Let’s start by saying that drafting with the first overall pick is not a bad scenario by any means. Regardless of the format of your league, and even regardless of the scoring format, you’ll have the ability to draft an elite player with the fifth overall pick. One who will carry your team throughout the season with elite numbers.
However, we have to be realistic. If you’re drafting fifth overall, you’re not getting Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge or Juan Soto. You’re probably won’t get Bobby Witt Jr., either, as Witt is projected to go third overall in several mock drafts, even ahead of Soto. So, let’s focus on two realistic targets with the fifth overall selection.
The best two players you could draft with the fifth overall pick are Jose Ramirez or Tarik Skubal, but a decision can be made on several factors, including the strategy you choose to assemble your roster. If you want to grab an elite hitter, Ramirez could very well be the best option available. He’s a future Hall of Famer who brings value across the board. However, if you want to boost your rotation early on, you could easily look at Tarik Skubal, who has won the AL Cy Young in the last two seasons.
Making a case to draft Jose Ramirez over Tarik Skubal with the 1.05 pick in fantasy baseball
Ramirez is a Top 5 player in fantasy baseball ahead of the 2026 season, so he’s a realistic shot at being available at 1.05 in all formats. The veteran third baseman is coming off another impressive season in 2025, hitting .283 with an .863 OPS, 30 homers, 34 doubles and 44 stolen bases. He was one of seven players to record at least 30 home runs and 30 steals, and he’s an elite talent in a position (3B) that is particularly thin in terms of impact talent. If you draft Ramirez, you’ll be getting the best third baseman in baseball by a wide margin.
Elite talent aside, Ramirez is also durable and extremely consistent. The veteran, who signed a seven-year, $175 million contract extension with the Guardians on January 24, has played at least 150 games in each of the last five seasons while averaging 31.6 homers, 102.4 RBI, 101 runs and 32 steals per year in that span. That’s elite production worthy of a Top-5 pick in fantasy baseball, regardless of how you look at it.
Skubal could be an excellent choice if you’re looking to start your roster with a pitcher, as he’s the best in baseball right now. Skubal was utterly dominant in 2025, He posted a 2.21 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while striking out 241 batters over 195.1 innings in the regular season, and he fanned 36 across three playoff starts for the Tigers while allowing four runs across 20.2 innings. However, there are several other elite pitchers available who could operate as your ace, so you could still find an elite pitcher in the second or third round.
Ultimately, you’ll be the one who makes the final decision, and the strategy you choose will determine the best course of action. There’s always going to be a hitter who might reach for another player, leaving the door open to draft either Soto or Witt. But when looking at realistic targets, Ramirez and Skubal are perhaps the top two options you can take a hard, long look at with the fifth overall pick, with Ramirez getting the nod and being the top choice.
Leave a Reply