Ottoneu Top 75 Outfielders for 2020
Using a format similar to the one Paul Sporer recently posted for 2020 Roto player rankings, below is the 2020 ranking of the Top 75 Outfielders for Ottoneu fantasy baseball. Ottoneu leagues are auction style, but with no salaries listed (league dependent), think of these lists as simplified “snake draft” rankings (“which player would I take before the next”), or a value ranking of players above replacement level for 2020. Players with multi-position eligibility may receive a slight bump in value (2020 positions listed). You can reference average Ottoneu player salaries here, but keep in mind these salaries fluctuate throughout the winter as rosters shape up towards the January 31st keeper deadline for all leagues.
Previous 2020 Ottoneu rankings:
Since a majority of Ottoneu leagues are points leagues (offense based on linear weights), you’ll notice speed is less of a factor here than traditional rotisserie rankings. Even if you don’t play Ottoneu, this list might be a good proxy for OBP, OPS, or sabermetric leagues, so keep that context in mind as you review. If I’ve missed an important player, or you believe I’ve wildly over or under-valued someone, please let me know in the comments and I’ll be sure to update.
In 2019, the 57 qualified outfielders averaged the following production:
-
- 5.83 Points Per Game (P/G)
- 26 HR
- 9.3% BB%
- 20.7% K%
- .216 ISO
- .272 AVG
- .348 OBP
- .489 SLG
- .350 wOBA
- 117 wRC+
Ottoneu 2020 Top 75 Outfielders
| RK | Player | 2020 POS | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Trout | OF | We’re watching the best player of all time, and he’s still underrated (.455 xwOBA) |
| 2 | Christian Yelich | OF | His 9.56 P/G sets the new bar for best overall Ottoneu season, above Trout, Betts (2018), Harper (2015) |
| 3 | Cody Bellinger | 1B/OF | One of only six players above 8.0+ Points per Game; only 24 y/o + 1B |
| 4 | Juan Soto | OF | Back to back .390+ wOBA seasons at just age 20; ceiling is unknown, and he’s now safer than those below |
| 5 | Mookie Betts | OF | 2nd half rebound + xwOBA (.408) + Age 27 + Free Agency put Betts on path for MVP again |
| 6 | J.D. Martinez | OF | Remains a Statcast stalwart and a safe bet to post ~.400 wOBA after career best contact rate |
| 7 | Aaron Judge | OF | With a .430 wOBA on his resume (2017) and the 6th best Barrels/PA% (2019), Judge is still easy Tier 2 OF |
| 8 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | OF | Raw 40/40 skills play up in Roto and can take him just about anywhere up this list going forward |
| 9 | George Springer | OF | Career-best BB% and Hard Hit % support huge 2019 breakout should continue |
| 10 | Bryce Harper | OF | 2015 campaign (.461 wOBA) sticks out but another MVP season could be lurking at age 27 |
| 11 | Yordan Alvarez | OF | Statcast .602 xSLG proves this is an elite player, but playoff fade causes slight hesitation |
| 12 | Ketel Marte | 2B/SS/OF | BABIP will regress but xwOBA (.370) supports significant skills growth will remain |
| 13 | Kris Bryant | 3B/OF | Still an elite hitter but the hope of a true .400 wOBA+ breakout is quietly fading |
| 14 | Eloy Jimenez | OF | Prospect pedigree on full display in September (.370 ISO) and bodes well for big 2020 |
| 15 | Joey Gallo | OF | Expect .370 wOBA range when BABIP falls (.368), but there’s evidence of developmental upside here |
| 16 | Charlie Blackmon | OF | Expect 2018 repeat (.368 wOBA) but know he’s essentially expensive platoon risk (87 wRC+ on road) |
| 17 | Austin Meadows | OF | Outside of June he was a consistent monster, and at age 25, this profile is safe, with upside |
| 18 | Jorge Soler | OF | A top 15 xwOBA (.392), this bold breakout looks to stick as Soler barrels the ball better than most |
| 19 | Giancarlo Stanton | OF | Assumes 2018 season (.852 OPS) is reasonable but zero confidence he plays another 150+ games |
| 20 | Michael Conforto | OF | A professional, safe hitter that seems like he has that one big season still in his pocket |
| 21 | Kyle Schwarber | OF | A top 20 player in the 2nd half by wRC+ (151), he still does most of his damage vs. RHP |
| 22 | Marcell Ozuna | OF | His .382 xwOBA says he was unlucky last season, so he should be solid wherever he signs |
| 23 | Michael Brantley | OF | Led all OF in Z-contact rate (95.8%), a safe bet for an ~.850 OPS over 140 games |
| 24 | Trey Mancini | 1B/OF | A quietly excellent season on a bad team, supported by .364 xwOBA |
| 25 | Tommy Pham | OF | Now in SD, Pham should be good for another 20/20 season if groundball rates don’t regress |
| 26 | Jeff McNeil | 2B/3B/OF | Hit 20 of 23 HR vs. RHP; expect shift adjustments in 2020 that could impact power output |
| 27 | Nicholas Castellanos | OF | Back to back seasons of .850+ OPS, so expect more of the same while he’s in his prime |
| 28 | Andrew McCutchen | OF | Only 33, Cutch still possesses skills to repeat 2017 (.360 wOBA, 28 HR), so he could be draft day bargain |
| 29 | Max Kepler | OF | Pulled the ball more than any other OF in 2019 (53%), HR/FB doubled, 2nd behind Trout in fly ball rate |
| 30 | Ramon Laureano | OF | K rates dropped and BB rates jumped in 2nd half; this is a good young player about to take another step |
| 31 | Bryan Reynolds | OF | Reynolds won’t repeat a .426 1st half BABIP, but he’s a professional hitter that still looks underrated |
| 32 | Starling Marte | OF | His best season since 2016, almost certain to be traded; he’s a solid OF3 |
| 33 | Joc Pederson | 1B/OF | There’s 40 HR power here, but has tendency to streak; Statcast suggests he overachieved a bit |
| 34 | Whit Merrifield | 2B/OF | Near lock for 700+ PA’s and OPS around .800; speed may continue slowing now entering 30’s |
| 35 | Andrew Benintendi | OF | Took a disappointing full step back from 2018 but he’s 25, has a solid floor, and likely another gear |
| 36 | Hunter Dozier | 1B/3B/OF | Top seven in Hard Hit % makes 2019 breakout appear real; 3B/OF helps |
| 37 | Franmil Reyes | OF | Led OF in swinging strike rate (17.8%) but he’s still a good bet to improve in 2020; leash is short in SD |
| 38 | Mitch Haniger | OF | He’ll play at 29 and if fully recovered a rebound towards his 2017 season could pay nicely here |
| 39 | Mark Canha | 1B/OF | Three consecutive seasons of outside swing rate improvements make this look legit; .362 xwOBA helps |
| 40 | Eddie Rosario | OF | Walking less (3.4%) but hitting the ball harder (38.8%), expect something closer to 2017 (27 HR, .836 OPS) |
| 41 | Brandon Belt | 1B/OF | General profile still looks solid, so 2019 fall likely BABIP related; good bet to rebound for a profit |
| 42 | Jesse Winker | OF | With .887 OPS vs. RHP and .443 OPS vs. LHP, the flux of CIN OF will dictate Winker’s platoon value |
| 43 | Adam Eaton | OF | Solidly average, he’ll play 2020 at age 31 and should finish right around a .340 wOBA |
| 44 | Willie Calhoun | OF | A bat-only former top prospect, Calhoun has sneaky 30+ HR power and makes a lot of contact |
| 45 | Avisail Garcia | OF | Has improved his hard hit rate every consecutive season since 2014; only 28, MIL could be perfect fit |
| 46 | Luis Robert | OF | Expected to break camp, he could fall anywhere here; expect ups and downs but the power/speed is real |
| 47 | Stephen Piscotty | OF | Needs health more than any other factor to deliver value, but just one season removed from 27 HR |
| 47 | David Peralta | OF | If you buy Statcast, Peralta overperformed (.338 wOBA vs. .301 xwOBA); another 30 HR are in doubt |
| 49 | Alex Verdugo | OF | Would be a steady OF5 with upside if given full time AB’s, but that’s the problem |
| 50 | Brandon Lowe | 1B/2B/OF | MiLB stats provide home for strong OBP floor; one of just five 2B with xSLG above .500 in 2019 |
| 51 | J.D. Davis | 3B/OF | A Statcast darling (.383 xwOBA), Davis could deliver lots of profit if given the playing time |
| 52 | Yasiel Puig | OF | Currently unsigned, Steamer projects 29 HR and .817 OPS, but I’d take the under |
| 53 | Shin-Soo Choo | OF | He just keeps hitting (.353 wOBA), but at age 37, it’s safe to expect a slow down |
| 54 | Nick Senzel | OF | With shoulder fully healed and decision to go back to old swing, Senzel could breakout, with 2B an option too |
| 55 | Nomar Mazara | OF | High longest HR of 2019 (505 ft.); a change of scenary in CHW might be perfect, but likely platoon for now |
| 56 | Luis Arraez | 2B/3B/OF | Age 22 MLB BB/K rate of 1.24 makes him a high floor sleeper if any power develops |
| 57 | Cavan Biggio | 2B/OF | Elite approach and zone awareness make him a candidate for late-development power improvement |
| 58 | Brian Anderson | 3B/OF | Hit .284/.355/.568 in 39 second half games and remains widely underrated |
| 59 | Corey Dickerson | OF | A solid signing for MIA, he should get plenty of above average AB’s |
| 60 | Nick Solak | 2B/3B/OF | Excellent small sample debut (.375 wOBA in 33 games) bodes well for above average production |
| 61 | Kyle Tucker | OF | With 225 games in AAA, Tucker is just waiting for opportunity; he could be well above average immediately |
| 62 | David Dahl | OF | .413 wOBA and 20% K% at home, but .313 and 33% K% on road; talented but has never played more than 100 games |
| 63 | Lourdes Gurriel Jr. | 2B/OF | Likely to be streaky, but stats should add up to a starting 2B in 12+ team leagues |
| 64 | Justin Upton | OF | A chronic knee problem puts any kind of return to a 30 HR season at risk |
| 65 | Brandon Nimmo | OF | Steamer pegs Nimmo for .757 OPS over 120 games; I’d take the over on OPS but under on games |
| 66 | Byron Buxton | OF | Shoulder surgery ended season in Sept. but was hitting well (.340 wOBA); Statcast is more skeptical (.309 xwOBA) |
| 67 | Mike Yastrzemski | OF | A late bloomer (28), but there’s enough here to suggest he could be a solid OF for several more seasons |
| 68 | Domingo Santana | OF | Matched Mike Trout in line drive rate (26.6%); K% (32%) puts pressure on real breakout potential |
| 69 | Ryan Braun | OF | Still hits the ball hard (45.7%) but even with part-time move to 1B, expect a career low games played in 2020 (age 36) |
| 70 | Lorenzo Cain | OF | Career low BABIP ruined his age 33 season, so expect a slight positive rebound |
| 71 | Kole Calhoun | OF | Pulled the ball almost 60% of the time in the 2nd half; maybe that will play up in ARI |
| 72 | Trent Grisham | OF | Destroyed high minors after going back to an old grip; there’s big upside here as LHH in SD OF mix |
| 73 | Jordan Luplow | OF | A must start vs. LHP (.417 wOBA), but solid MiLB track record suggests sleeper potential if full time AB’s come in CLE |
| 74 | Ian Happ | 2B/3B/OF | Still just 25, but he hits the ball hard (.526 xSLG) and just needs the playing time in CHC to jump |
| 75 | Hunter Renfroe | OF | A nightmare 2nd half (36.6% K%) derailed his season, but there’s still some hope TB can fix it for a full one |
Offense in Ottoneu points leagues are based on linear weights.
Just missing this list:
Shogo Akiyama (OF)
Tommy Edman (2B/3B/OF)
Victor Robles (OF)
Gregory Polanco (OF)
Jo Adell (OF)
Aristides Aquino (OF)
Trey is a 20+ year fantasy veteran and an early adopter of Ottoneu fantasy sports. He currently administers the Ottoneu community, a network of ~1,200 fantasy baseball and football fans talking sports daily. More resources here: http://community.ottoneu.com
Re: Franmil Reyes, “leash is short in SD” – how does your view change with him in Cleveland?
Ha, good call. Franmil was still on the Padres in my brain while pushing out these updates. Even with a correction, I don’t think I’d much him up much at all here, for now.