Updated Outfielder Rankings - 5x5 Roto (Mixed Leagues)

We continue our fantasy baseball tiered rankings analysis with a look at the star-studded outfield position

With the 2019 season beginning in a matter of days, RotoBaller writers Nick Mariano, JB Branson, Bill Dubiel, Pierre Camus, and Scott Engel have given their preseason rankings a final update. Check out our fantasy baseball rankings dashboard for a current list any time.

As always, the outfield position seems to be super deep in fantasy baseball, as evidenced by the 15 tiers we have laid out in our RotoBaller Staff Rankings. In leagues where you must start five OF, however, it won’t be too long before you are filling those final two starting spots with less than ideal players, so the position’s depth cannot be judged by sheer totals alone. The best of the best go off draft boards quickly, though. According to National Fantasy Baseball Championship ADPs, five of the first eight players being selected are outfielders.

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Outfield Tiered Ranks - 5x5 Mixed Leagues (March)

In case you missed it, our very own "Big Pick Nick" Mariano was recently named the #1 overall most accurate industry expert ranker for the 2018 season. You can see his secret sauce below! Additionally, industry legend Scott Engel recently joined the RotoBaller team and provides his insights as well. Scott is an FSWA Hall Of Famer and award winner.

Rankings Analysis – Top Tiers

Tier One

Our panel of experts unanimously puts Mike Trout first and Mookie Betts second. But it wouldn’t be crazy to take Betts over Trout if you decided to go that route. Betts is less of a durability concern and could drive in more runs this year as he hits second in the lineup behind Andrew Benintendi. J.D. Martinez is the last player in this small tier, but does he really belong there? Certainly not, according to Pierre, who has him ranked 11^th overall. He obviously expects some slippage this year, especially after Martinez showcased a .375 BABIP last season. He’s very good, but is he Tier One good? That is very debatable.

Tier Two

Much is expected of Ronald Acuna Jr. over a full season this year, so he naturally leads the second tier. Many experts point to Christian Yelich’s 35 percent HR/FB rate as a significant concern, and Bill appears to be in that camp. But I believe that Yelich is one of the best pure all-around hitters in the game just entering his prime, and Nick seems to agree. Bill appears to be very high on a healthy Aaron Judge, putting him inside his overall Top 10. I aggressively won him at 46 dollars in the Tout Wars Mixed Auction, because his value rises even more in an OBP format. Maybe I admittedly overbid a bit, but I didn’t want to hold back for the OBP/power combination. I have Giancarlo Stanton ranked higher than the rest of the group because I expect a better season now that he has a year of experience playing in New York. We may have not seen the very best of Andrew Benitendi yet, and Pierre has him inside his Top 20, so he could be looking for a 25 HR/30 SB season. He is much lower on Charlie Blackmon than the rest of us, though, as he is not even inside Camus’ Top 40. JB does not have Khris Davis inside his Top 40, but is any player more dependable for a .247 average and 40-plus home runs?

Tier Three

Pierre is highest on Rhys Hoskins, who should bring his BA above .260 this year, but Bill does not have him inside his Top 50. It will be interesting to see if we see something of a stolen base revival from George Springer, who has looked more aggressive on the basepaths this spring. JB obviously loves Whit Merrifield, even though some fantasy analysts believe he had a career year in 2018. Nick may be looking for a decline to begin with Lorenzo Cain at age 33. Justin Upton does not seem like a sexy pick to most anymore, but you can pretty much bank on 30 homers and 85 to 90 RBIs every year.

Rankings Analysis – Middle Tiers

Tier Four

Bill is lower than the rest of the group on Tommy Pham. Recently, a Cardinals insider informed me that one of the reasons they traded him was because of the belief that his degenerative eye condition will never improve. Pierre is significantly down on Mitch Haniger. He has been a consistent .280 hitter over the past two seasons, with 42 home runs. Pierre has him at 105 overall, but all of our other analysts have him inside their Top 75 and two put him inside the Top 60. Pierre still seems to have a lot of faith in A.J. Pollock, but most of the rest of the panel just does not want to put up the regular injury issues. Our experts are all over the board on Yasiel Puig. I am more in favor of him than some others. A change of scenery may only boost his outlook, and Puig is playing on a one-year deal.

Tier Five

Michael Brantley leads off the tier, as he was able to avoid any major injuries last year and returned to providing a stable floor in the power and speed departments. I like Michael Conforto significantly more than the rest of the panel. I believe we have not seen the best of him yet and there is an easy .280, 30-homer season in him. Keep me away from Joey Gallo so my batting average does not get drained, though. The group is also very varied on Dee Gordon. The steals upside is now more limited, though, and he does not do much of anything else. Bill seems to have a lot of confidence that this will be a rebound season for Ender Inciarte. But he will not be hitting leadoff and more than half of his steals came from the No.1 lineup spot last season. Maybe Bill was in the mix when Eloy Jimenez signed his new deal, because he certainly prefers him the most. The raw power is so tempting, as he has the ability to hit for 35 home runs over a full season.

Tier Six

I thought I was going to be the high man on Nomar Mazara, yet Pierre has him 38 spots ahead of me. Mazara is still very young and he is healthy. The best may be yet to come, and in 2019, in terms of power and average. Brandon Nimmo is an obvious favorite of Bill’s, and Nimmo’s appeal only increases in OBP leagues. Nimmo tamed his strikeout issues in August and September last year. Nick and Bill still believe you can get quality production out of Ryan Braun at age 35, but Pierre and I expect more of a falloff. Most of our experts seem to be ready for the arrival of Jesse Winker as an impact fantasy player in 2019. Winker has struggled this spring but still draws a lot of optimism for his power promise, and he will also be hitting leadoff for Cincinnati.

Rankings Analysis – Lower Tiers

Tier Seven

The guys vary on the polarizing Byron Buxton, as he ranges anywhere from 140^th to 216^th overall. If he stays healthy, though, Buxton can get back on track to where he was two years ago and the potential for exciting all-around production is still there. The speed has been declining for Odubel Herrera, but he now hits for power. This could be a true breakthrough season for Austin Meadows, and he has shown enough this spring to earn a lot of playing time in the Tampa Bay outfield. His teammate, Joey Wendle, is a good later source of speed with some pop.

Tier Eight

I am sticking out with my lofty estimation for Jackie Bradley Jr., although JB seems to like him, too. Bradley started working with J,D. Martinez’s hit guru last year and won the ALCS MVP, and could be on the verge of his best season yet in terms of all-around production. Domingo Santana was phased out in Milwaukee, but looked good in the opening series in Tokyo and is a nice source of rebound power by this point. Franmil Reyes has very intriguing power promise despite playing in a notorious pitcher’s park. Jake Bauers has 20/20 potential, but he has to hit lefties. JB likes the pure hitting ability of Jose Martinez, but quality playing time may be hard to come by. Pierre is higher on Hunter Renfroe than anyone else, but the Padres slugger needs to drive in more runs to get everyone else excited about him. Brian Anderson is one of my favorite bargains, as he will supply a good average with double-figure pop.

Tiers Nine and 10

Pierre still believes Avisail Garcia still has something to offer, but Nick does not even have him in his Top 300. JB is looking for Kyle Tucker to make an impact this season, but Nick realizes how crowded the Houston outfield is and has Tucker nearly 100 spots lower than anyone else. Daniel Palka is certainly unlikely to replicate last year’s HR/FB rate of 27 percent, but still offers good pop at this point. Tyler O’Neill has displayed good power this spring, but has to scratch and claw for playing time. The BA average will be mediocre, but you will get a decent power/speed combo with Kevin Pillar by the time you get to these tiers. If Jorge Soler can stay healthy, he might make Pierre look good for staying ahead of the pack on him. He is playing well in the spring and has some sleeper appeal.

Rankings Analysis – The Bottom Tiers

Tiers 11 and 12

I am obviously a Cedric Mullins backer, as he had 21 steals at Triple-A last year. Pierre is the highest on the cheap speed of Delino DeShields Jr. Lewis Brinson’s spring has impressed Pierre more than the others. He is also willing to wait on the return of Yoenis Cespedes while most others appear ready to move on. Alex Verdugo will be one to watch, as he has pressed for playing time this spring and could be a real consideration to hit leadoff.

Tiers 13 through 15

Dexter Fowler is still trying to hang onto a starting spot in St. Louis. He had a terrible 2018 season and there is a not a lot of optimism for a significant rebound at age 33. Keon Broxton has some very deep sleeper promise if he can start to make more consistent contact. Austin Hays had a strong spring but will begin the season in the minors. He will be back soon, though, to provide a decent average and some power. A healthy Mac Williamson has very deep sleeper promise. Billy McKinney could hit leadoff for Toronto and has some power, but is a BA risk. If injuries strike in Houston, Tony Kemp could sprinkle in some speed. There is no room for Leury Garcia in the White Sox outfield as the season beckons, but if he gets pushed into playing time, he should be added for some cheap power and speed. A hamstring injury has likely put Jo Adell off the radar for this season.

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