FanPost

Mid Season Report: Top 50 Outfielders

Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Outfield has long been one of the deepest positions in fantasy. Every year new stars emerge while solid contributors can be picked up off the waiver wire. In recent years, outfield production seems to be getting harder and harder to find. This is a long article as we go through the top 50 outfielders in the game, so without further ado, here is my ranking for the remainder of 2014, and why I think what I think. Your comments are welcomed below.

Rank

Player

My momma always taught me to say something nice...

1

Mike Trout

I can't say enough about how special of a player Mike Trout is in the game of baseball. With Derek Jeter retiring this season, Trout will succeed him as the face of baseball. He's the best player in the game, and without any legitimate rival to that claim. He's a lock for a .300/.400/.550 slash, and he's posting the best slugging percentage of his career. We are not worthy...

2

Andrew McCutchen

Pittsburgh is a fantastic baseball town, but I wish players like McCutch got more love in the national spotlight. The power in his bat was slow to kick off the year, but 13 of his 17 HRs on the year have come since the calendar turned to June. McCutcheon is making strong case for another MVP season.

3

Giancarlo Stanton

Stanton has cooled off as of late, but through the first two months of the season he was a strong MVP candidate. He's having the healthiest season of his career and is stealing bases as well as swatting big flies. The .300 average pace isn't something I'm trusting, but Stanton has taken another leap forward this year.

4

Nelson Cruz

I might be overhyping Nelson Cruz a little bit calling him the fourth best OF in the majors going forward, but he's definitely played like that to date. Cruz has always had monster potential. The pitchers and parks in the AL East are filled with favorable match ups, and I think Cruz can finish as strong as he's started this year. I'm happy for him, and there aren't any key signs of regression in the advanced stats. The HR/FB is sustainable. His K% is way down. His BABIP is normal. He's having a career year. Enjoy it!

5

Michael Brantley

Speaking of career years, Michael Brantley is in the middle of a break out, and he just keeps on raking. Like Cruz, there is nothing about his performance that indicates he won't sustain this level of success. He's a 5-tool player, and it's all coming together for him this year.

6

Carlos Gonzalez

Car-Go #1 has been hurt for most of the first half, but when he's been in the lineup he's been everything we expect of him. His injury was a weird benign hand tumor with tentacles. That's not a worry to reoccur (I hope...because it's gross). He should have a monster second half to the 2014 season.

7

Carlos Gomez

Car-Go #2 is in the middle of another 25-30 fantasy season. The average is going to be closer to .275 and .305 going forward, but the power and speed he gives you can be counted on in your fantasy line up.

8

Yasiel Puig

My vote for the most exciting player in baseball is having another terrific season at the dish. Puig is slashing .309/.393/.522 on the year. His power has slowed with just one round-tripper since May, and one has to wonder if his sore hip is hurting his power stroke. Still, Puig has continued to produce, and with a little bit of a breather over All-Star Break, I think he'll be one of the strongest finishers the rest of the way.

9

Billy Hamilton

The electric base stealer is exceeding expectations, even for the gamblers on draft day who pushed their chips in the middle early on Hamilton. The progress he's making in his game is obvious, and Hamilton is emerging as a major difference maker for fantasy teams. I think the doubts about him have been legitimately silenced.

10

Adam Jones

Jones is quietly having a career year, and has come on strong as of late. As good as he's been, my expectation is that he'll be even better down the stretch. His HR/FB rate the past 3 seasons has been 16.7%, 18.8%, and 19.9% respectively. This season his HR/FB% is sitting at 14.8% which tells me more power is coming.

11

Ryan Braun

Braun is having a scandal free year, and is letting the spotlight stay on his bat. His power is down, but it can't all be pinned on steroid questions. He's had a history of ligament damage in his thumb that's battled, and his line drive % is at a career high. His BABIP isn't reflecting it, but it's likely Braun's average will tick up down the stretch even if he isn't a 30+ HR bat anymore.

12

Bryce Harper

Harper has been battling through another injury plagued season. He was off to a nice start before landing on the DL earlier this year, and he's been a mess since coming off the shelf. Still, there is just too much talent in his bat, and as the boys of summer come out of the break, I expect the Harper we've been waiting for to emerge from the pack.

13

Jay Bruce

Jay Bruce has been fighting through injury and a slow start through 2014 to post some ugly numbers. But, over the past month, he's really heated up to finish the first half of the season strong. Bruce slashed .300/.351./.540 in June, and I think we see another surge in the second half out of him.

14

Jose Bautista

Bautista was having a monster year before fighting through some injuries in June. He was healthy enough to compete in the HR derby, and should pick up the second half were he left off.

15

Justin Upton

Justin Upton would be an MVP candidate if he could cut down on the strikeouts. His .278/.349/.495 slash is the best he's shown since he sustained some injuries towards the end of his tenure in Arizona. If Upton can cut down just a bit on the free swinging ways, he could see a Nelson Cruz kind of surge in the near future.

16

Jacoby Ellsbury

A lot has gone wrong for the Yankees this season, but the Ellsbury signing has been A-Ok. Ellsbury is doing the same things he's always done, and is a fantastic number 2 OF option.

17

Charlie Blackmon

Charlie Blackmon was a player I liked a lot due to a strong September finish last season, and the good fortune of hitting in Coors. The biggest question mark on him was the depth of the Colorado OF at the beginning of the year. Blackmon earned the starting job with an awesome start to the season, and he's been a fine hitter since.

18

Jayson Werth

Criminally underrated Jayson Werth is coming off of back to back .300 seasons, with power and speed contributions, Werth is having another fine season in Washington. His LD% is way down this year, so I think the average dip is likely to stay where it is, but he still should finish with over 20 HR's and over 10 steals.

19

Hunter Pence

Hunter Pence is another underrated star. Like Jayson Werth he fits the mold of a jack of all trades player, who isn't really dominant in a specific category. Because of that, he's an immensely valuable piece who contributes across the board, but he doesn't get the same recognition as some other players on this list.

20

Jason Heyward

Jason Heyward has a tremendous amount of talent, and likely has another breakout in him somewhere down the way in his career. He's having another solid season, but Heyward is still struggling a bit against southpaws and his HR/FB ratio this season is a career low. If he can make an adjustment to improve either category, he's going to rocket up this list.

21

Yoenis Cespedes

The first back to back HR Derby King since Ken Griffey Jr. is having another star season in Oakland. He isn't running like he used, and the .292 he hit in 2012 is likely gone forever, as he isn't the line drive hitter he was a couple years ago. Still, he's having a great year, and there is upside in his bat if his career low HR/FB rate returns to his career norm.

22

Curtis Granderson

The Grandyman was thought to take a step back leaving the hitter friendly Yankee Stadium for the cavernous Citi Field this off-season. He isn't slugging like he did a few years ago, but he's proving to be a valuable hitter all the same. He'll likely never be a 40 HR bat again, but he's on pace to approach 30 HR's and he has shown vast improvements in his OBP to make up for the lost power.

23

George Springer

Springer had a monster May, that highlighted him as the must have rookie of the 2014 season. He's a true 40-40 potential player, and for keeper leaguers there is plenty to be excited about. However, Springer is also a strike out heavy bat, and he's shown that there are going to peaks and valleys with his performance.

24

Josh Hamilton

Hamilton is a notoriously streaky hitter. Last year, was a disappointing season for him as the change of scenery and big contract pressures likely got to him. He seemed over that transition as 2014 started as he got off to a tremendous start. Unfortunately the injury bug bit him like it has so many times in the past and a thumb injury cost him two months. If he can get back on track, there is a bunch of upside in his bat, but with Hamilton it's always a big if.

25

Brandon Moss

Brandon Moss is having a fine season and I was tempted to rank him higher up this list. My biggest hesitation was that his numbers have been largely inflated by a monster May, where he crushed 9 HRs with a .286 average. The rest of his season has been solid also as he's continued a 30 HR pace, but that May really spiked his numbers.

26

Melky Cabrera

Melky Cabrera isn't all PED production. The former batting champion got off to a torrid start to the 2014 season followed by a couple of more pedestrian, but still above average months. In July he has picked up the pace again, and he is delivering a robust .307 average, and is chasing a career high in HRs in Toronto.

27

Coco Crisp

The ageless Coco Crisp has been outstanding this season. He's successfully swiped 16 bases in 20 attempts, and has chipped in 7 HRs as well. Expect the veteran to keep producing as long as he can maintain his health in Oakland.

28

Brett Gardner

The Yankee speedster is adding a power element to his game in 2014 with 9 HRs so far this season. He once was mostly just a speed option, but he's not a one category guy anymore.

29

Alex Rios

Rios' 2014 season has been a bit of a disappointment. Last year he swiped 42 bases and knocked 18 balls over the fence. This year, he's down in both categories. His 16 SBs is still a nice value, but the 4 HRs to date are really a disappointment. It's like Brett Gardner stole his power.

30

Gregory Polanco

I ranked Polanco higher than I wanted, based on the perception of him I've sensed in the fantasy community. Personally, I don't know if I'd have him in my top 50 at all. Don't get me wrong...the skills are outstanding. I love him as a keeper league target. His plate discipline since his debut has been fantastic, which is a positive sign. But, I still just think he's young, and going to be inconsistent, and he has been. Still, the potential and talent is there for a monster finish, so I sandbagged and ranked him here to avoid being called an idiot later. Sue me.

31

Kole Calhoun

I liked Calhoun a lot at the end of last season, and coming into this season. He had a bit of a rocky start, but really came on strong into the all-star break. I think he's turned the corner, and batting in front of the great Mike Trout and a resurgent Pujols, he's going to score in bunches. I am expecting a strong finish to season for the young outfielder.

32

Ryan Zimmerman

I wanted to rank Zimmerman higher, because I think he's going to really heat up down the stretch. He has a history of finishing seasons stronger than he starts them, and I think he's gotten more comfortable in the OF as of late with a strong finish to the season's first half. That said, I never trust his health. Zimmerman is a great target to trade for, but beware of the health risk involved.

33

J.D. Martinez

J.D. Martinez has been lighting the league up since he was called up. He has posted an OPS north of 1.000 in both June and July (to date), and has been arguably one of the best hitters in baseball over that stretch. I still think the best of his season has passed, and he's going to come back to Earth a bit. We've seen it before with guys like Dominic Brown. But, I still like Martinez to be a solid 3rd OF for fantasy teams down the stretch.

34

Christian Yelich

Yelich is another one of the young Miami hitters that are a joy to watch. He is a 5 category player, and in all honesty, I think everything you can reasonably expect from Gregory Polanco, Christian Yelich is going to give you down the stretch. He's had his first 500 at bats in the big leagues to find himself, and he's been on an absolute tear in July. He will be a rising star in the 2nd half, and he's a great player to go out and get now for one year leagues, and especially keeper leagues.

35

Matt Holliday

Matt Holiday isn't the star he was in his heyday, but he's still a middle of the line up bat and he's still poised to be a prime producer down the stretch. He's posted a .292/.414/.500 in July and has really been coming on lately. He had a similar late season surge in 2013, and owns a career .314/.393/.551 slash after the break.

36

Marlon Byrd

I don't think there is a player in baseball that better embodies the term ‘Professional Hitter' than Marlon Byrd. He's a pro's pro. He's having another great season, and he has been an outstanding fantasy commodity in 2014. Vets like Byrd are as reliable as it gets. He won't be spectacular, but he has one of the highest floors on this list.

37

Marcell Ozuna

Ozuna is having a breakout season for the Marlins. He had a rough May, but the rest of his season has been outstanding. He finished the 1st half of the season on a tear posting an OPS above .820 in both June and July (to date). With 14 HR's already he's chasing 25 HR's and a .280 average. I think he gets there.

38

Rajai Davis

Davis is one of the surest bets to steal nearly anytime he's on base. His struggle this year (and in a lot of years) has been getting on base. He posted a sub .300 OBP through May and June, but he's come on strong in July. If he can keep working his way to 1st base, he'll be one of the more prolific base stealers down the stretch.

39

Khris Davis

Khris with a K Davis is having a nice break out season for the 1st place Brew Crew. He's a young hitter, so I'm expecting a few more adjustments along the way, but he's shown that he's a plus power bat, that won't kill you in average. He makes for a solid 4th outfielder down the stretch.

40

Mark Trumbo

I really, really wanted to rank Trumbo higher. The power is awesome, and well beyond that of a 4th outfielder. The reason I didn't is because despite his great start to the year, he's coming off of major surgery and still transitioning through changing leagues. I just think the final two months of the season are going to be mostly disappointing and frustrating for Trumbo owners. If this were my 2015 rankings, he'd likely be higher up the list.

41

Starling Marte

Marte isn't enjoying quite the success he had in his breakout rookie season, but most of the underlying statistics aren't far off. His OBP is down which is affecting some of his counting stats. His average is down, despite a still robust .350 BABIP. His LD% is solid, and Marte should see a bit of a bump down the stretch.

42

A.J. Pollock

I'm going out on a limb with this one. Pollock was in the middle of a breakout season before an inside pitch hit him on the hand and shelved him for a couple of months. He's begun his rehab and is targeting an August 1st return. Pollock is an outstanding Power/Speed combo who could be a major difference maker down the stretch. I would stash now if you have the room.

43

Alex Gordon

Alex Gordon took the long road to stardom with his performance peaking in 2012. Since, he has seen a noticeable regression in his BABIP and he has declined from a number 2 fantasy outfielder to more of a 4th option. The decline in his BABIP is directly linked to a dramatic reduction in LD% (-10%) and a significant increase in FB%. He's a 4th outfielder now, and it's disappointing for Royals fans and fantasy players alike.

43

Josh Harrison

The Pittsburgh Swiss army knife is eligible all over the field, that OF seems like a waste of his production. That said, he's had an outstanding year posting a solid .290 average and he chips in with a few HRs and double digit steals along the way. He's a great depth OF that you can play all over your lineup.

44

Brock Holt

Holt has been hitting everything in sight in 2014 and the Red Sox have rewarded him with lead off responsibilities for his effort. His .394 BABIP is likely to come down a bit, but he has seen a significant jump in his LD% at the expense of some ground outs he was making earlier in his career. Holt looks like he'll continue to produce, and he's in a great line up position, with some great hitters behind him.

45

Steve Pearce

The 31 year old did his best Roy Hobbs impersonation in June and July (IMDB if you need a reference) coming out of nowhere to make a big impact in the middle of the Baltimore Orioles line up. He's another hitter that's appeared to make a significant adjustment with a big boost in LD%. The biggest reason for his surge is career high 15.7% HR/FB percentage that doesn't seem sustainable. Still, even if Pearce settles in around his career norm HR/FB (10%), he should be a nice 4th option at the position.

46

Matt Kemp

The former fantasy MVP, isn't chasing 40-40 seasons anymore. He showed flashes of his old self as he posted a .900 OPS in June, but there was some good fortune with a .392 BABIP during the month. Kemp has shown elite skills that few in the game have ever possessed. There will be times when he'll flash his former greatness, but those moments will be hard to sustain going forward. Still, Kemp is a great 4th OF option, and should be owned in all but the shallowest of leagues.

47

Leonys Martin

Martin was a prime breakout candidate coming into the season, but all he's done is duplicate his 2013 performance. At his floor he's a solid speedster and a great bench OF. His ceiling is still that of a top 15 OF option if he puts it all together. It doesn't look like this is the year for that, but remember, Carlos Gomez was once a very similar style player before a late season breakout in 2012 put him on the map.

48

Corey Dickerson

Dickerson was terrific in June, and pre-season projections of winning the starting CF position in Colorado. Lately, Dickerson has reminded us he's still a young bat and will come with inconsistent production.

49

Lorenzo Cain

Cain is a 20-20 potential bat, who could provide a .300 average along the way if he puts it all together. He's made strides in 2014, and has had weeks where he's been one of the best outfielders in the game. Still, Cain hasn't shown that he can fill the box score from week to week like a top OF option should. The potential is there, but until he does it more regularly, he's 4th-5th OF option to ride while he's hot.

50

Dexter Fowler

I am a big Fowler fan, and I believe that one of these years, he'll put up a 25-25 kind of season with a .280+ average at the top of an emerging Houston line up. Injuries have long plagued Fowler, but he's one of the best OBP players in the game. I couldn't do a top 50 OF list and leave him off. One day, he's going to have a monster season, and he'll make his owners very happy.

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