MLB Positional Fantasy Rankings: Catcher

Here are theScore's 2016 fantasy catcher rankings (projections provided by Steamer (via Fangraphs) and theScore staff):

Positional Rankings
C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF1 | OF2 | OF3 | DH | SP1 | SP2 | SP3 | RP

1. Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

Posey's as consistent as they come at any fantasy position, finishing at the top of his class year in and year out. Until another catcher comes along and outproduces him over a full season, Posey must remain the first catcher off the draft board, and he's a good choice in the early part of the second round.

2. Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs

Schwarber's 2015 totals - in just under half a season - have many fantasy owners salivating over his potential for 2016. He has the power to lead his position in home runs, and his spot in the heart of a dangerous Cubs order will provide the runs and RBIs. He's still unproven, and he's best left for someone else at his current fourth-round ADP.

3. Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers

Lucroy entered 2015 as the second catcher off most draft boards, before a slow start and injuries derailed his season. As it stands, the Brewers' 2016 lineup projects to be far inferior to its 2014 edition, but Lucroy should return to the level of production he enjoyed that season. He can be drafted as early as the seventh round.

4. Brian McCann, New York Yankees

At 32, McCann continues to hit more than his fair share of home runs. An improved Yankees batting order should provide adequate run and RBI totals. A rebound in his declining BABIP toward his normal career rate should see his batting average return to acceptable levels as well.

5. Travis d'Arnaud, New York Mets

Injury concerns continue to impact d'Arnaud from a fantasy perspective. He had just 268 major-league plate appearances in 2015, but he still managed at least 12 home runs for the second consecutive season. His injury history will cause hesitation in the middle of a draft, but he doesn't even need a full season to return adequate levels of production for the position.

6. Russell Martin, Toronto Blue Jays

Martin receives a boost due to his spot in baseball's most dangerous lineup. The runs and RBIs will be there, even with a slight drop in home runs. His average should rebound following an unlucky year in terms of BABIP.

7. Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles

The constantly improving Orioles batting lineup has steadily improved Wieters' fantasy stock. Health and batting average will be his major hurdles, but he's a strong choice as early as the 12th round.

8. Devin Mesoraco, Cincinnati Reds

What applied to Martin and Wieters does not apply to Mesoraco. Their respective lineups are far better than that of the Reds. Cincinnati will struggle to score runs, though Mesoraco should hit enough home runs to return more than adequate fantasy value by the end of the season.

9. Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals

Perez is coming off a career high in home runs, while the rest of his numbers were rather pedestrian. He was a big piece of Kansas City's World Series run, but he's due some regression along with most of the rest of that lineup.

10. Stephen Vogt, Oakland Athletics

Vogt's positional versatility will always give him a home in the Athletics' lineup. Adequate production across the board will give him a home in fantasy lineups. Vogt had offseason elbow surgery, but he is expected to be ready for Opening Day; fantasy owners shouldn't be too concerned.

11. Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians

Fantasy owners will need to look past Gomes' 2015 numbers and remember the hype he had to began the season. Gomes was coming off the first 20-home run season of his career in 2014, while contributing nicely in the other categories. Last season's injuries shouldn't hurt his stock too much.

12. Yasmani Grandal, Los Angeles Dodgers

Grandal appears to be in line for more plate appearances in 2016, which should lead to improved fantasy totals. He's set for an improved average due to a rebound in BABIP, but that's still likely to be his least impressive contribution.

13. Welington Castillo, Arizona Diamondbacks

Castillo finally found a home after bouncing around last season. He'll have a full season's worth of plate appearances in a potentially surprising lineup. He'll also have a shot at a career high in home runs while playing half his games in a very hitter-friendly park.

▲14. Derek Norris, San Diego Padres

A potential trade to a better team and a ballpark would do wonders for Norris' fantasy prospects. The Texas Rangers are rumored to have serious interest him, and if a move happens, fantasy owners should have interest, too.

15. Wilson Ramos, Washington Nationals

Ramos can provide above-average home run totals for a catcher. Offseason vision correction should lead to an improved batting average. He'll have few opportunities for runs or RBI while buried at the bottom of the Nationals' lineup.

16. J.T. Realmuto, Miami Marlins

Realmuto showed some promising offensive signs last season, though he was never a highly-touted offensive prospect. The return of OF Giancarlo Stanton will help his numbers, but he's still a strong negative regression candidate.

17. Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox

Swihart's ranking is potential-driven, and he'll need to win a position battle with C Christian Vazquez to offer any measurable return. The Red Sox offense finished 2015 on a tear, and enters 2016 with plenty of promise despite last season's finish in the standings.

18. Francisco Cervelli, Pittsburgh Pirates

Cervelli may be in line for fewer than his career-high 510 plate appearances from last season. If so, his statistics will suffer. His seven home runs last season are likely to be a career high.

19. Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals

Molina's offensive surge from 2011-13 is well in his rear view. He will hit for a more than adequate batting average, providing him with opportunities for runs and RBIs, but more than a handful of home runs is likely out of the question.

20. Miguel Montero, Chicago Cubs

Montero's defensive play should give him the bulk of the starts for the Cubs. He showed promising power with 15 home runs last season, leading to plenty of other counting stats in Chicago's young lineup.

21. John Ryan Murphy, Minnesota Twins

Murphy will receive the vast majority of playing time while in a timeshare with Kurt Suzuki. It will be substantially more playing time than Murphy ever received while backing up McCann with the Yankees. He makes for one of the last potential starting targets in the late rounds of drafts.

22. Jason Castro, Houston Astros

Castro should have more playing time in 2016 with C Hank Conger moving on to Tampa Bay. This should lead to improved numbers across the board. He has upside as Houston's lineup looks to take another big step forward.

23. Nick Hundley, Colorado Rockies

Hundley likely overachieved in 2015, and a step back should be expected in 2016. He'll bat in an extremely thin second half of the Rockies order.

24. James McCann, Detroit Tigers

McCann will have the majority of starts behind the plate for the Tigers, though there isn't much offensive potential at the bottom of that lineup.

25. Josh Phegley, Oakland Athletics

Phegley should see enough starts behind the plate when Vogt plays at first base or in the outfield. He showed offensive potential in 2015, but he's not guaranteed enough playing time to warrant rostering in standard leagues.

26. Robinson Chirinos, Texas Rangers

Chirinos should see enough playing time, but his poor batting average doesn't signify much promise, and it will limit all other stats.

27. Hank Conger, Tampa Bay Rays

Conger should see a career high in plate appearances, but he'll need gaudy power numbers to make up for the lack of run production in Tampa Bay's lineup.

28. Dioner Navarro, Chicago White Sox

Navarro left a far more ideal fantasy situation in Toronto. He'll split time once again with the White Sox, limiting any upside, barring injury.

29. Carlos Perez, Los Angeles Angels

Perez should see more playing time than Geovany Soto in the Angels' time share, but it's unlikely to be enough to offer much of a reward to fantasy owners.

30. Austin Hedges, San Diego Padres

Hedges' defense will give him a chance to win playing time over Norris, but he leaves plenty to be desired at the plate.