago

Likely To Lead At Las Vegas, But Will He Lead Enough For DFS Consideration?
Jordan Mason1 day ago

Vikings Acquire Jordan Mason From 49ers, Sign Him To Two-Year Deal
Dee Eskridge1 day ago

Sticking With Dolphins
JuJu Smith-Schuster1 day ago

Returning To Chiefs
Tennessee Titans1 day ago

Chidobe Awuzie Released By Titans
Parris Campbell1 day ago

Headed To Dallas
Jiri Kulich1 day ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury Saturday
Tyler Myers1 day ago

Set To Return Against Blackhawks
Nikita Kucherov1 day ago

Good To Go Against Bruins
Yegor Chinakhov1 day ago

Rejoins Blue Jackets Lineup Saturday
Joel Armia1 day ago

Expected To Return On Saturday
Brady Tkachuk1 day ago

Available Saturday
Adam Fox1 day ago

Ready To Rejoin Rangers Lineup
Philadelphia Eagles2 days ago

Patrick Johnson Rejoins Philadelphia
Los Angeles Rams2 days ago

Larrell Murchison Back With The Rams
Eeli Tolvanen2 days ago

Scores Twice In Victory
Roman Dolidze3 days ago

Set For A Rematch
Marvin Vettori3 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Chidi Njokuani3 days ago

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos3 days ago

Looks For His 12th UFC Win
Kurt Holobaugh3 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 104
Alexander Hernandez3 days ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Cody Gibson3 days ago

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Da'Mon Blackshear3 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 104
Brendson Ribeiro3 days ago

Searching For Second UFC Win On Saturday
Diyar Nurgozhay3 days ago

Set To Make His UFC Debut
MMA3 days ago

Seung Woo Choi In Dire Need Of Victory
Kevin Vallejos3 days ago

Makes Debut At UFC Vegas 104
Jacob Bridgeman5 days ago

Use Caution For Jacob Bridgeman At TPC Sawgrass
Nicolai Hojgaard5 days ago

Looks To Stay Consistent Heading Into PLAYERS Championship
Karl Vilips5 days ago

Makes PLAYERS Championship Debut After First PGA Tour Win
Taylor Pendrith5 days ago

A Sneaky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Sahith Theegala5 days ago

Out Of Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick5 days ago

A Shaky Play Heading Into PLAYERS
Scottie Scheffler5 days ago

Eyeing Three-Peat At TPC Sawgrass
Aldrich Potgieter5 days ago

A Risky Play At TPC Sawgrass
Si Woo Kim5 days ago

Looks To Keep Building Momentum At The PLAYERS
Denny McCarthy5 days ago

Looks To Continue Solid Play At TPC Sawgrass
Collin Morikawa5 days ago

Poised For Another Strong Performance At TPC Sawgrass
Robert MacIntyre5 days ago

A Risky Play With Upside At The PLAYERS Championship
Jordan Spieth5 days ago

Looking To Change Fortunes At TPC Sawgrass
Cameron Young5 days ago

Avoid Cameron Young At The PLAYERS Championship
Michael Kim5 days ago

Continues Incredible Form Ahead Of The PLAYERS Championship
Justin Thomas5 days ago

Looking For More Magic At TPC Sawgrass
Xander Schauffele5 days ago

Continues Competitive Return At The Players Championship
Rory McIlroy5 days ago

Looks To Reverse Recent History At TPC Sawgrass
PGA5 days ago

Victor Hovland Looking To Find Form At The PLAYERS Championship
Brian Harman5 days ago

A Sleeper Pick At The PLAYERS Championship
Min Woo Lee5 days ago

A Hard Name To Trust At The Players Championship
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF