Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings: Every Team's Top Candidate for Fantasy MVP

Every fantasy baseball owner knows that his team needs at least one "stud"—the guy who will consistently give you weeks full of home runs, hits, stolen bases, quality starts or saves.

They are the guys who will carry your team when other players in the lineup have had "off" weeks.

This article will look at each MLB team's player who is most likely to be your fantasy MVP.  If you are in a keeper league, these are the players who you'd most consider making an established part of your team for years to come.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Upton

Looking at the Diamondback roster, you will find it littered with very draftable players such as Miguel Montero, Stephen Drew, Ian Kennedy, Trevor Cahill and Chris Young, but when you are looking for a player who could carry you through a season, the pickings are slim. 

Fortunately, there is one player on the team that you may want to get on your roster as soon as possible.

If you are lucky enough to land Justin Upton, you've given your fantasy team a leg up on the competition.

In 2011, at the age of 23, he smacked 31 round-trippers, drove in 88 runs and scored 105 runs.  On top of those figures, he stole 21 bases and batted .289.  From a fantasy perspective, those are numbers you welcome with open arms. 

There is no need to worry if 2011 was just a flash-in-the-pan for Upton.  Over the past three seasons he has averaged nearly 25 home runs, 81 RBI, 87 runs scored and 20 stolen bases while hitting .287.  At age 24, his potential is endless, and he is sure to give your team a rock-solid anchor in the outfield.

San Diego Padres: Carlos Quentin

In January the Chicago White Sox traded slugger Carlos Quentin to the San Diego Padres.  By doing so, they gave the Padres their fantasy MVP for 2012.

When healthy, the potential for the 29-year-old Quentin is endless.  Unfortunately in the three years he has played as a major leaguer, Quentin has averaged only 116 games. 

In spite of playing in so few games, he has hit at least 20 HR in each of those seasons, and in 2011 he hit for his highest average (.254).

If he can remain healthy, Quentin has 30 HR potential.  If he were to reach that potential in 2012, the Padres and Carlos' fantasy owners would finally have the MVP they've been looking for.

Colorado Rockies: Carlos Gonzalez

In spite of playing in only 127 games because of wrist trouble, Carlos Gonzalez still managed to knock in 92 RBI, score 92 runs, hit 26 home runs and steal 20 bases.  For most, his 2011 season would be viewed as a productive year.  Fantasy baseball owners who have Gonzalez know it could have been so much more.

The 2010 season gave us a glimpse at what the Rockies' main weapon is capable of.  During that year, he hit 34 home runs with 117 RBI, 111 runs scored and 26 stolen bases while hitting .336. 

At the age of 26, Carlos is only at the beginning of his peak years, and now that his wrist is back to full strength, owners can expect another monster year similar to 2010. 

If you have Gonzalez on your roster, you can count on one of the best fantasy baseball point producers to get you through the "rough" weeks.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw

Many would consider Matt Kemp to be the Los Angeles Dodgers' most valuable fantasy player, but in terms of dominance in one position, one has to look to Clayton Kershaw.

In the 2011 season at the age of 23, Kershaw led the league in ERA (2.28), strikeouts (248), WHIP (.997)  and wins (21) while earning his first Cy Young award. 

Kemp's numbers are impressive, but there are also a number of outfielders who will produce at the same level as he does.  An objective look at Kershaw's performance will show that he is in the elite class of pitchers who just through their presence in your lineup can turn a poor week around.

Clayton Kershaw's fantasy owners will always be hard-pressed to ever put him on their bench, and if they should, they would live to regret the move.

San Francisco Giants: Tim Lincecum

The San Francisco Giants will go as far as their pitching staff takes them, and leading the way is Tim Lincecum.

The 2011 season was the fourth consecutive year of 200 or more innings pitched, 220 or more strikeouts, 13 or more wins and an ERA of 3.50 or less for Lincecum. 

At age 28, he is in the beginning of his prime, and fantasy owners can expect more great years to come.

When it comes to fantasy value, no San Francisco Giant is better than Tim Lincecum.

Houston Astros: Carlos Lee

The Houston Astros are in the midst of rebuilding a team that finished last in just about everything during the 2011 Major League Baseball season.  As such, the current roster is laden with young, inexperienced call-ups looking to establish themselves in "the show."

The exception is Carlos Lee.  As he enters the final year of his six-year, $100 million contract with the Astros, Lee looks to bounce back from his lowest HR total (18) during his Houston tenure. 

Home run total aside, Lee still managed to drive in 94 runs and hit a respectable .275 in 2011.

Fantasy owners can count on a healthy Carlos Lee for a 20-plus HR , 90-plus RBI season, as he has topped those totals in four of his five years with the team. 

Until the youth on the team develops, those numbers firmly place him as the Houston Astros fantasy MVP.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Andrew McCutchen

If you are looking for a player with an unlimited potential who will contribute to multiple statistical categories for your fantasy team, look no further than Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In his three years at the major league level, McCutchen has seen an increase in HR (from 12 in 2009 to 23 in 2011), RBI (54 in 2009, 89 in 2011) and runs (74 in 2009, 87 in 2011).  He has stolen at least 22 bases in each of those three seasons and has an OPS of .825 over that time frame.

Still a year or two from his prime, McCutchen's statistics should continue to increase and place him among the elite fantasy baseball outfielders.

Chicago Cubs: Starlin Castro

Starlin Castro has only been in the league for two seasons, but he has already emerged as the face of the Chicago Cubs. 

Coming off a 2011 season where he led the National League in hits (207) and at-bats (674), Castro looks to build on the .307 batting average, 94 runs scored and 22 stolen bases he had as a 21-year-old.

The Cubs' lineup enters 2012 already weakened by the loss of Aramis Ramirez, and manager Dale Sveum is considering putting Castro in the third spot in the order. 

That move would give his fantasy owners the bonus of an increase in RBI to go with the already high batting average and runs scored from the shortstop spot. 

Given his youth and the welcome combination of speed and average, Starlin Castro could be the Cubs' fantasy MVP for years to come.

Milwaukee Brewers: Ryan Braun

Offseason issues aside, from a fantasy baseball perspective there are very few, if any, players better than Ryan Braun.

The reigning National League MVP is coming off a season in which he had 33 HR, 111 RBI, 109 runs scored, 33 stolen bases and a .332 average. In short, he dominated the 2011 fantasy season.

The loss of Prince Fielder in the lineup may result in a slight drop-off in Braun's statistics, but examining what he has done over the last four years (averaging 32 HR, 108 RBI, 104 RS, 20 SB with a .310 avg) shows that he will continue to produce elite fantasy numbers.

As long as Braun can put his well-documented troubles behind him, he will be the clear-cut Brewers fantasy MVP and quite possibly, the MLB fantasy MVP.

St. Louis Cardinals: Matt Holliday

The departure of Albert Pujols means that the burden of being the main force in the St. Louis Cardinals lineup falls upon the shoulders of Matt Holliday.

Though they signed Carlos Beltran in the offseason and perhaps have rising stars in David Freese and Yadier Molina, it is Holliday who will be counted on for the power. 

Over the past two seasons, he has hit .304 while averaging 25 HR and 89 RBI.  Though decent fantasy statistics, those numbers pale in comparison to Pujols, and they are all the Cardinals now have to "hang their hat on."

The 2012 season will tell us if Matt Holliday can make the transition from a supporting role to the fantasy MVP for the Cardinals.  History tells us he can.

Cincinnati Reds: Joey Votto

Since 2009 Joey Votto has averaged 30 HR and 100 RBI while hitting .316 for the Cincinnati Reds.  He won the 2010 National League MVP and comes off a 2011 where he led the league in doubles, walks and OBP.

At age 28, Votto is just entering his prime and has already established himself as one of the elite fantasy players in the game. When looking at first basemen, fantasy owners mention him in the same breath as Pujols, Gonzalez and Cabrera.

Hitting third in a lineup in which he has Jay Bruce and Scott Rolen to protect him ensures that his fantasy production will continue to climb, and his standing as one of the highest-tier players will remain.

New York Mets: David Wright

Perhaps no one will benefit more than David Wright from the Mets decision to move Citi Field's fences in.

The man who has been the face of the Mets since 2005 is coming off a season he'd rather forget after injury limited him to 102 games in 2011.  In addition to that, the deep dimensions of Citi Field muted his power at home, frustrating fantasy owners looking for the star of previous years.

With better health and shorter fences at home, Wright hopes to return to the form that saw him average 29 home runs and 112 RBI prior to the team's move to their new stadium.

If he can, he will once again be considered an elite third baseman in fantasy leagues and recapture the title of New York Mets fantasy MVP.

Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton

The Florida Marlins changed their name to the Miami Marlins to more accurately reflect where the franchise hails from, so it only made sense that their fantasy MVP would do the same.  "Mike" Stanton revealed that he prefers to go by his given name: Giancarlo.

Regardless of name, this 22-year-old's potential is endless.  Coming off a season where he hit 34 HR and drove in 87, Giancarlo Stanton has made himself the Marlins' main power source.

With defending National League batting champion Jose Reyes and superstar Hanley Ramirez hitting in front of him, Stanton's run-producing numbers will only continue to grow as will his reputation as one of the best outfielders in the game.

Because of injuries, Ramirez has had a decline in fantasy production over the last couple of years, and that leaves the door open for Stanton to step into the role of team MVP for the 2012 season.

Washington Nationals: Michael Morse

The Washington Nationals have a plethora of young talent throughout their lineup and rotation.   From Steven Strasburg to Ryan Zimmerman to Danny Espinosa to Drew Storen, each has the potential to be a fantasy monster in 2012.

The man who will be their fantasy MVP however, will be 30 years old when the new season begins. 

Michael Morse has been a "late bloomer" for the Nationals.  Whereas most players reach their prime around age 27, Morse reached career highs in HR (31), RBI (95), runs (73), hits (158) and batting average (.303) in 2011—at the age of 29. 

Even though he's a little longer in the tooth than several of his teammates, there is every reason to believe that Michael will continue to show elite fantasy numbers as he will be sandwiched in the lineup by a healthy Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth.

Should he make the most of the RBI opportunities that Zimmerman will present him with as well as the good pitches he will see because Werth is hitting behind him, Michael Morse will prove that he is the Nationals' fantasy MVP.

Atlanta Braves: Brian McCann

Brian McCann has been the model of consistency for the Atlanta Braves.  In spite of a stint on the D.L. due to an oblique injury in July of 2011, he still managed to hit 24 HR and drive home 71 RBI.  Those are numbers that most catchers cannot attain when playing a full season.

Since 2005, McCann has averaged 25 HR and 99 RBI while hitting .286 for the Braves, making him the most prolific fantasy catcher in that time span.

With their catcher back to full health for 2012, the Braves look for a return to the consistent production they have come to expect from their All-Star backstop.

By the end of this season, Brian McCann should once again be the fantasy MVP of the team.

Philadelphia Phillies: Roy Halladay

Simply put, Roy Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball. 

Over the past 10 seasons, Halladay has won two Cy Young awards and has been named an All-Sar eight times.  In that time, he has led the league in innings pitched four times and complete games seven times.

Since joining the Phillies, he has gone 40-16 with a 2.40 ERA and has thrown 17 complete games.  He averages 213 strikeouts per year and has a 2.37 postseason ERA. 

There isn't a single pitching category that Halladay doesn't seem to dominate, and his abilities put him well ahead of others as the Phillies' team fantasy MVP.

Seattle Mariners: Felix Hernandez

The American League is known for its hitting.  With the added danger of facing a designated hitter in the lineup, AL pitchers struggle to achieve the fantasy values of their counterparts in the National League.

That is, unless you are talking about Felix Hernandez.

The Seattle Mariners ace has defied the odds and established himself as an elite fantasy pitcher.  Since 2006 he has averaged 230 innings pitched, 210 strikeouts and 14 wins per season.  In two of the last three seasons, his ERA has been lower than 2.50, and his career WHIP is 1.22

As long as he stays healthy, "King Felix" will continue to contend for the AL Cy Young award and provide fantasy owners with a pitcher worthy of being called a fantasy baseball MVP.

Oakland A's: Coco Crisp

While the Oakland A's once again attempt to re-invent themselves, it is hard to find any single player worthy enough of being the team's fantasy MVP.  With that being said, Coco Crisp is the most reliable in fantasy baseball terms when looking at production.

In two years with the Athletics, Crisp has stolen 81 bases (an average of 40-plus per season) and hit a respectable .269 .

He won't give you much more than a middle-of-the-road batting average and above-average stolen base numbers, but Coco will be the A's fantasy MVP for 2012.

Los Angeles Angels: Albert Pujols

In landing the biggest free agent of the offseason, the Angels look to Albert Pujols to provide them with the offensive threat they need to push them back to the top of the AL West division.

As the face of the Cardinals, Pujols hit .328 and averaged 41 HR and 126 RBI over 11 seasons.  At 32 years old, he is coming to the end of his peak years, and Los Angeles is hoping that he has a few more seasons remaining of playing at the elite level that he has established for himself.

The 2011 season was the first time since 2001 that Pujols knocked in less than 100 RBI, and fantasy owners are hopeful that a change in venue will mark the return to greatness for both "Prince Albert" and the Angels.

Texas Rangers: Ian Kinsler

In the post-steroid era, it is difficult to find a second baseman who hits 30 or more HR in a season.  Ian Kinsler has done it two of the last three years.

In addition to his power, Kinsler has displayed speed on the base paths, swiping 30 in 2011.  In fact, he is averaging 29 SB per season over his six-year career. 

As the lead-off hitter on one of the most prolific lineups in baseball, Kinsler is scoring 117 runs per year, making him that rare fantasy second baseman who will give you monster numbers from multiple categories.

Because he is in the middle of his prime years, owners can be sure that Kinsler will continue to produce at levels that will place him as the Rangers' fantasy MVP.

Kansas City Royals: Alex Gordon

The Kansas City Royals are in the midst of a youth movement.  As such, it is difficult to identify a fantasy stud among the up-and-coming stars on the team. 

Alex Gordon is the closest thing to being a top-tier point producer that you will find in the Royal lineup as he comes off a 2011 season that saw him hit .303 (career high) with 23 HR (career high), 87 RBI (career high), 17 SB (career high) and 101 runs scored (career high).

If Gordon can put together another season like his last one, he will establish himself as the veteran fantasy star among a stable full of young players with infinite potential.

Cleveland Indians: Carlos Santana

Anytime you have a catcher who can provide you with close to 30 HR and 80-plus RBI and runs scored, you have a fantasy bonus.  Owners of Carlos Santana know exactly how that feels.

In 2011, Santana hit 27 HR with 79 RBI and 84 runs scored while tacking on five stolen bases to boot.  At age 26, his ceiling is infinite, and he has already set a high standard to shoot for.

Hitting fourth in the order, in front of Travis Hafner, will provide Santana's fantasy owners with constant opportunities for high point values from an otherwise average position. 

The "edge" that Santana will provide you may just be enough to make your fantasy season a successful one.

Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer

Coming off an injury-plagued 2011 season that he'd rather just forget, Joe Mauer is looking to bounce back to the MVP form of 2009.

Problems with his legs limited Mauer to 82 games last season, and all of his fantasy numbers suffered because of it.

Prior to 2011, Mauer averaged 15 HR, 89 RBI and 96 runs scored while hitting .323.  In fact, he had been a three-time American League batting champion.  He was the premier catcher in fantasy baseball.

If he can remain healthy in 2012 and if Justin Morneau can rebound from his own health issues to hit behind Joe in the lineup, Mauer should give his fantasy owners what they have been looking for—a fantasy MVP.

Chicago White Sox: Paul Konerko

Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox is coming off back-to-back years in which he has hit for a .306 average.  During those years, he has averaged 35 HR, 108 RBI and 79 runs scored, putting him in the upper tier of first basemen in fantasy baseball.

The 36-year-old Konerko has played for the "pale hose" for 13 seasons and has hit at least 20 HR for 12 of those years.  Fantasy owners know what to expect from him as he enters the twilight of his career—good, consistent power numbers. 

Hitting in front of Adam Dunn in the White Sox lineup will ensure that Konerko will continue to see good pitches—providing him with on-base and RBI opportunities. 

If he makes the most of those opportunities, he will remain the Chicago White Sox fantasy MVP.

Detroit Tigers: Justin Verlander

The Detroit Tigers' vaunted lineup is well-documented.  It is littered with power-hitting fantasy point producers from top to bottom.  However, the piece of the puzzle that gives the Tigers their edge is pitcher Justin Verlander.

The defending American League Cy Young Award winner and MVP is coming off one of the great seasons in baseball history. 

His 24-5 record with a 2.40 ERA combined with leading the American League in innings pitched, strikeouts, games started and WHIP ensured his fantasy owners a pitching advantage every week.

Verlander's owners know that 2011 was no fluke.  In fact, it was merely a culmination of five consecutive years of similar numbers from the Detroit ace. 

In what is quickly shaping up as a Hall of Fame career, Justin Verlander is firmly planted as the Tigers' fantasy MVP.

Baltimore Orioles: Adam Jones

Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles is a star just beginning to blossom. 

Over the last three seasons, the outfielder has averaged 21 HR, 74 RBI, 76 RS and 10 SB while hitting .280.  Those are solid fantasy numbers for the 26-year-old, considering that he has accomplished them for a perennial last-place team.

Jones is slated to bat fourth in the order for Baltimore and will see many more RBI opportunities.  Fantasy owners looking at Jones' season will take note that he established new career highs for HR, RBI and stolen bases in 2011. 

Given that he is entering his prime years in baseball, Adam Jones should continue to grow into the fantasy MVP role that many expect.

Boston Red Sox: Adrian Gonzalez

The Boston Red Sox' 2011 season ended in bitter disappointment.  The finger pointing for the blame began almost immediately, but never once were fingers pointed in the direction of Adrian Gonzalez—nor should they have been.

Gonzalez's season saw him establish career highs in RBI (117), RS (108) and batting average (.338).  His 213 hits not only were a career high, but they also led the American League. 

The Red Sox slugger, at the age of 30, is in the middle of his prime, and his production continues to grow.  Hitting in the heart of the potent Sox order ensures that he will remain a fantasy "monster" for years to come.

His powerful bat keeps the Boston offense clicking and makes him their fantasy MVP.

Toronto Blue Jays: Jose Bautista

Over the last two years, there has been one clear-cut fantasy MVP for the Toronto Blue Jays: Jose Bautista.

Since the start of the 2010 season, Bautista has hit 97 HR and driven in 227 RBI.  In addition to leading the league in home runs, his .608 slugging pct and 1.056 OPS in 2011 led the American League.

From a fantasy perspective, Jose's power numbers rank him in the top three in all of baseball.  If you remove him from the Blue Jay lineup, the next best in power is nearly 20 HR and 15 RBI less.  That would leave some mighty big, empty shoes to fill.

Bautista's presence in the Toronto lineup gives them an edge in power that only an MVP can provide.

Tampa Bay Rays: Evan Longoria

In much the same way that Jose Bautista provides the power source of the Blue Jays' lineup, Evan Longoria does for the Tampa Bay Rays.

In his four short years at the Major League level, Longoria has averaged 33 HR,115 RBI and 98 RS for the Rays.  Like Bautista, without Longoria in the Tampa lineup, there is a sizeable dropoff in production.  Carlos Pena fans may argue but, unless Pena raises his paltry .239 lifetime average he will not make up for a loss of Longoria.

In spite of Pena's average, his threat of power will at least protect Longoria in the Rays order and give Longoria's owners reason to believe that his production will only continue to grow. 

Because he has been in the league for four years, it is sometimes difficult to believe that Tampa's third baseman is only 26 years old.  He is just hitting his prime, and that means that the Rays' fantasy MVP is going to hold onto that title for a very long time.

New York Yankees: CC Sabathia

CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees stands 6 feet 7 inches and weighs 290 pounds, yet it isn't his size that is big in the world of fantasy baseball. 

In the past six seasons, the Yankee ace hasn't had an ERA above 3.83.  He averages 226 innings pitched per year and has won 59 games in his three seasons with New York.  His name always appears among the top-five pitchers in the game.

As the anchor for a pitching staff that seemingly changes every couple of months, his consistency and work-horse mentality are crucial for the Yankees success.

Fantasy owners know they'll always get quality innings from CC and that he never misses a start (he has five straight years of 33 or more starts). 

Without CC's presence at the top of the rotation, the Yankees would not reach the postseason. That is why he must be New York's fantasy MVP.