Fantasy Baseball 2011: Positional Power Rankings (May 1 to May 8)

Welcome to TheSportsCannon.com’s first weekly installment of Fantasy Baseball Positional Power Rankings. Each week we will break down the top five players at each position to that point in the season. You can track who is falling and who is rising in your league and better your chances of taking home the championship.

Each position will rank the top 10 at that position and will also list the rankings of all eligible players at that position. For instance, Neil Walker of the Pirates is a natural second baseman but is eligible in most leagues to play third base as well. Walker may have had such a great week that he is the top option at both positions. In that case, Walker will only be listed as a second baseman, but in the third baseman category will be on the secondary list. The first number you see is their ranking as of right now in the ( ) will be the previous week’s ranking.

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Weekly Positional Rankings: Catchers (May 1 to May 8)

Leon Halip/Getty Images

DETROIT - APRIL 26: Alex Avila #13 of the Detroit Tigers bats during the seventh inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park on April 26, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. The Mariners defeated the Tigers 7-3. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Ima

Catcher

1(3) Alex Avila, DET

2(7) John Buck, FLA

3(5) Carlos Santana, CLE

4(11) Kurt Suzuki, OAK

5(15) Chris Ianneta, COL

Top 10: Brian McCann, ATL; Geovany Soto, CHC; Victor Martinez, DET; Yadier Molina, STL; Ryan Doumit, PIT

Weekly Positional Rankings: First Baseman (May 1 to May 8)

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - MAY 07: Michael Young #10 of the Texas Rangers hits a solo homerun against the New York Yankees at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on May 7, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

First Baseman

1(3) *Michael Young, TEX

2(5) Paul Konerko, CHW

3(8) Adrian Gonzalez, BOS

4(7) Adam Lind, TOR

5(15) Gaby Sanchez, FLA

Top 10: Miguel Cabrera, DET; Mark Teixeira, NYY; Mark Trumbo, LAA, Joey Votto, CIN; Ryan Howard, PHL

*Young is a DH but is listed as a 1B here because it is the position he should most be played at to take advantage of differences in rank.

All Eligible Batters:

1.      Michael Young, TEX

2.      Lance Berkman, STL

3.      Paul Konerko, CHW

4.      Adrian Gonzalez, BOZ

5.      Adam Lind, TOR

6.      Howard Kendrick, LAA

7.      Gaby Sanchez, FLA

8.      Ben Zobrist, TAM

9.      Miguel Cabrera, DET

10.   Mark Teixeira, NYY

Weekly Positional Rankings: Second Baseman (May 1 to May 8)

Elsa/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - MAY 05: Howard Kendrick #47 of the Los Angeles Angels scores in the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox on May 5, 2011 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Second Baseman

1(1) Howie Kendrick, LAA

2(2) Ben Zobrist, TAM

3(6) Neil Walker, PIT

4(7) Ian Kinsler, TEX

5(3) Rickie Weeks, MIL

Top 10: Mike Fontenot, SF; Orlando Cabrera, CLE; Danny Espinosa, WAS; Robinson Cano, NYY; Darwin Barney, CHC

All Eligible Batters:

1.      Howard Kendrick, LAA

2.      Michael Young, TEX

3.      Ben Zobrist, TAM

4.      Neil Walker, PIT

5.      Mike Aviles, KC

6.      Martin Prado, ATL

7.      Ian Kinsler, TEX

8.      Rickie Weeks, MIL

9.      Mike Fontenot, SF

10.   Jed Lowrie, BOS

Weekly Positional Rankings: Third Baseman (May 1 to May 8)

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 24: Mike Aviles #13 of the Kansas City Royals hits a single against the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on April 24, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Third Baseman

1(2) Mike Aviles, KC

2(1) Placido Polanco, PHL

3(3) Ryan Roberts, ARI

4(4) Alex Rodriguez, NYY

5(6) David Wright, NYM

Top 10: Kevin Youkilis, BOS; Danny Valencia, MIN; Chone Figgins, SEA; Daniel Descaiso, STL; Adrian Beltre, TEX

All Eligible Batters:

1.      Neil Walker, PIT

2.      Martin Prado, ATL

3.      Mike Aviles, KC

4.      Michael Young, TEX

5.      Jose Bautista, TOR

6.      Alex Gordon, KC

7.      Jamey Carroll, LAD

8.      Jhonny Peralta, DET

9.      Placido Polanco, PHL

10.    Ryan Roberts, ARI

Weekly Positional Rankings: Short Stops (May 1 to May 8)

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets celebrates his second inning RBI single against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 7, 2011 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Get

Short Stops

1(1) Jose Reyes, NYM

2(5) Jimmy Rollins, PHI

3(2) Elvis Andrus, TEX

4(9) Erick Aybar, LAA

5(4) Asdrubal Cabrera, CLE

Top 10: Hanley Ramirez, FLA; Alex Gonzalez, ATL; Derek Jeter, NYY; Jhonny Peralta, DET; Jed Lowrie, BOS

All Eligible Batters:

1.      Jose Reyes, NYM

2.      Jimmy Rollins, PHL

3.      Elvis Andrus, TEX

4.      Mike Aviles, KC

5.      Erick Aybar, LAA

6.      Asdrubal Cabrera, CLE

7.      Hanley Ramirez, FLA

8.      Alex Gonzalez, ATL

9.      Derek Jeter, NYY

10.    Jhonny Peralta, DET

Weekly Positonal Rankings: Outfielders (May 1 to May 8)

Rob Carr/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 14: Shane Victorino #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies at the plate against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 14, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Outfielders

1(5) Shane Victorino, PHL

2(7) Curtis Granderson, NYY

3(6) Matt Holliday, STL

4(14) B.J. Upton, TAM

5(9) Hunter Pence, HOU

Top 10: Jason Bourgeois, HOU; Jay Bruce, CIN; Melky Cabrera, KC, Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS; Justin Upton, ARI

All Eligible Batters:

1.      Shane Victorino, PHL

2.      Curtis Granderson, NYY

3.      Adam Lind, TOR

4.      Matt Holliday, STL

5.      B.J. Upton, TAM

6.      Hunter Pence, HOU

7.      Jason Bourgeois, HOU

8.      Jay Bruce, CIN

9.      Melky Cabrera, KC

10.    Ben Zobrist, TAM