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With the first half of the season in the books, it’s time for one last RotoBaller rankings update. As with our May edition, these rest-of-season rankings come from yours truly and Mr. Kyle Bishop. We’re each talking about one position per day through Sunday, with today being my turn to trot around the outfield.
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Shall we?
2017 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Outfielders (Midseason Update)
| Ranking | Tier | Player | Position | Kyle | Nick | Composite |
| 1 | 1 | Mike Trout | OF | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | Aaron Judge | OF | 2 | 5 | 3.5 |
| 3 | 1 | Bryce Harper | OF | 4 | 8 | 6 |
| 4 | 2 | Mookie Betts | OF | 13 | 7 | 10 |
| 5 | 2 | Kris Bryant | 3B/OF | 11 | 14 | 12.5 |
| 6 | 2 | George Springer | OF | 10 | 16 | 13 |
| 7 | 2 | Charlie Blackmon | OF | 14 | 15 | 14.5 |
| 8 | 2 | Giancarlo Stanton | OF | 15 | 26 | 20.5 |
| 9 | 2 | Jose Ramirez | 3B/OF | 17 | 25 | 21 |
| 10 | 2 | Cody Bellinger | 1B/OF | 22 | 24 | 23 |
| 11 | 3 | Marcell Ozuna | OF | 24 | 37 | 30.5 |
| 12 | 3 | J.D. Martinez | OF | 30 | 35 | 32.5 |
| 13 | 3 | Nelson Cruz | OF | 45 | 21 | 33 |
| 14 | 3 | Ryan Braun | OF | 35 | 41 | 38 |
| 15 | 3 | Khris Davis | OF | 63 | 28 | 45.5 |
| 16 | 3 | A.J. Pollock | OF | 55 | 38 | 46.5 |
| 17 | 3 | Yoenis Cespedes | OF | 48 | 45 | 46.5 |
| 18 | 3 | Justin Upton | OF | 60 | 53 | 56.5 |
| 19 | 3 | Corey Dickerson | OF | 74 | 47 | 60.5 |
| 20 | 3 | Domingo Santana | OF | 65 | 73 | 69 |
| 21 | 3 | Andrew McCutchen | OF | 57 | 86 | 71.5 |
| 22 | 4 | Starling Marte | OF | 71 | 83 | 77 |
| 23 | 4 | Christian Yelich | OF | 93 | 64 | 78.5 |
| 24 | 4 | Michael Conforto | OF | 67 | 107 | 87 |
| 25 | 4 | Adam Duvall | OF | 79 | 115 | 97 |
| 26 | 4 | Andrew Benintendi | OF | 84 | 118 | 101 |
| 27 | 4 | Billy Hamilton | OF | 107 | 133 | 120 |
| 28 | 4 | Chris Owings | SS/OF | 135 | 105 | 120 |
| 29 | 4 | Matt Holliday | 1B/OF | 99 | 142 | 120.5 |
| 30 | 5 | Tommy Pham | OF | 98 | 143 | 120.5 |
| 31 | 5 | Aaron Altherr | OF | 122 | #N/A | 122 |
| 32 | 5 | Scott Schebler | OF | 116 | 130 | 123 |
| 33 | 5 | Trea Turner | SS/2B/OF | 126 | 125 | 125.5 |
| 34 | 5 | Lorenzo Cain | OF | 89 | 163 | 126 |
| 35 | 5 | Brett Gardner | OF | 132 | 121 | 126.5 |
| 36 | 5 | Matt Kemp | OF | 178 | 88 | 133 |
| 37 | 5 | Keon Broxton | OF | 106 | 164 | 135 |
| 38 | 5 | Gregory Polanco | OF | 154 | 119 | 136.5 |
| 39 | 5 | Adam Jones | OF | 170 | 112 | 141 |
| 40 | 5 | Jay Bruce | OF | 169 | 116 | 142.5 |
| 41 | 5 | Cameron Maybin | OF | 110 | 177 | 143.5 |
| 42 | 5 | Michael Brantley | OF | 200 | 93 | 146.5 |
| 43 | 6 | Carlos Gonzalez | OF | 214 | 102 | 158 |
| 44 | 6 | Carlos Gomez | OF | 145 | 171 | 158 |
| 45 | 6 | Jackie Bradley | OF | 118 | 199 | 158.5 |
| 46 | 6 | Ian Desmond | OF | 184 | 136 | 160 |
| 47 | 6 | Mark Trumbo | OF | 193 | 141 | 167 |
| 48 | 6 | Jose Bautista | OF | 146 | 209 | 177.5 |
| 49 | 6 | David Peralta | OF | 167 | 198 | 182.5 |
| 50 | 6 | Steven Souza | OF | 130 | 241 | 185.5 |
| 51 | 6 | Shin-Soo Choo | OF | 196 | 196 | 196 |
| 52 | 6 | Mitch Haniger | OF | 210 | 187 | 198.5 |
| 53 | 6 | Stephen Piscotty | OF | 208 | 191 | 199.5 |
| 54 | 6 | Josh Reddick | OF | 197 | 207 | 202 |
| 55 | 7 | Joc Pederson | OF | 182 | 224 | 203 |
| 56 | 7 | Yasiel Puig | OF | 202 | 211 | 206.5 |
| 57 | 7 | Ender Inciarte | OF | 147 | 278 | 212.5 |
| 58 | 7 | Nomar Mazara | OF | 261 | 174 | 217.5 |
| 59 | 7 | Kole Calhoun | OF | 216 | 237 | 226.5 |
| 60 | 7 | Dexter Fowler | OF | 264 | 190 | 227 |
| 61 | 7 | Hunter Renfroe | OF | 239 | 216 | 227.5 |
| 62 | 7 | Brandon Drury | 3B/OF | 273 | 188 | 230.5 |
| 63 | 7 | Joshua Bell | 1B/OF | 300 | 173 | 236.5 |
| 64 | 7 | Avisail Garcia | OF | 290 | 195 | 242.5 |
| 65 | 7 | Aaron Hicks | OF | 252 | 242 | 247 |
| 66 | 7 | Manuel Margot | OF | 206 | 291 | 248.5 |
| 67 | 7 | Curtis Granderson | OF | 259 | 246 | 252.5 |
| 68 | 7 | Hunter Pence | OF | 229 | 277 | 253 |
| 69 | 7 | Kevin Pillar | OF | 251 | 269 | 260 |
| 70 | 8 | Mallex Smith | OF | 260 | #N/A | 260 |
| 71 | 8 | Max Kepler | OF | 267 | 258 | 262.5 |
| 72 | 8 | Michael Taylor | OF | 220 | 314 | 267 |
| 73 | 8 | Hernan Perez | 3B/OF | 237 | 298 | 267.5 |
| 74 | 8 | Jarrod Dyson | OF | 268 | #N/A | 268 |
| 75 | 8 | Odubel Herrera | OF | 271 | 268 | 269.5 |
| 76 | 8 | Kyle Schwarber | C/OF | 223 | 322 | 272.5 |
| 77 | 8 | Delino DeShields | OF | 275 | #N/A | 275 |
| 78 | 8 | Melky Cabrera | OF | 245 | 309 | 277 |
| 79 | 8 | Yasmany Tomas | OF | 317 | 249 | 283 |
| 80 | 8 | Nick Markakis | OF | 284 | #N/A | 284 |
| 81 | 8 | Lonnie Chisenhall | OF | 253 | 316 | 284.5 |
| 82 | 8 | Danny Valencia | 1B/3B/OF | 294 | #N/A | 294 |
| 83 | 8 | Ben Zobrist | 2B/OF | 328 | 261 | 294.5 |
| 84 | 8 | Byron Buxton | OF | 314 | 287 | 300.5 |
| 85 | 8 | Jose Peraza | SS/OF | 257 | 348 | 302.5 |
| 86 | 9 | Denard Span | OF | 304 | #N/A | 304 |
| 87 | 9 | Carlos Beltran | OF | 285 | 331 | 308 |
| 88 | 9 | Ben Gamel | OF | 311 | 308 | 309.5 |
| 89 | 9 | Kevin Kiermaier | OF | 310 | #N/A | 310 |
| 90 | 9 | Eddie Rosario | OF | 312 | #N/A | 312 |
| 91 | 9 | Jayson Werth | OF | 281 | 346 | 313.5 |
| 92 | 9 | Jacoby Ellsbury | OF | 288 | 341 | 314.5 |
| 93 | 9 | Jason Heyward | OF | 325 | 321 | 323 |
| 94 | 9 | Robbie Grossman | OF | 329 | 326 | 327.5 |
| 95 | 9 | Randal Grichuk | OF | 324 | 337 | 330.5 |
| 96 | 9 | Seth Smith | OF | 332 | #N/A | 332 |
| 97 | 9 | David Dahl | OF | 335 | #N/A | 335 |
| 98 | 9 | Raimel Tapia | OF | #N/A | 343 | 343 |
Midseason Outfield Rankings Analysis
Tier 1
Everyone can rejoice, as Mike Trout is back and here to save everyone from the darkness that has set over the 2017 season. Bryce Harper scared us a bit with a drop after a torrid April, but he still hit .287 with three homers in June and started off July scorching hot (13-for-30 with two homers BEFORE spanking two dingers in the first game of the second half) so we’re good here. But…but what’s this?
Player 3 has entered the game.
Yes, Aaron Judge is already up here after just one-half of a season, because that’s what doing historic things yields. We can argue about how sustainable his BABIP and HR/FB rates are based on his size, strength, friendly home park and everything, but we’re in uncharted waters here. Leading the league in homers, almost effortlessly winning the Home Run Derby, posting a 16.7 percent walk rate with a 1.139 OPS and having a legitimate chance at the American League Triple Crown in one’s rookie season simply leaves no other option.
Tier 2
The second tier houses many strong options, with a resurgent Mookie Betts headlining the group. I understand that April wasn’t a fun time for those of you who selected him in the first round, but this is rest-of-season and from May 1 on, the Mookman has swatted 14 homers with 12 steals alongside 52 runs and 42 RBI. That’s out of roughly 300 plate appearances (he had 730 last season), meaning the player he’s been over the last two-plus months would give owners an 115/32/100/25/.265 season. You can eat the average loss for that, and we know he’s capable of being a .300 hitter any day.
Then we have George Springer reaching new levels of power, Charlie Blackmon doing his thing (at Coors), Giancarlo Stanton mashing at near-Judgian levels, Jose Ramirez continuing his breakout and Cody Bellinger providing the rookie fireworks in the National League and saving everyone from rostering Adrian Gonzalez. What a hero.
Tier 3
Veterans J.D. Martinez, Nelson Cruz, Ryan Braun, Khris Davis, Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Andrew McCutchen (!) populate this spot, with A.J. Pollock sliding back here after failing to recapture his 2015 form. Corey Dickerson and Domingo Santana are the real stories here.
While Dickerson hasn’t stormed out to a fantastic July, he’s gone yard at least five times with a batting average of .294 or higher in each of the first three months. His hard-hit rate has hovered around 35 percent in each month as well, so I’m digging the rejuvenated No-Coors-No-Problem Corey. Meanwhile, Santana kicked off his second half with two doubles to give him 18 doubles and 15 homers to power his .293/.386/.503 slash line. Mix in nine steals and marks of 50 or more in both the runs scored and RBI columns, and you’ve got a stud.
Tier 4
Starling Marte comes back soon, so there’s that. He’s popped a homer and swiped four bags across 32 at-bats during his Minor-League tune-up, but I’m worried about him making huge value when you consider how outrageous the power spike is across the league. He’s never turned in a fly-ball rate above 30 percent in a season and is unlikely to be a huge beneficiary of the upper-cut movement, and while his speed definitely plays, just keep both feet on the ground here.
I refuse to be as bullish on Michael Conforto until he stops getting shielded from lefties. I still want to see more consistency from Adam Duvall -- same with Andrew Benintendi. Billy Hamilton has turned it on a bit, but is hitting just .221 with 10 steals since June began (32 games) and that lands him well outside of my top 100.
Tier 5
Kyle likes Tommy Pham more than me, and that’s okay. He’s got five-category talent and is a worthy consideration for the top 100 if you’re willing to gamble on his playing time continuing to show up with everyone at full health. He also likes Lorenzo Cain’s June power spike a lot more than I do, but I’m buying April and May being more indicative of his rest-of-season than June.
Brett Gardner waited a while to start hitting homers, but now he’s producing like a serious five-tool player worthy of being someone’s OF2/3 in an absolutely stacked lineup and the friendliest stadium a lefty-hitter could wish for. I think Matt Kemp tried to push through another hamstring injury and stunk it up in the process, but hopefully, the All-Star break gives him his form back. I also think Jay Bruce keeps this up all season long and ends up with 40 homers for the first time in his career.
Tier 6
I can’t give up on Carlos Gonzalez, and I’m willing to go down with that ship. He’s only 31 and I don’t think he’s playing hurt, so I just think the possibility of a streak is too much to pass up. It happened in the first half last season (19 HRs, .318 average) and the second half in ’15 (27 HRs[!], .285 average). Jackie Bradley Jr. is another streaky fellow that you can gamble on (he looked good in June), but I’m not sold on him compared to a commodity like CarGo.
Veterans like Ian Desmond, Mark Trumbo and Jose Bautista have all had their struggles and highlights, but their ceilings keep them around. Shin-Soo Choo probably deserves more love -- definitely don’t let him skirt by in your league. Mitch Haniger needs to show where his skillset is really going to settle down here after a torrid start and an injury, so No. 200 is right about where the dice roll feels good.
Tier 7
I meant to put Ender Inciarte higher, so that’s another one of those things that I’ll use this article to prop up. The Braves’ lone All-Star has scored 117 runs alongside a .319 average over the last calendar year, but his nine homers, 54 RBI and 19 steals aren’t exactly world-beating stats. Still, it’s better than where I have him and for that, I’m sorry (and correcting shortly).
Yasiel Puig has taken on some real post-hype life in ‘17 and kicked off his second half by bashing a walk-off three-run homer, as I’d definitely take him over his super-streaky teammate Joc Pederson, though Kyle disagrees. I’m not “sold” on Avisail Garcia, but I think he’s shown enough now where I’m not going to bury him toward the 300s either. Kyle thinks the same of Manuel Margot, apparently. That’s fair, but I don’t like buying into a one-dimensional piece of the Padres unless he boasts Hamiltonian speed. At least Hunter Renfroe has his power trickle down to some semblance of runs and RBI.
Tiers 8 & 9
There isn’t much here outside of the steadily-declining veteran, the injured guy with a solid yet unspectacular ceiling, and those young lottery tickets. David Dahl basically encapsulates all three categories, if you think of his rib cage as that of someone in their 40s. That was mean, but still. I’d rather bank on Byron Buxton’s upward trending bat and the fact that he’s currently playing. There are plenty of usable folks in here, but no one really standing out as an “I won’t go near him” player, though I am entirely off of the Kyle Schwarber train. I was low coming into the season and now just over it.
