Middle Infielders

The key to fantasy baseball is being solid up the middle - 2B and SS. These are strong defensive positions, so finding someone here to contribute fantasy-wise is crucial, especially with the depth at other positions. This is why I would take Kinsler or Rollins late in the first round over someone like Teixeira.

Second Base:
10. Ian Kinsler - I am partial to Kinsler because I have him as a keeper. If you are drafting anywhere from 8-12, I would target Kinsler despite his injury last year. 20/20/.300 potential.
21. Chase Utley - Really ranked low because of the hip injury. But a steal - you should grab him at any point in the second round if he is available. He is playing now and is expected to be ready for Opening Day. 30 HR, .300 guy. I have seen him go in the first round even.
23. Dustin Pedroia - Will score a ton of runs. His average should come down a couple of points from last year, but has 20/20 potential. Could be the next Kinsler, but also this season could finish more in the 10-15 HR/SB range, and you could do worse, but second round is a maybe for me. Third round, grab him for sure if he is available.
24. Brandon Phillips - He is Pedroia realized, if that makes sense. I mean, he actually has gone 20/20 and doesn't just have the potential for that. Average could be better - .261 last year, but a .282 PECOTA means that I would take him over Pedroia at this point. If you are in the 1-4 draft spots, the last 2 guys are definite late 2nd/early 3rd range for you.

37. Brian Roberts - 10-15 HR, 30+ SB, but his projected average is down a bit. Otherwise, he belongs in the same discussion as the last 2 guys. Don't let him slip past you in the 4th round.
53. Alexei Ramirez - Another solid pick. Listed as SS, 2B, and OF, but don't play him at OF unless you have Utley and Rollins up the middle or something and he slips to you. He will post just under .300, and is a 15-20 HR guy and should get double digit steals.

71. Dan Uggla - This dude is a 30 HR guy for some reason. He may even slug .500. You aren't going to get that from a lot of MIs, so if you have guys like Carl Crawford on your team and need HR, you can get them from Uggla in the sixth round from a position where you don't normally get that production.
82. Chone Figgins - His lack of power and average won't kill you at 2B like it would at 3B, so if you draft him, you are set on steals - now focus on finding some guys to bring up your other stats. Personally, I hate steals guys on my team - I would rather be loaded up with 20/20 guys than a guy who will hit 4 HR and steal 40 bases, and another guy who hits 35 HR and doesn't steal a base, but that is just my preference. Especially since steals guys (Taveras, Pierre) kill you on HR and RBI.
92. Howie Kendrick - Can carry you in average, in theory. That theory being that he can finally get more than 400 PAs in one season, which he hasn't yet. Doesn't provide much otherwise. Has potential at 25, but let him be someone else's headache.
93. Robinson Cano - Again, high average, 10-15 HR, no SB. Probably safer than Kendrick, but same production. At this point, if you don't have a 2B and you missed out on Uggla, don't worry about 2B for a couple of rounds.

130. Mike Aviles - 10-15 HR, .265-.275 average, few steals - I don't know. 60 runs, 60 RBI - Meh. Nothing too exciting for the eleventh round.
143. Kelly Johnson - Could hit 15-20 HR, hit .280 with double digit steals - Solid pick for the 13th round, where he is slipping too. Definitely the best 2B prospect since Uggla.
145. Mark DeRosa - Do Not Draft.

172. Jose Lopez - Not stellar, but better than the guys who will be available on the waiver wire after the draft. Don't draft him to play 1B.
174. Kazuo Matsui - Slipping to about 200 overall, but could steal 20 bases. Really unfortunate injury last year. If you need a cheap source of steals from someone who won't kill you in average, pull the trigger in that 15-17th round if you need a 2B.
191. Rickie Weeks - Yes. Here is your sleeper - if you want a good 2B backup, or if you missed out on Kelly Johnson, Weeks is your guy. 15-20 HR and SB, .270 average. Is being drafted behind a bunch of guys at 2B who are worse options. You can wait until the 18th round if you need.

209. Placido Polanco - Good average, but not much else. Don't do it, but root for him regardless. I love that guy.
213. Orlando Hudson - 10/10 .290. Emergency pick. Whoever drafts him will release him in a few weeks, so he is a solid injury replacement.
225. Ian Stewart - Great sleeper pick here. Listed at 3B too, so stash him on your bench. Heck - you can even start him at 2B if you want, especially for home games.
241. Mark Ellis - 10/10/.250. Don't, unless your guy gets injured.

That was just the top 20 - here are the other mentionables at 2B:
257. Felipe Lopez - Could be a cheap source of steals, and could have a rebound year.
259. Alexi Casilla - Could steal 20 bases, but weak average.


Shortstop:
1. Hanley Ramirez - No matter where you are drafting, draft him if he is available. Really, he could have 30 HR, 40 SB, 100 RBI, 130 Runs, and hit .330. That's not even his ceiling. Only 25. Best player in fantasy right now.
3. Jose Reyes - Again, draft him if Hanley and Pujols are gone. 15-20 HR, 65-70 SB, .300+ average, 125 runs, 75 RBI - really, you draft him and you are probably gonna win SB, and you really don't have to make up much else, because his HR are par for the position.
11. Jimmy Rollins - If you are late 1st round drafting, take him in the 8-12 range if Kinsler is gone. If you can grab Kinsler or Utley and Rollins with your first 2 picks, you are set up the middle and are looking good. He will rebound from last year and get back in the 20 HR range, with 40 SB and an average in the high .200s.

53. Alexei Ramirez - Yeah, that was some dropoff. SS is a very top-heavy position, and if you don't get yours in the first round, don't worry about it for a few rounds. I will probably not draft Alexei for SS, but that is just me. If you do, I would draft him in the 5th round.
57. Rafael Furcal - Don't do it. You know who he is, and he has a track record of success, but let him be someone else's headache. If someone drops him around the all star break, pick him up because he always has a good second half, but don't draft him.
60. Troy Tulowitzki - Do this instead. Injuries derailed last year, but he should do .280 plus, 15-20 HR, and he plays in Colorado.
67. Stephen Drew - Another good 6th/7th round SS. 25 HR potential, could be Utley without the steals. I say 6th round if you don't have a SS at this point.
80. Michael Young - If he wasn't a SS, he would be ranked in the 150s. .280 10/10 type of guy, may not reproduce this 2006 numbers again in his career. Let's put it this way - I wouldn't draft him, but I drafted him in one league. I don't know if that makes sense.
87. JJ Hardy - I would draft him over Young. 20+ HR and a .270 average. Solid, and you can get him a round later than Young.

89. Jeter - Do Not Draft. 10/10, .280 - not a top 100 guy.
109 - Jhonny Peralta - 20 HR, .260 - Meh. I phrobably whouldn't dhraft him here unless I was dhesperate for a SS.
118. Miguel Tejada - Do Not Draft. Could be in jail for lying to Congress or something.
130. Mike Aviles - Again, nothing to get worked up about.

184. Khalil Greene - 15-20 HR, .250 average - roughly what you could get from Peralta at 75 places later.
186. Ryan Theriot - 20 SB and a good average - not bad for this late. Good sleeper pick, can get some runs in a potent lineup. Will hurt in power though.
200. Orlando Cabrera - No. Stay away. Nothing to get excited about.
212. Yunel Escobar - Again, good average but not much else.

OK, that is only the top 17, but there really isn't much else. Here are some other notables:
257. Felipe Lopez - Getting tired of talking about this guy, but has a lot of positions listed, so a good bench guy.
288. Christian Guzman - Great average last year. Good injury fill in.
646. Jason Bartlett - The fantasy magazine I get really wants him to have a breakout season. Could be a cheap source of steals, but not much else.
687. Elvis Andrus - Again, draftable for the name alone. But if he gets to play in the bigs this year, could steal 30+ bases.

So, shortstop is a position where you need to grab someone good, because there aren't many sleepers. If you miss out on the big 3, target Tulowitzki or Stephen Drew, the JJ Hardy if you don't get them. Don't be ashamed with Ramirez, Young, Peralta, or Greene though. If worse comes to worse and you end up with Jeter or Tejada, good luck with that.