Fantasy

With fantasy baseball drafts in full swing, here are 50 fearless fantasy predictions to consider for the 2011 season.   

50. Derek Jeter is your number three fantasy shortstop after Hanley and Tulo —Look for a bounce back year aimed at proving he’s still earning his money.

49. Ubaldo Jiminez will undoubtedly be overvalued in your league—Remember his 2^nd half?

Mark Reynolds has always been an all-or-nothing type of hitter.

Even when he posted his 44 HR campaign in 2009, he managed to strikeout 38.6 percent of the time. He followed that up by hitting 32 HR and seeing his strikeout rate rise to 42.3 percent in 2010.

Yes, he did struggle with multiple injuries, but does that justify his poor season or is it just an excuse in an attempt to cover his obvious flaws?

Third base hasn’t been one of the deeper positions in a while, and 2011 is no different.  There are a number of questions coming into the position including what David Wright will show up? The power hitter who was back last year, or the guy who hit ten homers in 2009? 

Will Jose Bautista get anywhere near 50 home runs again? Can Adrian Beltre produce at all if he isn’t playing for a contract? Will the Kung Fu Panda hit for any power? Can Mark Reynolds hit over .200? 

These are the players who I believe to be the top 20 fantasy baseball outfielders in the American League going into the 2011 season. 

Here are my other 2011 fantasy baseball rankings:

Top 50 Hitters

Top 35 Pitchers

Closer is a unique position in general, but it is especially so in keeper leagues.  With the uncertainty surrounding it from year-to-year, it is rarely worth locking them up (unless you are in a league that keeps a significant number of players).  If you have a young closer who has proven that they can do it year in and year out, then maybe, but otherwise you are generally picking with just the here and now in mind.  Remember that as you view these rankings:

These are who I believe to be the top 20 fantasy baseball outfielders in the National League going into the 2011 season. Keep in mind that these are only NL players. 

Here are my other 2011 fantasy baseball rankings:

Top 50 Hitters

Top 35 Pitchers

Last week we reviewed the sleeper that is Ryan Raburn (here).

The Reds were a popular sleeper pick in 2009. As it turns out, we were all just a year too early.

Cincinnati returns essentially the same lineup it ran out each day during its NL Central title run with a few new additions. Because many of the Reds' core players are young up-and-comers, we should see many of the players on the Reds roster skyrocket in fantasy value over the next few seasons.

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One of the most important qualities for a fantasy baseball starting pitcher is consistency. Having a pitcher who can deliver a solid performance week in and week out is worth its weight in gold, especially in head-to-head leagues that are scored on a weekly basis. 

Even the most seasoned pitcher will have an off night now and then. However, finding a bookend starter who will provide a consistent level of strikeouts and wins with a below-average ERA is the key to a successful season. 

Click here to enter the 2011 Fantasy Baseball Team Name Contest.

Here’s an early look at the NL only 2011 Second Base rankings.

1. Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies