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MLB Positional Fantasy Rankings: Outfield (Part 2)

Tim Heitman / USA TODAY Sports

Here are theScore's 2016 fantasy outfielder rankings (click here for Part 1 and here for Part 3; projections provided by Steamer (via Fangraphs) and theScore staff):

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

▲25. Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 20 94 97 23 .327
2015 15 68 84 15 .310
2016 (PROJ.) 15 60 63 12 .295

Brantley is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, but reports indicate he is progressing well despite not being available for Opening Day. The upside is there - he was third in AL MVP voting in 2014 - but the impact the injury could have on his swing is worth considering. He's a 10th-round pick in ADPs, but should probably be going later.

▼26. Ben Revere, Washington Nationals

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 2 71 28 49 .306
2015 2 84 45 31 .306
2016 (PROJ.) 2 62 39 35 .301

Revere, who split last season between Philadelphia and Toronto, is one of the better BA-SB combo plays in the league - and should score plenty of runs atop the Nationals lineup. He's a complete void in HRs and RBI, but will do enough in the other three categories to warrant a ninth-to-11th-round pick.

28. Adam Eaton, Chicago White Sox

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 1 76 35 15 .300
2015 14 98 56 18 .287
2016 (PROJ.) 11 85 56 17 .284

Eaton will bat leadoff for a retooled White Sox lineup, ahead of mashers Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier. If Eaton can repeat what he accomplished in 2015, he should breeze past the 100-run plateau and be a serviceable third outfielder in mixed leagues.

29. Kole Calhoun, Los Angeles Angels

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 17 90 58 5 .272
2015 26 78 83 4 .256
2016 (PROJ.) 20 85 71 5 .262

Calhoun is a solid option if you're looking for some power in the middle rounds of a mixed-league draft. In an AL-only league, he is a reputable second outfielder. Batting ahead of Mike Trout puts him in a position to score plenty of runs while providing serviceable HR and RBI totals.

30. Hanley Ramirez, Boston Red Sox

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 13 64 71 14 .283
2015 19 59 53 6 .249
2016 (PROJ.) 19 62 71 6 .278

Ramirez is OF-eligible despite moving to 1B this season; the switch may not have a major impact on his fantasy performance, but it could keep him off the disabled list. He still has some pop, and could be a sneaky play for 25+ homers and 90+ RBIs if healthy. Draft him as an OF4 in mixed leagues.

▼31. Jacoby Ellsbury, New York Yankees

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 16 71 70 39 .271
2015 7 66 33 21 .257
2016 (PROJ.) 8 72 53 24 .270

Plagued by injuries in 2015 and turning 32 in September, Ellsbury's 2016 fantasy value is difficult to pin down. He has already missed spring action due to a wrist issue. Owners should hope for a higher BA and something close to the 30-steal mark. Ellsbury is best suited as a secondary outfielder in AL-only leagues and a third outfielder in mixed leagues.

▲32. Curtis Granderson, New York Mets

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 20 73 66 8 .227
2015 26 98 70 11 .259
2016 (PROJ.) 23 94 66 9 .245

The days of 40+ homers are long gone, but Granderson still has 25-HR potential while scoring a boatload of runs as the Mets' leadoff man. He's a solid option in the 13th-15th round of mixed leagues and is a high-end OF3 in NL-only leagues - just prepare for a low BA and reduced steals.

33. Brett Gardner, New York Yankees

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 17 87 58 21 .256
2015 16 94 66 20 .259
2016 (PROJ.) 12 81 60 19 .259

Primarily valued for his runs and steals, Gardner enjoyed a modest home run and RBI boost by virtue of playing half his games at Yankee Stadium. His batting average is not spectacular, but Gardner contributes in every other category. He is a second or third outfielder in AL-only leagues.

▼34. Christian Yelich, Miami Marlins

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 9 94 54 21 .284
2015 7 63 44 16 .300
2016 (PROJ.) 10 77 59 18 .292

With only 332 career games under his belt and little power exhibited to date, some fantasy owners may pass over Yelich. But he makes for a nice value pick if you can grab him around the halfway mark in a mixed league; batting in front of a healthy Giancarlo Stanton puts him in a good spot to score runs.

▼35. Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 6 72 48 56 .250
2015 4 56 28 57 .226
2016 (PROJ.) 5 52 44 60 .242

Hamilton surpassed his 2014 steals total despite playing 38 fewer games in 2015. He's expected to see leadoff duty for the Reds this season, making him a cinch for 60+ swipes if he stays healthy. He's worth a mid-round pick in mixed leagues, but he's a sinkhole in three categories. He even started spring training by going 3-for-22; again, a sinkhole in the hitting categories.

36. Shin-Soo Choo, Texas Rangers

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 13 58 40 3 .242
2015 22 94 82 4 .276
2016 (PROJ.) 18 84 76 5 .276

Choo hit a whopping 122 points higher after the All-Star break than before it, salvaging what was looking like a second straight disappointing season. It's hard to know what Choo owners are getting for 2016, but with an established track record, he's worth a look as a fourth OF in standard mixed leagues.

37. Corey Dickerson, Tampa Bay Rays

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 24 74 76 8 .312
2015 10 30 31 0 .304
2016 (PROJ.) 17 62 71 0 .282

Dickerson is leaving the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field, where his .355/.410/.675 career slash line is extraordinary. Conversely, his road splits (.249/.286/.410) are borderline-abysmal. His fantasy value is tough to predict, but he will likely be a decent third or fourth outfielder in mixed leagues.

▲38. Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG.
2014 0 1 0 0 .143
2015 26 67 54 4 .210
2016 (PROJ.) 23 75 77 10 .235

You take the bad with the good here, as Pederson saw his surprisingly decent HR, RBI and run totals negated by an alarmingly-low BA and 170 strikeouts. If that's what he is, you could do worse for your fourth outfielder in mixed leagues - but prepare for the possibility of sophomore regression.

39. Dexter Fowler, Chicago Cubs

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 8 61 35 11 .276
2015 17 102 46 20 .250
2016 (PROJ.) 15 80 54 16 .259

Fowler provided great value for his owners, establishing career highs in nearly all fantasy-relevant categories while playing in 154 games. A return to the Cubs will almost certainly guarantee him 100+ runs, and his 15-25 HR-SB potential makes him a solid OF4 in mixed league formats.

▼40. David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 8 40 36 6 .286
2015 17 61 78 9 .312
2016 (PROJ.) 15 68 72 5 .288

Peralta is expected to take on a heavier role with Arizona in 2016, and could see the majority of at-bats in the cleanup spot. An RBI spike is not out of the question, though he'll need to show more power. He's a great fourth outfielder in mixed leagues and should be targeted in the 10th-12th rounds.

41. Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 18 71 66 12 .217
2015 26 72 87 9 .226
2016 (PROJ.) 26 70 80 8 .236

Bruce is still a solid source of home runs, RBIs and runs scored, but his average will serve as an anchor for your fantasy roster. He's a decent pick in the 14th-16th rounds, and could be a sneaky value play if you find a way to surround him with high-average hitters.

42. Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals

Gordon saw a reduction in counting stats after playing just 104 games last season. The strength and depth of the Royals' lineup should force Gordon to hit lower in the order; he led the team in OBP but could bat seventh the majority of the time. He's no better than a fourth outfielder in mixed leagues.

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 19 87 74 12 .266
2015 13 40 48 2 .271
2016 (PROJ.) 16 70 75 7 .270

▼43. Khris Davis, Oakland Athletics

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 22 70 69 4 .244
2015 27 54 66 6 .247
2016 (PROJ.) 28 73 84 3 .247

Davis upped his HR total by five last season despite playing in 32 fewer games. The average isn't great but the power is legitimate - and he'll be given plenty of at-bats in Oakland. If you're looking for home runs after most of the big-name left fielders are gone, Davis is a terrific option in rounds 14-16.

44. Randal Grichuk, St. Louis Cardinals

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG 
2014 3 11 8 0 .245
2015 17 49 47 4 .276
2016 (PROJ.) 20 62 72 5 .258

Grichuk emerged as a fantasy factor in St. Louis last season with Matt Holliday sidelined. Grichuk struck out more than owners would have liked, but was otherwise solid over 350 plate appearances. Expect improvement across the board, making him a viable selection in the 15th-17th rounds.

45. Josh Reddick, Oakland Athletics

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 12 53 54 1 .264
2015 20 67 77 10 .272
2016 (PROJ). 18 65 70 5 .267

Reddick finally returned to relative good health in 2015, and rewarded fantasy owners with his first 20-HR, 70-RBI season since 2012. A similar return is likely if he remains healthy, though double-digit steals may be wishful thinking. Target him with one of your final five picks in mixed leagues.

46. Billy Burns, Oakland Athletics

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 0 4 0 3 .167
2015 5 70 42 26 .294
2016 (PROJ.) 4 70 45 31 .278

Burns proved to be one of the most surprising three-category contributors in fantasy last season. He'll continue to bat leadoff in Oakland, and could benefit from the addition of Khris Davis in the form of additional runs scored. His 30-steal potential makes him a decent flier option in rounds 17-19.

47. Michael Conforto, New York Mets

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 -- -- -- -- --
2015 9 30 26 0 .270
2016 (PROJ.) 19 66 72 3 .275

After appearing in just 56 games last season and sitting against left-handed pitchers, Conforto is tabbed as the Mets' starting left fielder and should see full-time work at the plate. He'll likely hit in the bottom third of the order, but has decent upside and is worth a shot after the 17th round of mixed drafts.

48. Gerardo Parra, Colorado Rockies

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 9 64 40 0 .261
2015 13 83 51 14 .291
2016 (PROJ.) 13 60 59 12 .280

The move to Coors Field has many fantasy owners eyeing Parra as a value pick late in mixed leagues and a mid-round selection in NL-only. He isn't a superstar by any stretch, but he provides contributions in all categories and should hit high enough in the order to be a fantasy factor.

49. Kevin Pillar, Toronto Blue Jays

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 2 19 7 1 .267
2015 12 76 56 25 .278
2016 (PROJ.) 11 60 58 22 .272

For all the attention Pillar gets for his defense, he had a surprisingly good fantasy season considering he was likely a waiver pick-up in the majority of leagues. Expect some regression across the board, but he should produce enough in all five categories to be worth a late-round pick in mixed drafts.

50. Ender Inciarte, Atlanta Braves

SEASON HR R RBI SB AVG
2014 4 54 27 19 .278
2015 6 73 45 21 .303
2016 (PROJ.) 6 65 42 22 .281

Inciarte will be a full-time player after coming to the Braves in a trade with the Diamondbacks. While that should mean improvement on the majority of his counting stats, he won't score many runs atop a dreadful Atlanta lineup. He's best viewed as an OF4-5 drafted in the 17th-19th rounds.

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