We get you ready for the upcoming fantasy baseball season by taking an in-depth look at second basemen:

TOP FIVE
1. Robinson Cano (NYY)
2. Dustin Pedroia (BOS)
3. Ian Kinsler (TEX)
4. Brandon Phillips (CIN)
5. Ben Zobrist (TB)

UP CLOSE
Dan Uggla (ATL) – After batting just .177 in his first 86 games, Uggla turned around his 2011 campaign with a 33-game hitting streak.  Owners can overlook the terrible contact rate that led to him finishing the season with a measly .233 average due to the fact he jacked a career-high 36 long balls. That type of power at this position is rare and keeps Uggla as a top 10 option at the position.

BREAKOUT AHEAD
Brandon Phillips (CIN) – Phillips hit a career-high .303 last season. Over the past two seasons though we’ve watched his HR and SB base both drop.  He’s entering a contract year this season and with the Reds opening to hit in the leadoff spot this year expect plenty of chances to produce. His power numbers may go down, but not by much. Expect plenty of runs and stolen bases though.

BUST CANDIDATE
Chase Utley (PHI) –His name carries plenty of weight and will cause many owners to overpay for Utley. While he still has some upside, at 33 he is on a steady decline. His OPS has dropped in each of the past four seasons and he’s missed 40 plus games each of the past two years.   He’s still capable of delivering a .280/20/80 batting line, but will need to stay healthy to do so.

FUTURE STAR
Dustin Ackley (SEA) – Quietly loss in a dismal offensive season in Seattle in 2011 were the numbers put up by the 24-year old after his June call-up.  He hit .273 with seven triples, six homers and 36 RBI in 333 at-bats last year and is off to a hot start this spring. He’s slated to hit atop the Mariners’ batting order and is definitely worth keeping a close eye on as the season approaches.

FANTASY 101
There is more depth at the position than in recent years with as four Tier 1 options. Grabbing one of those guys could be worth a pick in the early rounds. After that look for value and find players that can help in a specific category or two and draft accordingly. When building a bench, look for those players that have multiple-position eligibility as they typically make better bench fodder.

COMPLETE RANKINGS | LATEST ADP

Fantasy Baseball fantasy advice, fantasy rankings, 2012, second base, strategy, dan uggla, brandon phillips, chase utley, dustin ackley

TOP TEN
1. Ryan Braun (MLW)
2. Matt Kemp (LA)
3. Jose Bautista (TOR)
4. Carlos Gonzalez (COL)
5. Curtis Granderson (NYY)
6. Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS)
7. Justin Upton (ARZ)
8. Matt Holliday (STL)
9. Andrew McCutchen (PIT)
10. Josh Hamilton (TEX)

UP CLOSE
Jay Bruce (CIN) - His averaged dropped 25 points in 2011 as he finished with a .256 mark. However, his career-high 32 HR and 97 RBI were welcomed by fantasy owners. Bruce should be drafted as a top 20 outfielder and possesses great upside at 24 years of age.

BREAKOUT AHEAD
Desmond Jennings (TB) - After getting a call up in July last season, Jennings quickly made an impact for the Rays and fantasy owners alike. He managed to collect 10 home runs, 25 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 44 runs scored in just 63 games. With a full season ahead the youngster could easily top the 100-run plateau while swiping 40-plus bags.

BUST CANDIDATE
Melky Cabrera (SF) - After being a journeyman most of his career, Cabrera posted career numbers in Kansas City last season. The Royals responded by selling high and dealing him to the Giants. While he produced as a top 50 fantasy performer last year in mixed formats, he'll likely revert back to something closer of the player we watched the previous five seasons.

FUTURE STAR
Bryce Harper (WAS) - The 19-year old phenom is a five-tool player with huge upside, but he's a long shot to make the Opening Day roster. The top-rated prospect in the game in a fantasy commodity though in keeper leagues and owners should watch his performance this spring in year-to-year formats.

FANTASY 101
Knowing your roster requirements is a must, but in most leagues a roster will consist of at least five outfielders. It is important to get statistical balance in the catagory. While there are some big names atop the position's rankings, plenty of value can be had late. Using tiers to predetermine players' values is more important at this position than any other.

COMPLETE RANKINGS | LATEST ADP

Fantasy Baseball fantasy advice, fantasy rankings, 2012, outfielders, strategy, jay bruce, desmond jennings, melky cabrera, bryce harper

We get you ready for the upcoming fantasy baseball season by taking an in-depth look at relievers:

TOP FIVE
1. Craig Kimbrel (ATL)
2. Jonathan Papelbon (PHI)
3. John Axford (MLW)
4. Mariano Rivera (NYY)
5. Drew Storen (WAS)

UP CLOSE
Andrew Bailey (BOS) – The upside for Bailey is significant as he takes over as the new closer for the Red Sox.  There’s no arguing that when healthy Bailey is amongst the game’s top closers. However, staying healthy has been a huge issue. Arm surgery to remove bone chips following the 2010 campaign lingered into 2011, costing him six weeks of time. Those same issues make him a high risk, high reward fantasy option heading into 2012.

BREAKOUT AHEAD
Huston Street (SD) – The move to PETCO Park is always a good thing for a pitcher and it will be no different for Street. He’ll replace Heath Bell, who departed for Miami via free agency, as the Padres’ closer. Like Bell before him, Street will benefit from the Padres seemingly always playing in close games. If he stays healthy, he could emerge as a top 5 or 6 closer by season’s end.

BUST CANDIDATE
Jose Valverde (DET) – Everything went right for Valverde last year as he saved 52 of 52 games (including playoffs) and posted a 2.24 ERA. However, his strikeouts were down (8.6 K/9 innings) and his walks were up (4.2 BB/9). He managed to post elite numbers because he pitched out of jams and stranded runners.  While he remains a solid fantasy closer, expect his numbers to drop off in the year ahead making him as an overrated option.

FUTURE STAR
Kenley Jansen (LA) – The one time catcher took the baseball world by storm with a 16.1 batter strikeout rate per 9 innings in 2011 with his moving 92-95 MPH fastball.  A pair of injuries slowed his progress a year ago, but he now appears healthy and if his arm holds up the sky is the limit. He needs to beat Javy Guerra out for the Dodgers’ closer job this spring. If he does, expect a top 10 finish from him this season.

FANTASY 101
Closer is always a position that sees players emerge from nowhere seemingly every year. In some formats, saves may be overrated a bit which translates into top setup men also becoming reliable fantasy options. In other leagues starting pitchers are scored much higher so finding a starter with relief pitching eligibility become valuable so it is important to know your league rules. When it comes to going after a closer you may be best served to allow others to take big names early and look for bargains late during your draft/auction.

COMPLETE RANKINGS | LATEST ADP

Fantasy Baseball fantasy advice, fantasy rankings, 2012, relievers, strategy, andrew bailey, huston street, jose valverde, kenley jansen

We get you ready for the upcoming fantasy baseball season by taking an in-depth look at catcher:

TOP FIVE
1. Carlos Santana (CLE)
2. Brian McCann (ATL)
3. Buster Posey (SF)
4. Joe Mauer (MIN)
5. Mike Napoli (TEX)

UP CLOSE
Joe Mauer (MIN) – Last season was a disaster for Mauer. After being slowed in Spring Training as he recovered from knee surgery, the All-Star backstop lost significant time as he coped with a viral infection and was sidelined down the stretch with pneumonia.  He’s too important for the Twins on offense to continue to catch every day, but one way or another Minnesota will get him in the lineup. He appears at 100 percent as camps break and the fact he still managed a .314/.393/.416 hitting line in the second half last year suggests he is still an elite fantasy option.

BREAKOUT AHEAD
Miguel Montero (ARZ) – His numbers a year ago would suggest his breakout already came as the Diamondback hit 18 HR and 65 RBI (both career highs).  However, there still seems to be room for improvement. With a talented lineup around him, Montero could deliver even bigger numbers as he enters his prime. He’s a nice mid-round option with some upside as .290, 20 HR, 80 RBI season is not out of the question.

BUST CANDIDATE
Kurt Suzuki (OAK) – Ever since the A’s gave Suzuki a big contract, his numbers at the plate have steadily declined. Both his average and on-base percentage have declined over each of the past three seasons. The 29-year old has only mustered 73 extra-base hits over the past three seasons over a span of 1,059 plate appearances. There’s not much to suggest he’ll turn around in 2012.

FUTURE STAR
Jesus Montero (SEA) – The Yankees gave up the young catcher to land the hard-throwing Michael Pineda and a quick glimpse at the tools Montero possesses shows us why.  The 22-year old only appeared in 18 games last year for New York and most of that time came at DH, but he still hit .328 with 4 HR and 12 RBI in just 61 at bats. The Mariners plan to put him behind the plate most days and will let him be the designated hitter when he’s not catching. He’s likely to struggle at times, but he should prove to be a top 10 fantasy option in his first full season.

FANTASY 101
The value of a catcher to your fantasy team depends greatly on your league’s rules. In most Roto formats where two catchers are active is imperative to get some production at the position. In leagues where just one catcher is needed owners can afford to wait much longer before filling the need. Getting an elite player at the position is a plus, but be careful not to overpay. If you decided to wait around before selecting a player for the position then you are best served to go with a young player over an aging veteran as catching regularly can take a toll on veterans and their production at the plate.

COMPLETE RANKINGS | LATEST ADP

Fantasy Baseball fantasy advice, fantasy rankings, 2012, catcher, strategy, joe mauer, kurt suzuki, miguel montero, jesus montero

We get you ready for the upcoming fantasy baseball season by taking an in-depth look at third basemen:

TOP FIVE
1. Jose Baustista (TOR)
2. Evan Longoria (TB)
3. David Wright (NYM)
4. Ryan Zimmerman (WAS)
5. Adrian Beltre (TEX)

UP CLOSE
Pablo Sandoval (SF) – Weight issues have hindered his growth and raised criticism a bit, but owners couldn’t argue with his production at the plate in 2011.  His OPS went up 177 points from 2010 to 2011 and he went yard 10 more times despite playing in 35 less games.  He is potentially a .300-25-90 guy at a position where there aren’t many elite options.

BREAKOUT AHEAD
Ryan Roberts (ARZ) – The career minor leaguer finally got an extended opportunity in the big leagues in 2011 and it resulted in him hitting 19 HR, 65 RBI and 25 doubles. He’s slated to be the Diamondbacks starting third basemen and his fantasy value is helped by his second-base eligibility.  If he can get the average up from the .249 clip he hit last year he’ll prove to be quite valuable in the mid-to-late rounds of your draft.

BUST CANDIDATE
Alex Rodriguez (NYY) – A-Rod is still a solid option, but no longer provides the elite numbers owners covet. Those that overpay on him or draft him too early will likely be disappointed. He hasn’t stayed healthy enough to get to 600 at bats since 2007 and was limited to just 99 games last year.  He’s still a solid starting option, but at the backend of the top 10 in our rankings. If you he falls far enough in your draft or auction he could still be worth the price, but you better have a backup plan if he misses time.

FUTURE STAR
Mike Moustakas (KC) – After getting called up in June, one of the game’s top power-hitting prospects struggled mightily through most of the summer in Kansas City. A strong September (352/.380/.580 with 4 HR) showed that he was able to make adjustments. That experience makes him appealing heading into 2012 as he will be the everyday third basemen for the Royals. His struggles against lefties will keep his batting average down, but the power numbers will be there.

FANTASY 101
Third base is one of the least deep positions in fantasy baseball. While there are a handful of top tier options, the fall off is quick and drastic once you get out the top few players. It is worth going after an elite option early in the draft or by investing some auction dollars. However, if you miss out early it is best to play the wait-and-see approach and focus on other positions. There are some young players that will likely be around late and some aging veterans who could prove to be valuable at a low cost.

COMPLETE RANKINGS | LATEST ADP

Fantasy Baseball fantasy advice, fantasy rankings, 2012, third base, strategy, pablo sandoval, ryan roberts, alex rodriguez, mike moustakas

Here are some good reads from around the web....

Weekly Average Cheatsheet (FantasySportsCentral.com) - UPDATED version of their average weekly cheatsheet with 6 sites included. Updated Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Weekly Average Projections (FantasySportsCentral.com) - Average stat projections from several sites run through their rankings program to give projected fantasy points.

Game Previews (FFToday.com) - A game-by-game look at Player Projections, Game Notes, Results and Schedules, Injury Report, Offensive Stats Comparison, and Weather.

Start/Bench List (FantasySharks.com) - A few players to start or bench for QB, RB, WR and TE with commentary.

Lineup rankings (NFL.com) - Need help making those difficult fantasy lineup decisions?

Fantasy Football Matchup Analyzer: Week 16 (FFToolbox.com) - Meant to be a helpful tool when deciding between two closely ranked players

Fantasy Football Busts (KFFL.com) - A list of some players that could burn owners in the week ahead.

Fantasy Football fantasy advice, fantasy links, week 16, start em, lineup advice, fantasy rankings

Here are some nice reads from around the web...

Weekly Average Cheatsheet (FantasySportsCentral.com) - UPDATED version of our average weekly cheatsheet with 6 sites included. Updated Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Start/Bench (PigSkinAddiction.com) - Studs, Start, Bench and Sleepers for QB, RB and WR with analysis and opposing D rank.

Matchups to Exploit or Avoid (ProFootballWeekly.com) - A short article on who to sit or start.

Start 'Em (FFToolbox.com) - Players who have been inconsistent or struggled lately, but should be started on fantasy teams this week.

Weekly Projections (FOXSports.com) - Weekly stat projections, projected fantasy points and rankings by position.

Player History (FFToday.com) - For those that believe in trends this is for you. Game-by-game lifetime player fantasy points against the team they are playing this week including all game logs.

Lineup Rankings (NFL.com) - Need help making those difficult fantasy lineup decisions? Check out our weekly positional rankings.

Fantasy Football fantasy advice, fantasy links, week 15, start em, lineup advice, fantasy rankings

It is fantasy playoff time and so many owners are thinking extra hard about their lineup decisions.  There is no doubt playing matchups is pivotal for fantasy success. However, you shouldn’t flee to far from the guys that got you to the postseason to begin with. These are the players by position I am rolling with despite the matchup over the next three weeks when it counts the most.

QB
A. Rodgers
M. Vick
D. Brees
P. Rivers
T. Brady
P. Manning

RB
A. Foster
A. Peterson
M. Jones-Drew
P. Hillis
M. Turner
R. Mendenhall
R. Rice
S. Jackson

WR
R. White
G. Jennings
A. Johnson
C. Johnson
D. Bowe
B. Lloyd
D. Jackson
S. Holmes
S. Johnson

Still have a question? Ask it on our FACEBOOK page and get a guaranteed response. Check out what your players' PLAYOFF SCHEDULES look like and be sure to join us for our live podcast/chat this Thursday at 7PM.

Fantasy Football fantasy advice, fantasy playoffs, must starts, fantasy rankings, start em

Year after year I watch other owners in my fantasy league go out and grab fantasy defenses in early-to-mid rounds of drafts while I sit back and wait. After looking at the fantasy defensive scoring leaders through six weeks, I am even more convinced that it is nearly impossible to project which unit will be best.

PRESEASON TOP 10 (current ranking)
1. Minnesota (26th)
2. Philadelphia (6th)
3. NY Jets (5th)
4. Green Bay (12th)
5. Dallas (25th)
6. Baltimore (27th)
7. San Francisco (24th)
8. New Orleans (16th)
9. Pittsburgh (1st)
10. San Diego (11th)

PRESEASON BOTTOM 10  (current ranking)
23 Washington (13th)
24 Buffalo (32nd)
25 Carolina (21st)
26 Detroit (9th)
27 Cleveland (28th)
28 Kansas City (19th)
29 Oakland (18th)
30 Jacksonville (31st)
31 Seattle (4th)
32 St. Louis (14th)

COMPLETE SCORING LEADERS (ESPN.com)

Fantasy Football fantasy advice, fantasy defense, fantasy rankings

The MLB All-Star game always features great players, but doesn’t always reward the top statistical performers with that in mind let’s take a look at GSI.com’s 2010 Fantasy Baseball All-Stars:

1B MIGUEL CABRERA (DET)  - .346 BA, 22 HR, 77 RBI, 64 runs
Honorable Mentions:  Albert Pujols (STL), Joey Votto (CIN)

2B ROBINSON CANO (NYY) - .336 BA, 16 HR, 58 RBI, 61 runs
Honorable Mentions:  Martin Prado (ATL), Brandon Phillips (CIN)

3B EVAN LONGORIA (TB) - .300 BA, 13 HR, 61 RBI, 54 runs, 13 SB
Honorable Mentions:  Michael Young (TEX), David Wright (NYM)

SS HANLEY RAMIREZ (FLA) – .300 BA, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 50 runs, 18 SB
Honorable Mentions: Derek Jeter (NYY), Jose Reyes (NYM)

OF JOSH HAMILTON (TEX) -.346 BA, 22 HR, 64 RBI, 59 runs, 7 SB
OF CARL CRAWFORD (TB) - .321 BA, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 70 runs, 31 SB
OF MATT HOLLIDAY (STL) - .300 BA, 16 HR, 51 RBI, 52 runs, 6 SB
Honorable Mentions:  Alex Rios (CHW), Corey Hart (MIL), Carlos Gonzalez (COL)

C JOE MAUER (MIN) - .293 BA, 4 HR, 35 RBI, 47 runs
Honorable Mentions: Victor Martinez (BOS), Brian McCann (ATL)

SP UBABLDO JIMENEZ (COL) - 15-1, 2.20 ERA, 113 K, 1.047 WHIP, 3 CG
SP ROY HALLADAY (PHI) - 10-7, 2.19 ERA, 128 K, 1.054 WHIP, 7 CG
SP ADAM WAINWRIGHT (STL) 13-5, 2.12 ERA, 127 K, 1.005 WHIP, 4 CG
SP JOSH JOHNSON (FLA) - 9-3, 1.70 ERA, 123 K, 0.959 WHIP, 1 CG
SP JON LESTER (BOS) - 11-3, 2.78 ERA, 124 K, 1.092 WHIP, 2 CG
Honorable Mentions: Felix Hernandez (SEA), C.C. Sabathia (NYY), David Price (TB)

RP BILLY WAGNER (ATL) - 20 SV, 5-0, 1.21 ERA, 0.857 WHIP, 56 K
RP HEATH BELL (SD) - 24 SV, 4-0, 1.88 ERA, 1.330 WHIP, 50 K
Honorable Mentions: Brian Wilson (SF), Rafael Soriano (TB)

Fantasy Baseball 2010 fantasy baseball all-stars, fantasy rankings, fantasy advice