Drew Epstein’s Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Points league Rankings

 Drew Epstein’s Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Points league Rankings

5/1/21

1. Shohei Ohtani- Angels SP/DH (Preseason Rank: 1)

Ohtani has not been great on either side of the ball so far, but his ability to do both still has him safe at the top. He has not been bad by any means, but not what he was doing last year to this point.

2022 Stats: .228/4 HR/12 RBI 

2022 Stats (Pitching): 2-2, 4.19 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 30 Ks

2. Jose Ramirez- Guardians 3B (Preseason Rank: 6)

Ramirez is off to a scorching start for the Guardians and can be counted on day in and day out to be one of the best hitters, if not the best, in the league. He leads MLB with an absurd 28 RBIs to begin the season. 

2022 Stats: .341/7HR/28 RBI

3. Mike Trout- Angels OF (Preseason Rank: 13)

I talked about how all Trout needed to do to be at the top of the list is stay healthy. He's done that so far and has been every bit of the Mike Trout we are used to. Do not expect any different as long as he's on the field. 

2022 Stats: .344/6 HR/11 RBI

4. Corbin Burnes- Brewers SP (Preseason Rank: 7)

Burnes has lived up to the high expectations that come with being the reigning NL Cy Young award winner. Of the pitchers often taken in the first round of drafts, he has been the best so far. 

2022 Stats: 1-1, 1.93 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 43 Ks

5. Juan Soto- Nationals OF (Preseason Rank:2)

Soto is off to a disappointing start but remains one of the best pure hitters in baseball. He is as safe of a bet as any to bounce back and still find himself in the MVP discussion by year's end. 

2022 Stats: .262/4 HR/5 RBI

6. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.- Blue Jays 1B (Preseason Rank: 3)

A lot of the same can be said about Guerrero as I did about Soto. He is having a better season, but hasn't lived up to his huge expectations so far. He has been good so far, but expect him to be great throughout the rest of the year. No reason he shouldn't find himself in the MVP discussion as well. 

2022 Stats: .275/6 HR/16 RBI

7. Max Scherzer- Mets SP (Preseason Rank: 10)

Scherzer has been exactly what the Mets paid him to be, and fantasy managers drafted him to be. Even at 37 years old, he is a clear ace and as dependable as any pitcher in baseball. 

2022 Stats: 3-0, 1.80ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 33 Ks

8. Gerrit Cole- Yankees SP (Preseason Rank: 4)

Before the season I had Cole as my top ranked pitcher. He slid below Burnes and Scherzer due to a bad start to the year, but he has bounced back with 2 scoreless starts. He is still one of the best and I think his last couple starts were a very good sign. 

2022 Stats: 2-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 27 Ks. 

9. Manny Machado- Padres 3B (Preseason Rank: 17)

Machado just keeps producing year after year. He's off to another fantastic start and is especially valuable at a position that isn't as deep as it once was. 

2022 Stats: .375/4 HR/16 RBI

10. Trea Turner- Dodgers SS (Preseason Rank: 11)

Turner has been good but not great, however he has arguably the most skills in baseball and contributes to any fantasy team in more ways than almost anyone else. He's in the top 10 without question for now. 

2022 Stats: .263/1 HR/18 RBI

11. Bryce Harper- Phillies OF (Preseason Rank: 12 )

Harper is dealing with an elbow injury that will have him as a primary DH for the foreseeable future. Thankfully, with the DH in both leagues now Harper is not on the IL, and is still producing. He will figure to only get better as he heals and gets back in the field, and there aren't many hitters better than Harper, so if he's out there, he'll be fine. 

2022 Stats: .253/4 HR/15 RBI

12. Freddie Freeman- Dodgers 1B (Preseason Rank: 14)

It didn't take long for Freeman to adjust to his new team. He has been solid to this point and he is normally someone who improves as the season goes along.  

2022 Stats: .309/3HR/10 RBI

13. Mookie Betts- Dodgers OF (Preseason Rank: 8)

Betts is off to a rough start to the season but I'm not concerned about him long term. He is someone that can get hot and turn it into a several month tear. I expect that sooner than later. 

2022 Stats: .231/3 HR/6 RBI

14.  Walker Buehler- Dodgers SP (Preseason Rank: 15)

Buehler has been exactly what many expected him to be once again. He's off to a great start and can be depended on just about every time he takes the mound. 

2022 Stats: 3-1, 2.12 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 26 Ks

15.  Nolan Arenado- Cardinals 3B (Preseason Rank: 21)

Arenado is perhaps the NL MVP if the season ended today. He has looked like his prime self which is a great sign for him in his second year in St. Louis. 

2022 Stats: .368/6 HR/18 RBI

16.  Brandon Woodruff- Brewers SP (Preseason Rank: 9)

Several players are off to bad starts so far on this list, but none worse than Woodruff. He has, however, shown some good signs and was one of the best pitchers last year, so I still trust him to turn it around in a big way. 

2022 Stats: 2-1, 5.30 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 19 Ks

17.  Aaron Judge- Yankees OF (Preseason Rank: 20)

Possibly because of contract distractions, it took Judge some time to get going, but he's come on strong as of late. He is all the sudden among the league leaders in home runs following 5 in his last 5 games. 

2022 Stats: .300/8 HR/16 RBI

18. Wander Franco- Rays SS (Preseason Rank:30)

Franco has been everything he was said to be as a prospect. He looks every bit of the superstar he was supposed to be.

2022 Stats: .313/4 HR/13 RBI

19.  Shane Bieber- Guardians SP (Preseason Rank: 23)

Bieber had some questions following an injury-lost season in 2021, but he's right back to his 2020 Cy Young form. It remains to be seen how he can hold up but he's a great pitcher when he's performing like this. 

2022 Stats: 1-1, 2.45 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 29 Ks

20.  Matt Olson- Braves 1B (Preseason Rank: 31)

Olson was under the pressure of replacing Braves legend Freddie Freeman at 1B in Atlanta, but you wouldn't know it looking at his production. He's cooled off after a hot start but figures to get hot again soon. 

2022 Stats: .291/2 HR/7RBI

21. Yordan Alvarez- Astros OF (Preseason Rank: 29)

22. Alex Bregman- Astros 3B (Preseason Rank: 27)

23. Ozzie Albies- Braves 2B (Preseason Rank: 26)

24. Ronald Acuna Jr.- Braves OF (Preseason Rank: 24)

25.  Aaron Nola- Phillies SP (Preseason Rank: 23)

26.  Fernando Tatis Jr.- Padres SS (Preseason Rank:5) (Injured)

27.  Robbie Ray- Mariners SP (Preseason Rank:19 )

28.  Francisco Lindor- Mets SS (Preseason Rank: 49)

29.  Rafael Devers- Red Sox 3B (Preseason Rank: 28)

30. Byron Buxton- Twins OF (Preseason Rank: Not Ranked)

31.  Justin Verlander- Astros SP (Preseason Rank: Not Ranked)

32.  Kevin Gausman- Blue Jays SP (Preseason Rank: 41)

33.  Sandy Alcantara- Marlins SP (Preseason Rank: 42)

34.  Alek Manoah- Blue Jays SP (Preseason Rank: Not Ranked)

35.  Tim Anderson- White Sox SS (Preseason Rank: 36)

36.  Kyle Tucker- Astros OF (Preseason Rank: 25)

37.  Josh Hader- Brewers CP (Preseason Rank: 38)

38.  Carlos Rodon- Giants SP (Preseason Rank: Not Ranked)

39.  Xander Bogaerts- Red Sox SS (Preseason Rank: 35) 

40.  Bo Bichette- Blue Jays SS (Preseason Rank: 34 )

41.  Max Fried- Braves SP (Preseason Rank: 43)

42.  George Springer- Blue Jays OF (Preseason Rank: Not Ranked)

43.  Joe Musgrove- Padres SP (Preseason Rank: Not Ranked)

44.  Lucas Giolito- White Sox SP (Preseason Rank: 33)

45.  Paul Goldschmidt- Cardinals 1B (Preseason Rank: 47)

46.  Anthony Rizzo- Yankees 1B (Preseason Rank:Not Ranked)

47.  CJ Cron- Rockies 1B (Preseason Rank: Not Ranked)

48.  Ty France- Mariners 1B (Preseason Rank: Not Ranked)

49.  Luis Robert- White Sox OF (Preseason Rank: 46)

50.  Jacob DeGrom- Mets SP (Preseason Rank: 18) (Injured)