Chinstrap Ninjas — Fantasy Football and Fantasy Baseball Assassins

Fantasy football and fantasy baseball assassins

Player rankings: The Top 10 in Fantasy Baseball for 2010

If there’s one player in the top-10 in fantasy baseball in 2010 that I don’t want, it’s Evan Longoria. And that’s only because he’s in the Top -10.

Longoria’s an excellent young player and has been projected to rack up some stats. But he feels like the least “safe” of all the first-round picks. I’d probably take Miguel Cabrera, Ryan Howard and Tim Lincecum first. All of them are being picked after Longoria.

OK, I wouldn’t take Lincecum in the first round, but that’s another post for another day.

Before and after Longoria, however, there are few surprises in the Top 10:

1. Albert Pujols — He’s No. 1. Or 2. You know this. Projections: 110/40/120/10/.325

2. Hanley Ramirez – He’s No. 2. Or 1. They’re still locked in battle. Projections: 115/30/115/30/.320

3. Alex Rodriguez – Spent time debating the third pick the other day. Here’s something interesting to think about: I think A-Rod hits .290, same as Chase Utley and Prince Fielder. However, I think Utley and Fielder get more at-bats and more hits. More hits is better for your fantasy batting average. But they don’t have the other numbers A-Rod has. Psyche! Projections: 100/35/110/15/.290

4. Chase Utley – Hey Chase, you were part of that third pick discussion, too. You approach 200 hits like I think you might, you’d be worth it. Projections: 105/30/70/15/.290

5. Ryan Braun – Winner of the third pick debate, or was he? Braun’s got ridiculously consistent statistics in his short career, and that trend continues in 2010. Projections: 105/35/110/15/.310.

6. Mark Teixeira – There are a lot of 30-35 homer types on this list. They’re not as easy to find in the post-steroid era, so they have more value. I’d still go with Matt Kemp over Teix here. Projections: 95/35/115/1/.295

7. Matt Kemp – The real winner of the third pick debate. OK, I never actually picked the real winner, just told you why you shouldn’t ignore Braun or this Dodgers superstar on the rise. You did go back and read that post by now, right? Here’s the link again. Projections: 95/25/95/30/.305

8. Prince Fielder – One of three locks to get you 40 homers and 120 RBIs. Pujols is much better than Fielder, but I wouldn’t punish you for taking the other guy — Ryan Howard — in the first round. Projections: 95/40/125/1/.290

9. Evan Longoria – Did you read the intro or just skip right to the rankings? If you skipped, you missed the Longoria blurb. This post is like Pulp Fiction, you get the almost end at the beginning. Projections: 90/30/100/10/.285

10. Miguel Cabrera – Has had at least 33 homers and 112 RBIs in five of the last six seasons and has hit at least .320 on four of the last five. Can’t wait to see what he can do when he’s not on the sauce. Don’t be surprised if he’s a top-5 pick in your draft. Projections 95/35/115/5/.320

And, in case you’re catching a case of the already read this, we talked about the Top 10 all the way back on Feb. 2. Ryan Howard was No. 10 at that point.

To see all of our rankings, including sleepers and composite rankings, visit our 2010 Fantasy Baseball page.