Fantasy Baseball > 2017 Rankings > Outfield
Top Ranked Fantasy Outfielders: 2017
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Mike Trout is the best player in baseball - okay, we got it. But... like it or not, Mookie Betts is a better fantasy outfielder in terms of production. More on that later, though. For now, let's assume that you don't get one of the top few picks in your draft. Let's say you end up with the 9th pick overall and the elite players are gone. You get to your spot in your fantasy draft and you need a guy who you know is going to hit for power. You need 40+ HR, 100+ RBI and 90+ Runs. Who do you go after? Nelson Cruz is your guy.
Over the past three seasons, Nelson Cruz has averaged 91 Runs, 42 HR and 102 RBI while hitting .286. Our only warning sign with Cruz is that he's going to be 36 this season, but he's also playing more and more games at DH, setting a career-high there last season with 107 games. He's not one of those guys who feels lost without his glove on when his team's on defense - in fact, he's quite the opposite. Even still, Nelson Cruz is only our 5th-best fantasy option among all outfielders, so read below for more fantasy info and analysis. |
Mike Trout is the bast player in baseball, but he's the #2 fantasy outfielder.
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Nelson Cruz may be the most-reliable power hitter in baseball.
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Mike Trout vs. Mookie Betts: Who's the Better Fantasy Outfielder?
Let's settle this once and for all... well, at least for this season's fantasy draft. Who's the better option in fantasy baseball, Mike Trout or Mookie Betts? We're of the opinion that, even though Trout is the better major leaguer, Mookie Betts is actually the better fantasy outfielder, but only slightly. Take a look at their stats:
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Mookie Betts ended up with 123 more official at bats than Mike Trout because Trout walks a lot (Trout walked 67 more times than Betts). Mike Trout also struck out 57 more times than Betts. Comparing Mookie Betts' added at bats to Trout's added walks, the difference is that Mike Trout ended up on base 26 more times than Betts. Theoretically, this would give Trout that advantage to score more runs and steal more bases - both of which are true. However...
Mookie Betts ended up with 41 more hits than Mike Trout. With those hits, he ended up with 10 extra doubles, 2 more home runs and 13 more RBI than Trout. Taking all this into account and looking at their respective lineups in the 2017 season, the Red Sox look like they have the upper hand in overall lineup strength. That means more RBI and run-scoring opportunities for Betts over Trout. All in all, you can't go wrong with either guy, so don't sweat the small stuff. The only way we can see going definitively with Trout first is because of the consistency at which hes done this vs. Betts' first year of being truly dominant... that and Mike Trout is built like a brick wall whereas Betts is 5'9", 180 lbs. But that didn't stop Betts last year, so there you have it. Definitive... yet you can't go wrong.
Mookie Betts ended up with 41 more hits than Mike Trout. With those hits, he ended up with 10 extra doubles, 2 more home runs and 13 more RBI than Trout. Taking all this into account and looking at their respective lineups in the 2017 season, the Red Sox look like they have the upper hand in overall lineup strength. That means more RBI and run-scoring opportunities for Betts over Trout. All in all, you can't go wrong with either guy, so don't sweat the small stuff. The only way we can see going definitively with Trout first is because of the consistency at which hes done this vs. Betts' first year of being truly dominant... that and Mike Trout is built like a brick wall whereas Betts is 5'9", 180 lbs. But that didn't stop Betts last year, so there you have it. Definitive... yet you can't go wrong.
Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Rankings: 2017
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#3 Charlie BlackmonJust draft Charlie Blackmon, put him in, and forget all about him while you reap the benefits of his relentless onslaught on fantasy leagues year after year. He just goes out and plays, then goes home then he does it all again the next day. He chips away at all of your opponents in every category and he drives you nuts if he's not on your team. On the other hand, if he is on your team, he saves your ass every day in some fantasy category, and no one knows how.
Look for a Bounceback Year from Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper isn't everyone's favorite player, but we all love watching him play when he's on fire. Last season, while he had a down-year in terms of HR, runs and RBI, he also stepped up his game with a career-best 21 stolen bases. That doesn't just show that he has speed, it also shows that he has heart - that he expects to meet others' expectations. As he matures and takes a few lumps, we expect more big things out of Bryce Harper. Rumor has it he also played hurt last season, but those are just rumors. If they're true and he comes back healthy in '17, he could be the steal of the draft. Expect 30+ HR and 90+ RBI from Harper this season, along with an average around .290-.300.
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AJ Pollock: 6th-Best Outfielder? Really?! |
#7 Ranked Outfielder George Springer |
#12 Giancarlo Stanton |
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Yes, AJ Pollock is the 6th-best outfielder. In fact, he was our top-ranked fantasy outfielder last year until he inexplicably broke his freaking elbow sliding into home in the last week of the pre-season. This year, we can't assume AJ Pollock will be his old self again, even though he looked like it for the most part in his 12 games last year. 9 runs, 4 steals and 2 HR in 12 games, while a small data sample, is impressive given the year he had in 2015. We expect Pollock to hit 2nd in the Diamondbacks' lineup this season with Paul Goldschmidt right behind him. That means two things: lots of runs scored and lots of good pitches to see and hit. Expect Pollock to hit .285 with 20 HR, 35 steals, 100+ runs and 70+ RBI in 2017. And keep in mind that all those numbers could go higher.
#30 Michael Brantley: Another High-Ranked Sleeper
After Michael Brantley's 2014 season, we had him ranked as the top fantasy outfielder overall. He was on-pace for another incredible season in '15 until an injury sidelined him for 20+ games in 2015 and all but 11 games last season. Prior to his injury, he was a durable outfielder, so we wouldn't be surprised to see him play a full, solid season again in 2017... but we're not willing to take too much of a chance on him. Take him in the middle to late rounds somewhere while everyone else is in desperation mode with relievers or something like that. Expect .29 with 18 HR, 90 Runs and 80 RBI if he stays healthy.
#29: Lorenzo Cain's ComebackLorenzo Cain was on pace for 85+ RBI and Runs scored to go along with 13-15 HR and 20+ stolen bases last season until an injury cut him down to just 103 games played. The Royals are going to be competitive again this year and Cain may be the main offensive catalyst because he does everything so well. Look for Cain to do this year what he should have done last year.
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George Springer played in 162 games last season and fantasy owners complained that he only stole 9 bases. Get over it, man. Keep in mind, he also got caught stealing 10 times, so either he's going to give up on stealing bases or he's going to learn to read pitchers better and steal more. Aside from steals, he hit 29 HR with 82 RBI while scoring 116 runs. Like a ton of other players, Springer strikes out way too much, taking the bat out of his own hands. The Astros have a great, young lineup with Correa, Altuve and Bregman, so we'll see where Springer hits in the lineup. It's a waste to have him hitting leadoff (he hit leadoff 116 times last season and 44 times in the 2-spot) so keep an eye on that. If he moves to 3-6, look for more RBI and fewer runs, but everything else should stay about the same.
#13 Jose Bautista: Buyer Beware
We're obviously not too down on Jose Bautista, otherwise we would have ranked him much lower - but we do have a caveat: Kendrys Morales is in Toronto, now, and he is useless as a fielder, which is why he is a permanent DH. That means that Jose Bautista will see little to no time as the Blue Jays' DH. Bautista has a history of injuries. He's 36 years old this season, so his body isn't getting any healthier. Not to say he's a broken man, yet, but we just want you to be aware. Then there's the John Gibbons factor: to keep this short, batting Jose Bautista in the leadoff spot is ridiculous, but Gibbons did it last year (40 games). Keep that in mind just in case John Gibbons goes crazy again.
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Dude... Giancarlo... stay healthy, bro. Please - one way or another, stay healthy, bro! Giancarlo Stanton is only 27 years old and he has 7 seasons under his belt, already. When we say seasons, however, we don't mean full seasons. He played 150 games when he was 21 and 145 games when he was 24. Other than that, he has missed significant time with injuries every other season. It seems like Stanton is a lock to hit 50+ home runs if he stays healthy, but he just can't manage to do that. Still, draft him and make sure you have a good backup for him. While he's healthy, he can carry your team on his back when he gets hot. Just don't expect him to stay healthy and be pleasantly surprised with his 50 HR, 110 Runs and 130 RBI if he does manage to play a full season.
#27 Matt HollidayMatt Holliday is now a Yankee and is expected to be their DH. Meanwhile, Chris Carter and Greg Bird will be fighting for the first base job. It'll be tempting for Joe Girardi to put one of those two guys at DH, but it's Holliday's job to lose. Holliday's big issue over the past couple seasons is staying healthy, hence the DH job. With Greg Bird and Chris Davis in town, too, we'll see how the 37-year-old Holliday puts up with the pressure. Chances are he'll do fine, but don't expect more than 140 games out of him.
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Gambling on the Rangers Outfielders: Gomez, Mazara and Choo
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The Rangers have Shin Soo Choo, Carlos Gomez and Nomar Mazara penciled into their outfield going into spring training. If these guys pan out - all together - we could see an unbelievable fantasy seasons out of all three of them. You throw in Mike Napoli, Jonathan Lucroy, Rougned Odor and another wildcard, Joey Gallo, into the mix, and his could be the best (or at least the most-entertaining) lineup in baseball.
Shin Soo Choo was on his way to another 80+ run, 20 HR and 20 SB season before getting bit by the injury bug... Nomar Mazara has all kinds of power waiting to launch balls out of Texas. He hit 20 HR with 64 RBI at the age of 21 last season, so we expect him to crack 25+ HR and 80 RBI this season... and Carlos Gomez is such a pain in the ass to fantasy owners, now. Gomez has legit 30/30 skills, but he just can't put it together anymore. He hit 13 HR with 18 stolen bases last season in a clumsy year that saw him spaz out between Houston and Texas. Let him settle in this year and see what he does - he could be the steal of the draft if he screws his head on straight again.
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Puig, Pederson, Toles and Thompson: Making Sense of the Dodgers' Outfield
We've been on Yasiel Puig's case for a long time, now, and he just doesn't show any signs of trying to improve. Great talent; soft mind. He's impatient at the plate and is terribly inconsistent. Could he put it all together this year? Yeah, he could. We wouldn't bank on it, but he's worth a cheap or late flyer in your draft.
Joc Pederson, on the other hand, won't win your league for you, but you can count on him for 25-30 HR, 80 RBI and a batting average around .240 or so. Most importantly, he's the one Dodger outfielder you know will play from the start of the season to the finish.
Andrew Toles, while he showed some solid play last season, just isn't up to par with the athleticism of the rest of the league. He may get some playing time because Dave Roberts likes the guy (and he plays a lot like Dave Roberts used to play, too). But Toles just isn't cut out for a fantasy roster. He hit .314, but it was a pretty empty .314, pacing out to about 9 HR, 60-65 Runs and 50-60 RBI if he had played a full season... and no real speed to speak of, either.
Instead, we think the Dodger fantasy outfielder with the biggest upside is Trayce Thompson. Before being sidelined with an injury last year, Thompson showed significant flashes of brilliance at the plate and on the basepaths. Paced out to a full season, Thompson was headed to 25-30 HR, 70+ RBI and 70+ Runs to go along with double-digit steals. He's graceful and powerful and we just can't see a way that he doesn't earn a lot of playing time in 2017. The reason he has the most upside is because you can get him in the last few rounds of your draft (depending on how he does in Spring Training) or for $1-$2 in an auction draft, and the upside for him is huge. We're not saying bank on him, but we are recommending you take him late as a roster filler. He could prove extremely valuable.
Joc Pederson, on the other hand, won't win your league for you, but you can count on him for 25-30 HR, 80 RBI and a batting average around .240 or so. Most importantly, he's the one Dodger outfielder you know will play from the start of the season to the finish.
Andrew Toles, while he showed some solid play last season, just isn't up to par with the athleticism of the rest of the league. He may get some playing time because Dave Roberts likes the guy (and he plays a lot like Dave Roberts used to play, too). But Toles just isn't cut out for a fantasy roster. He hit .314, but it was a pretty empty .314, pacing out to about 9 HR, 60-65 Runs and 50-60 RBI if he had played a full season... and no real speed to speak of, either.
Instead, we think the Dodger fantasy outfielder with the biggest upside is Trayce Thompson. Before being sidelined with an injury last year, Thompson showed significant flashes of brilliance at the plate and on the basepaths. Paced out to a full season, Thompson was headed to 25-30 HR, 70+ RBI and 70+ Runs to go along with double-digit steals. He's graceful and powerful and we just can't see a way that he doesn't earn a lot of playing time in 2017. The reason he has the most upside is because you can get him in the last few rounds of your draft (depending on how he does in Spring Training) or for $1-$2 in an auction draft, and the upside for him is huge. We're not saying bank on him, but we are recommending you take him late as a roster filler. He could prove extremely valuable.