After an offseason of research and preparation, it’s finally here.
It’s time for your annual fantasy baseball draft, and what you need now is all of that offseason research and information at your fingertips in one easy, convenient article.
That’s exactly what you’ll find here in Bleacher Report’s 2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Cheat Sheet.
What follows is a cornucopia of fantasy information, spanning from position-by-position rankings to sleepers to top rookies to notable players to avoid.
We hope this can serve as an invaluable tool during your draft and set you on the road to winning your league.
So without further ado, let’s kick things off with a fresh look at our positional rankings.
Updated Position-by-Position Rankings
Top 20 Catchers
- Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
- Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs
- Brian McCann, New York Yankees
- Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays
- Travis d’Arnaud, New York Mets
- Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
- Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers
- Devin Mesoraco, Cincinnati Reds
- Stephen Vogt, Oakland Athletics
- Derek Norris, San Diego Padres
- Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians
- Yasmani Grandal, Los Angeles Dodgers
- J.T. Realmuto, Miami Marlins
- Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles
- Welington Castillo, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox
- Wilson Ramos, Washington Nationals
- Francisco Cervelli, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Nick Hundley, Colorado Rockies
- Miguel Montero, Chicago Cubs
Top 25 First Basemen
- Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
- Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
- Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
- Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays
- Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
- Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox
- Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles
- Prince Fielder, Texas Rangers
- Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals
- Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
- Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants
- Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
- Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees
- Hanley Ramirez, Boston Red Sox
- Lucas Duda, New York Mets
- Mark Trumbo, Baltimore Orioles
- Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians
- Adam Lind, Seattle Mariners
- Mitch Moreland, Texas Rangers
- Mike Napoli, Cleveland Indians
- Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals
- Wil Myers, San Diego Padres
- Chris Colabello, Toronto Blue Jays
Top 25 Second Basemen
- Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
- Dee Gordon, Miami Marlins
- Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners
- Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals
- Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins
- Ian Kinsler, Detroit Tigers
- Rougned Odor, Texas Rangers
- Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians
- Ben Zobrist, Chicago Cubs
- Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
- Kolten Wong, St. Louis Cardinals
- Addison Russell, Chicago Cubs
- Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh Pirates
- DJ LeMahieu, Colorado Rockies
- Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals
- Neil Walker, New York Mets
- Joe Panik, San Francisco Giants
- Starlin Castro, New York Yankees
- Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds
- Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Brett Lawrie, Chicago White Sox
- Logan Forsythe, Tampa Bay Rays
- Devon Travis, Toronto Blue Jays
- Cory Spangenberg, San Diego Padres
- Jedd Gyorko, St. Louis Cardinals
Top 25 Third Basemen
- Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
- Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
- Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies
- Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
- Todd Frazier, Chicago White Sox
- Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
- Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals
- Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers
- Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners
- Maikel Franco, Philadelphia Phillies
- Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
- Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
- Jung Ho Kang, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Matt Duffy, San Francisco Giants
- Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Trevor Plouffe, Minnesota Twins
- David Wright, New York Mets
- Brett Lawrie, Chicago White Sox
- Danny Valencia, Oakland Athletics
- Nick Castellanos, Detroit Tigers
- Martin Prado, Miami Marlins
- Yangervis Solarte, San Diego Padres
- Chase Headley, New York Yankees
- David Freese, Pittsburgh Pirates
Top 25 Shortstops
- Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
- Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
- Troy Tulowitzki, Toronto Blue Jays
- Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians
- Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants
- Ian Desmond, Texas Rangers
- Jung Ho Kang, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Addison Russell, Chicago Cubs
- Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers
- Starlin Castro, New York Yankees
- Ketel Marte, Seattle Mariners
- Jean Segura, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Marcus Semien, Oakland Athletics
- Asdrubal Cabrera, New York Mets
- Alcides Escobar, Kansas City Royals
- Erick Aybar, Atlanta Braves
- Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals
- Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds
- Alexei Ramirez, San Diego Padres
- Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees
- Jose Iglesias, Detroit Tigers
- Zack Cozart, Cincinnati Reds
- Eduardo Escobar, Minnesota Twins
- Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles Angels
Top 50 Outfielders
- Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
- Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
- Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
- Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
- A.J. Pollock, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays
- Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
- Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners
- Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies
- Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates
- J.D. Martinez, Detroit Tigers
- Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles
- George Springer, Houston Astros
- Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
- Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets
- Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals
- Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians
- Justin Upton, Detroit Tigers
- Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
- Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
- Carlos Gomez, Houston Astros
- Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins
- Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs
- Jason Heyward, Chicago Cubs
- Matt Kemp, San Diego Padres
- Jacoby Ellsbury, New York Yankees
- Christian Yelich, Miami Marlins
- Hunter Pence, San Francisco Giants
- Curtis Granderson, New York Mets
- Yasiel Puig, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Shin-Soo Choo, Texas Rangers
- Ben Revere, Washington Nationals
- Adam Eaton, Chicago White Sox
- Kole Calhoun, Los Angeles Angels
- Randal Grichuk, St. Louis Cardinals
- Stephen Piscotty, St. Louis Cardinals
- David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Hanley Ramirez, Boston Red Sox
- Gregory Polanco, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Michael Conforto, New York Mets
- Corey Dickerson, Tampa Bay Rays
- Dexter Fowler, Chicago Cubs
- Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals
- Josh Reddick, Oakland Athletics
- Ben Zobrist, Chicago Cubs
- Khris Davis, Oakland Athletics
- Brett Gardner, New York Yankees
- Billy Burns, Oakland Athletics
- Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds
- Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers
Top 75 Starting Pitchers
- Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
- Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs
- Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
- David Price, Boston Red Sox
- Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
- Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins
- Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
- Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
- Matt Harvey, New York Mets
- Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays
- Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics
- Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
- Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
- Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
- Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians
- Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals
- Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets
- Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
- Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
- Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals
- Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians
- Johnny Cueto, San Francisco Giants
- Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
- Michael Wacha, St. Louis Cardinals
- Francisco Liriano, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Garrett Richards, Los Angeles Angels
- Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
- Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees
- Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers
- Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
- Steven Matz, New York Mets
- Luis Severino, New York Yankees
- Taijuan Walker, Seattle Mariners
- Jose Quintana, Chicago White Sox
- Lance McCullers, Houston Astros
- Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
- Yordano Ventura, Kansas City Royals
- Michael Pineda, New York Yankees
- Raisel Iglesias, Cincinnati Reds
- Hisashi Iwakuma, Seattle Mariners
- James Shields, San Diego Padres
- Jake Odorizzi, Tampa Bay Rays
- Jeff Samardzija, San Francisco Giants
- Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers
- Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
- Collin McHugh, Houston Astros
- Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves
- Drew Smyly, Tampa Bay Rays
- Nathan Eovaldi, New York Yankees
- Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
- John Lackey, Chicago Cubs
- Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
- Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals
- Kenta Maeda, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs
- Joe Ross, Washington Nationals
- Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
- Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
- Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians
- Edinson Volquez, Kansas City Royals
- Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres
- Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
- Mike Fiers, Houston Astros
- Jason Hammel, Chicago Cubs
- Scott Kazmir, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies
- Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
- Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins
- Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox
- Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers
Top 25 Relief Pitchers
- Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals
- Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox
- Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees
- Jeurys Familia, New York Mets
- Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals
- Ken Giles, Houston Astros
- Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles
- Francisco Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers
- Jonathan Papelbon, Washington Nationals
- Hector Rondon, Chicago Cubs
- Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians
- A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins
- David Robertson, Chicago White Sox
- Drew Storen, Toronto Blue Jays
- Shawn Tolleson, Texas Rangers
- Andrew Miller, New York Yankees
- Dellin Betances, New York Yankees
- Sean Doolittle, Oakland Athletics
- Huston Street, Los Angeles Angels
- Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins
- Santiago Casilla, San Francisco Giants
- Will Smith, Milwaukee Brewers
- Brad Boxberger, Tampa Bay Rays
Sleepers
Hitting on potential sleepers can be the difference between a good fantasy team and a championship-winning fantasy team. Here are 25 guys worth targeting in your draft as potential sleepers:
- RP Joaquin Benoit, Seattle Mariners
- 3B Nick Castellanos, Detroit Tigers
- OF Michael Conforto, New York Mets
- SP Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks
- 1B/DH C.J. Cron, Los Angeles Angels
- SP Nathan Eovaldi, New York Yankees
- SP Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
- SP Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
- SS Ketel Marte, Seattle Mariners
- 1B/OF Wil Myers, San Diego Padres
- OF Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins
- OF Gregory Polanco, Pittsburgh Pirates
- SP Robbie Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks
- C J.T. Realmuto, Miami Marlins
- SP Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
- SP Joe Ross, Washington Nationals
- 2B/SS Addison Russell, Chicago Cubs
- SP Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
- 2B Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles
- SP Luis Severino, New York Yankees
- 3B Travis Shaw, Boston Red Sox
- RP Will Smith, Milwaukee Brewers
- C Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox
- 1B/OF Mark Trumbo, Baltimore Orioles
- SP Taijuan Walker, Seattle Mariners
“Do Not Draft” List
Earlier this offseason, we put together our “do not draft” list of players to steer clear of to avoid busts. Players earned a spot on that list for a variety of reasons, including regression, injury risk, average draft position, playing-time questions and moving from hitter-friendly to pitcher-friendly ballparks.
Here’s a look at three players from each position who earned the “do not draft” distinction, including their current average draft position and the reason for their inclusion.
Catchers
- Jonathan Lucroy, ADP: 97.8 (ADP)
- Stephen Vogt, ADP: 165.2 (ADP, regression)
- Matt Wieters, ADP: 183.2 (injury risk, playing time)
First Basemen
- Miguel Cabrera, ADP: 11.4 (ADP, injury risk)
- Albert Pujols, ADP: 85.6 (ADP, age)
- Mark Teixeira, ADP: 167.4 (age, injury risk)
Second Basemen
- Dee Gordon, ADP: 20.2 (ADP)
- Jason Kipnis, ADP: 86.8 (regression)
- DJ LeMahieu, ADP: 145.8 (regression)
Third Basemen
- Todd Frazier, ADP: 42.2 (ADP)
- Matt Duffy, ADP: 156.4 (regression)
- David Wright, ADP: 215.4 (injury risk, playing time)
Shortstops
- Troy Tulowitzki, ADP: 48.8 (ADP, injury risk)
- Francisco Lindor, ADP: 73.0 (regression)
- Jose Reyes, ADP: 179.6 (playing time)
Outfielders
- Nelson Cruz, ADP: 39.8 (regression)
- Billy Hamilton, ADP: 105.2 (playing time)
- Corey Dickerson, ADP: 124.6 (Coors Field effect)
Starting Pitchers
- Zack Greinke, ADP: 32.6 (ADP)
- Tyson Ross, ADP: 94.6 (ADP)
- John Lackey, ADP: 161.4 (ADP, regression)
Relief Pitchers
- David Robertson, ADP: 104.4 (ADP)
- Huston Street, ADP: 134.2 (ADP)
- Brad Ziegler, ADP: 183.4 (playing time)
Top 25 Prospects To Watch
Stud rookies are often overhyped when it comes time to draft, so it’s important not to get swept up in that hype.
That being said, we saw last season with the likes of Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, Noah Syndergaard and others the type of impact a first-year player can make.
So here’s a look at the top 25 rookies to watch, based solely on their expected impact during the upcoming season. This is more about opportunity than potential, so keep that in mind.
- SS Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
- SP Steven Matz, New York Mets
- OF Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
- 1B A.J. Reed, Houston Astros
- SP Kenta Maeda, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1B/DH Byung Ho Park, Minnesota Twins
- SS Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies
- OF Tyler Naquin, Cleveland Indians
- 3B/OF Hector Olivera, Atlanta Braves
- SP Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins
- SP Lucas Giolito, Washington Nationals
- SP Tyler Glasnow, Pittsburgh Pirates
- SS Trea Turner, Washington Nationals
- SS Orlando Arcia, Milwaukee Brewers
- SS J.P. Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies
- 3B Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers
- 2B Yoan Moncada, Boston Red Sox
- SP Jon Gray, Colorado Rockies
- OF Hyun Soo Kim, Baltimore Orioles
- OF Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds
- OF Nick Williams, Philadelphia Phillies
- SP Michael Fulmer, Detroit Tigers
- OF Nomar Mazara, Texas Rangers
- OF Lewis Brinson, Texas Rangers
- 2B/OF Jose Peraza, Cincinnati Reds
And there you have it—Bleacher Report’s 2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Cheat Sheet, with everything you’ll need laid out in one convenient place.
Happy drafting!
All average draft position figures come courtesy of FantasyPros.
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