Over the past three decades, changes in the real game have had slow but subtle effects on the fantasy game. These changes have made fantasy more challenging to play, in part because we've been slow to change our own league rules. However, the 2017 season could elevate those challenges to new heights.
It starts with the rise of pitching specialization. When the "Founding Fathers" structured our rosters with 14 batters and nine pitchers, it was a close approximation of what major league rosters looked like. These days, we are still drafting to that 14/9 split from MLB rosters that often have 12 batters and 13 pitchers. The result is that our free-agent pools are now overflowing with pitchers but bereft of hitting talent.