Early 2027 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Top 20 at first base barely scratches surface at a deep position — SkimNews
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- Nick Kurtz is ranked No. 1 at first base for 2027 despite a .256 batting average, with the source noting a thumb sprain ended his season on June 18 when he was batting .280 with a .951 OPS.
- Miguel Vargas lands at No. 2, elevated by his third-base eligibility and his status as the largest gainer in average bat speed this year, with the source flagging concern about a one-hit-wonder label.
- Pete Alonso had a disastrous first month with the Baltimore Orioles but from May 1 on looked like the best version of himself, and his expected stats suggest he could be a plus for batting average going forward.
- Matt Olson and Alonso both finished as 40-homer guys, but their seasons followed opposite trajectories — Olson started hot and finished poorly — with Alonso getting the edge on projected batting average.
- Jac Caglianone finally began matching his massive exit velocities in June, pacing out from that point to a .300 average with about 35 homers, and could challenge Kurtz for the top spot if he lifts the ball more.
- Bryce Harper regains outfield eligibility after a quietly strong age-34 season and reemerged as a preeminent on-base threat, while Freddie Freeman drops to No. 13 at age 37 due to a bum knee and injury risk.
- The source notes the position's depth is so extreme that Josh Naylor, Michael Busch, Kyle Stowers and Spencer Steer all miss the top 20, with ties broken by multi-eligibility, reliability and theoretical upside in that order.
Why it matters: With multi-eligible players like Vargas, Sal Stewart and Curtis Mead ranked ahead of pure 1B-only options, fantasy drafters gain flexibility to fill scarce positions like third base without sacrificing first-base production. Kurtz's top ranking is contingent on health rather than skill decline, while Alonso's expected stats suggest his real value may have shifted to batting average rather than just power.
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