Welcome back to the 2015 Last Word on Fantasy Baseball Guide. Over the next several months we will be releasing player profiles, projections, position rankings, and a number of other articles that will help you dominate your fantasy league this season. Whether you play rotisserie or head-to-head; whether you have a standard draft, a snake or an auction league, and whether its keeper league or a one-year deal; we have all the fantasy information you need.
Fantasy Profile: Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
During the seasons from 2008 to 2011, the Phillies averaged 96 wins per year and Ryan Howard was an integral part of those teams. Howard averaged 39 HRs and 128 RBIs per season topped by his massive years in 2008 and 2009. But even during the last of that four year run, Howard’s decline had begun – average “only” 32 HRs and 112 RBIs. But on the last play of the 2011 season in which the Phillies won 102 games, Howard suffered a career threatening injury to his Achilles as he made the last out vs. the Cardinals in the League Championship Series. Howard’s totals declined during the next two seasons. Limited playing due to assorted injuries and reduced productivity reduced his totals for the two years to 25 HRs and 99 RBIs. While batting only .233 last year, Howard did exhibit an increase in power numbers as he slugged 23 HRs and drove in 95 runs. While those power totals seem acceptable, they do not represent a very good investment for his salary of $25,000,000 for a rebuilding team. The Phillies would like to move him, but his low batting average and limited mobility make that a tough sale even if the Phillies are willing to take a large chunk of his salary.
From a fantasy standpoint, if you have accumulated a high enough average that you can accept something similar to a .230 batting average or have punted batting average altogether, Howard might be worth a risk as a very late round pick. However, there are a lot of red flags. His defense is limited by his lack of mobility and his weight. He also is an injury risk and his ability to hit quality left-handed pitching is limited. His bet from a fantasy standpoint would be a trade to an American League team needing a DH, even as a platoon candidate from the left side. But GM Amaro’s reluctance to trade makes this unlikely to happen. Let the buyer beware!!
| Year | Team | Pos | G | PA | AB | R | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 2011 | PHI | 1B | 152 | 644 | 557 | 81 | 33 | 116 | 1 | 75 | 172 | 0.253 | 0.346 | 0.488 | 0.834 |
| 2012 | PHI | 1B | 71 | 292 | 260 | 28 | 14 | 56 | 0 | 25 | 99 | 0.219 | 0.295 | 0.423 | 0.718 |
| 2013 | PHI | 1B | 80 | 317 | 286 | 34 | 11 | 43 | 0 | 23 | 95 | 0.266 | 0.319 | 0.465 | 0.784 |
| 2014 | PHI | 1B | 153 | 648 | 569 | 65 | 23 | 95 | 0 | 67 | 190 | 0.223 | 0.310 | 0.380 | 0.690 |
| 2015 Projection | PHI | 1B | 550 | 484 | 56 | 22 | 85 | 0 | 54 | 168 | 0.233 | 0.313 | 0.411 | 0.724 |
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MIAMI, FL – SEPTEMBER 25: Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on September 25, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
