Fantasy: 3 players who could be 2017's Mookie Betts

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Boston Red Sox OF Mookie Betts was not a mystery. His rise to success was not unprecedented. He did not come out of nowhere as a fantasy asset in 2016. Betts was drafted between the second and fourth rounds on average, but propelled himself into a first-round pick after hitting .318 with 31 home runs, 122 runs scored, 113 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases.

Looking at consensus ADP at FantasyPros, here are five potential options to make the leap to first-round value in 2016. This comes with a caveat: I am not considering any player who might return to his previous heights, so this means Houston Astros SS Carlos Correa doesn't count, even though it's only his third season, since he was a consensus first-round pick in 2016

OF A.J. Pollock, Arizona Diamondbacks

Pollock was on his way to being a top fantasy asset before injuries derailed his 2016. He hit .315/.367/.498 with 20 home runs, 111 runs scored, and 39 stolen bases in 2015. He had already made strides the season before, and a healthy Pollock was seen as a possible fantasy MVP.

Instead, Betts took the jump and Pollock is slipping due to uncertainty and a lingering groin issue. Should Pollock return to the leadoff spot, he has a stronger supporting cast than he did before as 3B Jake Lamb and 1B Paul Goldschmidt return.

If you aren't able to nab Betts in the opening round, Pollock offers similar results in the third round - don't wait any longer than this, even if his 10-team ADP is early 4th - and may be even better despite being older. The injury concern is noted, but the slight discount compared to 2016 drafts makes him an attractive risk.

OF Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates

Basically, why draft Betts when you can get a comparable talent a round or two later? Marte is projected to go off the board slightly before Pollock, but he's still likely an early third rounder. Marte, like Pollock, only less severe, was hampered by some injuries in 2016 but had an otherwise stellar fantasy campaign.

His nine home runs make him look like a less powerful version of Betts but it may not be accurate. Marte posted a fly-ball percentage of 28.4 in 2016, compared to 22.7 from 2016 when he hit 19 home runs. He saw his HR/FB drop, however, to 8.4 percent. A resurgence of power to coincide with an expected regression to Betts' pop brings them much closer together.

The most encouraging thing about Marte's 2016, despite slowing down near the end, is the 47 stolen bases he accrued. After back-to-back 30 SB campaigns, he ramped things up big time. If the power comes back a bit, the strides he made at the plate to become a .300 hitter will be complemented by elite speed and run scoring and RBI opportunities

SS Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers

The aforementioned Correa leapt to the first round of fantasy drafts after a torrid 2015 debut. Perhaps people have softened on buying too much into a rookie's small sample size, otherwise Washington Nationals 2B/OF Trea Turner would be a first-round lock and Seager would be close behind.

Turner could also fit this list as his speed more closely resembles Betts, but Seager could be a perennial .300 hitter. Plus hitting near the top of the Dodgers' lineup puts him in a fantastic spot to score a ton of runs. Seager hits the ball with force. Only 12.7 percent of his contact was soft, placing within the top 10 of all qualified batters.

Seager will likely go by the end of the second round. Those who draw first or second overall, could conceivably land Seager and Marte in back to back selections. Don't put too much stock in ADP, but it's a possibility. You can always get home run power later but stockpiling realistic .300 hitters will be invaluable. It's another reason why finding the next Betts is important.