Oakland Athletics: A complete fantasy baseball guide for 2020
By Allen Settle
1. Matt Olson, 1B
When to Target: Picks 55-65
To the surprise of many A’s fans, Matt Olson is the consensus top player on most pre-draft rankings.
The power-hitting first baseman finished as the 15th-best first baseman despite missing 35 games in 2019. He set career highs in home runs (36), RBI (91), and batting average (.267).
Olson is the 63rd best player on ESPN rankings and the 71st player according to MLB.com. While his current projections indicate a slight dip, he is expected to have another impressive power season with 33 homers and 83 RBI.
The slugging corner infielder brings a valuable skill set to the table. Barring a catastrophic injury, Olson is expected to play every day and bring 30-40 home runs to anyone who drafts him. He also plays at a position that lacks overall depth.
As an Olson owner last season, I advise managers to invest heavily to ensure the first baseman is on your team this year.