These are our initial rankings for the 2008 Fantasy Baseball season. These rankings are based off of Rotisserie play, for the most part, but can still be quite useful for Head-to-Head owners as well.
Position eligibility is determined by 20 games played last season. You'll notice that there aren't as many dual-eligible Fantasy studs as in previous years, which makes players like Carlos Guillen and B.J. Upton a little more valuable this year. That's mainly because they are big hitters with middle-infield eligibility.
Top 40 Catchers
RK
Player
TM
RK
Player
TM
1
Martinez, Victor
CLE
21
Towles, J.R.
HOU
2
Martin, Russell
LAD
22
Napoli, Mike
LAA
3
Mauer, Joe
MIN
23
Molina, Yadier
STL
4
McCann, Brian
ATL
24
Bard, Josh
SD
5
Posada, Jorge
NYY
25
Schneider, Brian
NYM
6
Johjima, Kenji
SEA
26
Kendall, Jason
MIL
7
Molina, Bengie
SF
27
Torrealba, Yorvit
COL
8
Varitek, Jason
BOS
28
Barrett, Michael
SD
9
Saltalamacchia, Jarrod
TEX
29
Navarro, Dioner
TB
10
Rodriguez, Ivan
DET
30
Laird, Gerald
TEX
11
Hernandez, Ramon
BAL
31
Ross, David
CIN
12
Doumit, Ryan
PIT
32
Zaun, Gregg
TOR
13
Lo Duca, Paul
WAS
33
Montero, Miguel
ARI
14
Pierzynski, A.J.
CHW
34
Mathis, Jeff
LAA
15
Paulino, Ronny
PIT
35
Valentin, Javier
CIN
16
Buck, John
KC
36
Shoppach, Kelly
CLE
17
Ruiz, Carlos
PHI
37
Redmond, Mike
MIN
18
Snyder, Chris
ARI
38
Thigpen, Curtis
TOR
19
Soto, Geovany
CHC
39
Clement, Jeff
SEA
20
Suzuki, Kurt
OAK
40
Castro, Ramon
NYM
Top 40 First Basemen
RK
Player
TM
RK
Player
TM
1
Pujols, Albert
STL
21
LaRoche, Adam
PIT
2
Howard, Ryan
PHI
22
Huff, Aubrey
BAL
3
Fielder, Prince
MIL
23
Kotchman, Casey
LAA
4
Teixeira, Mark
ATL
24
Overbay, Lyle
TOR
5
Berkman, Lance
HOU
25
Sexson, Richie
SEA
6
Martinez, Victor
CLE
26
Jacobs, Mike
FLA
7
Lee, Derrek
CHC
27
Jackson, Conor
ARI
8
Morneau, Justin
MIN
28
Votto, Joey
CIN
9
Gonzalez, Adrian
SD
29
Barton, Daric
OAK
10
Pena, Carlos
TB
30
Johnson, Nick
WAS
11
Konerko, Paul
CHW
31
Young, Dmitri
WAS
12
Swisher, Nick
CHW
32
Garciaparra, Nomar
LAD
13
Guillen, Carlos
DET
33
Johnson, Dan
OAK
14
Loney, James
LAD
34
Thames, Marcus
DET
15
Helton, Todd
COL
35
Stairs, Matt
TOR
16
Youkilis, Kevin
BOS
36
Millar, Kevin
BAL
17
Gordon, Alex
KC
37
Broussard, Ben
TEX
18
Delgado, Carlos
NYM
38
Wilkerson, Brad
FA
19
Saltalamacchia, Jarrod
TEX
39
Shelton, Chris
TEX
20
Garko, Ryan
CLE
40
Lamb, Mike
MIN
Top 40 Second basemen
RK
Player
TM
RK
Player
TM
1
Utley, Chase
PHI
21
Wigginton, Ty
HOU
2
Phillips, Brandon
CIN
22
Lopez, Felipe
WAS
3
Cano, Robinson
NYY
23
Aybar, Erick
LAA
4
Upton, B.J.
TB
24
Iguchi, Tadahito
SD
5
Roberts, Brian
BAL
25
Ellis, Mark
OAK
6
Uggla, Dan
FLA
26
Lopez, Jose
SEA
7
Kinsler, Ian
TEX
27
DeRosa, Mark
CHC
8
Weeks, Rickie
MIL
28
Cabrera, Asdrubal
CLE
9
Johnson, Kelly
ATL
29
Durham, Ray
SF
10
Kendrick, Howie
LAA
30
Casilla, Alexi
MIN
11
Kent, Jeff
LAD
31
Richar, Danny
CHW
12
Polanco, Placido
DET
32
Izturis, Maicer
LAA
13
Hudson, Orlando
ARI
33
Harris, Brendan
MIN
14
Pedroia, Dustin
BOS
34
Barfield, Josh
CLE
15
Hill, Aaron
TOR
35
Burke, Chris
ARI
16
Sanchez, Freddy
PIT
36
Grudzielanek, Mark
KC
17
Castillo, Luis
NYM
37
Belliard, Ronnie
WAS
18
Escobar, Yunel
ATL
38
German, Esteban
KC
19
Matsui, Kaz
HOU
39
Giles, Marcus
COL
20
Theriot, Ryan
CHC
40
Kennedy, Adam
STL
Top 40 Shortstops
RK
Player
TM
RK
Player
TM
1
Reyes, Jose
NYM
21
Lopez, Felipe
WAS
2
Ramirez, Hanley
FLA
22
Aybar, Erick
LAA
3
Rollins, Jimmy
PHI
23
Betancourt, Yuniesky
SEA
4
Jeter, Derek
NYY
24
Harris, Brendan
MIN
5
Tulowitzki, Troy
COL
25
Eckstein, David
TOR
6
Tejada, Miguel
HOU
26
Wilson, Jack
PIT
7
Young, Michael
TEX
27
Uribe, Juan
CHW
8
Guillen, Carlos
DET
28
Gonzalez, Alex
CIN
9
Cabrera, Orlando
CHW
29
Izturis, Cesar
STL
10
Greene, Khalil
SD
30
Guzman, Cristian
WAS
11
Furcal, Rafael
LAD
31
Pena, Tony
KC
12
Renteria, Edgar
DET
32
Vizquel, Omar
SF
13
Hardy, J.J.
MIL
33
Everett, Adam
MIN
14
Peralta, Jhonny
CLE
34
Cedeno, Ronny
CHC
15
Drew, Stephen
ARI
35
Loretta, Mark
HOU
16
Escobar, Yunel
ATL
36
Murphy, Donnie
OAK
17
Crosby, Bobby
OAK
37
Arias, Joaquin
TEX
18
Lugo, Julio
BOS
38
Frandsen, Kevin
SF
19
Theriot, Ryan
CHC
39
Scutaro, Marco
TOR
20
Bartlett, Jason
TB
40
Ryan, Brendan
STL
Top 40 Third Basemen
RK
Player
TM
RK
Player
TM
1
Rodriguez, Alex
NYY
21
Blake, Casey
CLE
2
Wright, David
NYM
22
Mora, Melvin
BAL
3
Cabrera, Miguel
DET
23
DeRosa, Mark
CHC
4
Braun, Ryan J.
MIL
24
Kouzmanoff, Kevin
SD
5
Jones, Chipper
ATL
25
Rolen, Scott
TOR
6
Atkins, Garrett
COL
26
Crede, Joe
CHW
7
Ramirez, Aramis
CHC
27
Longoria, Evan
TB
8
Figgins, Chone
LAA
28
Bautista, Jose
PIT
9
Zimmerman, Ryan
WAS
29
Iwamura, Akinori
TB
10
Lowell, Mike
BOS
30
Izturis, Maicer
LAA
11
Beltre, Adrian
SEA
31
Garciaparra, Nomar
LAD
12
Gordon, Alex
KC
32
Tracy, Chad
ARI
13
Fields, Josh
CHW
33
Inge, Brandon
DET
14
Blalock, Hank
TEX
34
Feliz, Pedro
FA
15
Escobar, Yunel
ATL
35
LaRoche, Andy
LAD
16
Glaus, Troy
STL
36
McPherson, Dallas
FA
17
Encarnacion, Edwin
CIN
37
Stewart, Ian
COL
18
Reynolds, Mark
ARI
38
Betemit, Wilson
NYY
19
Chavez, Eric
OAK
39
Lamb, Mike
MIN
20
Wigginton, Ty
HOU
40
Wood, Brandon
LAA
Top 100 Outfielders
RK
Player
TM
RK
Player
TM
1
Holliday, Matt
COL
51
Duncan, Chris
STL
2
Guerrero, Vladimir
LAA
52
Scott, Luke
BAL
3
Sizemore, Grady
CLE
53
Crisp, Coco
BOS
4
Crawford, Carl
TB
54
Maybin, Cameron
FLA
5
Soriano, Alfonso
CHC
55
Bonds, Barry
FA
6
Beltran, Carlos
NYM
56
Cabrera, Melky
NYY
7
Ordonez, Magglio
DET
57
Bourn, Michael
HOU
8
Ramirez, Manny
BOS
58
Fields, Josh
CHW
9
Lee, Carlos
HOU
59
Patterson, Corey
FA
10
Suzuki, Ichiro
SEA
60
Doumit, Ryan
PIT
11
Rios, Alex
TOR
61
Alou, Moises
NYM
12
Berkman, Lance
HOU
62
Anderson, Garret
LAA
13
Upton, B.J.
TB
63
Kearns, Austin
WAS
14
Granderson, Curtis
DET
64
Winn, Randy
SF
15
Markakis, Nick
BAL
65
DeJesus, David
KC
16
Dunn, Adam
CIN
66
Cameron, Mike
MIL
17
Hunter, Torii
LAA
67
Matthews, Gary
LAA
18
Byrnes, Eric
ARI
68
Willits, Reggie
LAA
19
Abreu, Bobby
NYY
69
Hall, Bill
MIL
20
Pence, Hunter
HOU
70
Ankiel, Rick
STL
21
Wells, Vernon
TOR
71
Buck, Travis
OAK
22
Swisher, Nick
OAK
72
Nady, Xavier
PIT
23
Hart, Corey
MIL
73
Ethier, Andre
LAD
24
Matsui, Hideki
NYY
74
Jones, Adam
SEA
25
Francoeur, Jeff
ATL
75
Upton, Justin
ARI
26
Young, Delmon
MIN
76
Milledge, Lastings
WAS
27
Young, Chris B.
ARI
77
Church, Ryan
NYM
28
Hawpe, Brad
COL
78
Pie, Felix
CHC
29
Pierre, Juan
LAD
79
Bradley, Milton
TEX
30
Jones, Andruw
LAD
80
Edmonds, Jim
SD
31
Griffey, Ken
CIN
81
Pena, Wily Mo
WAS
32
Rowand, Aaron
SF
82
Quentin, Carlos
CHW
33
Victorino, Shane
PHI
83
Kubel, Jason
MIN
34
Bay, Jason
PIT
84
Gathright, Joey
KC
35
Damon, Johnny
NYY
85
Gomes, Jonny
TB
36
Hermida, Jeremy
FLA
86
Pearce, Steve
PIT
37
Dye, Jermaine
CHW
87
Murton, Matt
CHC
38
Kemp, Matt
LAD
88
McLouth, Nate
PIT
39
Ibanez, Raul
SEA
89
Lind, Adam
TOR
40
Taveras, Willy
COL
90
Podsednik, Scott
FA
41
Burrell, Pat
PHI
91
Giles, Brian
SD
42
Hamilton, Josh
CIN
92
DeRosa, Mark
CHC
43
Fukudome, Kosuke
CHC
93
Rivera, Juan
LAA
44
Willingham, Josh
FLA
94
Freel, Ryan
CIN
45
Drew, J.D.
BOS
95
Owens, Jerry
CHW
46
Baldelli, Rocco
TB
96
Jenkins, Geoff
PHI
47
Guillen, Jose
KC
97
Diaz, Matt
ATL
48
Cuddyer, Michael
MIN
98
Anderson, Josh
ATL
49
Teahen, Mark
KC
99
Roberts, Dave
SF
50
Ellsbury, Jacoby
BOS
100
Lofton, Kenny
FA
Top 12 Designated Hitters
RK
Player
TM
RK
Player
TM
1
Ortiz, David
BOS
7
Thomas, Frank
TOR
2
Hafner, Travis
CLE
8
Sosa, Sammy
FA
3
Giambi, Jason
NYY
9
Duncan, Shelley
NYY
4
Thome, Jim
CHW
10
Vidro, Jose
SEA
5
Sheffield, Gary
DET
11
Piazza, Mike
FA
6
Butler, Billy
KC
12
Sweeney, Mike
FA
Top 100 Starting Pitchers
RK
Player
TM
RK
Player
TM
1
Santana, Johan
MIN
51
Garland, Jon
LAA
2
Peavy, Jake
SD
52
Hughes, Phil
NYY
3
Webb, Brandon
ARI
53
McGowan, Dustin
TOR
4
Beckett, Josh
BOS
54
Snell, Ian
PIT
5
Sabathia, C.C.
CLE
55
Gorzelanny, Tom
PIT
6
Verlander, Justin
DET
56
Buehrle, Mark
CHW
7
Haren, Dan
ARI
57
Meche, Gil
KC
8
Halladay, Roy
TOR
58
Arroyo, Bronson
CIN
9
Bedard, Erik
BAL
59
Guthrie, Jeremy
BAL
10
Lackey, John
LAA
60
Lester, Jon
BOS
11
Zambrano, Carlos
CHC
61
Jimenez, Ubaldo
COL
12
Hamels, Cole
PHI
62
Millwood, Kevin
TEX
13
Oswalt, Roy
HOU
63
Lowry, Noah
SF
14
Myers, Brett
PHI
64
Marcum, Shaun
TOR
15
Harang, Aaron
CIN
65
Greinke, Zack
KC
16
Hernandez, Felix
SEA
66
Bannister, Brian
KC
17
Carmona, Fausto
CLE
67
Maddux, Greg
SD
18
Smoltz, John
ATL
68
Byrd, Paul
CLE
19
Kazmir, Scott
TB
69
Kennedy, Ian
NYY
20
Penny, Brad
LAD
70
Glavine, Tom
ATL
21
Wang, Chien-Ming
NYY
71
Kuroda, Hiroki
LAD
22
Matsuzaka, Daisuke
BOS
72
Robertson, Nate
DET
23
Weaver, Jered
LAA
73
Mussina, Mike
NYY
24
Sheets, Ben
MIL
74
Colon, Bartolo
FA
25
Escobar, Kelvim
LAA
75
Cook, Aaron
COL
26
Vazquez, Javier
CHW
76
Morales, Franklin
COL
27
Hudson, Tim
ATL
77
Schmidt, Jason
LAD
28
Burnett, A.J.
TOR
78
Garza, Matt
TB
29
Liriano, Francisco
MIN
79
Johnson, Randy
ARI
30
Young, Chris R.
SD
80
Westbrook, Jake
CLE
31
Cain, Matt
SF
81
Bailey, Homer
CIN
32
Billingsley, Chad
LAD
82
Rodriguez, Wandy
HOU
33
Francis, Jeff
COL
83
Olsen, Scott
FLA
34
Blanton, Joe
OAK
84
James, Chuck
ATL
35
Perez, Oliver
NYM
85
Jurrjens, Jair
ATL
36
Maine, John
NYM
86
Slowey, Kevin
MIN
37
Hill, Rich
CHC
87
Kendrick, Kyle
PHI
38
Lincecum, Tim
SF
88
Loewen, Adam
BAL
39
Willis, Dontrelle
DET
89
Wakefield, Tim
BOS
40
Gallardo, Yovani
MIL
90
Owings, Micah
ARI
41
Pettitte, Andy
NYY
91
Bush, Dave
MIL
42
Martinez, Pedro
NYM
92
Hill, Shawn
WAS
43
Schilling, Curt
BOS
93
Marquis, Jason
CHC
44
Lowe, Derek
LAD
94
Hirsh, Jason
COL
45
Bonderman, Jeremy
DET
95
Reyes, Anthony
STL
46
Wainwright, Adam
STL
96
Wolf, Randy
SD
47
Zito, Barry
SF
97
Buchholz, Clay
BOS
48
Shields, James
TB
98
Santana, Ervin
LAA
49
Lilly, Ted
CHC
99
Hernandez, Livan
FA
50
Harden, Rich
OAK
100
Padilla, Vicente
TEX
Top 50 Relief Pitchers
RK
Player
TM
RK
Player
TM
1
Papelbon, Jonathan
BOS
26
Gagne, Eric
MIL
2
Rodriguez, Francisco
LAA
27
Percival, Troy
TB
3
Putz, J.J.
SEA
28
Marcum, Shaun
TOR
4
Rivera, Mariano
NYY
29
Greinke, Zack
KC
5
Jenks, Bobby
CHW
30
Soria, Joakim
KC
6
Nathan, Joe
MIN
31
Wilson, Brian
SF
7
Valverde, Jose
HOU
32
Marmol, Carlos
CHC
8
Saito, Takashi
LAD
33
Wood, Kerry
CHC
9
Myers, Brett
PHI
34
Gregg, Kevin
FLA
10
Wagner, Billy
NYM
35
Howry, Bob
CHC
11
Soriano, Rafael
ATL
36
Wilson, C.J.
TEX
12
Cordero, Francisco
CIN
37
Broxton, Jonathan
LAD
13
Hoffman, Trevor
SD
38
Walker, Jamie
BAL
14
Street, Huston
OAK
39
Neshek, Pat
MIN
15
Isringhausen, Jason
STL
40
Betancourt, Rafael
CLE
16
Lidge, Brad
PHI
41
Ryan, B.J.
TOR
17
Corpas, Manuel
COL
42
Heilman, Aaron
NYM
18
Cordero, Chad
WAS
43
Shields, Scot
LAA
19
Jones, Todd
DET
44
Hennessey, Brad
SF
20
Billingsley, Chad
LAD
45
Okajima, Hideki
BOS
21
Borowski, Joe
CLE
46
Rodney, Fernando
DET
22
Chamberlain, Joba
NYY
47
Dotel, Octavio
FA
23
Accardo, Jeremy
TOR
48
Lyon, Brandon
ARI
24
Pena, Tony A.
ARI
49
Qualls, Chad
ARI
25
Capps, Matt
PIT
50
Fuentes, Brian
COL
While I plan on keeping these rankings current through the spring, they are by no means instantly automated, so a free agents signing could affect an entire group. Feel free to shoot me a note if there is a mistake -- or you just plain disagree. All emails are read -- but not necessarily answered because of sheer volume. Send your comments and suggestions to me by clicking on my Columnist page and sending a note through the feedback form.