2018 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Catcher

Fantasy baseball commentary is always happening at Fake Teams, but it is time to ramp up coverage for the 2018 fantasy baseball season. Here is the schedule for the next two months:

If you don’t like the position we chose first, at least we get it over with. Catchers are people, too. Your league could use two catchers and make life more interesting, anyway. Live a little, people.

Joe offered his state of the position this morning. He touched on Gary Sanchez, Austin Barnes, Yasmani Grandal, and others.

What follows are our top 15 catchers, at least according to three of us here at Fake Teams. Shouts to Ghoji and Joe for contributing rankings alongside my own. The second part (16-30) will drop tomorrow morning, so come back then. Be sure to peruse the quick-hitting thoughts below and haggle in the comments section. Oh, and vote in the poll. Voting in the poll is a must.

Gary Sanchez is the top option. He hit 33 home runs in 122 games last year, and could crest the coveted 40-homer plateau if he doesn’t miss an entire month this time around. In the recent FSTA draft Sanchez was selected 33rd overall. He has a consensus ranking of 31 on FantasyPros, so it is clear that you must pay up to acquire his services in 2018. I would do so at the end of Round 3. Anything earlier than that feels like a reach. And honestly, drafting a catcher in Round 3 feels like a reach. But that is the price you pay for his potential.

We ranked Kyle Schwarber among catchers because in some places he will have that eligibility. The same is true for Francisco Mejia, who should make an appearance in the second half of our catcher rankings.

Evan Gattis could make a huge impact as Houston’s primary designated hitter. We love the catcher-eligible guys who don’t actually have to catch, and Gattis is that guy right now.

Lastly, I have repeatedly expressed my desire to invest in at least one elite starter this year. I have also said that I will target elite speed early, such as Dee Gordon in the third (which means I won’t own Sanchez) or Billy Hamilton in the fifth. For that reason, I am grateful that Buster Posey will be drafted ahead of Willson Contreras in many leagues. If I miss out on Sanchez, Contreras’s hit tool is a fine consolation at his 78 overall ranking. How can you not love a guy who says he will soon be better than Yadier Molina and Buster Posey?