Fantasy Baseball: First Base Rankings

After covering the backstops yesterday, today we'll move into the first basemen. As opposed to catchers, where zero to one of the players on the list will fall in the top-50, the top nine at first fall into this first tier of players. The first fifteen on this list could be argued into the top-100 overall. 

This means a couple things for fantasy owners. 

First, this is one of the deepest positions in fantasy baseball. It's rare that you could wait until the middle of round seven or eight and still find a top flight power hitter to man the corner of your infield. True, you may not want to look down the list that far, but you could certainly build depth elsewhere before looking here. 

Second, power is going to be available very late in the draft. Even if you draft a top-five caliber player early on, filling a utility or a corner spot with a 20-home run player is easier than not. This list covers the top-25, and you could easily see more power coming deeper, even if it is at the expense of average or another category. 

This is a tough position to screw up. Even the most novice owners can draft a first basemen that should hit 25-plus home runs.  

I'm sure there will be quibbles with my list, especially at the top. Just hear out my reasoning at the bottom before the nasty flood of emails. 

Let's get to it.

1. Miguel Cabrera
2. Albert Pujols
3. Lance Berkman
4. Mark Teixeira
5. Ryan Howard
6. Justin Morneau
7. Kevin Youkilis
8. Prince Fielder
9. Derrek Lee
10. Adrian Gonzalez
11. Chris Davis
12. Carlos Pena
13. Garrett Atkins
14. Joey Votto
15. Conor Jackson
16. Aubrey Huff
17. Adam LaRoche
18. Carlos Delgado
19. Jorge Cantu
20. Paul Konerko
21. James Loney
22. Jason Giambi
23. Todd Helton
24. Carlos Guillen
25. Mike Jacobs

Notes

• I know, I know. Pujols is considered a lock to be picked before Cabrera. Based on nearly every season in the past, that makes sense. Pujols, even when we think he's injured, produces. I'm still tentative because of his elbow. To me, that's enough to put him down one spot. If I have a concern about a player, especially a round one talent, I'm not pulling the trigger. Period.
• Miguel Cabrera had an awful first half in 2008. What if I told you that he still managed to set career highs in home runs and RBI last season? After hitting just 11 home runs before the break, Cabrera belted 26 in the second half and hit .304. People got down simply because he struggled adjusting to the American League.
• I have Howard down at five because I can't get past a guy who has let his average decline so dramatically. Sure, he'll likely hit 45 home runs, but I can get 40 or close to it out of Berkman, Cabrera, and potentially Pujols with a better average. You could argue Teixeira in that 40-home run group as well.
• You either believe in Aubrey Huff, or you don't. I don't. A repeat of 2008 is highly unlikely for the Oriole, and if you don't buy it, look at his drop offs after career years in Tampa Bay. Huff is just inconsistent. I'll let him prove me wrong, but it won't be on my roster unless I'm able to get him late.
• You can make the same argument against Jorge Cantu. Cantu only played 52 games in 2007 and 100 games in 2006. Putting more to it, Dallas McPherson put on a power display in the minors last season and Gaby Sanchez is waiting to take over at first. Cantu's time could be numbered if he doesn't produce early and often.
• I think there are two players primed to breakout in Joey Votto and Conor Jackson. Jackson is going to be given time at first and in the outfield, and that gives him some additional value. Jackson hasn't shown the power that many have hoped he would develop, and that will likely move him out of the cleanup spot in Arizona. This is a good thing overall and may open his swing up more.
• Joey Votto's rookie campaign produced 24 home runs and nearly 90 RBI to go with a .297 average. Votto should elevate his power closer to 30 home runs to go with the near-.300 average. I think he avoids a sophomore slump and continues to excel.
• Carlos Delgado still managed tremendous power last season, basically beginning around June. The problem is, he's getting closer to 40 every single year (yes, we all are). I wouldn't look to him as a starter at the position because of age as much as anything else. Later in a draft, he would be a solid option to fill a corner or utility spot.
• I think Paul Konerko's average rebounds and he continues to produce solid power. I'm just not confident enough in that fact to rank him as a starter in any format outside of AL-only leagues.
• Myself and many others are jumping ship on Todd Helton. There's just too much power and too many other solid hitters to continue to look at the Rockies player as even an average first basemen for fantasy purposes.
• Sleeper options? What about Pablo Sandoval (is he a sleeper anymore?), Gaby Sanchez, and Matt LaPorta. Additionally, Adam Dunn should have first base eligibility as he gets settled with the Nationals.

We'll move to one of the two middle infield spots tomorrow. Check back for those updates.