Ryan Braun or Carlos Gonzalez at #1? That was the debate, though one guy even ranked Carl Crawford as his #1. Madness!

Ryan Braun: Ready to tee off in 2011
And…Ryan Braun takes home our #1 OF ranking, but it was close. You could definitely make an argument for either, but the composite sided with the guy who has done it more than once before. You’ll notice our individual rankings are all over the place, showcasing our different views. When compiled, it’s a pretty safe list with hidden gems when compared to the latest ADP data. There is lots and lots of value late in the draft, so if you miss out on top-tier guys while stockpiling other positions you can always get a proven vet in the 30s and 40s.
Onto the Rankings…
RANK |
PLAYER |
Brian |
Mike |
Killboy |
Jesse |
Eric |
COMP |
1 |
Ryan Braun – MIL |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1.4 |
2 |
Carlos Gonzalez – COL |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
Carl Crawford – BOS |
3 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
2.8 |
4 |
Josh Hamilton – TEX |
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
4.6 |
5 |
Matt Holliday – STL |
4 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
4.6 |
6 |
Shin-Soo Choo – CLE |
6 |
10 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
7.2 |
7 |
Matt Kemp – LAD |
7 |
4 |
7 |
18 |
6 |
8.4 |
8 |
Nelson Cruz – TEX |
22 |
9 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
10.8 |
9 |
Andrew McCutchen – PIT |
9 |
11 |
8 |
14 |
12 |
10.8 |
10 |
Hunter Pence – HOU |
13 |
12 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
11.6 |
11 |
Jason Heyward – ATL |
10 |
13 |
15 |
9 |
11 |
11.6 |
12 |
Andre Ethier – LAD |
15 |
14 |
12 |
12 |
16 |
13.8 |
13 |
Justin Upton – ARI |
8 |
8 |
11 |
32 |
10 |
13.8 |
14 |
Jose Bautista – TOR |
17 |
22 |
10 |
10 |
13 |
14.4 |
15 |
Jacoby Ellsbury – BOS |
19 |
7 |
18 |
26 |
15 |
17 |
16 |
Alex Rios – CHW |
20 |
17 |
16 |
13 |
23 |
17.8 |
17 |
Ichiro Suzuki – SEA |
12 |
41 |
14 |
8 |
14 |
17.8 |
18 |
Jayson Werth – WAS |
11 |
15 |
27 |
19 |
17 |
17.8 |
19 |
Jay Bruce – CIN |
14 |
16 |
19 |
34 |
18 |
20.2 |
20 |
Corey Hart – MIL |
16 |
31 |
20 |
29 |
26 |
24.4 |
21 |
Shane Victorino – PHI |
28 |
25 |
21 |
35 |
20 |
25.8 |
22 |
Aubrey Huff – SF |
25 |
26 |
25 |
15 |
39 |
26 |
23 |
Delmon Young – MIN |
21 |
18 |
28 |
42 |
24 |
26.6 |
24 |
Drew Stubbs – CIN |
23 |
21 |
30 |
41 |
19 |
26.8 |
25 |
Nick Markakis – BAL |
18 |
24 |
36 |
25 |
31 |
26.8 |
26 |
Mike Stanton – FLA |
24 |
37 |
31 |
28 |
21 |
28.2 |
27 |
Chris Young – ARI |
33 |
27 |
22 |
39 |
25 |
29.2 |
28 |
Torii Hunter – LAA |
30 |
30 |
41 |
17 |
37 |
31 |
29 |
Nick Swisher – NYY |
45 |
29 |
33 |
23 |
29 |
31.8 |
30 |
Martin Prado – ATL |
26 |
28 |
32 |
52 |
22 |
32 |
31 |
Juan Pierre – CHW |
36 |
32 |
39 |
21 |
34 |
32.4 |
32 |
Curtis Granderson – NYY |
32 |
40 |
23 |
36 |
33 |
32.8 |
33 |
Brett Gardner – NYY |
27 |
20 |
40 |
38 |
44 |
33.8 |
34 |
B.J. Upton – TB |
41 |
38 |
17 |
58 |
27 |
36.2 |
35 |
Colby Rasmus – STL |
40 |
23 |
29 |
– |
28 |
36.2 |
36 |
Carlos Lee – HOU |
50 |
43 |
24 |
27 |
40 |
36.8 |
37 |
Bobby Abreu – LAA |
42 |
46 |
34 |
22 |
42 |
37.2 |
38 |
Vernon Wells – LAA |
35 |
58 |
43 |
20 |
36 |
38.4 |
39 |
Adam Jones – BAL |
37 |
33 |
46 |
40 |
38 |
38.8 |
40 |
Angel Pagan – NYM |
34 |
36 |
45 |
45 |
46 |
41.2 |
41 |
Jason Bay – NYM |
31 |
56 |
35 |
51 |
35 |
41.6 |
42 |
Jose Tabata – PIT |
47 |
19 |
48 |
46 |
56 |
43.2 |
43 |
Ben Zobrist – TB |
– |
52 |
50 |
16 |
41 |
44 |
44 |
Grady Sizemore – CLE |
39 |
42 |
51 |
– |
32 |
45 |
45 |
Michael Cuddyer – MIN |
53 |
47 |
53 |
24 |
51 |
45.6 |
46 |
Carlos Beltran – NYM |
38 |
35 |
56 |
57 |
47 |
46.6 |
47 |
Luke Scott – BAL |
60 |
57 |
26 |
44 |
48 |
47 |
48 |
Ryan Raburn – DET |
29 |
48 |
37 |
– |
– |
47.2 |
49 |
Magglio Ordonez – DET |
– |
45 |
44 |
30 |
58 |
47.6 |
50 |
Michael Bourn – HOU |
56 |
50 |
47 |
47 |
45 |
49 |
51 |
Carlos Quentin – CHW |
43 |
– |
38 |
– |
43 |
49.2 |
52 |
Manny Ramirez – TB |
48 |
44 |
42 |
59 |
57 |
50 |
53 |
Austin Jackson – DET |
52 |
55 |
59 |
55 |
30 |
50.2 |
54 |
Andres Torres – SF |
– |
54 |
52 |
37 |
49 |
50.6 |
55 |
Rajai Davis – TOR |
44 |
39 |
– |
60 |
50 |
50.8 |
56 |
Denard Span – MIN |
– |
53 |
58 |
31 |
54 |
51.4 |
57 |
Coco Crisp – OAK |
– |
34 |
– |
– |
55 |
54.4 |
58 |
Alfonso Soriano – CHC |
49 |
– |
49 |
– |
52 |
54.4 |
59 |
Desmond Jennings – TB |
– |
– |
– |
33 |
– |
55.4 |
60 |
Ryan Ludwick – SD |
51 |
– |
55 |
49 |
– |
55.4 |
JUSTIN UPTON…Upton is coming off a year in which he took a considerable step backwards. Through his first 3 seasons in the big leagues he had consistently improved his statistics as his playing time increased, expect a bounce back this year. For more, continue reading (here).
JACOBY ELLSBURY… Remember this guy? He’s a season removed from stealing 70 bases, scoring 94 runs, and batting .301. Ellsbury was a wasted pick for lot of fantasy owners last year, when he missed all but 18 games, but now he’s healthy and ready to go. I’ve seen this guy ranked all over the place (including our individual rankings) but he has the potential to be a top 10 outfielder. Don’t wait too long to grab him. .295/90/7/55/60
B.J. UPTON…Even though BJ Upton hit .237 last year, he still finished the season ranked as the 29th fantasy outfielder in Yahoo. His speed is too good to repeat his .304 BABIP and his career mark is .334.The 26 year old is fully healthy so his power should be back to stay. Other than Carl Crawford, he is the best candidate to go 20/40. .259/78/20/73/45
SLEEPER: JOSE TABATA…Most forget Jose Tabata was a touted Yankee prospect, but certainly remember his estranged wife. After his June call-up, Tabata went .321/53/3/31/14 in July/August/September. Extrapolate that and he goes .321/106/6/62/28 in a season. At only 22 he has plenty of time to develop into a double-digit HR hitter and the speed is real. Currently the #51 OF off the board. I have him at #19 with a projected 2011 line of .300/90/10/60/30.
BUST: MATT KEMP…Fantasy Managers have been waiting for the great Matt Kemp break out for the past couple seasons and I’m here to say they shouldn’t hold their breath. His unsustainably high BABIP, high K% and low BB% really caught up to him in 2010. He also forgot how to steal bases being caught almost half the time. Questions about his desire and makeup all spell reasons to stay away as other managers continue to way over pay for Kemp taking him as early as #16 overall. .278/85/25/85/25