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Position Previews
Catchers Catchers frequently miss games, produce shoddy numbers and are the most prone to injury. Eliminate some of the guesswork when it comes to drafting your franchise backstop by reading through our top 15 positional rankings. Zach Freeman Story
First Basemen The position of power, quite literally, in fantasy. This year's first base crop is top heavy and riddled with questions - from Albert Pujols' injured elbow to a number of players - Pujols, David Ortiz, Derrek Lee, Travis Hafner - coming off down seasons. Dustin Hockensmith Story
Second Basemen Second base is one of the most improved positions in fantasy baseball, meaning more big guns to rely upon and more depth in the event that you miss on the player you're targeting. Zach Freeman Story
Third Basemen Third base is well stocked, from first round picks Alex Rodriguez, David Wright and Miguel Cabrera to intriguing sleepers Edwin Encarnacion and Kevin Kouzmanoff at the bottom of our list. Options abound - you can get your franchise corner infielder early or wait until late in the draft and put your faith in a talented, young sleeper. Dustin Hockensmith Story
Shortstops Shortstop is a headline position with the ongoing debate of Jose Reyes vs. Hanley Ramirez as the best of the class. Add Jimmy Rollins to the mix as a late first rounder, and you've got the best upper tier of any position in fantasy. Zach Freeman Story
Outfielders While you choose one or two players from a short list of catchers and infielders, you have to narrow a list of about 100 down to three or five starting spots in the outfield. There seems to be a consensus for the top three outfielders chosen - Matt Holliday, Alfonso Soriano and Carl Crawford - but eye of the beholder takes over from there. Dustin Hockensmith Story
American League Closers Many fantasy experts will tell you that taking a closer in the early rounds of your draft is a wasted pick. However, a phenomenon, which I describe as the “closer bum rush," occurs in many drafts across the fantasy universe. It all starts when one or two people (usually those who have back-to-back picks in a live draft) jump the gun and take closers in the fourth or fifth round of their draft. Steve Kwan Story
National League Closers Same deal as in the American League. This time we set our sights on the more pitcher friendly National League and do our best to mash out fantasy predictions for baseball's most volatile position. Steve Kwan Story
Basic Strategy
Fantasy vs. Reality - Primetime Players There is a contrast between what's valuable in fantasy baseball and real life. I think we all know and, to varying degress, acknowledge that. It's not always a stark difference, but not having to care about defense, leadership and other intangibles skews a fantasy gamer's perspective. Dustin Hockensmith Story
X's and O's of Fantasy Baseball Fantasy baseball is most time consuming fantasy sport because of the lengthy season (162 games) and how statistically driven the sports inherently is. You need to pace yourself and not burn out early because it is a long, daily battle you're fighting to try and win your league. Dustin Hockensmith Story
Five Rules to Live By Fantasy sports are tricky to follow at an acceptable level. If you're too casual, you probably don't have a chance to win your league. If you're too hardcore, society shuns you and your wife wants a divorce. Here are five quick rules to live by to make sure that your love for fantasy sports doesn't become freakish or sad. Dustin Hockensmith Story
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