Fantasy Baseball Position Report: Early-Season Catcher Breakdown

We are over a month into the MLB season now, which makes it a good time to start breaking down what we've seen.

In this new series, we'll start breaking down fantasy baseball positions. Let's tackle the catcher position first.

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Top Catchers

Using ESPN scoring settings, New York Yankees' Ben Rice is the top-scoring fantasy catcher, even though he's primarily a first baseman this season. That just makes Rice a better fantasy asset now.

Atlanta's Drake Baldwin is right behind Rice. He's just eligible at catcher, but is playing enough and delivering big to utilize in all fantasy leagues. He's one of my favorite fantasy assets in the league, and he's just getting started.

Athletics' Shea Langeliers is the No. 3 fantasy catcher. He's on the paternity list now, but has been a high-end fantasy hitter when active this season. Langeliers is a great asset to have on your fantasy team, and that should remain true the remainder of the season.

Miami's Liam Hicks is the No. 4 fantasy catcher right now. He's been one of the biggest fantasy surprises of the season, and he just keeps delivering. He's also eligible at first base, so he's a very good fantasy asset.

Milwaukee's William Contreras is the No. 5 fantasy catcher. He was a high-end draft pick at the position to kick off the season, so it's good to see him delivering. Contreras has more in him yet too, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him finish even higher by the end of the year.

Underperforming Catchers

Seattle's Cal Raleigh was the first fantasy catcher taken in fantasy drafts, and was a first-round pick in most leagues. He's started the year slow, and is now dealing with an injury. Raleigh is the No. 15 fantasy catcher right now, and he should improve in time, but he's looking like an early draft bust right now.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith was the fourth fantasy catcher taken in drafts this season. He's barely sitting inside the top 10 right now, so he's underperforming, and by a good margin too. Smith is capable of delivering more and finishing near the top five by the end of the season, but things are off to a slow start.

Kansas City's Salvador Perez was the sixth fantasy catcher taken this year. He's barely inside the top 20 right now. Perez is also eligible at first base, so he has a bit more fantasy value, but he's still being dropped in leagues because he's simply not producing at the plate.

Miami's Agustin Ramirez was the eighth fantasy catcher taken - he's outside the top 15 right now. He recently was sent down to the minor leagues, so he's quickly turning into a big-time draft bust. Ramirez could return later in the year, but for now, he's off the fantasy radar.

Houston's Yainer Diaz was the No. 10 fantasy catcher taken, and he barely sits in the top 20 right now. Diaz is about to hit the injured list, so he's going to drop from that spot. Look for him when he returns, but for now, Diaz looks like another draft bust.

Position Fantasy Outlook

We've already discussed 10 fantasy catchers in this article, and there's more that are on the fantasy radar now.

I think Rice, Baldwin, Langeliers and Contreras are here to stay as top-end fantasy catcher options. I think guys like Smith, Raleigh and Adley Rutschman could factor in by the end of the year.

Injuries and hot/cold streaks will alter the catcher rankings/standings throughout the year, so it's a position to consistently be checking up on. There's guys like Contreras, Baldwin and Langeliers that you can set in your lineup and not have to worry about, but the guys who aren't playing daily require fantasy owners to be swapping out catchers daily.

The best advice I can give is to carry two catchers no matter what. Even the best fantasy catchers require off days, and that's where that other catcher comes in handy.

If you don't have a locked-in starter, you can swap between your two (or three) catchers. If you have multiple options who are excelling, then you can start additional catchers at utility spots.

Don't give up on highly-rostered fantasy catchers after slow stretches. Just bench them until their bat heats back up.

Be constantly watching stats and performances and react accordingly. Catcher is one of the hardest fantasy spots to get consistent production in, so be willing to put in work with your team's fantasy catchers.