New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was not only the American League MVP last season, he was the fantasy one as well after hitting a league-record 62 home runs — 16 more than NL leader Kyle Schwarber. Even if he falls back a bit, Judge should still put up monster numbers … if he stays healthy.
In the National League, good health is also essential for Ronald Acuña Jr., who flirted with a 40-homer, 40-steal season in 2019, but had a torn ACL limit his playing time the past two years. Acuña’s teammate Michael Harris will look to build on his impressive rookie season (.297, 19 HR, 20 SB in 114 games), while Arizona’s top prospect — Corbin Carroll — could potentially do something similar. As a whole, there seem to be more speed sources than power ones in the NL.
Elsewhere in the American League, Julio Rodriguez and Kyle Tucker are rare five-category players who should go in the top six overall. Luis Robert also has that potential if he can play a full season. Among the more interesting sleeper candidates: Eloy Jimenez, Taylor Ward and Riley Greene. The AL seems to offer more overall power than speed in the outfield.
FANTASY RANKINGS: Top 200 overall players for 2023
CHEAT SHEET: Fantasy baseball position-by-position rankings
Outfield rankings
Aaron Judge, Yankees AL1Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves NL1Julio Rodriguez, Mariners AL2Juan Soto, Padres NL2Yordan Alvarez, Astros AL3Kyle Tucker, Astros AL4Mookie Betts, Dodgers NL3Mike Trout, Angels AL5Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres NL4Michael Harris II, Braves NL5Luis Robert, White Sox AL6Randy Arozarena, Rays AL7Adolis Garcia, Rangers AL8Cedric Mullins, Orioles AL9Kyle Schwarber, Phillies NL6Teoscar Hernandez, Mariners AL10Daulton Varsho, Diamondbacks NL7George Springer, Blue Jays AL11Starling Marte, Mets NL8Eloy Jimenez, White Sox AL12Byron Buxton, Twins AL13Bryan Reynolds, Pirates NL9Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks NL10Tyler O’Neill, Cardinals NL11MJ Melendez, Royals AL14Jeff McNeil, Mets NL12Nick Castellanos, Phillies NL13Anthony Santander, Orioles AL15Jake McCarthy, Diamondbacks NL14Taylor Ward, Angels AL16Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees AL17Seiya Suzuki, Cubs NL15Brandon Nimmo, Mets NL16Ian Happ, Cubs NL17Steven Kwan, Guardians AL18Kris Bryant, Rockies NL18Alex Verdugo, Red Sox AL19Andrew Vaughn, White Sox AL20Harrison Bader, Yankees AL21Cody Bellinger, Cubs NL19Christian Yelich, Brewers NL20Whit Merrifield, Blue Jays AL22Hunter Renfroe, Angels AL23Lourdes Gurriel, Diamondbacks NL21Mitch Haniger, Giants NL22Riley Greene, Tigers AL24Ramon Laureano, A’s AL25Oscar Gonzalez, Guardians AL26Andrew Benintendi, White Sox AL27Austin Hays, Orioles AL28Wil Myers, Reds NL23Manuel Margot, Rays AL29Masataka Yoshida, Red Sox AL30Brandon Marsh, Phillies NL24Joey Meneses, Nationals NL25Jesse Winker, Brewers NL26Trent Grisham, Padres NL27Dylan Carlson, Cardinals NL28Michael Conforto, Giants NL29Esteury Ruiz, A’s AL31Max Kepler, Twins AL32Michael Brantley, Astros AL33Joc Pederson, Giants NL30Joey Gallo, Twins AL34Mark Canha, Mets NL31Randal Grichuk, Rockies NL32Adam Duvall, Red Sox AL35Oscar Colas, White Sox AL36Enrique Hernandez, Red Sox AL37Seth Brown, A’s AL38Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals NL33Gavin Lux, Dodgers NL34Leody Taveras, Rangers AL39Trey Mancini, Cubs NL35Edward Olivares, Royals AL40Charlie Blackmon, Rockies NL36Andrew McCutchen, Pirates NL37Lane Thomas, Nationals NL38Austin Meadows, Tigers AL41Tommy Pham, Mets NL39Brendan Donovan, Cardinals NL40Chris Taylor, Dodgers NL41Chas McCormick, Astros AL42Bryan De La Cruz, Marlins NL42Tony Kemp, A’s AL43Jurickson Profar, free agentJake Fraley, Reds NL43A.J. Pollock, Mariners AL44Tyrone Taylor, Brewers NL44Mike Yastrzemski, Giants NL45Avisail Garcia, Marlins NL46T.J. Friedl, Reds NL47Nolan Jones, Rockies NL48Marcell Ozuna, Braves NL49Akil Baddoo, Tigers AL45Alex Kirilloff, Twins AL46Oswaldo Cabrera, Yankees AL47Jorge Soler, Marlins NL50Bubba Thompson, Rangers AL48Juan Yepez, Cardinals NL51