MVP Jonathan Villar headlines 2016 fantasy baseball award winners

As the end of the fantasy baseball season approaches, we have one final opportunity to put everything we’ve learned into some sort of perspective.

Coming in, we were in the midst of a run of pitcher dominance that threatened to turn the game into a monotonous succession of strikeouts. The K’s have continued — we’re on pace for a record strikeout rate for the ninth year in a row. But hitters counterpunched by hitting home runs with a frequency seen only once before, at the peak of the so-called steroid era in 2000.

Last season, 20 players hit 30 or more home runs. With a week to go in the 2016 season, 33 players have reached that mark — and 11 more are just a couple home runs away from joining the club.

In a difficult run environment, the home run is the great equalizer. Expect power to be the most potent weapons for both pitchers and hitters again next season.

The other major trend fantasy owners should keep in mind for next season is the surge in position flexibility.

The final count isn’t in, but more fantasy-relevant players, led by Manny Machado, Kris Bryant and Daniel Murphy, will qualify at more multiple positions than we’ve seen in a long time, maybe ever. But players who qualify only at DH are down to Victor Martinez, Kendrys Morales, Pedro Alvarez and Justin Morneau.

With many players able to fill several positions and every position capable of producing stats across the board, there will be no need to adjust for position scarcity on draft day, except at catcher.

The lesson for next year is simple: Take the best player available.

Along those lines, who were this season’s best players? Let’s hand out some awards.

Fantasy MVP: Jonathan Villar, Milwaukee Brewers

After getting only 116 at-bats last season with the Houston Astros, Villar wasn’t highly regarded on draft day, even though he entered the season as the Brewers starting shortstop. His speed was a known quantity — at least 30 steals in each of his full professional seasons — but he struck out too often for a speed-only guy.

Plus, it was only a matter of time before top prospect Orlando Arcia took over the starting job.

Villar’s average draft position (ADP) in this year’s National Fantasy Baseball Championships was 317th overall and the No. 23 shortstop. Those who landed him ended up with this season’s best value.

Taking over the leadoff spot in early May, Villar has continued to run, leading the majors in stolen bases with 59. An improved walk rate pushed his on-base percentage to .365 and put him in position to score 86 runs. He also had surprising power with 34 doubles and 16 home runs. Add everything up and you have a player BaseballHQ.com calculates has been worth $38 in 5x5 leagues. He’s the No. 1 hitter in the National League and No. 4 overall behind Mookie Betts, Jose Altuve and Mike Trout.

Fantasy pitcher of the year: Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox

After going 9-15 with an ERA just below 5.00 a year ago, expectations weren’t high for Porcello. His career strikeout rate of 6.1 per nine innings also reduced his fantasy value. His ADP was right around Villar’s: 327 overall, 95th among starting pitchers.

But Porcello’s outstanding control got even better and Red Sox hitters provided him with the best run support in the majors (6.66 per start). The result: a 22-4 record, 3.11 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. Those numbers were worth $32 in Roto value, making him the American League’s best fantasy pitcher.

Waiver pickup of the year: Eduardo Nunez, Minnesota Twins-San Francisco Giants

There were any number of excellent candidates, but Nunez was the one player who was an impact waiver pickup in both AL- and NL-only leagues.

With the Twins, he filled in admirably at shortstop and third base, performing well enough to be named to the All-Star team. In 91 games with Minnesota, he hit .296 with 12 home runs, 49 runs and 27 stolen bases.

At the trade deadline, Minnesota sent him to San Francisco, where he contributed four more homers, 24 runs and 13 steals.

Honorable mention: Mike Napoli, Aledmys Diaz, Jose Ramirez, Seung Hwan Oh.

Biggest in-season turnaround: Brian Dozier, Twins

How much time should fantasy owners give a struggling player before giving up? In Dozier’s case, two months seemed long enough.

At the end of May, he had a .202 average, five home runs and a .623 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. In June, he caught fire and never cooled off. Over his next 104 games, Dozier hit for a .305 average with 37 home runs, 82 RBI and a 1.027 OPS.

Hitting line of the year: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

Betts might be this season’s biggest breakout star. He produces in all categories and has been the most valuable in Roto value at $41.

He had the best single day of any player on Aug. 14 against the Arizona Diamondbacks when he went 4-for-6 with three home runs, four runs and eight RBI.

Pitching line of the year: Madison Bumgarner, Giants

Bumgarner also victimized the Diamondbacks with the season’s best fantasy performance of any pitcher. On July 10, the day before the All-Star break, he allowed one hit — an eighth-inning single — as he tossed a shutout and struck out 14.

Worst batting line: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates

Fantasy owners cringed when the 2013 NL MVP went 0-for-8 with a pair of strikeouts and grounded into a double play in an 18-inning loss to the Nationals on July 17.

A dishonorable mention goes to the Nats’ Ryan Zimmerman, who went 1-for-7 on May 7 against the Cubs, while stranding a record 14 runners on base.

Worst pitching line: Edinson Volquez, Kansas City Royals

Volquez was one of the Royals’ World Series heroes last season but definitely a fantasy goat in his June 24 start against the Astros. He allowed nine runs in the first inning and failed to get an out in the second before he was removed.

In all, Volquez gave up 12 runs (11 earned), eight hits and three walks in one official inning of work.

Fantasy baseball's 30 most intriguing players for 2017

Comeback player of the year: Hanley Ramirez, Red Sox

Never comfortable and injury-prone last year as an outfielder, there were plenty of skeptics when Ramirez moved to first base this spring. After all, he missed an average of more than 55 games over the past three seasons. And he would likely be taken out for defense late in games he did play.

But what those doubters didn’t remember was that when healthy, Ramirez has always been able to hit. In the middle of that potent Red Sox offense, Ramirez has been a huge everyday presence — hitting .294 with 29 homers, 80 runs and 110 RBI.

Honorable mention: Melvin Upton.

Top 10 for 2017

Finally, let’s take a quick look at some of the players who will be fueling the conversation during the offseason in preparation for next year’s drafts.

1. OF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

2. OF Mookie Betts, Red Sox

3. 2B Jose Altuve, Astros

4. 1B Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks

5. SS-3B Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles

6. 3B-OF Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

7. 3B Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

8. SP Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

9. 3B Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays

10. 1B Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs