RADIO
No. 25: Dylan Cease, SP, San Diego Padres
Dylan Cease continues to be one of the most reliable starting pitchers from an innings standpoint, which is very valuable in points leagues. In 2024, Cease made at least 30 starts for the fourth straight season. He made 33 (which led the NL) and logged a 3.47 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP. He struck out batters at a strong 29.4% rate.
He also generated an elite 3.31 xERA and .210 xBA, suggesting he should be due for some positive regression in 2025. Given his reliability to pitch 180+ innings each season, Cease is a high-floor to target in points leagues.
No. 24: Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves
The superstar outfielder is projected to miss the first month of the 2025 season as he is still recovering from a torn ACL, but that should not steer fantasy managers away. In 2024, Acuna won the NL MVP award as he posted a .337/.416/.596 line with 41 long balls and 73 stolen bases.
While he only made 49 starts last season, the 27-year-old still generated elite metrics that suggest he should return to his high level of play as soon he is cleared to play. Acuna generated a .350 xwOBA, a 48.2% hard-hit rate, and a 12.2% walk rate, which were among the highest marks in the sport.
No. 23: Garrett Crochet, SP, Boston Red Sox
Garrett Crochet was on pace to enjoy a Cy Young-caliber campaign in 2024 but was given a strict innings limit down the stretch, which dropped his fantasy stock. During the first half of the season, the southpaw held a 3.07 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 107 1/3 innings of work. During this stretch, he struck out an impressive 150 batters and allowed just 23 walks.
While his production declined in the second half, given that he placed within the 90th percentile in xERa, xBA, K%, BB%, and Chase%, Crochet could shine in his first season in Boston. With the Red Sox eyeing to compete in 2025, Crochet could be given a starter’s workload across all 162 games, setting him up for an SP1 finish.
No. 22: Francisco Lindor, SS, New York Mets
The 31-year-old enjoyed a fantastic 2024 campaign as he posted a .273/.334/.500 line with 34 home runs and 29 stolen bases. He generated an impressive .379 xwOBA, .528 xSLG, and a .283 xBA, which were all within the 93rd percentile among qualified hitters.
His 3.7 FPPG (on CBS scoring) was the seventh-highest among batters. While Lindor remains an elite shortstop, fantasy managers should expect some minor regression as his power metrics (hard-hit rate and barrel rate) were both career highs. Even with some regression, Lindor remains a top pick in the second round of fantasy drafts.
No. 21: Logan Gilbert, SP, Seattle Mariners
Logan Gilbert’s 541 fantasy points (according to CBS) were the fourth-most among pitchers. In 2024, Gilbert logged a career-high 208 2/3 innings with a 3.23 ERA and a stellar 0.89 WHIP. This was his third straight season, making at least 30 starts and pitching at least 185 innings.
While he logged a career-high in innings, Gilbert also showcased the best command and strikeout upside of his four-year career. Last summer, the right-hander held a stellar 4.6% walk rate (95th percentile) and a strong 27.4% K rate, which was a 3% increase from his 2023 production. Given his ability to log a high number of innings and increasing strikeout upside, Gilbert is an elite pitcher in points formats.
No. 20: Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox
Rafael Devers held a .272/.354/.516 line with 34 doubles, 28 home runs, and three stolen bases during the 2024 season. This was right in line with his typical career production. Under the hood, he held a strong .364 xwOBA and .509 xSLG, which were among the highest marks in the sport.
While Devers does strike out at a hefty 24.5% rate, his strong 11.1% walk rate offsets this quite well. His 3.2 FPPG was the third-highest mark at the position last season.
No. 19: Freddie Freeman, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers
Freddie Freeman had a down year to his standards in 2024 as he held a .282/.378./476 line with 35 doubles and 22 home runs. He also stole just nine bags. This was a sharp decline compared to the .331/.410/.567 line 29/23 season he enjoyed in 2023.
While his power metrics are trending down, given his MVP track record, fantasy managers should feel confident drafting Freeman this offseason. In addition, his stellar 12.2% walk rate and 15.7% K rate provide him a substantial boost in this format if his bat continues to decline.
No. 18: Zack Wheeler, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
Zack Wheeler finished second among pitchers in total fantasy points last season with 611 and was just 14 points behind the top spot (Tarik Skubal). His 19.1 FPPG was the third-highest at the position. The right-hander tossed 200 innings to the tune of a 2.57 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. This was his second straight campaign, logging at least 190 innings of work.
Under the hood, Wheeler generated an elite 33.8% chase rate and .197 xBA, placing him in the 95th and 93rd percentile among qualified pitchers. Wheeler has one of strongest track records in the sport among starting pitchers and is a safe pick in the second round of drafts this offseason.
No. 17: Mookie Betts, OF/2B/SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
Mookie Betts missed some time last season due to a wrist fracture, but that did not seem to limit his production. Across 116 contests, Betts posted a .289/.372/.491 line with 19 HRs and 16 SBs. He added 24 doubles with 75 runs and 75 RBI.
His 3.7 FPPG tied him for the sixth-highest among hitters last season. Given his eye at the plate, the 32-year-old is an elite asset in this format. Betts struck out at an 11% rate, and drew walks at an 11.8% rate, placing him in the 98th and 92nd percentile, respectively, among qualified hitters.
No. 16: Bryce Harper, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
In 2024, Bryce Harper held a .285/.373/.525 line with 30 long balls and seven stolen bases. This was his highest home run output since the 2021 campaign and highest RBI output (87) since 2019.
Fantasy managers should feel confident with his power surge as he generated an impressive 48.2% hard-hit rate. While Harper strikeouts at a below-average 21.9% rate, his strong 12.0% walk rate helps to counter this. His placement in a competitive Phillies lineup should also continue to provide him ample RBI opportunities
No. 15: Elly De La Cruz, SS, Cincinnati Reds
While Elly De La Cruz is a consensus top-5 pick in category formats, he carries slightly more risk in points league, given his high strikeouts rate. Last season, De La Cruz struck out a hefty 31.3% rate, placing him in the sixth percentile. During his rookie campaign in 2023, he held a slightly higher 33.7% K rate.
Despite this flaw, the 23-year-old still carries elite upside and is worthy of a second-round selection. In 2024, the 23-year-old held a .259/.339/.471 line with 25 home runs and an incredible 67 stolen bases.
No. 14: William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers, C
The top catcher in the sport continued to improve in 2024 as he held an excellent .281/.365/.466 slash line with 23 home runs and nine stolen bases. He tallied 37, which was the seventh-most in the National League. Contreras showed an elite eye at the plate with an 11.5% walk rate, placing him in the 90th percentile among qualified hitters.
His 3.2 FPPG was the highest mark at the catcher position. In addition to his high walk rate, Contreras generated a 20.5% K rate for the second straight season, a significant improvement compared to the 27% K rate he held during the first three seasons of his career. The 27-year-old provides a significant advantage at the catcher position and is worth paying up for.
No. 13: Chris Sale, SP, Atlanta Braves
After battling injuries for the better part of the past four seasons, Chris Sale returned to his elite self as he won the NL Cy Young award by 70 voter points over Zack Wheeler. In 2024, the southpaw posted a stellar 2.38 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP across a hefty 177 2/3 innings. His 19.8 FPPG was the second-highest mark among pitchers.
Sale did most of his damage due to his control and strikeout upside. Sale posted a near-perfect 5.6% walk rate with a 32.1% K rate. He generated whiffs and chases at 31.0% and 33.5%, respectively, which were both within the 90th percentile. While he does carry some injury concerns, given his age and history, he carries immense upside.
No. 12: Corbin Carroll, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Corbin Carroll had a disappointing start to the season but turned the corner in the second half. Before the mid-summer classic, Carroll carried a .212/.301/.334 line with five home runs, 18 stolen bases, and a 42:71 BB:K ratio. However, in the back half, the former top prospect posted a strong .258/.351/.568 line with 17 home runs and 17 stolen bases.
Despite the inconsistent production, Carroll posted a higher walk rate and lower strikeout rate compared to his 2023 production. In 2024, Carroll held a 10.7% walk rate and a 19.7% K rate. Both of these metrics are career highs. Given his eye at the plate and strong finish, Carroll enters the 2025 season with encouraging momentum.
No. 11: Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs
Kyle Tucker had an injury-riddled 2024 campaign, as he missed over two months of play due to a shin injury. However, across his 78 games, the start outfielder produced at an elite level with a .289/.408/.585 line with 23 home runs and 11 stolen bases. His underlying metrics aligned with his previous season, suggesting Tucker should be in a good position to bounce back across a full 162-game slate in 2025.
In 2023, Tucker averaged the fourth-highest FPPG (4.1) as he posted a stellar .284/.369./517 line with 29 long balls and 30 stolen bases. While his power production will likely drop slightly, moving to Wrigley Field, Tucker remains an elite outfielder.
No. 10: Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles
The former top prospect continues to progress each season and enjoyed a massive power surge in 2024. Last summer, Gunnar Henderson launched a career-high 37 long balls and 31 doubles. He held a .281/.364./529 line with 21 stolen bases, which were also the highest marks of his career.
Henderson’s 586.5 fantasy points (on CBS) was the sixth-highest among hitters. From a points league perspective, Henderson improved his walk rate by two points and lowered his strikeout rate by three points (compared to his 2023 rates), which are all encouraging signs heading into 2025.
No. 9: Fernando Tatis, OF, San Diego Padres
The 26-year-old flashed his elite bat across 102 contests despite missing time with a quadriceps injury. Through this stint, Tatis posted a .276/.340/.492 line with 21 doubles, 21 home runs, and 11 stolen bases.
Under the hood, Tatis generated some of the most impressive metrics in the major leagues. The outfielder generated a .387 xwOBA, .298 xBA, and a .538 xSLG, placing him in the 96th percentile in all three statistics. He also generated a 55.8% hard-hit rate, the second-highest mark among qualified hitters.
No. 8: Paul Skenes, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
If you are looking for the upside pick in the first round, look no further than Paul Skenes. Skenes surpassed all expectations during his rookie season as he posted a stellar 1.96 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across his first 133 major league innings. He struck out batters at a remarkable 33.1% rate (95th percentile) with a strong 6.2% walk rate.
The only concern with Skenes is that his arm holds up across a full season. The Pirates limited his workload late in the season, so there is some uncertainty if the former first-overall pick can stay healthy. However, given his incredible 18.7 FPPG (fourth highest), he is worthy of a first-round selection as he has a viable path to begin the fantasy MVP.
No. 7: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B/3B, Toronto Blue Jays
After a down year in 2023, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. silenced any remaining doubters as he posted an incredible .323/.396/.544 slash line. He tallied 44 doubles (third-most in the AL) with 30 home runs and 103 RBI. Under the hood, he posted a .321 xBA and a .567 xSLG, which placed him in the 100th and the 98th percentile, respectively.
However, Guerrero’s value in points leagues is found in his strikeout rate. The first baseman was able to post these incredible batting stats while striking out at a stellar 13.8% rate and drawing walks at a 10.3% rate. His 567 fantasy points were 85 higher than the No.2 first baseman in 2024.
No. 6: Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers
The AL Cy Young winner comes in as the top pitcher in our ranking. Last summer, Skubal posted a 2.39 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP across a career-high 192 innings. He struck out 228 batters (30.3% rate) while showing elite command with a 4.6% walk rate.
In 2023, Skubal posted a similar 2.80 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP across a much smaller 80 1/3 inning sample size. Last season, Skubal scored 50 more fantasy points than the No.2 pitcher. Given his workload, elite strikeout, and command, he is the top pitcher to target.
No. 5: Juan Soto, OF, New York Mets
While Juan Soto still carries high value in category leagues, points formats are designed for his play style. Last season, Soto drew walks at an incredible 18.1% rate, the highest in the sport. Since 2020, Soto has never seen his walk rate drop below 18%, which gives him an incredible advantage in this scoring format.
In addition to that, he launched 41 home runs and placed in the 100th percentile in xwOBA, xBA, and xSLG. While his power production may drop moving to Citi Field, his walk rate provides him with the highest floor out of anyone on this list.
No. 4: Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees
After a disappointing 2023 season, Judge returned to form in 2024 as he posted a stellar .322/.458/.701 slash line with 58 home runs and 10 stole bases. He hit 36 doubles, scored 112 runs, and brought in 144 RBI, the most in the American League.
In addition, Judge showed an elite eye at the plate as he posted an 18.1% walk rate, which was able to offset his relatively high 24.3% K rate. Given his elite power upside, Judge is worthy of a top-5 pick, even if his strikeout rate continues to climb.
No. 3: Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Guardians
The 32-year-old enjoyed a career season in 2024 as he hit for a .279/.335/.537 slash line with 39 home runs and 41 stolen bases. This was a significant increase compared to the 24 home runs and 28 bags he stole in 2023. He brought in 118 runs, scored 114 times, and tallied 39 doubles, the fifth-most in the AL.
However, Ramirez carries elite value in points leagues, given his near-perfect strikeout rate. The third baseman struck out just 12.0% of the time in 2024. Over his past three seasons, he has never seen his K rate go above 12%.
No. 2: Shohei Ohtani, DH/SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani was the No.1 player in fantasy baseball last season as he established the 50/50 club with a .310/.390/.646 line. He tallied 130 RBI and 134 runs, leading the National League.
Under the hood, the 30-year-old placed in the 99th percentile in xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, barrel, and hard-hit rates. In addition, he held an above-average 11.1% walk rate, further adding to his immense value. In 2025, Ohtani is also expected to return to the mound, making him a fantasy cheat code in daily lineup leagues. However, with him return to pitching, expect his speed production to drop significantly but not enough to not warrant a top-3 pick.
No. 1: Bobby Witt Jr, SS, Kansas City Royals
The 24-year-old superstar comes in as the No.1 player on our list. Last summer, Bobby Witt Jr. took another step in his development as he posted a .332/.389/.588 slash line (all career highs) with 32 home runs and 31 stolen bases. He tallied 211 total hits, which were the most in the American League, with 125 runs and 109 RBI.
In addition to his elite bat, Witt struck out at a stellar 15.0% rate, a 3% improvement over his 2023 rate. He also increased his walk rate by three points. Seeing Witt take another step forward each season suggests that 2025 may be his first MVP campaign.
