2016 Fantasy Baseball: Top 15 Bust Candidates

15. SP Sonny Gray - Oakland Athletics

It sounds weird to call Gray a bust since he's actually pretty underrated, but he's not going to rack up a ton of wins in Oakland. Wins aren't a terribly important stat, but in fantasy, they are. With very little run support, he's unlikely to get past 12-15 wins, which isn't good news for fantasy owners.

14. 3B Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays

He hasn't been as good in recent years, but the name recognition still makes Longoria a pretty high pick in fantasy baseball. Based on how he's been trending in recent years, fantasy owners shouldn't touch him until the middle rounds of the draft. Until he proves he can be an elite run producer again, there's no point having him on your roster.

13. SP Masahiro Tanaka - New York Yankees

Despite his long injury history, people still seem like they're in love with Tanaka. They shouldn't be. Even when he's been healthy, he hasn't been the ace he was supposed to be and there's no reason to believe that will begin in 2016. There are plenty of true aces that are better options than him.

12. 3B Justin Turner - Los Angeles Dodgers

Turner overachieved a year ago, but don't be fooled. He won't consistently be an elite hitter, especially in an L.A. lineup full of question marks. At third base there are many younger hitters with more upside like Kris Bryant and Manny Machado; if you're going to use an early pick on third base, go after one of those guys.

11. SP James Shields - San Diego Padres

Shields' days as an ace are over no matter how badly you want to believe he still has it. He's still a solid starter, but playing for a Padre team that figures to be near the bottom of the National League, he's going to have little motivation by the time the season is coming to a close. That's when you need him to be at his best, because that's when the fantasy playoffs are.

10. OF Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers

Braun still has the talent to be an elite run producers, but with few guys ahead of him that get on base consistently, he's not going to be able to drive in as many runs as usual. He can still get you around 30 home runs, but if he's only driving in 75-80 runs with that home run total, you're better off taking a slugger that hits in a better lineup.

9. SP Johnny Cueto - San Francisco Giants

Cueto showed just how bad he could be in Kansas City down the stretch last regular season. He's not going to stoop that low in 2016, but pitching in a great rotation may lower his desperation to pitch well. Without that desperation he pitched with in the playoffs, he will be closer to an average player than an ace in this season.

8. OF Alex Gordon - Kansas City Royals

Gordon going back to KC is a feel-good story, but he's not going to be a top-tier fantasy hitter this season. Now that he has his big contract, he might take his foot off the gas a little bit. He will still be a stellar fielder, but don't take Gordon before the middle rounds in most leagues.

7. SP Gerrit Cole - Pittsburgh Pirates

Cole is already having injury issues in spring training and he's going to have to carry the rotation on his back this season. All that pressure is going to get to him as he is going to have to be on the top of his game every time out. His numbers figure to drop from last year's impressive marks.

6. DH Alex Rodriguez - New York Yankees

A-Rod surprised everyone last season, but don't expect a repeat performance in 2016. He's now 40 and can't keep producing the way he did a year ago. If he's still there late in drafts, take a flyer on him, but don't touch him in the first several rounds of most drafts.

5. 1B Albert Pujols - Los Angeles Angels

This might be the beginning of the end of Pujols' run as the best hitter of his generation. His numbers will still be respectable, but he's going to need more rest as he gets older and that will make him less valuable in fantasy. Especially in keeper leagues, go for younger options at the position.

4. 1B Chris Davis - Baltimore Orioles

Davis put up monster numbers last season and that earned him a gigantic contract in Baltimore. However, don't "overpay" by drafting him early in your drafts. His non-power numbers have been really inconsistent over the course of his career, so it's not worth the risk. There are equally solid players who are more consistent.

3. OF Yoenis Cespedes - New York Mets

Cespedes had a legendary second half of the season, but there's no way he will duplicate that over a full season in New York. He's also hitting in a less talented lineup than he was a year ago. Don't buy into the Cespedes hype and avoid him in most drafts. You won't regret it.

2. Jose Bautista - Toronto Blue Jays

Bautista seems really distracted by his contract already, which could leak into the regular season. As he enters his late 30s, you can't depend on him to keep producing the way he has. Hitting in a great Toronto lineup will certainly help him, but you're better off taking one of his teammates than him.

1. SP Jose Fernandez - Miami Marlins

When he's pitching, Fernandez is one of the best starters in the game. However, he's very rarely healthy. Don't get sucked in and take a chance on him, because he's more than likely to get injured. His ceiling is extremely high, but there are so many talented starters out there. Take one who doesn't have an extensive injury history before their mid-20s.