Fantasy Baseball: Jose Bautista and the 5 Best Fantasy Players This Season

Fantasy baseball is growing every year in popularity and fans everywhere are finding new ways to get involved in the sport of Major League Baseball. 

Whether it is money or pride that is on the line, everyone wants to win their fantasy league—and if you have any of the guys on this list, you have a chance to do it.

5. Ryan Braun

Ryan Braun is having another excellent year for the Milwaukee Brewers and is a big part of the reason why they are fighting for first place in the National League Central.

Braun is currently batting .320 (fourth best in the NL) and has driven in 62 runs (fifth best in the NL). That, combined with a solid 16 home runs, makes Braun a fantasy player's dream outfielder.

According to ESPN's Fantasy Baseball Player Rater, Ryan Braun has a player rating of 12.82. He is also fifth on their list of best fantasy players.

Braun is young and just entering his prime, so if you are lucky enough to have him in a keeper league, feel blessed.

There should be no stopping Braun and, barring any major injury, he should finish the season as strong as he started it.  

4. Curtis Granderson

Curtis Granderson is having a monster year, especially in terms of power.

While Granderson has always been known as a solid home-run hitter, he has never hit like this before.

Granderson's career high in home runs is 30—and he already has 25 on the season, a few days before the break.

With the same production, Granderson could hit 50 by the end of the season. However, I don't see him keeping up with his current pace, which is why he is No. 4 on my list.

Granderson also strikes out a little too much, which, if he continues, could slow his fantasy season as well.

ESPN's Fantasy Baseball Player Rater has Granderson third on their list, mostly because of his home-run hitting, but when he slows down he will begin to fall on that list.

Even if Granderson does end up slowing down, he is having a fantastic season. It is looking like the New York Yankees made a good deal when trading for him. 

3. Jose Reyes

Jose Reyes is having one of the best statistical seasons in his career and is dominating fantasy baseball.

Reyes scores a 12.98 on the ESPN Fantasy Baseball Player Rater and is fourth-overall on their list.

I have Reyes higher because he is in a contract year and I see him producing this way all season. As great of a year as Curtis Granderson is having, there is still a lot of baseball left and I see him really slowing down offensively.

As for Reyes, if he can stay healthy he should be able to keep the same average and continue to steal bases consistently—a great way to win fantasy games.

Reyes may not be the best player to have long term, as his numbers may drop after his contract year. However, he should still be one of the best fantasy players for a long time.

2. Jose Bautista

Jose Bautista (aka Joey Bats, The Bautista Bomb, the best power hitter in baseball), is proving that his breakout season last year was no fluke.

Bautista is second on ESPN's Fantasy Baseball Player Rater list, with a score of 13.43. He was very close to taking the No. 1 spot on my list.

Bautista is leading the MLB in home runs (28), but also has a great batting average (.335) and has driven in 60 runs.

Bautista is having a great fantasy season and doesn't hurt you in any category.

While he will never be a base stealer, he makes up for it with his power and his ability to drive in runs.

Bautista is a great piece to have in a keeper league and is very easy to build around.

1. Matt Kemp

While most of the Los Angeles Dodgers' season has been clouded by the smoke of controversy, Matt Kemp is any Dodgers fan's gas mask.

Kemp has a player rating of 15.31 on the ESPN Fantasy Baseball Player Rater scale and is pretty clear-cut as the best fantasy player out there.

Kemp is the definition of a five-tool player and can literally do it all, which is what makes him the best fantasy baseball player this season.

Kemp's game has no holes and no matter your team's weakness, he will improve it.

If you need steals, he will get them; home runs, he will get them; RBI, he will get them.

Matt Kemp can do it all. Not only is he the best fantasy baseball player in the game, but he may also be the best hitter in the game today.