2010 MLB Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks Fantasy Impact

The Diamondbacks have a lot of question marks going into the 2010 season.  Will Brandon Webb be able to rebound to his pre-injury form?  Will Edwin Jackson be able to string together an entire season of effectiveness?  Will Mark Reynolds have another 40 HR season?  The answers to these questions will likely determine how much of an impact the Diamondbacks will have on your fantasy league.

On the Rise: Justin Upton

Sometimes we can wait years for highly touted prospects to emerge as prime fantasy ballers.  In some cases, that never happens.  For Upton, his breakout campaign was last season where he batted .300/.366/.532.  Although those numbers look great, expect Upton to improve upon those this season.  Upton is continuing to develop as a hitter and will become more and more patient at the plate.  Expect his 26 homeruns to rise to about 35 and his 86 RBI’s to rise above 100 this season if he can stay injury free and in the lineup everyday.

Honorable Mention: Miguel Montero–Miguel established himself as a legit fantasy catcher last season by batting .294 with 16 HR’s.  At a thin position he may be a decent option as your starting catcher.

On the Decline: Mark Reynolds

Mark Reynolds will likely have another solid fantasy season this year, but don’t expect the same production as last season.  Reynolds was a consistent threat throughout the entire season, hitting more than 20 HR’s in each half.  Although his power is undeniable, his strikeouts continue to be an issue. 

As Reynolds establishes himself as a power house, the rate of hittable pitches that he sees will go down.  The key for Reynolds will be to harness his free swinging tendencies and watch those pitches go by.  Avoid Reynolds at all costs if your league penalizes you for strikeouts. Expect Reynolds to be around 35 HR’s and 110 RBI’s this season but have over 200 K’s again.

Honorable Mention: Brandon Webb – Don’t draft the recovering Webb expecting his 2007 or 2008 production.

Draft Order:

1. Justin Upton

2. Dan Haren

3. Mark Reynolds

4. Brandon Webb

5. Edwin Jackson

6. Stephen Drew

7. Adam LaRoche

8. Miguel Montero

9. Conor Jackson