Even though Major League Baseball is currently in a lockout, it’s still not too early to start planning for the upcoming season! We have a ton of resources available between our articles, consensus rankings, average draft position, projections, and podcast. We are now adding to that by bringing in five featured analysts from across the web to build their own consensus top-10 fantasy baseball rankings and share their favorite early-round draft targets.
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Featured Pros:
Chris Mitchell – FantasyData
Chris Clegg – Fantrax
Andrew Gould – FantasyPros
Joe Pisapia – FantasyPros
Pat Fitzmaurice – FantasyPros
2022 Top-10 Players (5×5 League Scoring) – View full expert consensus rankings
| Rank | Player | Position | Team | Best Rank | Worst Rank |
| 1. | Fernando Tatis Jr. | OF/SS | SD | 1 | 4 |
| 2. | Trea Turner | 2B/SS | LAD | 1 | 4 |
| 3. | Juan Soto | OF | WSH | 1 | 8 |
| 4. | Jose Ramirez | 3B/DH | CLE | 2 | 5 |
| T-5. | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | 1B/DH | TOR | 3 | 8 |
| T-5. | Bo Bichette | DH/SS | TOR | 5 | 6 |
| 7. | Bryce Harper | OF/DH | PHI | 6 | 9 |
| 8. | Shohei Ohtani | SP/DH | LAA | 1 | N/A |
| 9. | Ronald Acuña Jr. | OF | ATL | 5 | N/A |
| 10. | Gerrit Cole | SP | NYY | 7 | N/A |
Also receiving top-10 votes: Mike Trout (#11) and Mookie Betts (#12)
2022 Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice
Each expert answered two questions about the players they like this season. Here are their suggestions for who you should target.
Q1. Which player outside of your top 3 has the best chance of finishing No. 1 and why?
Ronald Acuña Jr. (OF – ATL)
“I fully expect Acuña to hit for a high batting average and slug 30+ home runs after he swatted 24 in only half a year’s games upon his return from an ACL tear in 2021. The question is whether the knee is fully healthy or if his jack-rabbit running style from 2019 is a thing of the past due to the injury. Does the uber-talented, dual-threat slugger and base stealer swipe 10-15 bases or can he return to his pre-ACL form and run wild like in 2019? I’m not ready to predict 37 steals like 2019, but 25 is my over/under along with 35-40 home runs, a .280-.290 batting average, and the runs batted in and runs scored that go along with that kind of slugging. With that kind of profile, you have yourself a potential Fantasy Baseball MVP and No. 1 overall player. Acuña is a draft-day value outside of the top three and a potential No. 1 fantasy player in 2022.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)
“Ronald Acuña Jr. has the best chance of finishing as a top-three player despite not being treated as such. Yes, he is rehabbing from a torn ACL, but reports have been optimistic and I believe that Acuña will pick up right where he left off once he returns. Some are concerned about him running, but I still see Acuña as a high-end power/speed threat.”
– Chris Clegg (Fantrax)
“If we get a delay to the regular season, Ronald Acuña shoots up to a top-three potential rank and could challenge for No. 1 overall with his power and speed combination. Right now, his injury seems like it will keep him out until May. But if baseball drags its feet in labor disputes, then Acuña’s ADP will rise immediately.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Mookie Betts (2B/OF – LAD)
“Betts has already produced campaigns warranting fantasy MVP consideration, so it would hardly be stunning to see another in his age-29 season. Just last year, Betts was often a top-three selection after tallying 16 home runs, 10 steals, and a 147 wRC+ in the shortened 2020. If he recovers from a hip injury that derailed his 2021 season, Betts should repair his batting average closer to his career .296 rate and take another pass at 20 steals. Batting atop a formidable Dodgers lineup also gives him more upside for runs than any hitter in the game.”
– Andrew Gould (FantasyPros)
Fernando Tatis Jr. (OF/SS – SD)
“It has to be Tatis, who’s a top-three guy for most people but is just behind Juan Soto, Jose Ramirez, and Trea Turner for me. With a full season of good health, there’s little doubt Tatis will be a top-three fantasy asset. He’s good enough to challenge for the Triple Crown and steal 25 bags for good measure. But are you willing to bet on a season of good health? I’m not there yet.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Q2. Who’s your favorite early target after the first round inside the top 60 in ECR and why?
Freddie Freeman (1B – FA): Consensus Rank – 13th Overall
“Freeman is one of baseball’s most dependable superstars, but he always falls outside the first round. The first baseman has only missed seven games in the past four years. During that span, he’s batted .306/.398/.532 with 31 home runs per 162 games. Drafters desire more speed from a top pick, but Freeman is at least likely to swipe six-to-10 bags alongside elite and bankable four-category dominance. I’d happily build my squad around the free-agent if drawing a late pick.”
– Andrew Gould (FantasyPros)
Byron Buxton (OF – MIN): Consensus Rank – 49th Overall
“My favorite target comes in at number 49 on the list, which is Buxton. Yes, he is an injury risk and has not eclipsed 300 plate appearances since 2017 when he had 511. Buxton showed off his first-round upside last year posting a 1.005 OPS with 19 home runs and nine stolen bases in 254 plate appearances. 2022 will be the year where Buxton stays healthy and puts it all together.”
– Chris Clegg (Fantrax)
Ozzie Albies (2B – ATL): Consensus Rank – 23rd Overall
“Unlike Francisco Lindor, who has declined in every indicative category for three straight seasons — granted one being a COVID-shortened campaign in 2020 — Albies improved in 2021 on his breakout 2019 season in home runs and stolen bases. If I thought he was potentially in decline, then the drop in batting average and on-base percentage from ’19 to ’21 would be a concern. Instead, I see it as a potential upside for Albies and a career year in the offing with an ADP rank of 20th on FantasyPros.com. I considered him for my top-10 list but there are too many dual-threat stars with less risk to rank him THAT high. But, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him outslug and outsteal Mookie Betts and Kyle Tucker while playing second base for a high-scoring Braves offense.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)
Tim Anderson (SS – CWS): Consensus Rank – 29th Overall
“Anderson is the discount Trea Turner. Like Turner, Anderson is a lock for a high batting average, provides some power and steals bases. He just doesn’t steal quite as many bases as Turner, but Turner is a consensus top-three pick and Anderson has a third-round ranking. I have a hard time drafting a shortstop in the first round knowing I can get Anderson a round or two later.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Freddy Peralta (SP – MIL): Consensus Rank – 60th Overall
“Peralta at 60th overall is a steal. He can absolutely match the elite SP productivity of guys going in Round 2. The innings question looms, of course, but if you were timid about that last year you missed out on Corbin Burnes lighting the world on fire. Peralta is the perfect ace for a team built on offense.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Thanks to the experts for sharing their advice! For more of the experts’ insight, be sure to follow each pundit on Twitter (click their names above) and visit their respective sites.
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