Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Breaking Down the First Round of Fantasy Drafts
It has been quite a long time since we looked at how I would break down the first round of fantasy drafts, so I figured now was the perfect time to do so.
Who belongs in the first round? Who doesn’t? Let’s take a look:
1) Albert Pujols – First Base – St. Louis Cardinals
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Position scarcity be damned, we all know that Pujols is the best player in baseball.
How many players bring consistent 40+ HR, 110+ RBI, .325+ average (outside of ’10, where he hit a paltry .312 instead).
Not to mention, over the past two years he has stolen 30 total bases. Did you know that only one other first baseman (Joey Votto) has more than 20 over that span (and only two others, Garrett Jones & James Loney, have as many as 15)?
He is the ultimate force for fantasy owners.
2) Miguel Cabrera – First Base – Detroit Tigers
I know there are a lot of questions hanging over him due to the DUI arrest early in Spring Training and the subsequent fallout.
Still, at this point it doesn’t appear like he is going to miss any time. Considering that he has:
- Hit over .320 in five of the past six seasons
- Had 112 or more RBI in six of the past seven seasons
- Had 33 or more HR in six of the past seven seasons
It is hard to dislike his production and consistency.
Now, just imagine that he is actually going to have help in the lineup, with Victor Martinez joining the fray? It should be another impressive season.
3) Hanley Ramirez – Shortstop – Florida Marlins
At this time last season, people were talking about Ramirez as the No. 1 overall pick. Now, having hit .300 with 21 HR, 76 RBI, 92 R and 32 SB, we’ve soured on him?
A lot of his problems were magnified a bit, thanks to the Marlins being so desperate for help at the top of the order that they moved Ramirez back up.
That’s not going to happen in 2011. The talent is there to go off for 30/30/100/100/.300, so exactly what is there not to like?
Continue viewing him as one of the elite players in the game.
4) Robinson Cano – Second Base – New York Yankees
This is where things start to get a little bit interesting.
Cano is one of the elite hitters in the game, regardless of position. Just look at his numbers from the past two years:
- 2009 – .320, 25 HR, 85 RBI, 103 R, 5 SB
- 2010 – .319, 29 HR, 109 RBI, 103 R, 3 SB
You just don’t get type of production often and now, a fixture in the middle of the Yankees high-powered offense, there is little reason to believe that the 28-year old is going to fade any time soon.
In fact, is there reason to consider taking him even earlier now that Chase Utley is injured? Make sure to check out our thoughts on that by clicking here.
5) Ryan Braun – Outfield – Milwaukee Brewers
I know, he “struggled” in 2010 by hitting .304 with 25 HR, 103 RBI, 101 R and 14 SB.
He was such a bust, wasn’t he?
Now, just imagine how “bad” those numbers would’ve been if Prince Fielder was able to produce more than just 83 RBI. Yes, a bad Ryan Braun is as good, if not better, than most players in the game.
In fact, do you think there’s a chance that he goes 125/125 in 2011? That was one of my Wild Predictions, which you can read by clicking here.
I put it at five percent, considering how rare of a feat it is, but Braun may have the best chance of anyone of accomplishing it in 2011.
That certainly says a lot.
6) Troy Tulowitzki – Shortstop – Colorado Rockies
It would be nice if he actually put it together for an entire season, wouldn’t it?
While he struggled at times in ’10, his September performance (.322, 15 HR, 40 RBI, 30 R) showed just how good he could be.
I know, it’s impossible to put up those types of numbers every month, but clearly he is the type of player who can carry your team.
Injuries are going to be a concern, but how many shortstops offer potential 30/100/100/.300 production?
He’s had 90+ RBI in three of the past four years. He’s had a pair of 100 R years. He’s hit 59 HR over the past two seasons.
He gives you an advantage over the rest of the field.
7) Joey Votto – First Base – Cincinnati Reds
Back to the first baseman, it is hard to ignore Votto in the middle of the first round. He erupted in 2010, hitting .324 with 37 HR, 113 RBI and 106 R.
Yes, there’s a good chance that his power fades a bit (he did have a 25.0 percent HR/FB, but is that really scaring us off?)
He’s now 27 years old and posted 18.5 percent and 17.5 percent marks the previous two years.
In a hitter’s paradise, there is no reason to think that he won’t continue to be one of the elite offensive players in the game.
8) Evan Longoria – Third Base – Tampa Bay Rays
Position scarcity is certainly one factor in selecting Longoria, but it is certainly not like he is lacking in talent. His average has improved since his rookie year, from .272 to .281 to last year’s .294.
I know there is concern about his dropoff in HR (33 to 22), but his HR/FB fell all the way to 11.1 percent (he had been at 19.4 percent and 17.6 percent over his first two years).
A 25-year old just doesn’t lose his power, so seeing him rebound to the high 20s, at worst, is extremely believable.
There also is concern that he won’t have the support in the lineup given the mass exodus out of Tampa Bay, but don’t underestimate the group they have.
Manny Ramirez is going to be motivated to produce, especially back in the AL East. Ben Zobrist should enjoy a renaissance campaign. B.J. Upton, Sean Rodriguez, Johnny Damon—these guys are going to produce some runs.
Another 100/100 campaign is a real possibility and, at one of the weakest positions in the game, that is about as much as you can ask for.
Oh, let’s also not discount his 15 SB from ’10 as well!
9) Carlos Gonzalez – Outfield – Colorado Rockies
He blew up in ’10 and while I do fear of a regression (.384 BABIP, 20.4 percent HR/FB), he’s not going to fall off a cliff, either.
He brings 30/30/100/100 potential, so what is there not to like?
I know the belief normally is that the outfield is deep, but there really are few players who can bring the same type of production across the board.
In fact, last season there were only three outfielders who went 100/100 (Gonzalez, Braun and Jose Bautista). Not to mention, he was the only one who went 30/20 (in fact, only five outfielders hit 30 HR).
He’s going to regress, but there is way too much good to ignore.
10) Carl Crawford – Outfield – Boston Red Sox
One of the two big Red Sox imports, there is little that needs to be said about Crawford.
After scoring 110 runs in 2010 and now moving into the elite offense in the game, seeing him replicate it almost feels like a lock.
He’s a .300 hitter who has at least 46 stolen bases in seven of the past eight seasons. He also continues to add power (19 in ’10 and 34 over the past two years), just making him all the more impressive.
If he hits third, which is possible, seeing him close in on his 90 RBI from ’10 is not unrealistic.
How can you pass him up?
11) Adrian Gonzalez – First Base – Boston Red Sox
He’s been talked about over and over, so I’m not going to go into much detail here.
Shoulder injury or not, he raked in Petco Park and now moves into Fenway. Would it really be a surprise to see him go 40 HR, 120 RBI in the middle of this lineup?
12) Roy Halladay – Pitcher – Philadelphia Phillies
I know most people don’t like drafting pitchers early, but there are exceptions to the rule.
While I would probably prefer to see one of the hitters fall to me in this spot, Halladay does give you an advantage over the rest of your league:
- He’s won 20 games in two of the past three seasons
- He’s posted a 2.79 ERA or better each of the past three seasons
- He’s had a WHIP of 1.13 or better in five of the past six seasons (and that other year he was at 1.24)
- He’s struck out over 200 each of the past three seasons
Considering the number of innings he works, those numbers really help carry a pitching staff and are impossible to ignore.
What are your thoughts of this list? Who do you think is too high? Who do you think should be bumped up?
Make sure to order your copy of the Rotoprofessor 2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, selling for just $5, by clicking here.
Make sure to check out our 2011 rankings:
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