These are my rankings for the 2025 baseball season. For context, these rankings are for standard 5x5 roto leagues, specifically aimed at 10-12 team formats.

I like organizing my rankings into tiers because, as much as I’d love to guarantee that one player is better than another, it’s not always that simple. You can probably make a case for one guy over another that I might not agree with, and that’s fine. What I do feel confident about is my tier breaks—meaning I can’t justify taking someone from a lower tier over anyone in a higher tier. That’s where I see a clear drop-off in value.

Tiers also help you get a sense of how many solid options are left at a position. Say it’s your pick, and there are five third basemen left in Tier 3 that you like, but only one second baseman in that same tier. It probably makes sense to grab the second baseman now and wait until your next pick for third base.

I'll keep updating these rankings throughout the preseason as we get more info on injuries, position battles, playing time, and all that fun stuff.

Catcher:

Catcher is deeper than usual this year, which is a nice change. There are some later-round options I can almost talk myself into. That said, once the position drops off, it drops off in a major way.

My strategy is to grab someone from the top two tiers (the top six catchers). I know, I know—I’m going to get labeled an Adley Rutschman hater, but I genuinely think any catcher from Tier 2 could end up as the second-best option behind William Contreras, who I see as the clear No. 1.

That said, if you miss out on the top tiers, don’t panic—just don’t be the last person to draft a catcher. If you're waiting on the position, prioritize playing time. Look for someone who catches more games than usual and/or gets DH at-bats when not behind the plate. It’s often tough to carry multiple catchers on your roster in standard fantasy leagues, so squeezing out extra plate appearances can make a big difference.

1st Base:

First base is a long way from its glory days when it was stacked with some of the game’s most feared hitters. When I first got into fantasy baseball, the position was loaded—Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Joey Votto, Adrian Gonzalez, Mark Teixeira, Ryan Howard… and honestly, I could keep going.

Last year was rough for first basemen overall, but I’m expecting a bit of a rebound. That’ll come from a mix of veteran bounce-backs, breakout seasons from younger players, and just some better injury luck. I’m all in on the top tier, but surprisingly, I have a lot of faith in many of my lower-tiered guys—so much so that, based on ADP, I might even prefer them over some of the players in my second tier.

2nd Base:

Nothing compares to a catcher in terms of scarcity, but second base gets scary fast. More than any other position, this is where I want to invest in an elite option and avoid the lower-tier guys altogether. There just aren’t many players I’m in love with here, and even the ones I do like don’t have the same upside as similar-tier players at other positions. My strategy? Lock in a top-tier second baseman and move on with confidence.

That said, double-check your league’s eligibility rules—my top-ranked second baseman isn’t even eligible at the position in some formats.

If I don’t land one of the top two tiers, I’d rather target a specific skill. For instance, someone like Brice Turang will give you steals (not much else, but at least you know what you're getting). Additionally, Luis Arraez won’t do much outside of stabilizing your batting average, but again, that’s something you can count on. With so few high-upside options, sometimes you just have to find one strength and roll with it.

Shortstop:

Shortstop is once again stacked with elite talent. In many drafts, you’ll see four (or more) shortstops go in the first round. But even if you decide to wait, there will still be solid options later on.

Lower-tier shortstops come with some risk, but the upside is real. If injuries don’t pile up and a few breakouts happen, this position could end up being insanely deep. The top guys are truly elite, and even beyond the first round, you’ll likely see around 10 shortstops go within the first 100 picks.

3rd Base:

Third base has depth and options at every tier, which makes it one of the more flexible positions in fantasy. At the top, you’ve got elite talent—studs who can carry your team. The second tier has stars who, at their best, could push into the top contributors at the position. There’s also plenty of depth, from reliable veterans who could have a late-career resurgence to young players ready to take that next step.

Third base offers a lot of good outcomes. I’d be happy landing a top-tier guy, but I wouldn’t stress about it since there are plenty of solid alternatives. There’s a good chance my corner infield spot ends up being filled by a third baseman this year.

Outfield:

I think a lot of drafters make mistakes when planning for outfielders. It’s easy to fall into a false sense of security, thinking, there are so many outfield options—I’ve got time. But here’s the catch: while there are plenty of outfielders, the talent pool dries up fast. Why? Because in most standard leagues, you need five of them!

If you don’t consistently draft outfielders throughout your draft, you could end up with two starting spots that feel... rough. Once you hit Tier 5 in my rankings, you’re really rolling the dice. Some of these guys have wildly unpredictable outcomes or serious injury histories. Beyond that, the question marks only pile up, and by Tier 7, the talent is looking pretty shaky.

Yes, there are a ton of names and options, but that doesn’t mean you want to be the one stuck picking from the bottom of the barrel. Plan. Ahead.

Starting Pitchers:

In previous articles, I’ve made my starting pitching strategy crystal clear: trust nobody. In today’s game, any pitcher can get hurt at any time. It’s not that I ignore things like injury history, durability trends, or current ailments—I just try to take a step back and avoid pretending I can predict the unpredictable. Unless there’s clear evidence that a pitcher is already dealing with an issue or actively recovering from one, I don’t downgrade them as an injury risk. Likewise, I don’t upgrade someone just because they seem “safe.” We truly don’t know.

Look at last year—Gerrit Cole and Spencer Strider were the top two starters taken. We all know how that turned out.

Because of all this, I’m less inclined to spend my early picks on starters. But that also means I have to load up on pitchers in the middle-to-late rounds, taking plenty of shots in the hope that some of them hit. Let’s remember: 180 innings is the new 220. Very few pitchers will rack up huge workloads, which makes me more inclined to chase elite talent.

If a guy is on an innings cap, rarely pitches past the sixth inning, or eventually breaks down, it’s still worth it if he gives you elite production while he’s on the mound. Target pitchers with top-tier skills who are in good ballparks and strong team situations, and then round out your staff with more reliable innings-eaters. Easier said than done, but luckily, there are plenty of both types available.

Relief Pitchers:

Relief pitching is more valuable than ever—both in real life and in fantasy. With starters throwing fewer innings, relievers are part of a higher percentage of your fantasy team's innings, making their impact on your fantasy team even greater. Their high strikeout rates, low ERAs, and strong WHIPs can be the difference in winning your pitching categories.

The tough part? Predicting saves. As I’ve discussed before, so many factors go into getting a save that have nothing to do with skill. Another challenge with relievers is that, because they throw so few innings, weird things can happen—one or two bad outings can skew their entire season.

With that in mind, my strategy is to lock in at least two guys from my top two tiers. That gives you a clear edge over the competition, and even then, I wouldn’t be opposed to grabbing another reliever or two from Tier 3. After that, I tend to steer clear unless necessary.

I tend not to want to invest after tier 3 because, more than any other position, relief pitching offers breakout candidates throughout the season. Keep an eye on the waiver wire—there will be impact relievers available.

By staying up-to-date with these rankings and selecting players wisely, you can make informed decisions and set your team up for success throughout the season. With the right mix of top-tier talent and emerging stars, your fantasy baseball squad will be positioned to challenge for the championship. Keep an eye on these rankings, and remember: every player matters when it comes to building your dream team!