It's rather difficult to rank anyone else other than Los Angeles Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani as the No. 1 player for 2025 drafts, almost regardless of format. Ohtani delivered a historic 2024 campaign, the first ever to surpass both 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season -- and the steals are critical in roto/category leagues.
It seems likely, however, that when Ohtani returns to pitching, he will not possess the same vehemence to steal bases. This season saw Ohtani, 30, more than doubling his previous career best for stolen bases.
Still, there are so many positive variables for Ohtani in fantasy. The fact he managed to shock us all in his first season with the other L.A. franchise -- even without taking the mound -- almost makes us expect him to do something else extraordinary in his second go-around with the Dodgers.
Perhaps he hits for even more power in 2025 or a future season, threatening the single-season record. Perhaps he sets new, unfathomable records as a pitcher. In some fantasy leagues, daily or weekly, Ohtani's ability to both hit and pitch makes him an automatic No. 1 pick. Who can bet against him?
So that is why, in compiling a set of extraordinarily way-too-early top-50 rankings for 2025, even prior to the end of the 2024 season, Ohtani must be the pick to lead it all. He is hardly the only great player to target in the first round, but the possibilities feel endless with him, statistically and otherwise. Let's not overthink things.
Way-too-early top-50 category-based rankings for 2025
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH, Dodgers: Even if Ohtani reverts to "only" a 40-HR, 25-SB season, combine that with potentially awesome pitching and he gets the nod.
2. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals: Don't be too surprised. Witt not only produced his second 30/30 campaign, but he won the batting title and slashed his strikeout rate.
3. Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees: Questions of durability and not power potential pushed him out of the first round in myriad 2024 drafts, but those concerns abated.
4. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Guardians: Quite the picture of consistency, Ramirez bounced back from a mildly disappointing 2023 campaign and delivered Ohtani-like numbers.
5. Gunnar Henderson, SS, Orioles: His line looks a lot like Witt's, except for batting average and strikeouts -- and we should expect Henderson to continue improving there.
6. Juan Soto, OF, Yankees: A king in points formats, he is a reliable four-category roto star, lacking only in steals. He is also a free agent, and leaving the Yankees might lower his value.
7. Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds: You can and should get him far later in points formats, where the strikeouts are a major problem, but in roto, the stolen bases are critical.
8. Mookie Betts, 2B/SS/OF, Dodgers: A broken hand cost him two months, but the numbers remained terrific. His defensive versatility comes in handy, too.
9. Kyle Tucker, OF, Astros: Like Betts, Tucker missed a large portion of the season, but you can't fault his numbers, and he remains in his prime.
10. Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Braves: Acuna wasn't great in 2022, coming off his first ACL tear. Now he is recovering from another, so keep the expectations somewhat in check.
11. Francisco Lindor, SS, Mets: OK, so he might never win a batting title, but we can count on power, speed and, most of the time, rare durability.
12. Yordan Alvarez, OF, Astros: Consistency matters, and Alvarez boasts four consecutive seasons of reliable power and safe batting average.
13. Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, Padres: Something always seems to derail him, but he remains a top power/speed option entering his prime.
14. Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks: A disappointing follow-up to his incredible rookie campaign, but he rebounded nicely in a strong second half. We love power/speed options.
15. Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners: Much like Carroll, fantasy managers suffered with him for the first few months, then he became a rejuvenated player after the All-Star break.
16. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays
17. Bryce Harper, 1B, Phillies
18. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers
Take your pick with these top first basemen, but Guerrero is the youngest. Do not assume Freeman cannot bounce back to his 2023 stats.
19. Jarren Duran, OF, Red Sox
20. Trea Turner, SS, Phillies
Duran, 28, remains an ascending player, and he is a candidate to steal more bases. Turner missed time because of a hamstring injury and did not run as expected.
21. Tarik Skubal, SP, Tigers
22. Zack Wheeler, SP, Phillies
23. Paul Skenes, SP, Pirates
Skubal was this year's top fantasy hurler, and there are no concerns with health or age. Wheeler has a track record of success in Philadelphia. Skenes is the future, for sure, and we can understand if you choose him first.
24. Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox
25. Manny Machado, 3B, Padres
26. Willy Adames, SS, Brewers
Devers and Machado offer consistency, for sure. Adames emerged with his best season yet, and it included surprising stolen bases.
27. Jackson Merrill, OF, Padres
28. Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers
"The Jacksons" offered five-category production as rookies, and as their plate discipline evolves, they should only keep getting better. Baltimore's Jackson Holliday, for now, is not a reasonable option to join them in the early rounds.
29. Corbin Burnes, SP, Orioles
30. Logan Gilbert, SP, Mariners
31. Bryce Miller, SP, Mariners
32. Dylan Cease, SP, Padres
33. Chris Sale, SP, Braves
34. Gerrit Cole, SP, Yankees
These were all top-10 starting pitchers in 2024, and other than Sale (who is riskier/older than the others), we should expect top performance again in 2025.
35. Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks
36. Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros
Marte comes off his best season, while Altuve shows few signs of leveling off reliable performance.
37. Corey Seager, SS, Rangers
38. Marcus Semien, 2B, Rangers
One Rangers middle infielder is durable, one not so much. Still, don't forget how great they were in 2023. They can both rebound.
39. Marcell Ozuna, DH, Braves
40. Brent Rooker, OF, Athletics
41. Anthony Santander, OF, Orioles
42. Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies
Fantasy managers do love their power hitters, regardless of position, age, and sometimes even safety in terms of batting average.
43. Logan Webb, SP, Giants
44. Aaron Nola, SP, Phillies
45. Spencer Strider, SP, Braves
Enjoy safe, reliable innings from Webb and Nola. With Strider coming off Tommy John surgery, who knows? He was the No. 1 SP in 2024 drafts. Feel free to insert Luis Castillo, Kevin Gausman, Zac Gallen, Pablo Lopez and others in this group.
46. Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets
47. Matt Olson, 1B, Braves
48. Austin Riley, 3B, Braves
More safe power from proven players, and another reminder to look at last season's ADP to see what occurred, instead of relying solely on recent stats.
49. William Contreras, C, Brewers: A catcher in the top 50? Well, this one really hits, and he really lapped the position in runs scored.
50. Emmanuel Clase, RP, Guardians: A relief pitcher in the top 50? Well, in points formats, absolutely. In roto? Sure. If you want saves, Clase earns a ton of them every season.