Corner Infielders

I am going to list 1B and 3B in one post, because of the overlap in players and average production. I will try to separate with tiers when possible, just because it is easier to read.

First Base:
2. Albert Pujols - Draft him no later than #2 overall. If you land him at 2, make a joke involving "Poo Holes" and "Number 2" on the chat feature.
6. Miguel Cabrera - OK, I like Cabrera here. He had 26 HR in the last 3 months last season, and reached career highs in HR and RBI. His AVG was down somewhat, but should rebound. He is slipping to about 8 on average, but gets dual 1B/3B listing, meaning you can draft him in the first round and decide where you are going to play him later. Talented Mr. Roto is projecting a huge season for Miggy.
9. Ryan Howard - 50 HR is awesome, but .250 average last year was a roto killer. I would draft him as high as 9 in a head to head league, but early second round in a roto league. I would rather take Kinsler, Rollins, or Johan Santana at 9. But just know what you are getting here.
12. Mark Teixeira - Again - take Kinsler, Rollins, or Santana at 12/13 if that is where you are drafting. Tex will have 35 HR, 100 runs, 100+ RBI, .300+ AVG and all, so it isn't like he is a bad pick. It is just that 1B is so deep a position, and he isn't playing for that contract anymore.

17. Lance Berkman - Another 30, 100, 100, .300 guy - what separates him from Tex is the 18 SB last year. Solid second round pick.
19. Prince Fielder - OK, I would stay away here. He is falling to the late second round on average, but I would rather go elsewhere here. Not a bad pick or anything, but that is too high based on his production last season, and his projections for this year.
29. Justin Morneau - Has high RBI numbers because he comes up to bat with men on base more than anyone else in the league. 25 HR, .280, 100 RBI - not bad, but I don't know about the third round.

40. Kevin Youklis - His 29 HR last year should come down a little, as should his average, based on his high BABIP. I think 40 is too high for him.
49. Adrian Gonzalez - Solid. But, who will he drive in this year? SD has no one else really, and half his runs scored may come from his own HRs. Good keeper, and if it is the 5th round and you need a power guy, go for it. I would take him at 1B over Youklis, and he is on par with Morneau, but ranked 20 spots lower.

63. Victor Martinez - Should not play 1B for you this year. Maybe not even Catcher.
64. Garrett Atkins - I like his chances for a rebound year. Plays in Colorado and makes the most of it. Will put up Morneau numbers, ranked 35 spots lower. I would grab him in the 5th, definitely the 6th, and put him at either 1B or 3B depending on the rest of your team. Slipping to 72 overall on average - a 6th round steal. You can even push your luck and try for early 7th round if that is where you are drafting.
66. Adam Dunn - Controversial guy because his AVG is low but his OPS is insane because of his walks and his power. A stats geek type of guy. Should hit .250 or above, but hit 40 HR and have 100 RBI. Again. Late 6th round for sure - plus, he plays OF if you need him to.
68. Chris Davis - You will draft him in the late 6th/early 7th round, and some dork in your league will write "good pick" to try to sound like he knows what he is doing. Davis is a solid pick and projects to 29 HR , but a .259 AVG. Listed at 3B also. If you can grab him in the 7th round, do it, but he probably won't be there because someone will reach for him in the 5th round.
77. Aubrey Huff - Really, he had 32 HR last year. 108 RBI. .304 average. Probably won't approach any of those this year. Overrated because of his huge year last year, best to just stay away and let someone else pray that he repeats.

95. Derrek Lee - I drafted him in my keeper league in the hopes that he would be my keeper, but he wasn't. Should hit .290, 20 HR, .800+ OPS. But I don't know about the 8th round for Lee. As a Cubs fan, I hope he hits .400 with 40 HR though.
101. Carlos Pena - 30 HR, 90 RBI projections, but a .240 average is killer. If you still need some power in the 9th or 10th rounds and don't have a strong 1B, you can grab this guy.
103. Joey Votto - Draft Votto as your 1B over Pena, Lee, or Huff. Should have 25+ HR, 85+ RBI, hit .290, slug .500 - especially in a keeper league, this guy is gold. If you reach the 7th round and everyone Davis and earlier is gone, just wait until the 9th or 10th round and grab Joey.
119. Carlos Delgado - Ranked really low for a guy who had such a good year last year (38.2 VORP!). If someone steals Votto from you, Delgado is your backup plan. 25 HR, 95 RBI, .275, .500+ SLG - almost the same as Joey. Going 11th round on average.

137. Connor Jackson - Married to a Chloe Harper, if I'm not mistaken. Don't overrate this guy based on his awesome name, and don't pick him out of desperation of Votto and Delgado are gone and you don't have a 1B. Should hit close to .300, but 16 projected HR from a 1B is killer. 141. 141. James Loney - See Connor Jackson - really, exact same numbers, don't do it.
142. Jorge Cantu - Quite a comeback year last year. Should have more HR than the last 2 guys, hit about .270 however, and is probably a better panic 3B pick than a panic 1B pick.
155. Carlos Guillen - Ah, Carlos. 15/10/.270 guy. Just, stay away, and root for him every time he comes to the plate.
172. Jose Lopez - Better 2B pick than a 1B pick. Actually, a better pick for someone else in your league, but whatever.
189. Nick Swisher - Again, if you need power and are set at average, take a flyer on Swish at this point of the draft. Will hit under .250, but could have 30 HR.
194. Billy Butler - Could have a breakout year. 15-20 HR, .290+ AVG - not a bad pickup at this point. Upside galore, 23 years old. Probably a better pick than Guillen or Lopez.

That is the top 25 1B according to yahoo. Others of note:
195. Paul Konerko - Worth a flyer maybe. 20+ HR, .250-.260 average.
220. Adam LaRoche - I like LaRoche - 25 HR with a .270 average, after Delgado, has the most HR potential other than Swisher, and with a better average.
226. Jason Giambi - 20 HR, .230 AVG. At your own risk.
265. Casey Kotchman - Good average, but bad power.
293. Mike Jacobs - Won't have 30 HR again. OBP is terrible for a 1B. Stay away.
900. Todd Helton - What year is it?


Third Base:
4. David Wright - Yeah, #4 sounds about right here. With ARod out, really he owns the top tier of 3B with Cabrera.
6. Cabrera - If you draft him in the first round, he will probably be your starting 3B. Focus on 1B if you do so.
14. Evan Longoria - Could be a 100/30/100 guy, but his average will keep him in the second round. I would only draft him late in the second round - that average will be tough to overcome, and he hasn't hit 30 yet. 80/25/90 is probably closer to what you'll get. Draft him 2nd round if it is a keeper league though.

38. Aramis Ramirez - If you have a late 3rd round pick, go for him. .290, 26 HR, 101 RBI projetions. You can wait to try to grab Atkins or Chipper if you don't want to pull the trigger on Aramis here.
39. A Rod - Really belongs in the top 3, but the injury and the fallout and everything. The best baseball player any of us will see in our lifetimes, PEDs or no. I would draft him in the second round. I actually have.
40. Youklis - Again, grab him as your 3B over 1B.
41. Russel Martin - If you draft him, never play him at 3B.

64. Garrett Atkins - Seriously, grab this guy if you can.
65. Chipper Jones - Chipper is injured a lot, but really will hit for average and for power. Solid pick for the 6th round, but maybe grab him in the 5th if you want.
68. Chris Davis - See above.
69. Ryan Zimmerman - Still young, having Dunn in the lineup will help. You will get .290, 20 HRs and some solid run/RBI production here. Good keeper too.
77. Aubrey Huff - Again, I say NO, but if you are desperate for 3B. Actually no, just stay away.
82. Chone Figgins - Tons of steals, will carry you in that category. Don't reach for Figgins - he will drag you down in AVG and HR, especially at 3B. If you draft him, start him at 2B.

108. Edwin Encarnacion - If you want a 3B sleeper, go here. 25 HR, .280 average, around .500 slugging. Getting drafted around 140 on average, which is the 12th round, meaning you can even wait a round if you want and grab him 10th/11th. I like this guy's ranking versus his production.

139. Adrian Beltre - If you missed out on the last guy, wait a couple of rounds and take a flyer on Beltre. PECOTA .270, 20+HR, 88 RBI. You could do worse.
142. Jorge Cantu - Even as a 3B, kind of a risk.
145. Mark DeRosa - Go ahead and put him on your Do Not Draft list.
146. Alex Gordon - Some good power, but a poor average. Still - 23HR is worth a .258 average at this point of the draft.
155. Carlos Guillen - Still, don't.

198. Mark Reynolds - Sleeper. 198 is way too low for a guy who will have 30+ HR. Yeah, he will hit .240 if he is lucky, and he struck out 204 times last year, but still. Do it.
202. Troy Glaus - Hit as many HR as Longoria last year (in about 100 more PAs). Still - 22 HR and a .257 average projection - compare that to Alex Gordon 56 spots higher. Another sleeper.
204. Hank Blalock - Should get 15 HR andhit .265. Don't.
225. Ian Stewart - Could hit 20 HR, .270, half his home games in Colorado - not a bad sleeper.
233. Pablo Sandoval - If you are lucky to grab this guy, start him at catcher. He will go in the 15th round though, and probably be drafted ahead of the last 9 guys on this list. And should be.
238. Melvin Mora - Conventional wisdom predicts another solid year from this guy, but PECOTA doesn't, and PECOTA is better than conventional wisdom. I would stay away.

Other 3B of note (are there any?):
257. Felipe Lopez - Could return to fantasy glory this year, and is listed at about every position. Decent source of SB.
271. Kevin Kouzmanoff - Wow - I just looked at his PECOTA - 24 HR, 92 RBI, .275 AVG - Do it. A new sleeper for my 3B sleeper list.

If somehow, all these guys are gone and you need a 3B, look at...oh hell, just hope you don't. Kouzy should be available at this point, grab that guy if you need. Seriously - I would take him over Felipe Lopez, Mora, Stewart, Blalock, Guillen, and DeRosa.