I continue with my review of the Fake Teams 2013 Consensus Position Rankings by looking at our fantasy outfield rankings from last November-December timeframe. Below are links to the positions that have been reviewed to date:
Before we get into the rankings, let's take a look the the outfield position for fantasy purposes:
- In 2013, we saw 30 outfielders hit 20 or more home runs, down from 38 in 2012.
- We saw 12 outfielders score 90 or more run, down from 16 in 2012.
- In 2012, w there were 17 outfielders who drove in 90 or more runs. In 2013, that number dropped to 7.
- In 2013, we saw 10 outfielder steal 30 or more bases, down from 15 in 2012.
Yeah, so the production we are used to receiving from the outfield position was down in 2013. You have to think the injuries and down seasons from the likes of Matt Kemp, Ryan Braun, Josh Hamilton, and B.J. Upton certainly didn't help.
Now let's take a look at our Top 25 Outfielder Rankings for 2013:
Rank |
Player |
Ray |
Bret |
Jason |
Craig |
Score |
1 |
Ryan Braun |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
306 |
2 |
Mike Trout |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
306 |
3 |
Andrew McCutchen |
4 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
296 |
4 |
Matt Kemp |
3 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
295 |
5 |
Giancarlo Stanton |
5 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
290 |
6 |
Josh Hamilton |
6 |
8 |
5 |
4 |
289 |
7 |
Carlos Gonzalez |
10 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
286 |
8 |
Matt Holliday |
9 |
11 |
8 |
10 |
274 |
9 |
Justin Upton |
7 |
7 |
11 |
14 |
273 |
10 |
Jason Heyward |
8 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
273 |
11 |
Adam Jones |
14 |
17 |
12 |
8 |
261 |
12 |
Bryce Harper |
13 |
9 |
16 |
15 |
259 |
13 |
Allen Craig |
11 |
12 |
13 |
21 |
255 |
14 |
Jose Bautista |
23 |
16 |
9 |
9 |
255 |
15 |
Yoenis Cespedes |
16 |
13 |
17 |
12 |
254 |
16 |
Curtis Granderson |
19 |
14 |
14 |
18 |
247 |
17 |
Jay Bruce |
12 |
23 |
22 |
13 |
242 |
18 |
Carlos Beltran |
18 |
19 |
18 |
17 |
240 |
19 |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
29 |
15 |
19 |
16 |
233 |
20 |
Michael Bourn |
33 |
18 |
15 |
20 |
226 |
21 |
B.J. Upton |
20 |
25 |
25 |
19 |
223 |
22 |
Alex Rios |
22 |
24 |
20 |
23 |
223 |
23 |
Alex Gordon |
27 |
20 |
26 |
26 |
213 |
24 |
Desmond Jennings |
17 |
26 |
28 |
29 |
212 |
25 |
Austin Jackson |
30 |
21 |
24 |
25 |
212 |
Three Up
Adam Jones, BAL
Jones proved his 2012 breakout was no fluke as he eclipsed the 30 home run level for the second consecutive season. Jones was one of only four hitters to hit 30 home runs, score 100 runs and drive in 100 runs in 2013. The other three were Miguel Cabrera, Chris Davis and Paul Goldschmidt. Jones will be a top 3-4 outfielder for 2014.
Alex Rios, TEX
Rios is one of those hitters that has the on year, off year trend, but he broke that trend in 2013, hitting .278 with 18 HRs, 83 runs, 81 RBI and 42 stolen bases. He is one of only four outfielders with 80+ runs, 80+ RBI and 20+ stolen bases in 2013. He should be able to improve on his home run total playing a full season in Texas in 2014.
Alex Gordon, KC
Gordon's batting average dropped from .294 to .265 this season, but he had a very good season otherwise, hitting 20 home runs for the second time in his career, scoring 90 runs, driving in 81 and stealing 11 bases as well. He hit leadoff for most of the season, but we saw his walk rate drop and his strikeout rate increase, so fantasy owners hope this isn't the start of a trend for Gordon.
Three Down
B.J. Upton, ATL
Goodness, Upton had a season to forget, huh? Upton signed a big contract with the Braves in the offseason, then they traded for his brother, and everything was supposed to be rosy in the Atlanta outfield. Upton's season was so bad he was left off the Braves playoff roster. He should bounce back in 2014, but will he be the hitter we saw in Tampa?
Josh Hamilton, LAA
Hamilton is another outfielder who signed a big contract and struggled in 2013. Frankly, I had a feeling moving to a pitcher's park would have a negative impact on his production, but not like this. Hamilton's draft day value will drop in 2014, but he has a great chance to outperform that ranking as well.
Matt Kemp, LAD
Kemp dealt with one injury after another and struggled from Opening Day as his shoulder appeared to never be 100% recovered from his offseason surgery. I wrote about Kemp last week discussing his ankle injury that could be career threatening, so this is something to consider when doing your rankings heading into 2014 drafts. His offseason will be closely watched, and I will continue to report what I hear. If he is 100% healthy in spring training, I would have no problem ranking him in my top 10 outfielders in 2014.
More from Fake Teams:
- Fantasy Basketball: Top 20 Small Forwards
- Fantasy Basketball: Top 20 Shooting Guards
- MLB Trade Rumors: Tigers to dangle Max Scherzer this offseason
- Fantasy Basketball: Top 20 Point Guards
- Fake Teams Podcast Episode 35: Groom Duties
- Progress, Regress, Anyone's Guess: Starlin Castro
- A Look Back at our 2013 Consensus Third Base Rankings
- Manny Machado to have reconstructive knee surgery
- Matt Kemp: Ankle injury could be "career threatening"