Fantasy baseball 2020 tiered outfielder rankings

This tier features some outfielders that will be drafted to help a category late in the draft.

Joc Pederson, LAD

Pederson was on my first baseman rankings. With the lack depth, outside the top 15, you may be better off drafting him there than as an outfielder. He will get playing time as the Dodgers left fielder but he could split time with AJ Pollock.

Ryan Braun, MIL

The loss of Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas hurt this Brewers lineup more than the new pieces help. Though, those new additions do block Braun from a starting job. Lorenzo Cain, Christian Yelich and Avisail Garcia are in the outfield and Justin Smoak is at first base. Should something happen to any of them, Braun is in. But, as of now, he’s on the bench and there are other players I’d rather have on my bench.

David Peralta, ARI

Peralta is a good contact hitter with some power mixed in. He missed 60 games last season but was still able to hit 12 home runs with 57 RBIs and a .275 average. The top-half of the Diamondbacks lineup is solid and Peralta is the likely cleanup hitter. If he can stay healthy, we could see another 30-home run season.

Nick Senzel, CIN

Senzel was the Reds’ top prospect and looked good at times. He hit four home runs in each May and June but hit .333 with no home runs in July. Overall, Senzel finished with a .256 average, 12 home runs and 42 RBIs. He also stole 14 bases in 104 games.

Senzel underwent shoulder surgery at the end of September. He is participating in some baseball activities but isn’t close to being 100 percent. If you wanted to draft an injured player, Senzel is the perfect stash.

Avisail Garcia, MIL

Garcia, in his age-28 season, had his best season with the Rays. In 125 games, he hit .282 with 20 home runs, 72 RBIs and 10 steals. He will now play in a hitter’s park in Miller Park as a part of the Brewers. The lineup and parks are better, giving Garcia a boost in fantasy value. We could see a 30/.290 season. He’s a great pick in round 21.

Lourdes Gurriel, TOR

Gurriel is the last of the Blue Jays young hitters that I need to talk about. He hasn’t played a full season yet but the ceiling is high. He struggled in April but looked like a different hitter once he was called back up. In 84 games, Gurriel finished with 20 home runs, 50 RBIs and hit .277. Hitting in the AL East will help him reach 30-plus home runs and maintain a respectable average.

Shin-Soo Choo, TEX

Choo has been a fantasy baseball staple for 12 years. He’s hit 20-plus home runs with at least a  .260 average and 80-plus runs in each of the past three seasons. Choo even stole 15 bases, his highest since 2013. Choo isn’t a player that’s going to stand out to owners on the player list but he can help you in all five categories.

Hunter Dozier, KC

Dozier was my No. 21 ranked third baseman. He is a good hitter that can help with average, power and runs. He doesn’t steal but not many hitters do. Dozier will be drafted as a utility hitter and will serve as your backup third baseman and sixth outfielder. He won’t hurt your team more than some of the other hitters around his ADP.

Aristides Aquino, CIN

The Reds called Aquino up in August and everyone was excited. In his first month, he hit .320 with 14 home runs and 33 RBIs. He then struggled in September, hitting .196 with five home runs and 14 RBIs. The Reds don’t have him in their starting lineup and if he struggles again, Aquino may be sent back down. The ceiling is just too high to not mention him.

Alex Verdugo, BOS

Moving to Boston will help Verdugo’s fantasy value. The stress fracture in his back he suffered in September does not. According to Julian McWilliams, beat writer for the Boston Globe, Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said there is no timetable for his return and will likely begin the season on the IL. When he does return, the probable leadoff hitter could hit .300 with 15 home runs.