Left field is a deep position even if the top end is not as good as the other outfield positions. Some leagues employ five outfielders and some fantasy players use outfielders to fill their utility slot. Players that play in generic leagues should pay attention to their aggregate numbers and total points. Rankings were based loosely on their composite rankings throughout the different platforms.

Total points may be new to some of you. It is the primary method used in daily fantasy leagues. Of course, each platform uses their own formula, so we created one of our own. Total points is unique in that it encompasses everything a player does offensively. Since it includes negative events like strikeouts, players often see their rankings differ between total points and more traditional formats. So, we are including their aggregate statistics over the last five seasons, their per 162 numbers, and Steamer projections.

Total points = Total Bases + Runs + RBI + SB + BB + HBP – SO – CS – GIDP

Ian Desmond—Colorado Rockies 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	95	153		1.61
2016	156	365		2.34
2015	156	215		1.38
2014	154	290		1.88
2013	158	331		2.09
AVG	144	271	12	1.88	24

Aggregate: .265, 18 HR, 75 Runs, 72 RBI, 19 SB, 40 BB       5 Category: 4

Per 162: .267, 19 HR, 79 Runs, 77 RBI, 22 SB, 41 BB              6 Category: 4

Steamer: .283, 22 HR, 76 Runs, 78 RBI, 16 SB, 45 BB          DRS: -4

There is a huge difference between total points and standard formats due to the amount of strikeouts that Desmond brings to the occasion. No one in their right mind would pick him fourth among left fielders given his recent injury history. Picking him outside of the top ten seems like the most prudent course of action. He brings a little of everything except for patience.

Trey Mancini— Baltimore Orioles 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	147	297		2.02
AVG	147	297	7	2.02	18

Aggregate: .293, 24 HR, 65 Runs, 78 RBI, 1 SB, 33 BB         5 Category: 7

Per 162: .294, 29 HR, 72 Runs, 88 RBI, 1 SB, 35 BB              6 Category: 8

Steamer: .275, 23 HR, 74 Runs, 80 RBI, 2 SB, 39 BB            DRS: -1

Much like Andrew Benintendi, Mancini has a short but impressive track record. His placement here perhaps shows the lack of depth at the position. He doesn’t have Benintendi’s speed, but he has the other four categories down. The true separation comes when we include walks. There will likely be more separation this season because pitchers will start cluing into Mancini’s lack of patience.

Tommy Pham—St. Louis Cardinals 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	128	363		2.84
2016	78	62		0.79
2015	52	98		1.88
AVG	86	174	27	2.02	17

Aggregate: .267, 12 HR, 50 Runs, 36 RBI, 10 SB, 37 BB        5 Category: 27

Per 162: .281, 23 HR, 91 Runs, 66 RBI, 18 SB, 68 BB             6 Category: 27

Steamer: .267, 20 HR, 80 Runs, 70 RBI, 7 SB, 68 BB            DRS: +11

Pham has an image problem that is not entirely his fault. Both Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk looked really good when they came up. Piscotty has been traded and Grichuk is merely a fourth outfielder. Is that the same fate awaiting Pham? He didn’t light up the stat board in the minors, so many believe he will be a similar semi-regular. Unlike Benintendi or Mancini, Pham’s points per game really stick out and make him an attractive gamble at this point in the rankings.

Nomar Mazara—Texas Rangers 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	148	301		2.03
2016	145	276		1.90
AVG	147	289	8	1.97	22

Aggregate: .260, 20 HR, 62 Runs, 83 RBI, 1 SB, 47 BB         5 Category: 16

Per 162: .259, 22 HR, 68 Runs, 91 RBI, 1 SB, 52 BB               6 Category: 15

Steamer: .274, 25 HR, 80 Runs, 85 RBI, 3 SB, 54 BB            DRS: -6

Total points has a way of stripping away the façade and getting at the heart of the player. Mazara looks a lot more ordinary that his five category numbers would seem to indicate. Some players are like vultures. They throw up good run or RBI numbers in spite of their flaws. Unfortunately, they don’t do it forever. Mazara a good depth piece to add late in your draft, but someone might buy into the numbers and pick him earlier. Let them.

Corey Dickerson—Tampa Bay Rays 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	150	310		2.07
2016	148	253		1.71
2015	65	131		2.02
2014	131	329		2.51
2013	69	112		1.62
AVG	113	227	20	2.01	19

Aggregate: .281, 18 HR, 55 Runs, 51 RBI, 3 SB, 26 BB           5 Category: 21

Per 162: .280, 26 HR, 80 Runs, 74 RBI, 4 SB, 38 BB              6 Category: 25

Steamer: .260, 26 HR, 77 Runs, 79 RBI, 4 SB, 40 BB             DRS: -1

When you get to this point in the rankings you start looking at some serious warts. Dickerson lacks plate discipline and can’t seem to stay healthy, but otherwise is very good. This is where it takes some creative thinking. If you see him as a 100 to 110 game player then all you need is someone that can produce decent numbers for 50 or 60 games. That way, you can punt left field on draft day and maybe get 30 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBI out of the position.

Eddie Rosario— Minnesota Twins 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	151	352		2.33
2016	92	147		1.60
2015	122	215		1.76
AVG	122	238	19	1.95	23

Aggregate: .275, 17 HR, 64 Runs, 53 RBI, 8 SB, 21 BB         5 Category: 13

Per 162: .277, 22 HR, 85 Runs, 71 RBI, 11 SB, 28 BB            6 Category: 19

Steamer: .274, 23 HR, 71 Runs, 81 RBI, 10 SB, 31 BB          DRS: -10

Rosario has warts to be sure. Whenever you move beyond the top ten at any position and you will start seeing warts. Rosario has considerable plate discipline issues that can be seen more clearly when you look at total points. If you are in a standard 5×5 format those concerns take a back seat to the other numbers he has been putting up recently. So, where he ranks depends heavily on what format you are playing.

David Peralta—Arizona Diamondbacks 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	140	324		2.31
2016	48	80		1.67
2015	149	319		2.14
2014	88	75		1.25
AVG	106	225	22	2.12	14

Aggregate: .286, 11 HR, 52 Runs, 47 RBI, 6 SB, 28 BB         5 Category: 24

Per 162: .293, 16 HR, 79 Runs, 71 RBI, 10 SB, 42 BB            6 Category: 26

Steamer: .281, 17 HR, 75 Runs, 69 RBI, 8 SB, 45 BB            DRS: +6

The Per 162 and Steamer projections look a lot more optimistic than the aggregate data. Peralta has always been promising, but he has not been able to remain healthy. If he produces like he did last season and in 2015 then he could be a starting quality left fielder, but it just is too risky to put a starting quality grade on him at this point.

Kyle Schwarber—Chicago Cubs 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	129	231		1.79
2015	69	167		2.42
AVG	99	199	24	2.01	20

Aggregate: .229, 23 HR, 59 Runs, 51 RBI, 2 SB, 48 BB         5 Category: 26

Per 162: .222, 37 HR, 96 Runs, 83 RBI, 3 SB, 78 BB              6 Category: 22

Steamer: .241, 25 HR, 63 Runs, 63 RBI, 3 SB, 54 BB            DRS: -8

It’s easy to look at a statistic like batting average and run away screaming in fear. Batting average is but one statistic and when you throw in the sixth category he becomes a four- category contributor. Total points also includes some issues as it pertains to strikeouts, but he brings enough power to the plate to be on someone’s fantasy bench. If he could even hit .250 he could become a fantasy force.

Ben Gamel—Seattle Mariners 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	134	247		1.84
AVG	134	247	18	1.84	26

Aggregate: .275, 11 HR, 68 Runs, 59 RBI, 4 SB, 36 BB         5 Category: 15

Per 162: .268, 12 HR, 75 Runs, 62 RBI, 4 SB, 41 BB              6 Category: 17

Steamer: .260, 11 HR, 65 Runs, 58 RBI, 8 SB, 43 BB            DRS: -8

Gamel could be called a poor man’s Christian Yelich. When Yelich first came up they said he was only power away from being a superstar. Gamel will likely never be a superstar, but if he developed 20 home run power he could be a borderline all-star performer. Power is usually the last thing to develop, so we may not see it in 2018, but he could see power develop in year three or four.

Melky Cabrera—Free Agent

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	156	369		2.37
2016	151	405		2.68
2015	158	334		2.11
2014	139	378		2.72
2013	88	186		2.11
AVG	138	334	4	2.42	4

Aggregate: .287, 12 HR, 68 Runs, 70 RBI, 3 SB, 38 BB         5 Category: 12

Per 162: .286, 13 HR, 80 Runs, 74 RBI, 9 SB, 46 BB              6 Category: 12

Steamer: .286, 11 HR, 50 Runs, 50 RBI, 1 SB, 27 BB             DRS: -20

Rankings are largely based on past performance, but it is hard to ignore the fact that Cabrera doesn’t have a job yet. He can nominally play right or left field, but based on his fielding numbers he really can’t play anything well. He has never been a Gold Glove guy, but his fielding fell off a cliff last season. Steamer is projecting part-time duty for him next season, and that might end up being the case. However, we are betting he sticks as a regular somewhere.