In ranking the best players for each round, I run the risk of tailoring my picks to one specific league format. For clarification, this list is based on a 10-team format, head-to-head points scoring, with rankings from Yahoo used for reference.
Round 1
3B – Jose Ramirez – CLE
Current ADP: 4.3
Overall Rank: 5th
Jose Ramirez is simply built for fantasy greatness. He has the power to hit 35+ home runs, can steal bags, and hits for average. With the talent to make plays in all categories, Ramirez will be a no-brainer first-round pick for his entire prime and might be the safest pick in the round.
Round 2
SP – Gerrit Cole – NYY
Overall Rank: 16th
Current ADP: 15.9
Gerrit Cole should be a first-round pick, but his ranking currently sits in the middle of the second round. With the shift ban likely hurting ground ball pitchers, get you a guy who you know is going to rack up K’s. Cole might give up a few too many home runs, but he is guaranteed to rack up starts, IP, and shove all year long.
Round 3
Austin Riley – ATL
Overall Rank: 29th
Current ADP: 29.0
Austin Riley is coming off an MVP-caliber year, and recently signed a team-friendly long term extension to remain with the Braves. 3B is a pretty deep position in fantasy baseball, but how could you pass on a guy playing for a 100-win team who can hit for power and will undoubtedly see plenty of RBI opportunities.
Round 4
Emmanuel Clase – CLE
Overall Rank: 31st
Current ADP: 33.2
With Edwin Diaz going down with injury, Clase slides in as perhaps the best reliever in baseball. Clase will rack up saves and wins with a young Guardians team that is likely to be in many close games, as they are one of the scrappiest young teams in the MLB.
Round 5
OF – Jazz Chisolm – MIA
Overall Rank: 35th
Current ADP: 49.9
The cover athlete himself is currently slipping to the fifth round, likely due to injury concerns. Bur fantasy is all about the upside, and how could you pass on the upside Chisolm provides? He could be a guy who steals 30 bags and hits 30 home runs, so I would take the risk with the reward he could provide.
Round 6
ATL – Ozzie Albies – ATL
Overall Rank: 43rd
Current ADP: 50.3
The injury concerns are certainly present for Albies, but like Chisolm, you have to love the ceiling. Albies has been raking in Spring Training and certainly has the potential to dominate as a five-tool player when his bat is on fire.
Round 7
Raisel Iglesias – ATL
Overall Rank:
Current ADP: 69.4
As the third Brave on my list, I should emphasize the importance of playing for a good team. The Braves are going to put Iglesias in a position to get plenty of saves and wins, and he is such a great player. If you cannot land Clase early, I would target this reliever next.
Round 8
C – Will Smith – LAD
Overall Rank: 83rd
Current ADP: 78.5
Not quite sure how one of the best offensive catchers in the game is ranked 83rd, but if you can get him at this value then you should jump at the chance. Even in somewhat of a down year, Smith batted .260 with 24 home runs last year. With Trea Turner gone, he could move up in the batting order and see more RBI opportunities.
Round 9
Triston McKenzie
Overall Rank: 75th
Current ADP: 89.6
Yet another player who is ranked below their talent level, Triston McKenzie should be a target in all formats. This kid is bound to breakout this year and is already coming off a year with a sub-3.00 ERA. He could make the jump into top-12 status this year, and the advanced stats indicate he will not regress on his already gaudy statistical numbers.
Round 10
Wander Franco – TB
Overall Rank: 86th
Current ADP: 94.4
Franco is a freak talent, but injuries hampered his 2022 season. By now you can probably tell I love upside and am not too concerned with injuries. Although I would recommend avoiding rostering a bevvy of injury-prone players. Balance is key.
Round 11
Vinnie Pasquantino – KC
Overall Rank: 93rd
Current ADP: 103.3
This young stud might be the only fantasy-relevant offensive talent currently playing for the Royals, outside of Bobby Witt Jr. of course. Despite a limited sample size in the majors, Pasquantino killed it in the chances he got with the Royals. Playing in a less hitter-friendly ballpark without the cushion of good offensive teammates could hamper his numbers, but advanced stats indicate this dude can hit for contact and demolish baseballs with power.
Round 12
Nathaniel Lowe
Overall Rank: 97th
Current ADP: 113.9
Lowe worked his batting average up to .302 in 2022, and played 157 games for the second straight season. He also punched home 27 home runs, so why not roster him this year?
Round 13
Hunter Greene
Overall ranking: 114th
Current ADP: 141.9
Hunter Greene is one of the more popular young pitchers in baseball, with perhaps the fastest heater in the major right now. I personally love pitchers that can shove with velocity, but the obvious downside for Greene is that he plays for the Reds. Wins could be hard to come by, but the talent is there and that matters far more than worrying about what team a player pitches for.
Round 14
1B – Anthony Rizzo – NYY
Current ADP: 142.6
Overall Rank: 139th
Rizzo enjoyed a surprise year as one of the best home run hitters in the majors, and I’m sure there are doubts as to whether he can match the 32 bombs he hit last year in 130 games. However, if he does not see production in the home run department, you can bank on Rizzo improving on his .224 batting average. With the shift ban in full effect, Rizzo should definitely improve on last year. His batting average was also deceiving, in that Rizzo was a valuable situational hitter for the Yankees, and should see a consistent spot near the top of the batting order throughout the year.
Round 15
C – Alejandro Kirk – TOR
Overall Rank: 144th
Current ADP: 144.0
The Jays made a serious investment in Kirk this offseason when they chose to trade no. 1 prospect Gabriel Moreno to the Diamondbacks in exchange for a power hitter in Daulton Varsho. Kirk is a solid offensive catcher who can hit for contact, with sneaky power to boot. With the Jays no longer stashing depth at that position, he should see a secure role as one of the better fantasy catchers on the market. If you do not land one of Adley Rutschman, JT Realmuto, or Will Smith, I would go after Kirk.
Round 16
SP – Jesus Luzardo – MIA
Overall Rank: 151st
Current ADP: 159.0
Luzardo might be hampered by an average Marlins team, but he is becoming an integral member of the Marlins’ rotation. His K rate ranked in the 88th percentile in 2022, and he comes at a fraction of the cost of Cy Young winning teammate Sandy Alcantara.
Round 17
OF – Lars Nootbar – STL
Overall Rank: 168th
Current ADP: 194th
If you did not know who Lars Nootbar was before the World Baseball Classic, you certainly do now. Nootbar became a fan favorite in Japan for his efforts with the international team in their Championship run. Nootbar put on quite a show in the WBC, going 6 for 14 with two stolen bases and four walks in pool play. It would not surprise me if the 25-year-old can relay that performance into a breakthrough season with the Cardinals.
Round 18
SP – Pablo Lopez – MIN
Rank: 171st
Current ADP: 177.0
Lopez was on the trade block for a bit in Miami, and he landed in Minnesota this offseason in exchange for Luis Arraez. Lopez has the pedigree and production of star pitcher, and can certainly outperform his ADP.
Round 19
SP – Grayson Rodriguez – BAL
Current Rank: 182nd
Current ADP: 184.9
The Orioles have made it clear that they want Grayson Rodriguez to be in their Opening Day rotation, so he will get his chance to prove it in the MLB. As a top prospect, he offers serious upside on a team that is on the rise and could sneak into the Wild Card spot – or better.
Round 20
SP – Kodai Senga – NYM
Current ADP: 197.8
Overall Rank: 241st
The Mets’ international acquisition will enter the MLB as a seasoned 30-year-old rookie. He could be a massive steal based on his stellar production in Japan. It is always difficult to tell how international prospects translate to the MLB, but Senga is a confident player with a lengthy history of success in the Japanese Pacific League. He has all the makings of an elite pitcher, so why not snag him in the 20th round?
