Updated Fantasy Baseball First Base Rankings - 5x5 Mixed Roto Leagues

March 12, 2022

Updated 2022 fantasy baseball first base rankings for 5x5 roto mixed leagues. Use our 1B rankings, tiers and analysis to win your fantasy baseball drafts.

Welcome back RotoBallers to some more preseason fantasy baseball rankings! RotoBaller is constantly working to try and bring fantasy baseball managers the best advice, especially during draft season. A big part of that includes regular updates to our tiered rankings for all formats.

Our MLB rankers, -- JB Branson, Pierre Camus, Ariel Cohen, Nicklaus Gaut, and Nick Mariano -- have recently updated our 2022 Mixed League rankings to help you prepare for draft day. Today we dig into the first base fantasy baseball rankings.

You can also find our other draft rankings for all sorts of league formats, continually updated throughout the preseason, right here in our main fantasy baseball Rankings Wizard tool. Also, make use of all our premium resources with our MLB Draft Kit.

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2022 First Base Rankings

The staff rankings are for roto leagues, and standard 5x5 categories. They are always updated on our fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. Nick Mariano was named the #1 overall most accurate industry expert ranker for the 2018 season, and Ariel Cohen was the top ranker in 2019. Both are included in these rankings.

Tier One

He's earned it. Seeing Vladito in the top tier by himself as the fourth-ranked player overall may cause consternation to some (he doesn't steal bases!!) but he's up there for a reason. In his age-22 season, Guerrero Jr. led the majors in home runs and runs scored, finished fourth in batting average, and sixth in runs batted in. The overwhelming advantage he presents at a scarce position that drops off quickly after the first couple of tiers (just wait and see) has already been statistically analyzed by Jon Anderson. Among all players, Guerrero's Z-Score vs. Positional Average is fourth-highest, hence the fourth overall ranking.

We could see Freddie Freeman rise enough to join this tier once he signs with a team, assuming it's a favorable spot. He still doesn't warrant first-round status, however, despite years of excellence. Freeman is now 32 and coming off an extended postseason run, so it's unlikely his numbers would go up. If he has to adjust to a new club and ballpark, the risk of a slight decline is real.

Tier Two

I'm lowest on Pete Alonso, ranking him closer to 60th overall. It's not because I'm down on him, it's simply where he belongs. There's no doubt he will help carry your team in the power categories but that's it. His .262 batting average last year was the highest of his three Major-League seasons so far and he has a career xBA of .246. He isn't going to sink you in AVG but realistically he's a two-category stud who is solid in two others. ATC projections have Alonso and Olson producing nearly identical statlines but a move out of Oakland could see him in an even better position to produce R+RBI. Olson's plate discipline took a big leap forward last year, evidenced by a 3.7% K-BB% that is Freeman-esque. If you're passing on speed early, it makes sense to grab a first baseman because of positional scarcity. I'm simply not comfortable with Alonso's price tag and would rather get Salvador Perez instead.

The revival of Goldy's wheels with his 12 steals makes him a verifiable five-category contributor once again. The Cards will hope to keep their late-season magic extended into 2022 under new management. Their rotation is still a work in progress due to injuries and uncertain roles but the lineup is set with Goldschmidt in the two-hole and last year's breakout performer, Tyler O'Neill, backing him up. Once you get past the next tier, which is a small one, the drop-off at this position becomes obvious. Goldschmidt is the last of the "elite" first baseman.

Tier Three

No longer high enough to belong in tier two but too reliable to fall any lower, it's Mr. RBI himself, Jose Abreu. *cue Stuck In the Middle With You

It's ironic that the artist behind that 70s ditty is named Stealers Wheel since we're discussing a player who has one steal over the past two seasons. But I digress.

Abreu has finished in the top-two in RBI for three straight years and there's no reason that should change in 2022. The White Sox could cross the plate even more with a full season of Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert in the lineup. Abreu's average dropped off quite a bit down to a career-low .261, though. In OBP leagues, this was offset by a career-best 9.3% BB% and 22 HBP.

Those who want to lock down first base with a reliable performer without spending a top-50 pick should be happy to take Abreu, then set it and forget it.

Tier Four

There is a growing sense of concern that Ryan Mountcastle will be a disappointment based on his ADP. That's why Nick Mariano has him as the 14th-ranked first base option with an overall ranking of 122. Rather than building on his strong 2021, CUTTER projections show a drop to 29 HR and 85 RBI. The left-field fence moving in substantially certainly has some sway there but it should be noted that aside from a low xBA (35th percentile), Mountcastle's hard-hit rate and exit velocity were actually below average. His plate discipline leaves something to be desired too. He comes in eighth among our consensus 1B rankings but many, myself included, would rather wait for the later options in this tier.

Is Joey back to being Votto-matic? We'll see if he can repeat his scorching second half to the 2021 season. I'm optimistic, not just because of his track record, but due to the fact his power surge was directly tied to an adjustment he consciously made. Votto got uncharacteristically aggressive with a swing rate of 43.9% that was his highest since 2010. He still walked a ton but his new approach led to a career-low 73.5% contact rate and career-high 23.9% K-rate. That's all fine for fantasy purposes because when he hit the ball, he tattooed it consistently. He still plays half his games in the Great American Ballpark and rarely takes a day off so all the intangibles work in his favor. I have no problem rolling him out in my 1B slot all season long.

LADIES AND GENTS: JOEY VOTTO ❤️ pic.twitter.com/L5nPKr0SNf

— Jo (@jirafaaa) March 11, 2022

I recently broke down how Josh Bell might be the best value pick out of this group of first baseman due to the fact he is undervalued on Fantrax. We've got him just ahead of Votto but every site will have mixed opinions on how these two, along with Rhys Hoskins and C.J. Cron, stack up against each other. You're getting pretty much the same ride with a slightly different coat of paint, but while Votto is like that Suburban with 275K miles that keeps chugging along just the same as it did back in 2010, Bell is like an Escalade - does the same thing but younger and with a little more shine.

Tier Five

If Kyle Schwarber qualifies at first on the platform you play, why not wait a little longer and settle on him? Again, the projections aren't far off between his final line and that of players like Hoskins who are ranked higher. RotoBaller is 30 spots lower than ADP consensus on Schwarber and that's mainly because of Mariano and myself who rank him 146 and 151 respectively. I have no problem pulling the trigger when he can be had at that draft cost, but I'm not paying up for something I can get elsewhere later on.

I've been down on Anthony Rizzo the last two seasons and that isn't changing now. His batting average has taken a dip the last two years and his power numbers hover closer to replacement level these days. It wouldn't be shocking if his replacement in Chicago, Frank Schwindel, was the more valuable fantasy asset in 2022.

Tier Six and Lower

Nate Lowe is one of my FOMO players this draft season. There's no guarantee he breaks out but if he does, it'll be in a big way. He hit the ball far too much on the ground (54.5% GB%) for a player with his frame and power, but a launch angle adjustment could unlock his potential. Having Corey Seager and Marcus Semien suddenly appear in front of him in the lineup should help too.

If the Yankees land Matt Olson then what happens to Luke Voit? It seems inevitable that his days holding down first base in the Bronx are over but he could still make a living elsewhere if a trade happens before Opening Day. I'm staying away for now.

I'm highest of our rankers on Bobby Dalbec as the only one placing him inside the top 200. A barrel rate in the 98th percentile has my attention. If he slots in sixth for Boston as RosterResource has him pegged, there will be a ton of RBI opportunities. A 30-HR, 90-RBI season is easily in play.

Rowdy Tellez... one of these seasons, maybe you will be a late-round league winner. At the cost of a late-round flier, it's hard to argue against him but I'm not taking the bait. OK, maybe just once.

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