1. Miguel Cabrera – Despite
the mass exodus in Miami, Cabrera
did more than just remain one of the better fantasy options at third base… he
solidified himself as one of the top five players in all of fantasy
baseball. Cabrera established
career-bests with a .339 average, 112 runs scored, and nine stolen bases while
smacking 26 homers and driving in 114 runs.
FIC Spin: The
scary part is that both Cabrera and the team around him should still be on the
upswing. He’s improved his batting
average in each of his first four seasons, while he’s both scored and driven in
100 runs in each of the past three years.
Cabrera is as dynamic a power-hitter as you’ll find next to Albert
Pujols, and he’ll even steal a handful of bases.
2007 Projection:
|
G
|
AB
|
Avg.
|
H
|
2B
|
HR
|
Runs
|
RBI
|
SB
|
OBP
|
Slg.
|
OPS
|
|
160
|
581
|
0.337
|
196
|
44
|
35
|
124
|
132
|
7
|
0.437
|
0.601
|
1.038
|
2. Alex Rodriguez – The
consensus number one pick for nearly a decade, A-Rod struggled in the spotlight
in New York… or so Yankee fans
would have you believe. Actually, his .296
average marked the eleventh straight season that he’s hit .285 or better and
scored 100+ runs; He also hit 35+ homers and drove in 100+ runs for the ninth
straight season and sprinkled in fifteen stolen bases just to top it all off.
FIC Spin: Though
he’s no longer the overwhelming number one overall pick, he’s a top five pick
no matter the format. Expect across the
board production, even with the Yankee fans booing excellence.
2007 Projection:
|
G
|
AB
|
Avg.
|
H
|
2B
|
HR
|
Runs
|
RBI
|
SB
|
OBP
|
Slg.
|
OPS
|
|
158
|
561
|
0.314
|
176
|
31
|
41
|
117
|
123
|
18
|
0.420
|
0.594
|
1.014
|
3. David Wright – Wright
continued to look like a franchise talent in 2006, improving upon the gaudy
numbers he posted in his first full season almost across the board. Wright finished in the top ten in the National
League in both batting average (.311) and RBI (116) while stealing twenty bases
and scoring just under 100 runs.
FIC Spin: Just
24, Wright should only continue to get better, and he has incredible lineup
support to help him along. Expect him to
add a little more power this season and cross the century mark in runs scored
for the first time.
2007 Projection:
|
G
|
AB
|
Avg.
|
H
|
2B
|
HR
|
Runs
|
RBI
|
SB
|
OBP
|
Slg.
|
OPS
|
|
155
|
604
|
0.315
|
190
|
44
|
29
|
103
|
121
|
18
|
0.384
|
0.540
|
0.924
|
4. Chone Figgins – Noted
as a speed demon with good on-base skills, Figgins took a big step back in the
average-hitting department in 2006, watching his average dip from .290 to
.267. He still did what fantasy owners
want most out of him, swiping 52 bags, but he failed to score 100 runs…
something that a player with his skill set has
to do in order to achieve maximum value.
FIC Spin: He
should turn the batting average around and score a bit more often when he
reaches. However, the fact that Figgins
will now only qualify at third base and in the outfield drastically lowers his
value in fantasy circles.
2007 Projection:
|
G
|
AB
|
Avg.
|
H
|
2B
|
HR
|
Runs
|
RBI
|
SB
|
OBP
|
Slg.
|
OPS
|
|
158
|
619
|
0.279
|
173
|
26
|
9
|
119
|
59
|
54
|
0.348
|
0.393
|
0.741
|
5. Garrett Atkins – Though
Atkins was considered by many as an interim option who would hold down the
position until top prospect Ian Stewart was ready, he topped our third base
rankings last season. Atkins used every
inch of Coors Field to bat .329 with 48 doubles, 29 homers, 117 runs, and 120
RBI, establishing himself as an elite option in any format.
FIC Spin: At 27,
he’s just entering his prime, and should continue to post dominant numbers so
long as he can take advantage of Coors.
He hit 33 points higher with 26 more RBI at home than he did on the
road, splits which may come down just a little bit.
2007 Projection:
|
G
|
AB
|
Avg.
|
H
|
2B
|
HR
|
Runs
|
RBI
|
SB
|
OBP
|
Slg.
|
OPS
|
|
141
|
546
|
0.309
|
169
|
41
|
28
|
103
|
112
|
3
|
0.380
|
0.540
|
0.920
|
6. Aramis Ramirez – Ramirez
started extremely slow, batting just .197 with four homers in April. However, he used a monster .328-22-67 second
half to finish just shy of batting .300 for the third straight season. His power numbers were lofty as usual, as he
set new career highs with 38 homers and 119 RBI.
FIC Spin: A stud
who doesn’t seem to get as much attention as he deserves, Ramirez has averaged
.304 with 35 homers and 105 RBI over the past three seasons. With Alfonso Soriano added to the fold in Chicago
and a healthy season from Derrek Lee, Ramirez should have little trouble
repeating his recent success.
2007 Projection:
|
G
|
AB
|
Avg.
|
H
|
2B
|
HR
|
Runs
|
RBI
|
SB
|
OBP
|
Slg.
|
OPS
|
|
153
|
549
|
0.295
|
162
|
36
|
37
|
88
|
112
|
1
|
0.346
|
0.564
|
0.909
|
7. Chipper Jones – Despite
missing time with a strained oblique and a sprained knee, Jones was his usual
dominant self when in the lineup last season.
In just 411 at bats, Chipper hit 26 homers and drove in 86 runners while
bashing at a .324 clip.
FIC Spin: He’s
getting older, and you have to be scared off a little by the fact that he
hasn’t had 500 at bats since 2003, but Jones is still on the border of the
elite when he’s healthy. The fact that
it’s unlikely he’ll stay healthy
bumps him back a notch.
2007 Projection:
|
G
|
AB
|
Avg.
|
H
|
2B
|
HR
|
Runs
|
RBI
|
SB
|
OBP
|
Slg.
|
OPS
|
|
141
|
507
|
0.315
|
160
|
39
|
31
|
90
|
94
|
7
|
0.418
|
0.582
|
1.000
|
8. Ryan Zimmerman – Though
the Nationals aren’t set for the future at very many positions, third base is
one of them. Zimmerman hit .287 with 20
homers and 110 RBI as a rookie in a drastic pitcher’s park, eventually finding
himself occupying the three-hole in the lineup towards the end of the year. He also provided nearly gold-glove caliber
defense at the hot corner.
FIC Spin: Just
22, Zimmerman should have a tremendous career ahead of him, and is gold in
keeper leagues. Unfortunately for
non-keeper owners, the Nationals will call RFK Stadium home again in 2007. Expect slight improvements across the board,
with a major power breakout on the way in 2008.
2007 Projection:
|
G
|
AB
|
Avg.
|
H
|
2B
|
HR
|
Runs
|
RBI
|
SB
|
OBP
|
Slg.
|
OPS
|
Fantasy Baseball 
