The fastest way to drive runs in is, of course, the long ball. So, home-run power is the first thing to look for when setting a baseline for RBI on your fantasy baseball roster. There are other aspects in a given hitter’s profile to consider, however: spot in the batting order, home hitting environment, the ability of the lineup around them and, obviously, a track record of plating runs.
The group of players below should be set to rack up plenty of RBI in 2023 based on the above criteria. The list features players from various junctures of drafts based upon consensus ADP at time of writing. Be sure to check out our other articles highlighting players to target for specific stats.
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- Hitters to Avoid | Target
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Players to Target for RBI
Let’s jump in and identify players that combine solid RBI potential with appropriate draft stock.
ADP Top-100
Aaron Judge (OF – NYY): ADP 1
In the view of many, Judge is the No. 1 overall player going into fantasy drafts this year. Of the several reasons for that is his ability to drive in runs for the Yankees. The defending A.L. MVP tied for the Major-League lead in RBI with a whopping 131 last season after delivering 98 in 2021. There is no better option to bolster the RBI category right out of the gate than Judge.
Matt Olson (1B – ATL): ADP 41
During his first year in Atlanta, Olson eclipsed 100 RBI for the second consecutive season. He drove in 103 runs for the N.L. East champs despite a 31-point drop in batting average and a decline in his OPS from .911 to .802. The first year with a new team can be quite a challenge. On top of that, Olson was also tasked with replacing Braves’ legend Freddie Freeman at first base. Olson is a great bet for a third straight 100-plus RBI season in the middle of a loaded lineup.
Alex Bregman (3B – HOU): ADP 67
Bregman has paced 104 RBI per 162 games over the past five seasons. In 2022, he drove in 93 across 155 games for the World Champions as part of a bounce-back season that saw him post an .820 OPS with 23 homers and 38 doubles. The two-time All-Star really got it going with the bat down the stretch. From the beginning of August forward, Bregman slugged over .500 with 10 HR and 38 RBI over 56 games. He definitely has a shot at 100 RBI in the heart of the Astros’ order.
ADP 101-200
Anthony Santander (OF – BAL): ADP 120
Santander had shown stretches of strong production in previous seasons, but, last year, he finally got the full allotment of games to show out. Across 647 plate appearances in 2022, Santander set career highs with 33 homers and 89 RBI for the surprisingly competitive Orioles. With players like Cedric Mullins and Adley Rutschman setting the table atop the lineup, Santander will have plenty of chances to drive in runs yet again.
Hunter Renfroe (OF – LAA): ADP 144
Traded to a new club in a second straight offseason, Renfroe will have the opportunity to lineup behind names such as Trout and Ohtani in 2023. Back in 2021, the now 31-year-old slugger pounded 31 HR and picked up 96 RBI for the Red Sox across 144 games. Renfroe was limited to 125 games for the Brewers last year, but he still recorded 29 HR and 72 RBI. As long he remains healthy, 80-plus RBI is a reasonable expectation with upside to boot.
J.D. Martinez (DH – LAD): ADP 188
After Martinez showed significant signs of decline with the disappointing Red Sox last year, many are skeptical at best that he can rebound with his 35th birthday behind him. Increasing his chances of a rebound is his new home in the Dodgers’ lineup. After signing a one-year, $10MM deal back in December, Martinez should find himself in the DH spot most days and with a wealth of baserunners to bring home. He may have only managed 62 RBI in 2022, but that total was 99 just one year prior.
ADP 201-300
Joey Meneses (1B,OF – WSH): ADP 205
Okay, Meneses may be lacking a long track record and a potent lineup around him, but the Nationals were not any better during his impressive 56-game rookie run last year. The late-blooming 30 year old made his MLB debut on August 2 and proceeded to put up an outstanding .324/.367/.563 slash line with 13 deep drives and 34 RBI down the stretch. Every MLB team scores at least some runs. Meneses figures to bring in a big share of the Nationals total.
Ryan McMahon (2B,3B – COL): ADP 221
McMahon largely disappointed fantasy managers with just 20 homers and 67 RBI over 153 games this past season. That came after driving in 86 runs in 2021 and 83 back in 2019. Encouragingly, like a couple of previously mentioned players, the now 28-year-old infielder picked things up at the plate in the latter third of the season. After the calendar flipped to August, McMahon slugged .500 with 12 HR and 24 RBI. Playing his home games in Coors Field with the power he possesses, McMahon should bounce back with another solid RBI output.
Wil Myers (1B,OF – CIN): ADP 282
Granted, Myers is almost a complete afterthought pertaining to fantasy relevance. But just look at that draft cost. It’s virtually no risk. Myers should finally return to a consistent, everyday role for the first time in years, and he is set to play his home games at one of the best hitter’s parks in the game as well as hit in the middle of the Reds’ lineup. Somehow, he only just turned 32 back in December though it seems as if Myers has been around forever. We saw Brandon Drury reemerge in Cincy last year. Myers is a candidate to do likewise in 2023.
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Nate Miller is a featured writer at FantasyPros and a 9-year veteran of the fantasy sports industry. For more from Nate, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @Miller_RotoDad.
