This is the last weekend in July and many fantasy players will be turning their attention to the NFL. But before our focus changes completely to 2016 NFL fantasy drafts, I thought it would be fun to take the first look at the 2017 MLB fantasy landscape. The truth is, as many teams are eliminated in keeper leagues from contention and looking ahead to next year’s value, it helps to see where the 2017 building blocks rank.

With the help of Prospect361’s Tim McLeod, we held a 2017 mock draft two weeks ago that included not only Tim and myself, but such top level fantasy baseball minds as Lawr Michaels and Peter Kreutzer of Tout Wars, and even some celebrity baseball lovers like Ian Kahn of the AMC show "TURN: Washington’s Spies." The results were fascinating to say the least and some new names have crept into the early rounds and our consciousness.

Here’s what Round 1 looked like:

  1. Clayton Kershaw (prior to the resent injury news)
  2. Mike Trout
  3. Mookie Betts
  4. Jose Altuve
  5. Bryce Harper
  6. Paul Goldschmidt
  7. Manny Machado
  8. Kris Bryant
  9. Josh Donaldson
  10. Nolan Arenado
  11. Anthony Rizzo (MY PICK!)
  12. Xander Bogaerts
  13. Starling Marte
  14. Giancarlo Stanton
  15. Carlos Correa

A points league is the only scenario where I would ever condone taking a pitcher first overall. With Kershaw’s current back issue looming, his 2017 value could take a serious hit from top five overall to out of the first round altogether. The biggest risers from this past offseason until now is clearly Mookie Betts and Jose Altuve. The reason is simple, they’re proving that their power is not a fluke. In fact, it’s actually improving year over year. In a five active outfielder league you can make the case for Trout and Betts at No. 1 and No. 2 overall, but in three active outfielder leagues (in true Relative Position Value form), Jose Altuve is the clear No. 1 overall pick in my opinion. Second base is littered with similar skillset players and Altuve is miles above that common herd.

Kris Bryant has moved up to an easy top 10 choice and as I predicted in this past season’s Fantasy Black Book, Starling Marte would make his way from early second round pick to an easy first round selection by season's end. Giancarlo Stanton is hanging onto his first round status by a thread and needs a strong finish to secure that spot. Carlos Correa should be a better 2017 investment after being the victim of a little overhype in 2016 and the usual sophomore transition year. The new name to the bunch is Xander Bogaerts who’s making a run at a batting title and already topped his career high in home runs before August 1. In leagues with MINF slots, he’s a slam dunk first rounder in 2017.

Miguel Cabrera fell from a first round value to a 2.8 round pick. Andrew McCutchen fell even further from grace to 3.8 overall. Jackie Bradley Jr. (3.11), Jake Lamb (4.5) and Daniel Murphy (5.11) were some big time risers and with good cause. JBJ has been the A.J. Pollock replacement I pushed owners to add the first week of the season, Lamb has kept his OPS north of .900 despite his struggles versus lefties and Murphy looks like an MVP candidate. So, what owner has two thumbs and drafted all these players? This guy! If we don’t practice what we preach as fantasy analysts, then our word means nothing.

Overall, starting pitching was a tad less aggressively pursued than in 2016 drafts and younger players are going even earlier than 2016 as the youth movement continues. To that trend in particular I preach caution. As bonuses, rookies and unproven talent can certainly swing a league in your favor. However, if they’re drafted as roster anchors and do not live up to expectations, they can just as easily sink your season. Once this is clear, you can never start your draft prep too early!

For full draft results click HERE and click Show/Hide Draft chart.

Joe Pisapia (@JoePisapia17) is the seven-time best-selling author of the Fantasy Black Book Series for baseball and football and hosts Fantasy Sports Tonight on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio