2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep: Ranking Tiers by category, not position makes for a perfect Roto cheat sheet

Tiers have become a staple in Fantasy Baseball, demonstrating the distribution of talent at each position and thereby signaling when you should target a particular one to maximize the impact of each pick.

But they’re not as helpful in an era when output is fairly balanced between the positions. No, what should be guiding your picks more than positional scarcity, at least in a Rotisserie league or any other that uses categories rather than points, is statistical scarcity.

In such a league, you need to vary the types of production you’re getting. You need batting average help. You need home run help. You need stolen base help. Those three aren’t available in equal measure.

It’s true you also need RBI help and run help, at least in a standard 5×5 leagues, but those particular contributions are so tied to playing time and batting order and other factors beyond a player’s control that I don’t even want to get sidetracked by them. I want to look at skills, and I want to look at them in a way that reveals the relative scarcity of each.

I’m mostly interested in doing it for hitters. Generally, their skills are better defined than pitchers’, and their production isn’t as contingent on usage or health. On the hitting side, balancing those three contributions — batting average, home runs and stolen bases– is critical for Roto success, but it can be difficult to visualize where scarcities are developing mid-draft.

So for each of my top 150 hitters, I’ve assigned a letter grade for what I consider to be his most likely outcome in each of those pivotal categories. Some might have the upside for more, but again, I’m playing to the most-likely scenario here. Within each category, I’ve then grouped players by letter grade while also revealing each player’s average draft position (or ADP, according to FantasyPros) so that you know, say, how late you can still get an A-grade base-stealer.

There are far fewer of those than A-grade home run hitters, as you can see for yourself.

Table of Contents

Batting Average

Grade A batting average sources

ADP	Player	BA	HR	SB
3	Mookie Betts, OF	A	B	B
4	Juan Soto, OF	A	A	B
5	Mike Trout, OF	A	A	C
13	Freddie Freeman, 1B	A	A	D
25	DJ LeMahieu, 1B/2B/3B	A	B	D
30	Anthony Rendon, 3B	A	B	D
34	Corey Seager, SS	A	B	F
44	Marcell Ozuna, OF	A	A	F
47	Tim Anderson, SS	A	C	C
73	Charlie Blackmon, OF	A	C	D
77	Ketel Marte, 2B	A	C	D
90	Jose Altuve, 2B	A	C	D
101	Jeff McNeil, 2B/OF	A	D	D
147	Michael Brantley, OF	A	C	D
152	Gio Urshela, 3B	A	C	F
183	Nick Madrigal, 2B	A	F	B
196	Justin Turner, 3B	A	C	F
212	David Fletcher, 2B/SS	A	F	D

Grade B batting average sources

ADP	Player	BA	HR	SB
1	Ronald Acuna, OF	B	A	A
2	Fernando Tatis, SS	B	A	A
8	Trea Turner, SS	B	B	A
10	Christian Yelich, OF	B	A	B
11	Jose Ramirez, 3B	B	A	B
12	Trevor Story, SS	B	A	B
16	Francisco Lindor, SS	B	B	B
17	Bryce Harper, OF	B	A	C
20	Manny Machado, 3B	B	A	C
23	Bo Bichette, SS	B	B	C
29	Xander Bogaerts, SS	B	B	D
32	Nolan Arenado, 3B	B	B	F
33	Ozzie Albies, 2B	B	C	C
35	Eloy Jimenez, OF	B	A	F
36	Alex Bregman, 3B	B	B	D
37	Jose Abreu, 1B	B	B	F
39	Rafael Devers, 3B	B	B	D
42	Whit Merrifield, 2B/OF	B	D	A
45	George Springer, OF	B	A	D
51	Starling Marte, OF	B	D	B
54	Vladimir Guerrero, 1B	B	C	F
61	Gleyber Torres, SS	B	B	D
70	Michael Conforto, OF	B	B	D
75	Paul Goldschmidt, 1B	B	B	D
81	Yordan Alvarez, DH	B	A	F
83	Nick Castellanos, OF	B	A	F
86	Yoan Moncada, 3B	B	C	C
88	Nelson Cruz, DH	B	A	F
89	J.D. Martinez, DH	B	A	F
91	Austin Meadows, OF	B	B	D
92	Lourdes Gurriel, OF	B	B	D
98	Anthony Rizzo, 1B	B	B	D
105	Dansby Swanson, SS	B	C	C
107	Alec Bohm, 3B	B	C	F
111	Kris Bryant, 3B	B	B	F
113	Dominic Smith, 1B/OF	B	B	F
115	Mike Yastrzemski, OF	B	B	D
120	Carlos Correa, SS	B	B	F
121	Eddie Rosario, OF	B	B	D
126	Alex Verdugo, OF	B	D	C
135	Travis d’Arnaud, C	B	C	F
138	Tommy Edman, 3B/SS/OF	B	D	B
139	Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B	B	C	C
155	Ryan Mountcastle, 1B/OF	B	C	F
157	Trey Mancini, OF	B	B	F
162	Didi Gregorius, SS	B	C	D
173	Shohei Ohtani, DH	B	C	C
182	Jake Cronenworth, 1B/2B/SS	B	D	C
200	Jean Segura, 2B/3B	B	D	D
202	Jarred Kelenic, OF	B	C	C
224	Raimel Tapia, OF	B	F	B
229	Jorge Polanco, SS	B	D	D
230	J.D. Davis, 3B	B	C	F
238	Alex Kirilloff, OF	B	C	F
261	Willi Castro, SS	B	C	D
263	Wander Franco, SS	B	C	D
273	Lorenzo Cain, OF	B	D	C
279	Jeimer Candelario, 1B/3B	B	C	F
280	Yuli Gurriel, 1B	B	D	F
283	Tommy La Stella, 1B/2B	B	D	F
302	Alejandro Kirk, C	B	D	F
312	Cesar Hernandez, 2B	B	F	C
314	Ty France, 2B	B	D	F
333	Joey Votto, 1B	B	C	F
407	Nico Hoerner, 2B/SS	B	F	C

Grade C batting average sources

ADP	Player	BA	HR	SB
15	Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF	C	A	C
27	Adalberto Mondesi, SS	C	D	A+
38	Kyle Tucker, OF	C	B	B
48	J.T. Realmuto, C	C	B	D
49	Aaron Judge, OF	C	A+	D
57	Luke Voit, 1B	C	A	F
62	Randy Arozarena, OF	C	B	C
65	Trent Grisham, OF	C	C	B
67	Keston Hiura, 2B	C	B	C
68	Brandon Lowe, 2B/OF	C	B	D
71	Eugenio Suarez, 3B	C	A	F
78	Javier Baez, SS	C	B	C
80	Teoscar Hernandez, OF	C	B	D
87	Salvador Perez, C	C	B	F
96	Max Muncy, 1B/2B/3B	C	A	F
102	Matt Chapman, 3B	C	A	F
104	Will Smith, C	C	B	F
110	Giancarlo Stanton, DH	C	A+	F
112	Willson Contreras, C	C	C	F
123	Mike Moustakas, 1B/2B	C	B	F
124	Wil Myers, OF	C	B	C
127	Tommy Pham, OF	C	C	B
131	Marcus Semien, SS	C	C	C
132	Josh Bell, 1B	C	B	F
137	Kyle Lewis, OF	C	B	C
143	Jorge Soler, DH	C	A	F
144	Ramon Laureano, OF	C	C	C
148	Eric Hosmer, 1B	C	C	D
150	Ian Happ, OF	C	B	D
151	Franmil Reyes, DH	C	A	F
159	Christian Vazquez, C	C	D	D
161	Anthony Santander, OF	C	B	F
164	Dylan Carlson, OF	C	C	C
172	Clint Frazier, OF	C	B	D
177	A.J. Pollock, OF	C	C	C
178	Austin Nola, C	C	D	F
181	Josh Donaldson, 3B	C	A	F
184	Ha-seong Kim, SS	C	D	C
189	Andres Gimenez, 2B/3B/SS	C	D	B
191	Nick Solak, 2B/OF	C	D	C
198	Christian Walker, 1B	C	C	D
203	James McCann, C	C	D	F
207	Daulton Varsho, C/OF	C	D	C
209	Jared Walsh, 1B	C	B	F
210	Chris Taylor, 2B/SS/OF	C	D	D
211	Mitch Garver, C	C	B	F
214	Andrew McCutchen, OF	C	C	C
218	Jesse Winker, OF	C	C	F
222	Andrew Benintendi, OF	C	D	C
226	Hunter Dozier 1B/OF	C	C	D
227	Brian Anderson, 3B	C	C	F
233	Andrew Vaughn, 1B	C	B	F
237	Gavin Lux, 2B	C	C	D
246	Mitch Haniger, OF	C	C	D
247	Mark Canha, OF	C	C	D
252	Nick Senzel, OF	C	D	C
254	Brandon Nimmo, OF	C	D	D
255	Kolten Wong, 2B	C	F	C
260	Eduardo Escobar, 3B	C	C	F
269	Jon Berti, 2B/OF	C	F	A
272	Manuel Margot, OF	C	F	B
284	Garrett Hampson, 2B/OF	C	D	B
287	Rowdy Tellez, 1B	C	B	F
288	Jurickson Profar, 2B/OF	C	D	C
298	Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 3B/SS	C	F	C
310	C.J. Cron, 1B	C	B	F
338	Elvis Andrus, SS	C	F	B
339	Myles Straw, OF	C	F	B
346	Jonathan Schoop, 2B	C	C	F
379	David Dahl, OF	C	D	C
380	Nate Lowe, 1B	C	C	F
412	Brendan Rodgers, 2B	C	C	C
451	Oscar Mercado, OF	C	D	C
480	Josh Rojas, 2B	C	D	D

Home Runs

Grade A home run sources

ADP	Player	BA	HR	SB
49	Aaron Judge, OF	C	A+	D
110	Giancarlo Stanton, DH	C	A+	F
133	Joey Gallo, OF	D	A+	D
1	Ronald Acuna, OF	B	A	A
2	Fernando Tatis, SS	B	A	A
4	Juan Soto, OF	A	A	B
5	Mike Trout, OF	A	A	C
10	Christian Yelich, OF	B	A	B
11	Jose Ramirez, 3B	B	A	B
12	Trevor Story, SS	B	A	B
13	Freddie Freeman, 1B	A	A	D
15	Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF	C	A	C
17	Bryce Harper, OF	B	A	C
20	Manny Machado, 3B	B	A	C
35	Eloy Jimenez, OF	B	A	F
44	Marcell Ozuna, OF	A	A	F
45	George Springer, OF	B	A	D
52	Pete Alonso, 1B	D	A	F
57	Luke Voit, 1B	C	A	F
71	Eugenio Suarez, 3B	C	A	F
81	Yordan Alvarez, DH	B	A	F
83	Nick Castellanos, OF	B	A	F
84	Matt Olson, 1B	D	A	F
88	Nelson Cruz, DH	B	A	F
89	J.D. Martinez, DH	B	A	F
96	Max Muncy, 1B/2B/3B	C	A	F
102	Matt Chapman, 3B	C	A	F
142	Rhys Hoskins, 1B	D	A	F
143	Jorge Soler, DH	C	A	F
146	Gary Sanchez, C	D	A	F
151	Franmil Reyes, DH	C	A	F
176	Miguel Sano, 1B	D	A	F
181	Josh Donaldson, 3B	C	A	F
344	Hunter Renfroe, OF	D	A	D

Grade B home run sources

ADP	Player	BA	HR	SB
3	Mookie Betts, OF	A	B	B
8	Trea Turner, SS	B	B	A
16	Francisco Lindor, SS	B	B	B
23	Bo Bichette, SS	B	B	C
25	DJ LeMahieu, 1B/2B/3B	A	B	D
29	Xander Bogaerts, SS	B	B	D
30	Anthony Rendon, 3B	A	B	D
32	Nolan Arenado, 3B	B	B	F
34	Corey Seager, SS	A	B	F
36	Alex Bregman, 3B	B	B	D
37	Jose Abreu, 1B	B	B	F
38	Kyle Tucker, OF	C	B	B
39	Rafael Devers, 3B	B	B	D
41	Luis Robert, OF	D	B	B
48	J.T. Realmuto, C	C	B	D
61	Gleyber Torres, SS	B	B	D
62	Randy Arozarena, OF	C	B	C
67	Keston Hiura, 2B	C	B	C
68	Brandon Lowe, 2B/OF	C	B	D
70	Michael Conforto, OF	B	B	D
75	Paul Goldschmidt, 1B	B	B	D
78	Javier Baez, SS	C	B	C
80	Teoscar Hernandez, OF	C	B	D
87	Salvador Perez, C	C	B	F
91	Austin Meadows, OF	B	B	D
92	Lourdes Gurriel, OF	B	B	D
98	Anthony Rizzo, 1B	B	B	D
104	Will Smith, C	C	B	F
111	Kris Bryant, 3B	B	B	F
113	Dominic Smith, 1B/OF	B	B	F
115	Mike Yastrzemski, OF	B	B	D
117	Byron Buxton, OF	D	B	B
120	Carlos Correa, SS	B	B	F
121	Eddie Rosario, OF	B	B	D
123	Mike Moustakas, 1B/2B	C	B	F
124	Wil Myers, OF	C	B	C
132	Josh Bell, 1B	C	B	F
137	Kyle Lewis, OF	C	B	C
150	Ian Happ, OF	C	B	D
157	Trey Mancini, OF	B	B	F
161	Anthony Santander, OF	C	B	F
166	Max Kepler, OF	D	B	D
172	Clint Frazier, OF	C	B	D
188	Kyle Schwarber, OF	D	B	F
209	Jared Walsh, 1B	C	B	F
211	Mitch Garver, C	C	B	F
213	Austin Riley, 3B	D	B	F
215	Carlos Santana, 1B	D	B	F
233	Andrew Vaughn, 1B	C	B	F
239	Paul DeJong, SS	D	B	D
253	Kole Calhoun, OF	D	B	D
278	Bobby Dalbec, 1B	D	B	F
287	Rowdy Tellez, 1B	C	B	F
289	Joc Pederson, OF	D	B	F
310	C.J. Cron, 1B	C	B	F
324	Justin Upton, OF	D	B	D
345	Adam Duvall, OF	D	B	F
397	Sam Hilliard, OF	D	B	C
472	Tyler O’Neill, OF	D	B	D

Grade C home run sources

ADP	Player	BA	HR	SB
33	Ozzie Albies, 2B	B	C	C
47	Tim Anderson, SS	A	C	C
54	Vladimir Guerrero, 1B	B	C	F
59	Cavan Biggio, 2B/3B/OF	D	C	C
65	Trent Grisham, OF	C	C	B
73	Charlie Blackmon, OF	A	C	D
77	Ketel Marte, 2B	A	C	D
86	Yoan Moncada, 3B	B	C	C
90	Jose Altuve, 2B	A	C	D
105	Dansby Swanson, SS	B	C	C
107	Alec Bohm, 3B	B	C	F
112	Willson Contreras, C	C	C	F
127	Tommy Pham, OF	C	C	B
130	Yasmani Grandal, C	D	C	F
131	Marcus Semien, SS	C	C	C
135	Travis d’Arnaud, C	B	C	F
139	Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B	B	C	C
144	Ramon Laureano, OF	C	C	C
147	Michael Brantley, OF	A	C	D
148	Eric Hosmer, 1B	C	C	D
152	Gio Urshela, 3B	A	C	F
155	Ryan Mountcastle, 1B/OF	B	C	F
156	Dylan Moo re 2B/OF	D	C	A
162	Didi Gregorius, SS	B	C	D
164	Dylan Carlson, OF	C	C	C
173	Shohei Ohtani, DH	B	C	C
177	A.J. Pollock, OF	C	C	C
196	Justin Turner, 3B	A	C	F
198	Christian Walker, 1B	C	C	D
202	Jarred Kelenic, OF	B	C	C
214	Andrew McCutchen, OF	C	C	C
218	Jesse Winker, OF	C	C	F
226	Hunter Dozier 1B/OF	C	C	D
227	Brian Anderson, 3B	C	C	F
230	J.D. Davis, 3B	B	C	F
232	Kyle Seager, 3B	D	C	F
237	Gavin Lux, 2B	C	C	D
238	Alex Kirilloff, OF	B	C	F
243	Aaron Hicks, OF	D	C	C
246	Mitch Haniger, OF	C	C	D
247	Mark Canha, OF	C	C	D
260	Eduardo Escobar, 3B	C	C	F
261	Willi Castro, SS	B	C	D
263	Wander Franco, SS	B	C	D
279	Jeimer Candelario, 1B/3B	B	C	F
333	Joey Votto, 1B	B	C	F
346	Jonathan Schoop, 2B	C	C	F
380	Nate Lowe, 1B	C	C	F
412	Brendan Rodgers, 2B	C	C	C

Stolen Bases

Grade A stolen base sources

ADP	Player	BA	HR	SB
27	Adalberto Mondesi, SS	C	D	A+
1	Ronald Acuna, OF	B	A	A
2	Fernando Tatis, SS	B	A	A
8	Trea Turner, SS	B	B	A
42	Whit Merrifield, 2B/OF	B	D	A
156	Dylan Moore 2B/OF	D	C	A
185	Jonathan Villar, 2B/SS	D	D	A
269	Jon Berti, 2B/OF	C	F	A

Grade B stolen base sources

ADP	Player	BA	HR	SB
3	Mookie Betts, OF	A	B	B
4	Juan Soto, OF	A	A	B
10	Christian Yelich, OF	B	A	B
11	Jose Ramirez, 3B	B	A	B
12	Trevor Story, SS	B	A	B
16	Francisco Lindor, SS	B	B	B
38	Kyle Tucker, OF	C	B	B
41	Luis Robert, OF	D	B	B
51	Starling Marte, OF	B	D	B
65	Trent Grisham, OF	C	C	B
117	Byron Buxton, OF	D	B	B
127	Tommy Pham, OF	C	C	B
138	Tommy Edman, 3B/SS/OF	B	D	B
160	Victor Robles, OF	D	D	B
183	Nick Madrigal, 2B	A	F	B
189	Andres Gimenez, 2B/3B/SS	C	D	B
224	Raimel Tapia, OF	B	F	B
234	Leody Taveras, OF	D	D	B
272	Manuel Margot, OF	C	F	B
284	Garrett Hampson, 2B/OF	C	D	B
338	Elvis Andrus, SS	C	F	B
339	Myles Straw, OF	C	F	B

Grade C stolen base sources

ADP	Player	BA	HR	SB
5	Mike Trout, OF	A	A	C
15	Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF	C	A	C
17	Bryce Harper, OF	B	A	C
20	Manny Machado, 3B	B	A	C
23	Bo Bichette, SS	B	B	C
33	Ozzie Albies, 2B	B	C	C
47	Tim Anderson, SS	A	C	C
59	Cavan Biggio, 2B/3B/OF	D	C	C
62	Randy Arozarena, OF	C	B	C
67	Keston Hiura, 2B	C	B	C
78	Javier Baez, SS	C	B	C
86	Yoan Moncada, 3B	B	C	C
105	Dansby Swanson, SS	B	C	C
124	Wil Myers, OF	C	B	C
126	Alex Verdugo, OF	B	D	C
131	Marcus Semien, SS	C	C	C
137	Kyle Lewis, OF	C	B	C
139	Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B	B	C	C
144	Ramon Laureano, OF	C	C	C
164	Dylan Carlson, OF	C	C	C
173	Shohei Ohtani, DH	B	C	C
177	A.J. Pollock, OF	C	C	C
182	Jake Cronenworth, 1B/2B/SS	B	D	C
184	Ha-seong Kim, SS	C	D	C
191	Nick Solak, 2B/OF	C	D	C
202	Jarred Kelenic, OF	B	C	C
207	Daulton Varsho, C/OF	C	D	C
214	Andrew McCutchen, OF	C	C	C
222	Andrew Benintendi, OF	C	D	C
243	Aaron Hicks, OF	D	C	C
252	Nick Senzel, OF	C	D	C
255	Kolten Wong, 2B	C	F	C
273	Lorenzo Cain, OF	B	D	C
288	Jurickson Profar, 2B/OF	C	D	C
298	Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 3B/SS	C	F	C
312	Cesar Hernandez, 2B	B	F	C
326	Scott Kingery, 2B	D	D	C
379	David Dahl, OF	C	D	C
397	Sam Hilliard, OF	D	B	C
407	Nico Hoerner, 2B/SS	B	F	C
412	Brendan Rodgers, 2B	C	C	C
451	Oscar Mercado, OF	C	D	C
623	Michael Taylor, OF	D	D	C

2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep: Ranking Tiers by category, not position makes for a perfect Roto cheat sheet