This is the fantasy baseball position at which you will find the most talent -- along with the guys who will drive you the craziest (see Upton, B.J., and Granderson, Curtis).
Quick fact: Only six outfielders hit 30 or more home runs last year, but 30 had at least 22.
Quick fact: A total of 27 outfielders stole 20 or more bases, but only 15 had 90 or more RBI, and just 18 scored at least 90 runs.
If you find the right one or two (Carlos Gonzalez and Jose Bautista in 2010), you're golden. If you don't, you're a 2010 Grady Sizemore or Jacoby Ellsbury owner.
That brings us to our latest look at the top outfielders in fantasy baseball in 2011. These rankings will be updated as spring training provides more answers to certain position battles.
Note: Players are listed only at the position at which they are expected to spend the most time in 2011, not every position at which they are eligible. For the top players in keeper leagues for 2011, click here.
Best of the best
- Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies: With a .336 batting average, 111 runs, 34 homers, 117 RBI and 26 steals in his first full season, he's the best fantasy player not named Albert Pujols.
- Carl Crawford, Red Sox: He's batted .306 with averages of 17 homers, 54 steals and 103 runs the last two years. Hitting in his new home will only help those numbers.
- Josh Hamilton, Rangers: He batted .359 with 32 homers, 100 RBI, 95 runs and eight steals in only 518 at-bats last season, but Crawford is a safer choice because of Hamilton's injury history.
- Ryan Braun, Brewers: All he's done in four seasons is hit .307 with norms of 32 homers, 105 RBI and 16 steals.
- Matt Holliday, Cardinals: He doesn't steal as many bases as he used to (a combined 23 the last two years), but he's a .317 career hitter who had 28 homers, 103 RBI and 95 runs last season.
- Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: After surpassing his previous career high in homers by 38 and upping his best RBI total from 63 to 124, this .244 career hitter will be among the most difficult decisions on draft day.
- Shin-Soo Choo, Indians: He's only a household name in Cleveland and South Korea, but he's batted .300 with averages of 21 homers, 88 RBI and 22 steals the last two years.
- Jayson Werth, Nationals: At seven years and $126 million, the Nationals might have overpaid him in free agency, but you'll gladly take his 2009 and '10 averages of 32 homers, 92 RBI, 102 runs and 17 steals.
- Matt Kemp, Dodgers: He batted only .249 last season, but he has a combination of power and speed (26 homers, 101 RBI, 34 steals in 2009) that is too tempting to pass up once the top eight outfielders are off the board.
- Jason Heyward, Braves: The 21-year-old had 18 homers, 72 RBI, 11 steals and 83 runs as a rookie, and his minor-league stats aren't shabby (.318, 29 homers, 125 RBI, 164 runs and 26 steals in 876 at-bats).
- Andrew McCutchen, Pirates: He hit .286 with 94 runs, 16 homers, 56 RBI and 33 stolen bases in his second season.
- Nelson Cruz, Rangers: Now we just need him to play a full season. In 861 at-bats since 2009, Cruz has 55 homers, 154 RBI and 37 steals.
- Hunter Pence, Astros: He has hit 25 homers in three consecutive seasons, and in 2010, Pence had career bests in runs (93), RBI (91) and steals (18).
- Justin Upton, Diamondbacks: He was disappointing in 2010 (.273, 17 homers, 69 RBI, 18 steals), but batted .300 with 26 homers, 86 RBI, 84 runs, 20 steals and an .898 OPS in 2009, his first full season.
- Alex Rios, White Sox: With a .284 average, 21 homers, 88 RBI, 34 steals and 89 runs, he had his most productive season since 2007.
A quick look at the rest
- 16. Chris Young, Diamondbacks
- 17. Andre Ethier, Dodgers
- 18. Delmon Young, Twins
- 19. Shane Victorino, Phillies
- 20. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox
- 21. Corey Hart, Brewers
- 22. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
- 23. Grady Sizemore, Indians
- 24. Martin Prado, Braves
- 25. Curtis Granderson, Yankees
- 26. Vernon Wells, Angels
- 27. Mike Stanton, Marlins
- 28. Juan Pierre, White Sox
- 29. Torii Hunter, Angels
- 30. Drew Stubbs, Reds
- 31. Austin Jackson, Tigers
- 32. Nick Markakis, Orioles
- 33. Nick Swisher, Yankees
- 34. Denard Span, Twins
- 35. Jay Bruce, Reds
- 36. Brett Gardner, Yankees
- 37. Jason Bay, Mets
- 38. B.J. Upton, Rays
- 39. Carlos Quentin, White Sox
- 40. Colby Rasmus, Cardinals
- 41. Adam Jones, Orioles
- 42. Ben Zobrist, Rays
- 43. Angel Pagan, Mets
- 44. Carlos Lee, Astros
- 45. Raul Ibanez, Phillies
- 46. Michael Cuddyer, Twins
- 47. Coco Crisp, Athletics
- 48. Andres Torres, Giants
- 49. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers
- 50. Michael Bourn, Astros
- 51. David DeJesus, Athletics
- 52. Jose Tabata, Pirates
- 53. Ryan Raburn, Tigers
- 54. Rajai Davis, Blue Jays
- 55. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
- 56. Johnny Damon, Rays
- 57. Lance Berkman, Cardinals
- 58. Marlon Byrd, Cubs
- 59. Travis Snider, Blue Jays
- 60. Cody Ross, Giants
Eligibility notes
The Giants' Aubrey Huff is eligible in the outfield, but primarily is a first baseman. ... Adam Lind (Toronto) is making the move to first base, and Jason Kubel (Minnesota), Hideki Matsui (Oakland) and Manny Ramirez (Tampa Bay) should be regulars at DH.
Others to watch
- Domonic Brown, Phillies: Werth's exit was expected to free up a starting spot for this speedy 23-year-old, but Brown will begin the season on the disabled list because of a broken bone in his hand. When he returns (possibly in April), he could be a free-agent find.
- Logan Morrison, Marlins: He batted .283 as a rookie in 2010 and hit .292 with 274 RBI in 1,652 minor-league at-bats.
- Ryan Ludwick, Padres: Once a fantasy starter in St. Louis, he's now doomed to play half his games at Petco Park.
- J.D. Drew, Red Sox: You might have been burned by him before, but he's not so bad when you can draft him as your sixth outfielder.
- Carlos Beltran, Mets: We had him ranked in the top 50, but he dropped out because knee issues have continued to hamper him this spring.
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MORE RANKINGS: Your guide to all of our 2011 fantasy baseball rankings