MLB Positional Fantasy Rankings: Relief Pitchers

Here are theScore's 2016 fantasy relief pitcher rankings (projections provided by Steamer (via Fangraphs) and theScore staff):

Positional Rankings
C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF1 | OF2 | OF3 | DH | SP1 | SP2 | SP3 | RP

1. Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals

Davis transformed from below-average starter to out-of-this-world reliever two seasons ago, and is set to move into the full-time closer's role this season. Davis simply doesn't make any mistakes; he has allowed just three home runs over 139 1/3 innings in two years as a Royals reliever. He's an elite stopper.

2. Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox

Kimbrel wasn't his usual dominant self in his only season in San Diego, yet still wound up with 39 saves and 13.2 K/9 rate. Expect an ERA adjustment in his first season in Boston, with the rest of his stats likley holding steady. He still throws gas, and owners shouldn't be surprised to see him reach 100 Ks.

3. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers

Jansen looks to build off a sensational season that saw him walk just eight hitters over 52 1/3 innings. That rate will be difficult to maintain, but with a career 14.0 K/9 mark, it won't matter much. Jansen is a good bet to lead the National League in saves.

▲4. Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles

Britton was sensational last season, finishing with a K/9 rate near 11 while lowering his walk rate by nearly one per nine innings. While he lags below the top tier by virtue of Baltimore not being expected to compete for a division title, he's still worthy of RP1 consideration in all mixed-league formats.

5. Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees

He may not finish with the most saves, but Chapman is in position to be the top fantasy reliever in baseball. He comes into 2016 with a career 15.4 K/9 rate, and should continue blowing batters away even with a move to the tough AL East. A 30-game domestic violence suspension to open the season bumps Chapman to the bottom of the first tier.

6. Jeurys Familia, New York Mets

Familia came into his own last season, cutting down on base runners while piling up the strikeouts. With an incredible collection of starters pitching in front of him, Familia should see all the save opportunities he can handle this season - putting him in good position to finish as a top-5 reliever.

7. Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals

Rosenthal took major steps forward last season, dramatically cutting down on his walks while maintaining a K/9 rate near 11. He doesn't allow many home runs, and should see a boatload of save chances for a talented Cardinals team. He may not be among the top four closers, but he's on the periphery.

8. Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates

Melancon led baseball in saves last season, earning an All-Star berth and finishing eighth in NL Cy Young voting in the process. He won't produce enough strikeouts to compete with the upper tier, but he has been one of the league's best relievers for three straight years. Draft him as a mid-range RP1.

9. Hector Rondon, Chicago Cubs

Rondon has been Mr. Consistency for the Cubs the past two seasons, maintaining strong K and BB rates while holding opponents to a .263 OBP both years. Owners would love to see a few more saves, but you could do worse than Rondon as a low-end RP1 or high-end RP2 in mixed leagues.

10. Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians

Allen is oh-so-close to being a top-5 closer, posting impressive K rates the past two seasons and leading all closers in FIP (1.82) in 2015. If he lowers his walk rate, and the Indians wind up challenging for the AL Central title, Allen should see the boost in saves that would move him into the top tier.

11. David Robertson, Chicago White Sox

Robertson is a capable closer who could see a rise in save opportunities behind a vastly improved White Sox offense. Robertson's strikeout rate is impressive, as is his walk rate; if he can find a way to reduce the number of home runs he allows, he could wind up a top-10 reliever overall.

12. Andrew Miller, New York Yankees

The first non-closer on the list, Miller will likely enter the season as the Yankees' closer in Chapman's absence. Good luck to the guys who have to face him; Miller has racked up 100 Ks in back-to-back seasons and has posted a K/9 rate above 14 each of the past three years. He's a bona fide RP2, with even more value in the wake of Chapman's suspension.

13. Francisco Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers

Rodriguez comes to Motown following a successful second stint in Milwaukee, where he racked up 82 saves over two seasons while maintaining sensational rate stats. Detroit has become a closer graveyard in recent years, but K-Rod is in good position to buck that trend as a high-end RP2.

14. A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins

Ramos took the closer's role in 2015 and ran with it, averaging better than 11 K/9 and trimming his walk rate nearly in half from the season before. With his main competition, Carter Capps, out for the season with an elbow injury, the job is Ramos' to lose. Expect 30+ saves and nice rate stats.

▼15. Ken Giles, Houston Astros

Giles should see plenty of save opportunities in Houston - if he winds up as the long-term ninth-inning option. Despite being acquired to strengthen the bullpen, Giles' terrible spring has opened the door for Luke Gregerson to earn save chances. Giles isn't a lost cause, but his job stability is shaky.

16. Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays

The only question surrounding Osuna is whether the Blue Jays will attempt to stretch him out as a starter at some point. As it stands, he enters the season as the ninth-inning man following a sensational rookie season. He's riskier than the guys ahead of him, but should be a solid RP2 if he retains the job.

17. Huston Street, Los Angeles Angels

Street reached the 40-save plateau for the second time in 2015 but took major steps back elsewhere, with his most earned runs allowed in four seasons and his highest walk total since 2008. He remains a locked-in RP2, but keep an eye on whoever emerges as the Angels' eighth-inning option.

18. Jonathan Papelbon, Washington Nationals

Fight with Bryce Harper aside, Papelbon was his usual efficient self in 2015, though a career-low K rate and sky-high FIP may have some fantasy drafters concerned. Expect the strikeouts to plateau - or even dip a little further - but Papelbon is still a capable closer and makes a solid mid-to-low-end RP2.

19. Dellin Betances, New York Yankees

The second non-closer on the list also happens to be a Yankee, which tells you all you need to know about the New York bullpen. Betances will work the seventh and eighth innings, and he'll do it well - his K rate is astronomical, and he keeps the ball in the park. Snag him as a K-rich RP2.

20. Santiago Casilla, San Francisco Giants

Casilla put together a solid year in his return to the closer's role, establishing a career-best K rate en route to a career-best save total. With the Giants built to contend in 2016, Casilla should continue to see plenty of save chances while only minimally hurting owners in BB rate. Draft him as a back-end RP2.

21. Shawn Tolleson, Texas Rangers

Tolleson posted solid stats in his first season as the Rangers' closer, though he'll need to cut down on the homers. He's on the RP2-3 border.

22. Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins

Perkins is a perennial 30-save guy, though his K rate has declined two straight years and he gives up too many homers to be considered a top-flight closer.

23. Steve Cishek, Seattle Mariners

Cishek had a rough season in 2015, and looks to rebound after signing on with the Mariners. Ho-hum rate stats make him no better than an RP3.

24. Brad Boxberger, Tampa Bay Rays

Despite 41 saves, Boxberger had a mildly disappointing 2015 in terms of rate stats; he's an RP3 if he keeps the job. He'll miss the first few weeks of the season, however, which hurts his chances of returning to the role.

25. Brad Ziegler, Arizona Diamondbacks

Ziegler surprised many last season, nabbing 30 saves despite a massive drop in K rate. Expect regression in 2016, though the saves should still be there if he can hold off Tyler Clippard.

26. Sean Doolittle, Oakland Athletics

Doolittle returns after pitching in just 12 games in 2015; he has nice upside, but it's tough to know how effective he'll be following a major shoulder injury.

27. Arodys Vizcaino, Atlanta Braves

Vizcaino looked like a bona fide closer in a small sample size next season, but a projected lack of save opportunities relegates him to RP3 territory.

28. Jake McGee, Colorado Rockies

The move to Colorado is a win-lose proposition for McGee, who will see plenty of late-game responsibility but will see his ERA and WHIP take a hit.

29. Jeremy Jeffress, Milwaukee Brewers

An injury to Will Smith opens the door for Jeffress, though he likely won't see many save chances. Like Smith, walks are a concern here.

30. Drew Storen, Toronto Blue Jays

Regardless of whether Storen wrests the closer role from Osuna, he's in a great position to be a multi-category stud worthy of RP3 consideration.