The sky is the limit for a young Kris Bryant just starting his career. Jon Durr/Getty Images)

Players with the most upside going into 2017

By Yardbarker Staff | Last updated 12/30/16

Hello and welcome back to the Yardbarker roundtable where we ask our contributors to discuss the serious (and not so serious) sides of sports.

We've been wrapping up our year going over what thrilled us, made us think, hyped us up and made us jump for joy as the year comes to an end, but now it is time to look forward. Yesterday we went over the teams with the brightest futures in 2017, but today we asked a few of our contributors:

Which individual athlete has the most upside going into 2017?

Hashim Hathaway: Athlete with the most upside in 2017 has to be Pat McAfee of the Colts. Yes, he's just a punter, however, with a team that is likely to be gutted after this season, there is no better ambassador for an NFL franchise, and someone who will allow fans to "keep the faith" through his good works on and off the field. Guys like McAfee remind us that it's still a game, and we should love it like one.

Laura Sabo: I'm going with P.K. Subban of the Nashville Predators. He's already made an impact on his team in terms of ticket sales (for example, the Predators sold a preseason game out for the first time in their history thanks to him), but the marketing potential for the team with him on it is pretty much endless. And if his charity work in Nashville so far (as well as in his former city) is any indication, the community is going to benefit greatly from his presence.

Matt Whitener: For Kris Bryant, the sky is the limit. He has been on a relentless pace throughout baseball since making his debut a year ago, and in that time he has followed up on all of the astronomical hype that surrounded his rise to Chicago with a Rookie of the Year, followed by an MVP and, most importantly, he was the catalyst for ending the longest championship drought in all of sports history.

Moving ahead, he's in prime position to be the first indisputable face of baseball since days of Ken Griffey Jr's mid-90's reign. He is a good-looking, well-spoken, clean imaged, 24-year-old in one of the biggest media centers in the country. Bryant is already at the summit of the game and is only getting started.

Shiloh Carder: Carmelo Anthony. At a time when pro athletes have been cool to make a stand on pretty much anything, Melo has already started being more aware of national issues heading into the later stages of his basketball career. With the political climate, the police shootings and various other issues we all are embroiled in, Melo has taken the reigns as a true superstar who plays in a major media market who is willing to step out of the cozy comfort of sports celebrity and make a difference. While in Rio for Team USA, he visited some of the poorest parts of the city. He took the stage at the ESPY's to point at social injustice.

With the Knicks being kind of relevant this season, his platform will only get bigger in 2017. Hopefully some of the young emerging stars will follow his lead.

David Matthews: Colin Kaepernick. He's hasn't wavered since the world noticed his protest and isn't likely to stop in 2017. The impending long off-season will only give him more time to get his message out there. I look forward to whatever he does next whether it's as a member of the 49ers, another team, or outside of football entirely.