Below are our rankings of first basemen entering the 2018 season. The list was last updated on January 21, 2018.
| 1 | Paul Goldschmidt (ARZ) | Over the past three seasons, Goldschmidt has averaged 31 homers, 108 RBI, 109 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases. Expect more of that same elite level of production in 2018. |
| 2 | Joey Votto (CIN) | He has managed to produce a .300 or better BA in eight-of-the-past-nine years, with the only blemish being his injury-shortened 2014 season. Come October, we’ll be saying nine-out-of-ten years. |
| 3 | Anthony Rizzo (CHC) | If our only complaint is that he doesn’t run, it’s a rather small gripe. In Leagues that use 10-game eligibility rules, you also get the bonus of 2B eligibility. |
| 4 | Jose Abreu (CWS) | As safe and consistent as they come. Pencil in 30-100 with a .300 BA and enjoy the ride. |
| 5 | Freddie Freeman (ATL) | The broken left wrist wasn’t the only thing shattered in 2017. Just ask his many owners about their title dreams. Is a healthy Freeman poised to take that next step? |
| 6 | Cody Bellinger (LAD, OF) | There will be no sophomore slump. Repeat after me, there will be no sophomore slump. |
| 7 | Edwin Encarnacion (CLE) | The Ed-Wing will continue to soar. |
| 8 | Wil Myers (SD) | Dealing with a low BA is a much easier pill to swallow when you can count on 30 homers and 20 stolen bases. |
| 9 | Rhys Hoskins (PHI) | 18 homers in 170 at-bats is setting the bar very high. Will the move to the outfield help, hinder, or have no bearing on his 2018 results? |
| 10 | Eric Hosmer (FA) | Mid-20’s home run power, 90 RBI’s, and a handful of stolen bases makes Hosmer a boring, but effective option. |
| 11 | Carlos Santana (PHI) | The move to Citizens Bank Park won’t hurt. It’s a “Winning” move for both his career and the Phillies. |
| 12 | Justin Smoak (TOR, 1B) | Those 38 homers weren’t a case of smoke and mirrors. They were all Smoak and we’re expecting more of the same in 2018. |
| 13 | Josh Bell (PIT) | It has been a tough off-season for the Bucs faithful. Bell will be one of the few reasons to get excited about renewing those season tickets in Pittsburgh. |
| 14 | Miguel Cabrera (DET) | I’d like to give “Miggy” a mulligan for 2017, but lurking in the back of my mind are the back issues, specifically those two herniated discs. |
| 15 | Joey Gallo (TEX, 3B) | It’s tough to whine about that batting average when fifty homers are within reach. |
| 16 | Ryan Zimmerman (WAS) | His 36 homers last season equaled his total for the three previous years. Tempering your expectations is a solid plan. |
| 17 | Matt Olson (OAK) | Olson will be the next 40-homer low BA type. |
| 18 | Ian Desmond (COL, OF) | There’s nothing wrong with finding 15-to-20 thefts out of the corner-infield position. |
| 19 | Greg Bird (NYY) | A healthy Bird on your roster is worth 30-to-35 homers in the bank. |
| 20 | Matt Carpenter (STL) | In the past two years we’ve seen the homers drop to 21 and 23. The RBI’s to 68 and 69. The BA dropped to .241 last year. Will the shoulder be healthy enough to allow him to play third base? It’s fair to say that he’s no longer on “Top of the World”. |
| 21 | Trey Mancini (BAL, OF) | In any year other than 2017, he could have been the AL ROY. |
| 22 | Yulieski Gurriel (HOU) | The offense works. The haircut…..not so much. |
| 23 | Marwin Gonzalez (HOU, 2B, SS, OF) | The combination of power/speed and multi-position eligibility can’t and shouldn’t be ignored. |
| 24 | Ryan McMahon (COL) | He’s ready to assume the full-time gig in Colorado, and a pre-season favorite to earn NL-ROY honors. |
| 25 | Buster Posey (SF, C) | A bit light on power for a corner-infield slot, but he more than makes up for the lack of power with his great contact skills. |
| 26 | Chris Davis (BAL) | Is a bounce-back campaign in the works? Maybe for the power, but the BA will always be a concern. |
| 27 | Justin Bour (MIA) | |
| 28 | Ryon Healy (SEA, 3B) | |
| 29 | Eric Thames (MIL, OF) | |
| 30 | Brandon Belt (SF) | |
| 31 | Logan Morrison (FA) | |
| 32 | Yonder Alonso (CLE) | |
| 33 | Adrian Gonzalez (NYM) | |
| 34 | Mitch Moreland (BOS) | |
| 35 | Jose Martinez (STL, OF) | |
| 36 | Wilmer Flores (NYM, 3B) | |
| 37 | Joe Mauer (MIN) | |
| 38 | Jesus Aguilar (MIL) | |
| 39 | Ryan O’Hearn (KC) | |
| 40 | Lucas Duda (FA) | |
| 41 | Luis Valbuena (LAA, 3B) | |
| 42 | Chase Headley (SD, 3B) | |
| 43 | Matt Adams (WAS) | |
| 44 | C.J. Cron (LAA) | |
| 45 | Mike Napoli (FA) | |
| 46 | Mark Reynolds (FA) | |
| 47 | Dominic Smith (NYM) | |
| 48 | Adam Lind (FA, OF) | |
| 49 | Ryan Rua (TEX, OF) | |
| 50 | Jose Osuna (PIT, OF) | |
| 51 | Danny Valencia (FA) | |
| 52 | Tommy Joseph (PHI) | |
| 53 | Tomas Telis (MIA) | |
| 54 | Jefry Marte (LAA) | |
| 55 | Sam Travis (BOS) | |
| 56 | Ronald Guzman (TEX) | |
| 57 | Bobby Bradley (CLE) | |
| 58 | T. J. Rivera (NYM, 3B) | |
| 59 | John Hicks (DET) | |
| 60 | Andrew Romine (SEA, 2B, 3B, OF) | |
| 61 | Tyler Moore (FA) | |
| 62 | Ryder Jones (SF) | |
| 63 | A. J. Reed (HOU) | |
| 64 | Ji-Man Choi (MIL) | |
| 65 | Kennys Vargas (MIN) |