As fantasy football playoffs start up throughout the country, it introduces the start of months of fantasy baseball preparation season for many folks out there. In order to accurately look forward at the year ahead, I’m going to start by doing a few posts that will allow us to look backwards at the year that just concluded so we can maybe… perhaps… possibly learn something. Today’s post will take you for a stroll down memory lane into the year that we just witnessed as we take a gander at the top 100 players from last year according to roto WERTH values (these are an estimated number of points gained in the standings if you owned that player instead of a league-average player).
If you played fantasy baseball in 2010, your jaw probably doesn’t drop at the fact that Matt Kemp, Justin Verlander and Ryan Braun would be at the top of the list of the top 100 players from yesteryear. It’s amazing to see just how great the seasons were for some players who were found on the waiver wire to start the year (Melky Cabrera with more value than Carlos Gonzalez for instance).
In the chart below, you can see where the players ranked, where their preseason ADP was and what their roto points contributed were. Anybody with an ADP of 500 listed was generally not drafted and found on the waiver wire. It’s still amazing to see folks like Jeff Francoeur and Doug Fister climb the ranks into fantasy relevance and I’m sure I’ll be digging deeper into the strange success of players like that if you stay tuned around here.
In taking a look at the list below, what are some of your reactions, my fine-feathered readers?
| Wins | ERA | WHIP | K | S | ||||||
| Rank | Player | Pos | Team | ADP | Total | Avg | HR | Runs | RBI | SB |
| 1 | Matt Kemp | OF | LAD | 23 | 11.7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2 | Justin Verlander | SP | DET | 66 | 10.1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | -1 |
| 3 | Jacoby Ellsbury | OF | BOS | 64 | 10.1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Ryan Braun | OF | MIL | 9 | 9.7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | Clayton Kershaw | SP | LAD | 47 | 8.6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | -1 |
| 6 | Curtis Granderson | OF | NYY | 73 | 8.1 | -1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 7 | Adrian Gonzalez | 1B | BOS | 9 | 7.3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 |
| 8 | Miguel Cabrera | 1B | DET | 4 | 7.3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 |
| 9 | Roy Halladay | SP | PHI | 14 | 6.9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| 10 | Cliff Lee | SP | PHI | 37 | 6.9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -1 |
| 11 | Jered Weaver | SP | LAA | 52 | 6.6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | -1 |
| 12 | Jose Bautista | OF | TOR | 48 | 6.5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | Robinson Cano | 2B | NYY | 10 | 5.8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | James Shields | SP | TB | 177 | 5.8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 |
| 15 | Albert Pujols | 1B | STL | 1 | 5.7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | Prince Fielder | 1B | MIL | 21 | 5.7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -1 |
| 17 | Dustin Pedroia | 2B | BOS | 32 | 5.5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | Ian Kennedy | SP | ARI | 255 | 5.4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| 19 | Joey Votto | 1B | CIN | 7 | 5.4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | Justin Upton | OF | ARI | 41 | 5.1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 21 | Cole Hamels | SP | PHI | 62 | 5.0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | -1 |
| 22 | Dan Haren | SP | LAA | 50 | 4.7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | -1 |
| 23 | Michael Young | 3B | TEX | 79 | 4.5 | 3 | -1 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| 24 | Melky Cabrera | OF | SF | 500 | 4.5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 25 | Alex Gordon | OF | KC | 391 | 4.4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Ian Kinsler | 2B | TEX | 51 | 4.4 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | Carlos Gonzalez | OF | COL | 6 | 4.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 28 | Troy Tulowitzki | SS | COL | 5 | 4.2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 29 | Craig Kimbrel | RP | ATL | 277 | 4.1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 30 | Jose Reyes | SS | NYM | 29 | 4.0 | 3 | -1 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
| 31 | CC Sabathia | SP | NYY | 47 | 4.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 32 | Hunter Pence | OF | PHI | 80 | 3.8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | Josh Beckett | SP | BOS | 182 | 3.5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| 34 | Lance Berkman | OF | STL | 321 | 3.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| 35 | Michael Bourn | OF | ATL | 119 | 3.4 | 1 | -2 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 36 | Adrian Beltre | 3B | TEX | 52 | 3.4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 37 | David Ortiz | DH | BOS | 191 | 3.4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| 38 | C.J. Wilson | SP | TEX | 196 | 3.4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| 39 | Matt Cain | SP | SF | 89 | 3.3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| 40 | Ricky Romero | SP | TOR | 140 | 3.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| 41 | Tim Lincecum | SP | SF | 21 | 3.1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 42 | Drew Storen | RP | WAS | 198 | 3.0 | -1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 43 | Paul Konerko | 1B | CHW | 71 | 2.9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 44 | Brandon Phillips | 2B | CIN | 35 | 2.9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 45 | Michael Morse | 1B | WAS | 378 | 2.8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 46 | Mark Teixeira | 1B | NYY | 13 | 2.7 | -2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| 47 | Aramis Ramirez | 3B | CHC | 101 | 2.7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 48 | Josh Hamilton | OF | TEX | 14 | 2.7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 49 | Doug Fister | SP | DET | 500 | 2.7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -1 |
| 50 | John Axford | RP | MIL | 166 | 2.7 | -2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | 4 |
| 51 | Victor Martinez | C | DET | 30 | 2.7 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 52 | Asdrubal Cabrera | SS | CLE | 170 | 2.6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 53 | Ben Zobrist | 2B | TB | 124 | 2.6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 54 | Tim Hudson | SP | ATL | 154 | 2.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 55 | David Price | SP | TB | 60 | 2.4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| 56 | J.J. Putz | RP | ARI | 148 | 2.4 | -2 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 57 | Jeff Francoeur | OF | KC | 500 | 2.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 58 | Starlin Castro | SS | CHC | 154 | 2.4 | 2 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 59 | Mariano Rivera | RP | NYY | 61 | 2.3 | -2 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 60 | Jose Valverde | RP | DET | 141 | 2.3 | -2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | 4 |
| 61 | Yovani Gallardo | SP | MIL | 64 | 2.3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 62 | Andrew McCutchen | OF | PIT | 44 | 2.1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 63 | Mike Napoli | C | TEX | 118 | 2.1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 64 | Felix Hernandez | SP | SEA | 29 | 2.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 65 | Ryan Howard | 1B | PHI | 17 | 2.0 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 66 | Jay Bruce | OF | CIN | 79 | 1.8 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 67 | B.J. Upton | OF | TB | 68 | 1.7 | -2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 68 | Madison Bumgarner | SP | SF | 154 | 1.7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 69 | Joel Hanrahan | RP | PIT | 269 | 1.7 | -2 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| 70 | Zack Greinke | SP | MIL | 50 | 1.7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 71 | Francisco Cordero | RP | CIN | 217 | 1.7 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 3 |
| 72 | Daniel Hudson | SP | ARI | 134 | 1.6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| 73 | Carlos Beltran | OF | SF | 274 | 1.6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 74 | Jonathan Papelbon | RP | PHI | 124 | 1.6 | -1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
| 75 | Gio Gonzalez | SP | OAK | 176 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| 76 | Heath Bell | RP | SD | 79 | 1.5 | -1 | 1 | 0 | -2 | 4 |
| 77 | Elvis Andrus | SS | TEX | 72 | 1.5 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 78 | Fernando Salas | RP | STL | 500 | 1.4 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
| 79 | Mike Stanton | OF | MIA | 155 | 1.4 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 80 | Hiroki Kuroda | SP | LAD | 184 | 1.4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 81 | Jeremy Hellickson | SP | TB | 159 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 82 | Billy Butler | DH | KC | 84 | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 83 | Adam Jones | OF | BAL | 195 | 1.2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 84 | Shaun Marcum | SP | MIL | 106 | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 85 | Shane Victorino | OF | PHI | 156 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 86 | Jon Lester | SP | BOS | 40 | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 87 | Johnny Cueto | SP | CIN | 336 | 1.1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -1 |
| 88 | Jimmy Rollins | SS | PHI | 42 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 89 | Ryan Vogelsong | SP | SF | 500 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 90 | Matt Holliday | OF | STL | 22 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 91 | Ervin Santana | SP | LAA | 248 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 92 | Ryan Madson | RP | PHI | 500 | 0.8 | -1 | 1 | 0 | -1 | 2 |
| 93 | Evan Longoria | 3B | TB | 5 | 0.8 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 94 | Jhonny Peralta | SS | DET | 312 | 0.8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 95 | Sergio Santos | RP | CHW | 500 | 0.8 | -1 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 2 |
| 96 | Howard Kendrick | 2B | LAA | 212 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 97 | Javier Vazquez | SP | MIA | 195 | 0.7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 98 | Michael Pineda | SP | SEA | 382 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| 99 | Eric Hosmer | 1B | KC | 500 | 0.7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 100 | Mat Latos | SP | SD | 71 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
