Fantasy baseball catcher rankings: Who's No. 1 for 2025?

The importance of the catcher position in fantasy baseball is largely dependent on whether your league rules require one or two in your active lineup. The studs at the position will always be valuable, but depth can be an issue in deeper formats.
The first catcher off the board should be Milwaukee's William Contreras. He hit for power (23 homers, .466 slugging) and average (.281) while scoring a position-high 99 runs (22 more than runner-up Will Smith). His older brother Willson stands next in the National League ranks, partly because he's moving out from behind the plate and taking over as the St. Louis Cardinals' everyday first baseman. That means more at-bats for him and for his replacement, Ivan Herrera, who hit well in a part-time role last season.
In the American League, Baltimore's Adley Rutschman is looking to rebound from nagging injuries and a down year at the plate. The AL also boasts the position's top hitter for average, Yainer Diaz of the Astros (.299) and power, Cal Raleigh of the Mariners (34 HR). And don't forget about perennial stalwart Salvador Perez (104 RBI). The Royals will look to keep him fresh by splitting time between catcher and first base.
2025 fantasy baseball catcher rankings
Eligibility based on a minimum of 20 games played at the position in 2024. Other eligible positions also noted.
Rank | Player | Team | League |
1 | William Contreras | Mil | NL1 |
2 | Adley Rutschman | Bal | AL1 |
3 | Yainer Diaz | Hou | AL2 |
4 | Salvador Perez-1B | KC | AL3 |
5 | Cal Raleigh | Sea | AL4 |
6 | Willson Contreras | StL | NL2 |
7 | Will Smith | LAD | NL3 |
8 | J.T. Realmuto | Phi | NL4 |
9 | Shea Langeliers | Ath | AL5 |
10 | Logan O'Hoppe | LAA | AL6 |
11 | Tyler Stephenson | Cin | NL5 |
12 | Ivan Herrera | StL | NL6 |
13 | Gabriel Moreno | Ari | NL7 |
14 | Keibert Ruiz | Was | NL8 |
15 | Austin Wells | NYY | AL7 |
16 | Ryan Jeffers | Min | AL8 |
17 | Joey Bart | Pit | NL9 |
18 | Sean Murphy | Atl | NL10 |
19 | Bo Naylor | Cle | AL9 |
20 | Danny Jansen | TB | AL10 |
21 | Connor Wong | Bos | AL11 |
22 | Drake Baldwin | Atl | NL11 |
23 | Alejandro Kirk | Tor | AL12 |
24 | Freddy Fermin | KC | AL13 |
25 | Jonah Heim | Tex | AL14 |
26 | Francisco Alvarez | NYM | NL12 |
27 | Hunter Goodman-OF | Col | NL13 |
28 | Miguel Amaya | ChC | NL14 |
29 | Travis d'Arnaud | LAA | AL15 |
30 | Patrick Bailey | SF | NL15 |
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