Phanatic Phantasy Baseball

Today's position: OF

By Michael Rushton and Greg Wiley
The Phanatic Magazine

Outfield is a spot that is going to let you fill some holes in your lineup. Obviously, go for the solid five-tool guys first to help across the board. Then, anticapate how you are going to fill your infield/catcher spots, and draft in the OF accordingly. If you weren't able to get a lot of power at the corners, get it here. If you need speed, there is plenty of available. Use the positions versatility to your advantage.

Legend: (HR/RBI/AVE/RS/SB)

Wiley’s List

1) Alfonso Soriano (CHC) - He was a 40-40 player last year and that was in Washington. Imagine what he'll do with a good team.
2) Carl Crawford (TAM) - He's always been a stolen base machine. Expect his power numbers to jump this season, making him very valuable.
3) Carlos Beltran (NYM) - The lack of base stealing is a concern. But the Mets' lineup is stacked and he's in the middle of it.
4) Vladimir Guerrero (LAA) - He's still an offensive machine. He doesn’t have much around him though.
5) Grady Sizemore (CLE) - Good power, speed and average.
6) Lance Berkman (HOU) - The addition of Carlos Lee will only help him. Without protection last year he still went for 45/136/.313/90. Expect RS to improve with Lee onboard.
7) Manny Ramirez (BOS) - Injuries and devotion are a concern, but if healthy and focused he's still one of the best in fantasy.
8) Carlos Lee (HOU) - Might be down from a year ago. He gets off to good starts but fades. Plus is he's playing in Houston; minus is he's past his prime.
9) Matt Holliday (COL) - His star continues to rise. His home and away splits aren't the best, but he'll still go for 30 HRs and hit over .300.
10) Vernon Wells (TOR) - Might be a down year. He just signed the long-term contract so the desire isn't there, but he'll still go for 30 HRs and drive in over 100.
11) Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) - Contract year. He'll again vie for the batting title, score a ton of runs and give you some pop.
12) Jason Bay (PIT) - He'll benefit from the addition of LaRoche. He puts up solid numbers across the board.
13) Bobby Abreu (NYY) - If healthy, he has the potential to be one of the top four outfielders as far as fantasy production.
14) Andruw Jones (ATL) - Contract year. His power will be there, but as always the average won't.
15) Jermaine Dye (CHW) - He's in a contract year so expect a year like 2006.
16) Johnny Damon (NYY) - I'm sure you'll take a 20-20 player. Very solid.
17) Juan Pierre (LAD) - Speed, hits and runs scored. He is streaky and has less than zero power, but he is one of the top base stealers in baseball.
18) Gary Sheffield (DET) - Always has real good offensive production. Expect no different in Detroit.
19) Hideki Matsui (NYY) - He missed most of last season with an injury. When healthy he puts up very solid numbers for a No. 2 OF.
20) Alex Rios (TOR) - His second half numbers last season declined, which scares me a bit. But for the most part I expect a break out season.

The other 21-30: Magglio Ordonez (DET), Adam Dunn (CIN), Rocco Baldelli (TAM), Delmon Young (TAM), Chone Figgins (LAA), Torii Hunter (MIN), Corey Patterson (BAL), Michael Cuddyer (MIN), Nick Swisher (OAK), JD Drew (BOS).

Rushton’s List

1). Soriano - If you need to know why, you probably shouldn’t be doing fantasy baseball.
2). Guerrero - Hits anything in his path and gets it done every year. I’m big on consistency.
3) Beltran - Best five-tool guy in the outfield not named Soriano and is coming off a heck of a 2006 season.
4) Crawford - At 25, he is probably still a year away from hitting his prime, but that shouldn’t slow him down this year.
5) Sizemore - The dark horse of the Indian lineup.
6) Berkman - Is a nice pickup because he is OF eligible as well.
7) Abreu - Another five-tool stud. Doesn’t have an injury history, so spring setback just a bump in the road. Another model of consistency.
8) Wells - I’ll agree there is a scare coming off a long-term contract, but he helped save my season last year.
9) Ramirez - One of these years he is just going to quit. Probably not this season though.
10) Lee - Will get you a surprising amount of steals given his power.
11) Bay - I take pride that he was my sleeper pick a few years ago. Unfortunately, he is no longer a sleeper.
12) Holliday - Might be a product of Coors, but I don’t care.
13) Suzuki - He’ll help you across three categories (RS, AVG, SB) and is starting to fly under the radar a bit.
14) Jones - Gets it done with the bat and is playing for a deal.
15) Matsui - Don’t forget about him just because of his injury last season. Your average, home run and RBI totals will thank you.
16) Pierre - Should help you lock up the steals category, but will hurt you in power.
17) Damon - The catalyst to a very deep lineup.
18) Dye - Starting to enter the decline, but should have enough gas left for a good 2007.
19) Sheffield - Should bounce back from injury, plus Jim Leyland always gets the most out of his players.
20) Rios - Will be a steal for whatever club grabs him.

The other 21-30: Young, Hunter, Baldelli, Dunn, Patterson, Barry Bonds (SFG), Cuddyer, Swisher, Ordonez, Mike Cameron (SDP).

Phanatic Sleepers - Chris Young (ARI), Mike Cameron (SDP), Jeremy Hermida (FLA)…and hopefully Pat Burrell.

Remember, if you missed any of our other position lists, just bang the label line at the bottom of the article.