Norichika Aoki had a brief but slow start to the season but he is officially heating up now.
Analysis: It seems that about this time every year you have more than a handful of impatient fantasy owners dropping proven commodities. This year is not any different. Aoki started the season 0 for 9 and to some owners only two games were enough and dropping Aoki seemed like the “smart move.” He has since gone 9 for 16 from the plate and raised his batting average to .360.
We have really gone downhill if we are dropping proven fantasy assets after two games. In Aoki’s first two seasons he has averaged 25 steals, 9 home runs, 81 runs and a .287 batting average. Aoki was the 38th best fantasy outfielder last year… ahead of guys like Ben Zobrist, Austin Jackson, Denard Span, Ben Revere, Michael Bourn, Colby Rasmus, Giancarlo Stanton, Nick Swisher and Bryce Harper. Aoki is a lock for a great batting average and a solid amount of runs. He supplies more than enough in other categories yet he still doesn’t get any love.
Aoki is now available in 10-25% of fantasy leagues.