2008 Top MLB Fantasy Outfielders

Ranking the 25 Best Outfield Roto Baseball Players in the MLB

Feb 21, 2008

Matt Holliday is the projected number one fantasy outfielder for the 2008 season.

1. Matt Holliday, Colorado Rockies (.340 BA, 36 HR, 137 RBI, 120 R, 11 SB). Holliday is probably going to win the National League MVP award, so you may want him on your team. Just like Peavy, he's got a ton of talent and his park favors his game. Plus, Holliday is surrounded by very good hitters who will give him plenty of RBI opportunities. Last year was no fluke. Holliday has been building to this level for four seasons, and in 2008, he will hit his peak.

2. Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles Angels (.324 BA, 27 HR, 125 RBI, 89 R, 2 SB). Guererro put up those numbers without Torii Hunter, and with Garrett Anderson injured or out for half the season. That's impressive.

3. Alfonso Soriano, Chicago Cubs (.299 BA, 33 HR, 70 RBI, 97 R, 19 SB). Soriano missed thirty games in '07 and he still put up decent numbers. Look for everything to fall into place in Wrigley Field this year, and watch Sori top 40 HR, 30 SB, 90 RBI and 115 runs.

4. Magglio Ordonez, Detroit Tigers (.363 BA, 28 HR, 139 RBI, 117 R, 4 SB). Look for a dropoff from Magglio's 2007 MVP-caliber numbers. But even with that expected decline, he is still going to be the fourth best fantasy outfielder.

5. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners (.351 BA, 6 HR, 68 RBI, 111 R, 37 SB). Ichiro is going to help you win three categories: composite average, runs and stolen bases.

6. Carlos Beltran, New York Mets (.276 BA, 33 HR, 112 RBI, 93 R, 23 SB). Beltran is one of the most balanced fantasy players in the game.

7. Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians (.277 BA, 24 HR, 78 RBI ,118 R, 33 SB). Great speed, good power and hitting in a fierce lineup makes Sizemore a fantasy stud.

8. Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Devil Rays (.315 BA, 11 HR, 80 RBI, 93 R, 50 SB). Another guy who has the talent to do it all. If he can nudge the homers up to 20, Crawford will be very, very hard to beat from a fantasy perspective.

9. Carlos Lee, Houston Astros (.303 BA, 32 HR, 119 RBI, 93 R, 10 SB). El Cabayo had a great debut season in Houston, and Minute Maid Park is tailor-made for him. Look for even better numbers than he produced in 2007.

10. Alex Rios, Toronto Blue Jays (.297 BA, 24 HR, 85 RBI, 17 SB). He's still getting better. Each of the past four seasons, Rios has improved upon his HR, RBI, runs and SB. He'll take another step forward in 2008.

11. Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels (.287 BA, 28 HR, 107 RBI, 94 R, 18 SB). He's a little bit of a risk because he's in a new town with big expectations, but Hunter will be well-protected hitting between Guererro and a resurgent Garrett Anderson. He'll come close to his '07 stats this season.

12. Nick Markakis, Baltimore Orioles (.300 BA, 23 HR, 112 RBI, 97 R, 18 SB). He's a very good hitter with a bright future, but he simply won't get as many opportunities to score and drive in runs without Miguel Tejada (and perhaps without Brian Roberts, who is rumored to be going to the Cubs).

13. Adam Dunn, Cincinnati Reds (.264 BA, 40 HR, 106 R, 99 R, 9 SB). Dunn has avergaed 40 homers, 101 RBI and 102 runs over the past four years. He's still just 28 years old, so expect him to keep that up for a few more years, especially in that bandbox they call the Great American Ball Park.

14. Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox (.296, 20 HR, 88 RBI,84 R, 0 SB). Just think he's got one more year in him.

15. Bobby Abreu, New York Yankees (.283 BA, 16 HR, 101 RBI, 123 R, 25 SB). Abreu has a good eye, great speed, and he hits in baeball's best lineup. The dip in home runs over the past two years is the only reason he's not in the top 10 fantasy outfielders.

(.286 BA, 21 HR, 83 RBI, 103 R, 50 SB). Byrnes emerged as a fantasy asset in 2007. He should be hitting his peak this year, and he will have more RBI and run-scoring chances as the players around him (e.g. Chris Young) mature and improve.

17. Curtis Granderson, Detroit Tigers (.302 BA, 23 HR, 74 RBI, 122 R, 26 SB). There are some good arguments in favor of ranking Granderson higher: overall balance as a hitter; upward trend in statistics; the addition of Miguel Cabrera. If you think he can do what he did last season, take him higher.

18. B.J. Upton, Tampa Bay Devil Rays (.300 BA, 24 HR, 82 RBI, 86 R, 22 SB). At just 23 years old, Upton is still on the climb.

19. Hideki Matsui, New York Yankees (.285 BA, 25 HR, 103 RBI, 100 R, 4 SB). Matsui is a solid, balanced producer in four categories.

20. Brad Hawpe, Colorado Rockies (.291 BA, 29 HR, 116 RBI, 80 R, 0 SB). Everything but speed.

21. Vernon Wells, Toronto Blue Jays (.245 BA, 16 HR, 80 RBI, 85 R, 10 SB). Wells had an awful season in the first year of his $100 million+ contract. But his full season averages point to 28 homers and 100 RBI.

22. Corey Hart, Milwaukee Brewers (.295 BA, 21 HR, 84 RBI, 86 R, 23 SB). Wears his sunglasses at night.

23. Andruw Jones, Los Angeles Dodgers (.222 BA, 26 HR, 94 RBI, 83 R, 5 SB). Even though Jones has been around seemingly forver, he is still only 31 years old. Last season was a nightmare, and one has to expect an across-the-board uptick in stats.

24. Gary Sheffield, Detroit Tigers (.265 BA, 25 HR, 75 RBI, 107 R, 22 SB). He's healthy for the first time since 2005, and he's got one more good season in him. Expect a 10% increase in all categories except steals.

25. Nick Swisher, Chicago White Sox (.262 BA, 22 HR, 78 RBI, 84 R, 3 SB). Swisher dipped last season after an impressive 2007. Expect him to split the difference this year and give you 28 homers, 88 RBI and 95 runs.

The copyright of the article 2008 Top MLB Fantasy Outfielders in Fantasy Baseball is owned by James Lincoln Ray. Permission to republish 2008 Top MLB Fantasy Outfielders in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.