February Rankings – Outfield
Welcome to the kickoff of our 2017 rankings. We’re going position by position this week and next with our initial roll out of rankings. We will update these in March based on Spring Training activity and injuries.
We’re using Yahoo! eligibility requirements which is 5 starts or 10 appearances. These rankings assume the standard 5×5 categories and a re-draft league. If we forgot someone, please let us know in the comments and we’ll make sure he’s added for the updates. If you have questions for a specific ranker on something he did, let us know in the comments. We can also be reached via Twitter:
There will be differences, sharp differences, within the rankings. The rankers have different philosophies when it comes to ranking, some of which you’re no doubt familiar with through previous iterations. Of course the idea that we’d all think the same would be silly because then what would be the point of including multiple rankers?! Think someone should be higher or lower? Make a case. Let us know why you think that. The chart is sortable.
If a ranker didn’t rank someone that the others did, he was given that ranker’s last rank +1.
Key:
- AVG– just the average of the seven ranking sets
- AVG– the average minus the high and low rankings
- SPLIT– the difference between the high and low rankings
| Rk | NAME | Paul S | Brad | Mike | Jeff | Al | Justin | AVG | Adj. AVG | Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Trout | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Mookie Betts | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2.2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Kris Bryant | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3 |
| 4 | Bryce Harper | 3 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.3 | 7 |
| 5 | Trea Turner | 9 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 5 |
| 6 | Charlie Blackmon | 5 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 7.7 | 6.8 | 11 |
| 7 | Starling Marte | 7 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 8.2 | 8 | 7 |
| 8 | Nelson Cruz | 11 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 9 |
| 9 | Giancarlo Stanton | 8 | 8 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 8.8 | 11 |
| 10 | Ryan Braun | 6 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 10.2 | 10 | 9 |
| 11 | A.J. Pollock | 13 | 10 | 6 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10.8 | 11 |
| 12 | J.D. Martinez | 12 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 11.7 | 12 | 10 |
| 13 | George Springer | 10 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 4 |
| 14 | Carlos Gonzalez | 17 | 20 | 16 | 6 | 17 | 15 | 15.2 | 16.3 | 14 |
| 15 | Ian Desmond | 15 | 22 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 20 | 16 | 15.5 | 10 |
| 16 | Yoenis Cespedes | 22 | 14 | 17 | 24 | 12 | 17 | 17.7 | 17.5 | 12 |
| 17 | Justin Upton | 18 | 21 | 19 | 10 | 20 | 19 | 17.8 | 19 | 11 |
| 18 | Andrew McCutchen | 14 | 29 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 18 | 16.5 | 16 |
| 19 | Christian Yelich | 16 | 16 | 27 | 27 | 16 | 16 | 19.7 | 18.8 | 11 |
| 20 | Gregory Polanco | 19 | 18 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 21.2 | 21.3 | 6 |
| 21 | Wil Myers | 20 | 13 | 30 | 23 | 25 | 21 | 22 | 22.3 | 17 |
| 22 | Jose Bautista | 21 | 17 | 34 | 18 | 19 | 29 | 23 | 21.8 | 17 |
| 23 | Khris Davis | 24 | 27 | 13 | 21 | 28 | 27 | 23.3 | 24.8 | 15 |
| 24 | Mark Trumbo | 23 | 44 | 24 | 9 | 21 | 25 | 24.3 | 23.3 | 35 |
| 25 | Adam Jones | 33 | 37 | 20 | 22 | 33 | 22 | 27.8 | 27.5 | 17 |
| 26 | Billy Hamilton | 30 | 36 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 18 | 28.7 | 29.5 | 18 |
| 27 | Kyle Schwarber | 44 | 19 | 37 | 22.5 | 22 | 31 | 29.3 | 28.1 | 25 |
| 28 | Matt Kemp | 34 | 24 | 21 | 28 | 24 | 50 | 30.2 | 27.5 | 29 |
| 29 | David Dahl | 32 | 26 | 52 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 28.8 | 27 |
| 30 | Jose Ramirez | 38 | 31 | 26 | 30 | 36 | 36 | 32.8 | 33.3 | 12 |
| 31 | Lorenzo Cain | 36 | 38 | 32 | 42 | 31 | 23 | 33.7 | 34.3 | 19 |
| 32 | Miguel Sano | 53 | 23 | 35 | 26 | 42 | 26 | 34.2 | 32.3 | 30 |
| 33 | Jackie Bradley Jr. | 28 | 30 | 31 | 40 | 34 | 46 | 34.8 | 33.8 | 18 |
| 34 | Stephen Piscotty | 29 | 40 | 28 | 54 | 40 | 32 | 37.2 | 35.3 | 26 |
| 35 | Odubel Herrera | 27 | 25 | 41 | 61 | 27 | 49 | 38.3 | 36 | 36 |
| 36 | Carlos Gomez | 43 | 50 | 38 | 31 | 37 | 33 | 38.7 | 37.8 | 19 |
| 37 | Adam Eaton | 26 | 43 | 43 | 67 | 26 | 30 | 39.2 | 35.5 | 41 |
| 38 | Marcell Ozuna | 25 | 49 | 45 | 36 | 43 | 38 | 39.3 | 40.5 | 24 |
| 39 | Hunter Pence | 31 | 34 | 53 | 34 | 47 | 40 | 39.8 | 38.8 | 22 |
| 40 | Jose Peraza | 42 | 28 | 22 | 38 | 67 | 44 | 40.2 | 38 | 45 |
| 41 | Andrew Benintendi | 35 | 35 | 50 | 53 | 32 | 37 | 40.3 | 39.3 | 21 |
| 42 | Joc Pederson | 39 | 39 | 59 | 35 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 40.3 | 24 |
| 43 | Kole Calhoun | 45 | 32 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 52 | 43 | 43.5 | 20 |
| 44 | Kendrys Morales | 51 | 46 | 33 | 50 | 51 | 43 | 45.7 | 47.5 | 18 |
| 45 | Adam Duvall | 61 | 57 | 25 | 33 | 39 | 60 | 45.8 | 47.3 | 36 |
| 46 | Ben Zobrist | 52 | 42 | 49 | 59 | 45 | 41 | 48 | 47 | 18 |
| 47 | Kevin Kiermaier | 37 | 58 | 36 | 41 | 46 | 71 | 48.2 | 45.5 | 35 |
| 48 | Matt Holliday | 49 | 64 | 47 | 39 | 50 | 53 | 50.3 | 49.8 | 25 |
| 49 | Dexter Fowler | 54 | 33 | 69 | 77 | 38 | 39 | 51.7 | 50 | 44 |
| 50 | Carlos Beltran | 55 | 48 | 58 | 44 | 53 | 56 | 52.3 | 53 | 14 |
| 51 | Willson Contreras | 68 | 45 | 40 | 92 | 35 | 45 | 54.2 | 49.5 | 57 |
| 52 | Randal Grichuk | 50 | 55 | 57 | 52 | 48 | 65 | 54.5 | 53.5 | 17 |
| 53 | Nomar Mazara | 40 | 63 | 80 | 49 | 64 | 34 | 55 | 54 | 46 |
| 54 | Yasiel Puig | 48 | 70 | 70 | 37 | 73 | 35 | 55.5 | 56.3 | 38 |
| 55 | Byron Buxton | 41 | 60 | 85 | 45 | 49 | 55 | 55.8 | 52.3 | 44 |
| 56 | Jason Heyward | 47 | 52 | 60 | 60 | 56 | 69 | 57.3 | 57 | 22 |
| 57 | Keon Broxton | 57 | 79 | 48 | 58 | 60 | 47 | 58.2 | 55.8 | 32 |
| 58 | Rajai Davis | 56 | 51 | 66 | 48 | 76 | 58 | 59.2 | 57.8 | 28 |
| 59 | Ender Inciarte | 58 | 67 | 39 | 73 | 54 | 67 | 59.7 | 61.5 | 34 |
| 60 | Jay Bruce | 46 | 96 | 63 | 46 | 52 | 62 | 60.8 | 55.8 | 50 |
| 61 | Curtis Granderson | 67 | 47 | 62 | 64 | 62 | 63 | 60.8 | 62.8 | 20 |
| 62 | Melky Cabrera | 59 | 61 | 44 | 62 | 66 | 76 | 61.3 | 62 | 32 |
| 63 | Josh Reddick | 63 | 53 | 78 | 32 | 81 | 73 | 63.3 | 66.8 | 49 |
| 64 | Corey Dickerson | 62 | 72 | 74 | 56 | 55 | 64 | 63.8 | 63.5 | 19 |
| 65 | Shin-Soo Choo | 66 | 59 | 65 | 47 | 71 | 77 | 64.2 | 65.3 | 30 |
| 66 | David Peralta | 69 | 74 | 54 | 66 | 59 | 75 | 66.2 | 67 | 21 |
| 67 | Max Kepler | 60 | 84 | 82 | 57 | 69 | 48 | 66.7 | 67 | 36 |
| 68 | Michael Brantley | 70 | 41 | 68 | 63 | 79 | 81 | 67 | 70 | 40 |
| 69 | Jacoby Ellsbury | 75 | 65 | 56 | 70 | 86 | 61 | 68.8 | 67.8 | 30 |
| 70 | Yasmany Tomas | 80 | 71 | 46 | 87 | 58 | 80 | 70.3 | 72.3 | 41 |
| 71 | Brett Gardner | 73 | 62 | 71 | 89 | 80 | 51 | 71 | 71.5 | 38 |
| 72 | Domingo Santana | 86 | 54 | 72 | 76 | 57 | 84 | 71.5 | 72.3 | 32 |
| 73 | Hunter Renfroe | 74 | 78 | 67 | 71 | 78 | 68 | 72.7 | 72.8 | 11 |
| 74 | Leonys Martin | 64 | 76 | 88 | 51 | 87 | 79 | 74.2 | 76.5 | 37 |
| 75 | Travis Jankowski | 76 | 88 | 61 | 55 | 83 | 86 | 74.8 | 76.5 | 33 |
| 76 | Alex Gordon | 81 | 73 | 55 | 69 | 84 | 101 | 77.2 | 76.8 | 46 |
| 77 | Kevin Pillar | 65 | 92 | 64 | 65 | 95 | 85 | 77.7 | 76.8 | 31 |
| 78 | Jorge Soler | 78 | 100 | 73 | 97 | 63 | 57 | 78 | 77.8 | 43 |
| 79 | Brandon Moss | 84 | 66 | 91 | 72 | 90 | 74 | 79.5 | 80 | 25 |
| 80 | Jarrod Dyson | 79 | 98 | 86 | 90 | 75 | 59 | 81.2 | 82.5 | 39 |
| 81 | Josh Bell | 85 | 81 | 75 | 93 | 88 | 66 | 81.3 | 82.3 | 27 |
| 82 | Michael Saunders | 77 | 77 | 94 | 81 | 93 | 70 | 82 | 82 | 24 |
| 83 | Manuel Margot | 71 | 94 | 87 | 80 | 77 | 90 | 83.2 | 83.5 | 23 |
| 84 | Jayson Werth | 96 | 56 | 81 | 88 | 82 | 97 | 83.3 | 86.8 | 41 |
| 85 | Hernan Perez | 108 | 85 | 92 | 99 | 70 | 54 | 84.7 | 86.5 | 54 |
| 86 | Michael Conforto | 83 | 68 | 107 | 121 | 65 | 72 | 86 | 82.5 | 56 |
| 87 | Cameron Maybin | 90 | 69 | 89 | 95 | 96 | 88 | 87.8 | 90.5 | 27 |
| 88 | Mitch Haniger | 87 | 125 | 79 | 82 | 74 | 82 | 88.2 | 82.5 | 51 |
| 89 | Howie Kendrick | 109 | 83 | 51 | 83 | 100 | 107 | 88.8 | 93.3 | 58 |
| 90 | Denard Span | 82 | 111 | 77 | 79 | 92 | 93 | 89 | 86.5 | 34 |
| 91 | Steven Souza Jr. | 89 | 86 | 97 | 75 | 97 | 99 | 90.5 | 92.3 | 24 |
| 92 | Tyler Naquin | 100 | 115 | 96 | 84 | 68 | 89 | 92 | 92.3 | 47 |
| 93 | Brandon Drury | 72 | 97 | 101 | 120 | 72 | 91 | 92.2 | 90.3 | 48 |
| 94 | Nick Markakis | 98 | 91 | 83 | 96 | 91 | 100 | 93.2 | 94 | 17 |
| 95 | Aaron Judge | 116 | 101 | 84 | 74 | 102 | 92 | 94.8 | 94.8 | 42 |
| 96 | Scott Schebler | 104 | 105 | 103 | 68 | 98 | 96 | 95.7 | 100.3 | 37 |
| 97 | Steve Pearce | 93 | 87 | 106 | 100 | 94 | 94 | 95.7 | 95.3 | 19 |
| 98 | Kolten Wong | 101 | 75 | 98 | 103 | 99 | 102 | 96.3 | 100 | 28 |
| 99 | Andrew Toles | 91 | 116 | 99 | 106 | 89 | 87 | 98 | 96.3 | 29 |
| 100 | Danny Valencia | 95 | 103 | 113 | 94 | 105 | 95 | 100.8 | 99.5 | 19 |
| 101 | Hyun Soo Kim | 97 | 104 | 100 | 86 | 118 | 110 | 102.5 | 102.8 | 32 |
| 102 | Seth Smith | 112 | 106 | 105 | 105 | 101 | 103 | 105.3 | 104.8 | 11 |
| 103 | Alex Dickerson | 105 | 82 | 93 | 117 | 132 | 108 | 106.2 | 105.8 | 50 |
| 104 | Avisail Garcia | 99 | 140 | 95 | 78 | 116 | 113 | 106.8 | 105.8 | 62 |
| 105 | Jurickson Profar | 88 | 113 | 125 | 121 | 115 | 83 | 107.5 | 109.3 | 42 |
| 106 | Charlie Tilson | 126 | 90 | 76 | 121 | 122 | 114 | 108.2 | 111.8 | 50 |
| 107 | Chris Owings | 113 | 93 | 109 | 121 | 113 | 104 | 108.8 | 109.8 | 28 |
| 108 | Lonnie Chisenhall | 128 | 80 | 102 | 112 | 112 | 122 | 109.3 | 112 | 48 |
| 109 | Matt Joyce | 103 | 136 | 104 | 111 | 85 | 121 | 110 | 109.8 | 51 |
| 110 | Roman Quinn | 92 | 132 | 131 | 121 | 110 | 78 | 110.7 | 113.5 | 54 |
| 111 | Melvin Upton Jr. | 121 | 95 | 110 | 115 | 107 | 117 | 110.8 | 112.3 | 26 |
| 112 | Colby Rasmus | 106 | 112 | 118 | 102 | 103 | 127 | 111.3 | 109.8 | 25 |
| 113 | Eddie Rosario | 114 | 144 | 112 | 104 | 106 | 109 | 114.8 | 110.3 | 40 |
| 114 | Mallex Smith | 107 | 99 | 122 | 121 | 126 | 115 | 115 | 116.3 | 27 |
| 115 | Jon Jay | 118 | 109 | 123 | 121 | 114 | 105 | 115 | 115.5 | 18 |
| 116 | Derek Dietrich | 122 | 89 | 111 | 113 | 139 | 118 | 115.3 | 116 | 50 |
| 117 | Nick Franklin | 115 | 110 | 131 | 91 | 121 | 124 | 115.3 | 117.5 | 40 |
| 118 | Ben Revere | 94 | 118 | 131 | 121 | 117 | 112 | 115.5 | 117 | 37 |
| 119 | Aaron Altherr | 102 | 107 | 131 | 121 | 131 | 106 | 116.3 | 116.3 | 29 |
| 120 | Angel Pagan | 119 | 108 | 131 | 101 | 123 | 120 | 117 | 117.5 | 30 |
Am I right in thinking that OF is really deep for mixed leagues this year compared to other positions? (even when we peel away Bryant, Turner, Schwarber etc for other positions)
I don’t know about deep, but I find the talent very flat. I am waiting to fill 2 to 3 of my OF slots right at the end. I am using these spots to help balance my SB/HR mix.
I’m not seeing it that way, even for something relatively shallow like my home 10-teamer. Once we get past about 25-30 OFs, I feel like I’m either focused strictly on a certain category, or I’m crossing my fingers and taking some fliers.
I actually think the position is very thin. After 20 there are few names that excite me. In fact, the names that do are probably going to be kept in my league. I think OF is a dumpster fire to be honest.
Interesting. Thanks for the replies, guys. I was thinking players like Dahl, Eaton, JBJ, Pederson, Benintendi etc were better than normal for a roto 3rd outfielder attained relatively inexpensively, but maybe I’m underestimating the OF pool of past years.
In my experience so far, all of those guys will cost a mid- or late-mid round pick in 12-team drafts. Not back-breakingly expensive, but not exactly free either.
Your mileage may vary.
Interestingly high on Matt Kemp.
really? he was #7 last year among outfielders on the ESPN player rater. Not a sexy pick anymore, and he deserves a ding or two if you’re in an OBP league, but otherwise a pretty solid bet for top-30 value.
What reason is there to not be high on him from a fantasy perspective? WAR hates him and he has a big contract, but that is not a fantasy owner’s problem.
Well, I am not. I am too afraid of the arthritic hips. I’d feel better about him if he was in the AL and he could DH.
Whats with the fear of ben revere? Read several articles including one from Fangraphs on his likely resurgence with improved health, considering his relative consistency prior to the injury last year.
As of now, it looks like the Angels plan on starting Maybin in left, so he’ll have limited playing time until someone (Maybin) gets hurt.
Besides the fact that he hits with zero power, he’s going to timeshare with Maybin and there are no plate appearances at DH to hand out to either of them with Pujols around. He doesn’t even have a whole lot of hope filling in at the other 2 spots because neither Trout (games last 4 years: 159, 159, 157, 157) nor Calhoun (157, 159) miss many games.
Playing time.
Stanton – When do we assume that he is too injury prone to invest a high pick/ big $$ in?
I examined young “injury prone” hitters at BHQ ($$$) and found no link. I may have his PA too low.
His injuries are also mostly fluky. I’m still calling him unlucky rather than injury prone. I’ll worry about it 3 years when his swing starts to slow down.
More concerning is if you believe in the league-wide power surge, Stanton’s one elite fantasy asset (dingerz) is devalued relative to previous years.
Even if you take the injury risk out of it, which I don’t think you can, at what point do we start to realize that Stanton isn’t much more than a 2-3 category producer? How different is he from Chris Davis? Or Khris Davis? Sure he has a bit more batting average upside, but he really isn’t running anymore. He hasn’t hit over .265 since 2014. Steamer has him projected at 37hr/81runs/88rbis/3sbs/.269avg. I’ll take the under on all of those except RBIs and possibly home runs, but that is close.
Is Judge worth keeping for $5 in an AL only league? Just seems too likely to fail and go back to AAA, it sucks I even feel compelled to ask because of the power but I’m wondering if I can find someone else more safe or with more upside for that price or lower (someone like Ben Revere, who I asked about in a separate comment).
I don’t think that’s a must keep or cut at that price. You’re free to let your roster, opportunity costs, and league history make the decision for you.
Is Kris Bryant more or less valuable as a 3B only?
wat?
Well, fewer positions are always less valuable. But it wouldn’t actually affect his draft spot.
The Tigers starting CF platoon doesn’t even rank in the top 120. Heck of a job by our GM.
I was going to post that there must be an error and Kendrys Morales doesn’t belong on this list but holy smokes, he did get 5 starts in RF last year. Won’t make him eligible in every league but it will in Yahoo standard leagues. In fact, he has multi-position eligibility with 1B as well (7 G, 6 GS)
I am curious where Eric Thames is ranked. He isn’t in the chart. He is OF-only in Yahoo right now…I am higher on him than most people as I view him a low-risk high reward type.
I ranked him 19 among 1B if I recall. I did not know Yahoo botched the eligibility. Figures.
He would be 69th for me. In between Renfroe and Heyward.
I’m curious about Jeff’s ranking of CarGo, I love the guy a lot more than most, but to rank him above Stanton, Cruz, and Upton? Sure the AVG was nice last year, but the HR’s tanked from 2015, and the AVG was supported by a .346 BABIP, and he doesn’t have the same wheels that he did in 2013 when he last posted a BABIP over .340.
I’m just not sure who to expect this year. The 2015 CarGo with a BABIP in the .280’s and power to spare, last year’s CarGo with decent power, and good counting stats with a plus plus AVG? Something in between? Another injury shortened year? I’d roll the dice on him going into this season, but not at the price of the 6th OF off the board. I’d probably gamble on Polanco’s youth and 20-20 potential before I’d take CarGo, and Jeff has him 14 picks after him despite the similar power output, better walk rate, similar K%, and likely improving R/RBI production as he should be put into a better spot in the order out of the gate.
Jeff has a very projection heavy approach.
Steamer has CarGo and Stanton as a pick-em in standard. Inflated BABIP on a coors guy is not that unusual.
Could anyone indicate the assumed # of plate appearances corresponding to the ranking of Dahl at 29? Depth charts shows 616, which seems very steep for a player whose manager says has to compete to be a starter. Consider also fangraph’s article from early January, questioning if Dahl might start the year in the minors.
Similarly, wondering what qty of plate appearances underlies pederson’s ranking.
Well that’s very complicated. I probably expect between 350 and 675 PA. That wide range of volatility is reflected in my ranking.
I basically view Pederson as a 160 games OFer. I haven’t researched him recently.
are there specific concerns for beltran, other than age? he hit a .358 wOBA and nearly reached 600 PAs last yr. i’m thinking steamer is being too bullish on him.
Playing time concerns and less of a hitter’s environment than Texas and NYY, for starters. Age doesn’t help.
oops, i meant bearish, but your explanation makes sense. i forgot about the park factors.
Also curious why Jeff has Trumbo so high at #9. There are easily 12-15 guys he’s ranked behind Trumbo that I would pick over him.
Jeff, what’s up with your Herrera and Eaton rankings? Just curious because everyone is in 25-49 range on those guys and you have them both in the 60s. Eaton in particular at 67 behind, among others, Melky, Kepler, and Peralta? Thirty-five spots Reddick? Thirty behind Puig?
Most of my ranking differences aren’t huge differences once we get lower in the draft. Looking over some the projections, most of the variance (Trumbo, Eaton) come from differences in playing time estimates. I find from now until the beginning of the season is when these values get perfected.
CarGo 6th is still a bit of a mystery to me though.
I agree. Cargo is one of my favorite players to watch, but to rank him over Blackmon is odd.
FYI: Busy all day Monday, but I’ll jump in these comments tonight or tomorrow
The results on Yelich are hilarious. Apparently he is either 16th or 27th, there is no other choice!
It is amazing how that happens in spite of the fact none of us are coordinating.
Does anyone know if/when 2017 player profiles are going up on the player pages?