Fantasy Baseball: Garner's Greatest Top 25

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

(Garner's Greatest Top 25 combines past and current performance and projections throughout the season to create the top 25 best players that will help lead your team to a fantasy baseball championship. The top 25 will change from week to week so be prepared for some surprise picks and players you just might no agree should be on the elite list.)

Player rising; Players falling

1. Albert Pujols, 1B, STL (previous 1)

2. Ian Kinsler, 2B, TEX (2)

3. Evan Longoria, 3B, TB (6)

4. Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA (4)

5. Jose Reyes, SS, NYM (3)

6. Chase Utley, 2B, PHI (7)

7. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, DET (8)

8. Grady Sizemore, OF, CLE (5)

9. David Wright, 3B, NYM (9)

10. Alfonso Soriano, OF, CHI (12)

11. Ryan Braun, OF, MIL (14)

12. Kevin Youkilis, 1B, BOS (13)

13. Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI (11)

14. Johan Santana, SP, NYM (14)

15. Nick Markakis, OF, BAL (18)

16. Roy Halladay, SP, TOR (16)

17. Tim Lincecum, SP, SF (19)

18. Carlos Beltran, OF, NYM (17)

19.  Tori Hunter, OF, LAA (24)

20. Victor Martinez, C-1B, CLE (25)

21. Manny Ramirez, OF, LAD (23)

22. Matt Kemp, OF, LAD (22)

23. Curtis Granderson, OF, DET (NR)

24. Jason Bay, OF, BOS (NR)

25. Carl Crawford, OF, TB (NR)

Dropped out: Josh Hamilton, Jimmy Rollins, Mark Teixeira

ALIVE

Raul Ibanez, OF, PHI -- Ibanez has never been appreciated in Fantasy circles, but he's always a consistent, but never spectacular player considering how many outfielders there are in the game. But Ibanez, who is hitting .360 with 8 home runs and 21 RBIs with a bonus of 3 stolen bases, has been awesome this year so far. Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise as Ibanez has hit over 20 HRs the last four years and driven in more than 100 runs three of those years. He's a poor man's elite outfielder, and I bet you got him pretty late in the draft. 

Jorge Cantu, 1B-3B, FLA -- I'll be the first to admit I've never really been solid on Cantu. I can't even tell you why, some guys you root for and other guys you hope to see fail. Cantu is a guy that continues to prove me wrong. He's a Jim Ingram-type of guy, and maybe I'm finally buying, well, I do own him in my NL-only  League. Cantu is on fire right now, hitting .352 with 7 bombs and 24 RBIs. He's ranked 17 overall in standard 5x5 Yahoo! leagues.

Robinson Cano, 2B, NYY -- Cano was a big bust last year with a .271 average and 14 HRs and 72 RBIs, but this year's performance is turing heads (.363, 5 HRs, 17 RBIs, 20 runs).

DEAD

Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX -- Hamilton was a stud last year, but now he's a complete dud. The Texas star, a sure first-round pick in the preseason drafts, has frustrated owners to a tune of .242 BA, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs. He's ranked a robust -- just joking -- 279th overall. If healthy, we know what he can do. But if you can get a sure-fire, top-notch quality star in a trade, unload him pronto.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI -- Just like Hamilton, Rollins was once on this Top 25 list, now he's on a Dead list. Maybe last year's sub-par .277 BA, 11 HRs, 59 RBIs, but awesome 47 steals, wasn't a fluke. Rollins better wake up fast or he won't even come close to last year's lackluster stats. He's been in a season-long slump with a .200 average, 1 HR, 7 RBIs and 1 SB. And he's suppose to be a top-5 shortstop. Strike 3 Rollins, you're out.

Francisco Liriano, SP, MIN -- I know he's still recovering from Tommy John surgery, but come on. Liriano, after coming back last last season and showing signs of a great recovery, is taking steps back in each and every start. Boy, I loved this lefty when he was first in the majors, but now he's a liability. Liriano isn't the dominant starter he once was. Here's the evidence: 6.04 ERA, 0-4 record, 1.38 WHIP, 20 Ks. I'm not going to completely cover his grave with gravel, but tonight's start vs. Detroit will go a long way as to whether I'm completely giving up on him or not.

(Coming Wednesday: Between the White Lines by Jim Ingram)