Over the next week, FSE will release rankings for each position in fantasy baseball. Top 10s will be provided for all infield positions while outfielders, starting pitchers and relievers will have an expanded set of rankings. In addition, we will highlight a few sleepers at each position and provide some honorable mentions if applicable.
Having already covered catchers and first basemen, we now take a look at the second basemen.
Top Ten Second Basemen
#1 Brandon Phillips - Our unconventional number 1 went 30/30 last season after going near 20/20 the season before. The plan is for him to move into the clean up spot in the line up in between Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn, meaning he should get plenty of RBI and R opportunities. Remember, the more a player can do in fantasy the more valuable he is.
#2 Chase Utley - The overall number one 2B to everyone outside of FSE. Can't go wrong with drafting Chase Utley as he is a lock for 25HR, 12SB, 100R, 100+RBI and a high BA. Keep in mind he missed most of August of last season with a broken wrist and still put up great numbers.
Quick Note - The fact both of our top 2 players hit in tremendous hitter's ballparks is more than just a coincidence.
#3 BJ Upton - Still very young and still getting much better. He missed parts of the season last year and still went 20/20. Upton moves to CF full time this season so this will probably be the last season you can own him as a 2B. Enjoy the outfield numbers (many less errors) from a 2B if you can get him this season.
#4 Robinson Cano - The Yankees 2B looks primed to take his sweet swing to the next level. Look for Cano to hit 25HR, with 100RBI and a .300AVG. The only thing separating him from the top 3 is his lack of stolen bases.
#5 Ian Kinsler - Kinsler went 20/20 last season and didn't tell anyone. The lineup he is in is no longer the juggernaut people remember, but they can still score runs and play in a great hitters park. Kinsler will be in the middle of that all, hitting towards the front of the lineup. Kinsler does commit a lot of errors and has yet to post a better than mediocre batting average.
#6 Rickie Weeks - We might have gone a bit overboard here but if you owned him in September he may have well carried your team to a championship appearance in your league head- to- head league. He finally showed the flashes of brilliance people had expected for years. He has posted awful spring numbers and that is probably scaring people in your draft away from him. Do not be afraid, take the young 2B with great potential.
#7 Brian Roberts - A bit lower here than he appears on most lists, but as of writing he still cashes he paychecks in Baltimore, for a team that is going to be awful. The offense surrounding him should prove to be very mediocre, with himself and Nick Markakis being the lone bright spots.
#8 Dan Uggla- easy to dismiss him, but tough to ignore the numbers. In 2 seasons he is averaging close to 110R, 90RBI, and 29HR. The batting average is nothing to go crazy over, but the rest of his numbers are very solid, and will allow him to go under the radar in most drafts.
#9 Kelly Johnson - Will bat in an explosive Atlanta Braves' line up and will certainly build on his .276AVG, 16HR and 9SB he posted in his first full season in the majors. He will go later than he should and has a lot of upside going into 2008.
#10 Howie Kendrick - The guy will go 15/15 and hit .320 if he can stay healthy. He will be surrounded by talent no matter where he hits in the Angel's lineup, although its our guess, he'll be near the top. The injuries hurt him last season, look for a healthy season and near top 5 2B numbers this year.
Honorable Mentions
Placido Polanco- He can hit for AVG., but doesn't do a whole lot more. Polanco doesn't offer much in the way of power, but hitting atop this Tiger's lineup you can be assured he'll score a bunch of runs.
Freddy Sanchez- Sanchez isn't as good as his batting title would have you think, but he is still a strong ball player. He is essentially the N.L. version of Placido Polanco, in a worse offense.
Jeff Kent- By a product of age and injury he begins to be devalued, but look at his numbers last season. .300AVG, 70RBI, 20HR, 78R, in 494AB. Solid numbers for a 2B. Kent is a gamer and will be a better player in his twilight, than some of the guys who we have ranked in our top 10 will be this season.
Sleeper
Aaron Hill - Hill enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2007 hitting .291 with 17 homers and 78 RBIs. He will be 26 on opening day and should hit towards the the front of the Blue Jays lineup in 2008 as the unquestioned starter at second base. I would say that .300-20HR-80+ RBIs are a possibility for Hill this season making him a solid under the radar option at second base.
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