2-11 = Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies
ESPN Projections = .301, 30 HRs, 102 RBIs, 92 Rs, 9 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-5 through 3-23
Tulowitzki
murdered fantasy teams last year thanks to an injury filled 2012, but when healthy,
he’s the only shortstop capable of delivering top-5 overall production. If
you’re able to snag him in the third round, pat yourself on the back.
2-12 = Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
ESPN Projections = 16 Ws, 2.71 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 233 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 2-15
That 16-win projection feels low, unless the Dodgers follow the example set by the Lakers and struggle after making numerous big-time acquisitions.
2-13 = Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies
ESPN Projections = .301, 26 HRs, 94 RBIs, 95 Rs, 22 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 2-17
Fantasy’s top rated player in 2010, Gonzalez should see an upswing in production if Troy Tulowitzki is able to stay on the field on a regular basis.
2-14 = Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit Tigers
ESPN Projections = 20 Ws, 2.96 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 240 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 2-15
No one delivers better value combined with such a high volume of innings like Verlander. The dude is a machine.
2-15 = Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
ESPN Projections = .294, 34 HRs, 109 RBIs, 92 Rs, 8 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
Longoria’s outlook is similar to Troy Tulowitzki’s, with the exception that he plays a much deeper position.
2-16 = Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers
ESPN Projections = .313, 34 HRs, 107 RBIs, 95 Rs, 3 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-15 through 2-20
Of all our second round position players, Beltre is the safest selection of them all. Which is funny because five years ago he was considered one of the biggest free agent busts of all time.
2-17 = Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Miami Marlins
ESPN Projections = .278, 42 HRs, 103 RBIs, 90 Rs, 8 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-13 through 3-23
Those of you in re-draft leagues better not get to excited and take Stanton towards the end of the first round. He could lead the league in homers, but he’s not going to have very many teammates to drive in this year.
2-18 = Buster Posey, C-1B, San Francisco Giants
ESPN Projections = .318, 24 HRs, 98 RBIs, 76 Rs, 2 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
Posey’s torrid September carried many a fantasy team to a league championship last year. If you’re a big believer in value relative to position scarcity, Posey will be high on your draft board.
2-19 = David Price, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
ESPN Projections = 19 Ws, 3.17 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 213 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-17 through 3-25
If Price weren’t stuck in the AL East, he’d be right up there in the Strasburg-Kershaw-Verlander tier.
2-20 = David Wright, 3B, New York Mets
ESPN Projections = .287, 27 HRs, 100 RBIs, 97 Rs, 17 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-15 through 3-23
As far as 5-category contributors go, there isn’t a better all-around third basemen in the game than David Wright. If only the team around him didn’t suck so much.
3-21 = Justin Upton, OF, Atlanta Braves
ESPN Projections = .281, 28 HRs, 84 RBIs, 100 Rs, 20 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-13 through 3-27
People are way to excited about Justin getting to play everyday with his brother. If Justin returns to his 2011 form, B.J. won’t be the reason.
3-22 = Jose Bautista, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
ESPN Projections = .268, 41 HRs, 108 RBIs, 98 Rs, 8 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
If you’re willing to gamble on a player returning from injury, Bautista is you’re man. With the improved Toronto lineup, we could be talking about 50 dingers and 130 RBIs when it’s all said and done.
3-23 = Josh Hamilton, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
ESPN Projections = .293, 34 HRs, 113 RBIs, 93 Rs, 7 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
The way he exited Texas has put too much of a sour taste in my mouth to consider drafting him in the second round, although logically, he has an excellent chance of delivering top-10 value.
3-24 = Ian Kinsler, 2B, Texas Rangers
ESPN Projections = .265, 23 HRs, 68 RBIs, 103 Rs, 21 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-16 through 3-28
Kinsler used to be one of the larger injury risks in the game, but he’s only missed 12 games the past two seasons and has compiled the most plate appearances of any player in baseball. If you think he can push his average to .280, feel free to take him in the top half of the second round.
3-25 = Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners
ESPN Projections = 14 Ws, 3.01 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 225 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-17 through 3-28
If you are in a league that counts quality starts instead of wins, Hernandez deserves to be pushed up into the Strasburg-Kershaw-Verlander tier.
3-26 = Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays
ESPN Projections = .283, 36 HRs, 99 RBIs, 93 Rs, 10 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-16 through 3-30
Encarnacion busted out in a huge way in 2012, delivering the 12th best fantasy campaign of any player. You get the “he’s only done it once, not sure if he can do it again” discount this year if you take him in the third.
3-27 = Hanley Ramirez, 3B-SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
ESPN Projections = .263, 24 HRs, 83 RBIs, 82 Rs, 26 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-21 through 3-30
It wasn’t that long ago (two years in fact) that Hanley Ramirez was among the first three players taken in every single fantasy draft. Perhaps a full year away from the dysfunction in Miami can return Hanley to his previous form.
3-28 = Jose Reyes, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
ESPN Projections = .291, 10 HRs, 47 RBIs, 88 Rs, 34 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-21 through 4-34
Joining a powerful Blue Jays lineup would seem to be fortuitous, but having to play his home games on Toronto’s artificial turf won’t be.
3-29 = Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox
ESPN Projections = .293, 17 HRs, 70 RBIs, 92 Rs, 20 SBsNo Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-25 through 4-34
A torrid second half of 2012 gives fantasy owners hope that Pedroia can return to his MVP-winning level of play. Watch where Boston sticks him in the batting order, as that will go a long way in determining his counting stats.
3-30 = Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves
ESPN Projections = .261, 30 HRs, 96 RBIs, 93 Rs, 22 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-25 through 4-36
Heyward rebounded nicely after a disastrous 2011-sophomore campaign. There’s no reason the addition of the Upton brothers will not enhance Heyward’s fantasy value this year.
Click here to check out rounds 4-5
No comments:
Post a Comment