Alex Rodriguez sits atop Imaginary Diamond’s first player rankings list, largely out of respect for what he did last season. Hanley Ramirez, Chase Utley and David Wright are all nipping at his heels, especially with A-Rod parked in the garage with a sore quad.

Rising on this week’s list are Lance Berkman, who has gone on a five-category tear to start the season; Rafael Furcal, who looks fully healthy after an injury-plagued 2007; Chipper Jones, who’s hitting everything that moves; Carlos Zambrano and Miguel Tejada.

Some of those falling down the board are Ryan Howard, who’s missing everything that moves; Adam Dunn, for the same reason; C.C. Sabathia, who dug fantasy owners a huge hole in the pitching categories; Eric Byrnes, who has two sore hamstrings; and others.

THE TOP 50:
1. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NYY: Hobbled by a hamstring injury, but not ready to give up the top spot just yet. Preseason: 1

2. Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA: Lack of lineup support far overblown in preseason; has been among the game’s best with a .349-19-7-16-6 line. Preseason: 3

3. Chase Utley, 2B, PHI: Power surge is unprecedented, even for Utley; leads MLB with 10 HRs. Preseason: 6

4. David Wright, 3B, NYM: Producing consistently and is right on course for second straight 30-30 season. Preseason: 4

5. Jose Reyes, SS, NYM: Struggled badly thus far, especially on the basepaths where he has just 4 SBs. Preseason: 2

6. Matt Holliday, OF, COL: Rockies’ struggles bad news for his RBI total, but rest of fantasy game has gone unchanged. Preseason: 5

7. Miguel Cabrera, 1B/3B DET: Struggles didn’t last long; quickly up to 5 HRs, 18 RBIs as Tigers offense comes together. Preseason: 8

8. Albert Pujols, 1B, STL: Easing concerns about injured elbow, but lineup protection is still a question mark. Preseason: 11

9. Johan Santana, SP, NYM: Playing his part for Mets; team’s shoddy run support not doing him any favors in fantasy. Preseason: 10

10. Prince Fielder, 1B, MIL: Big man got off the HR snide same time in ‘08 as ‘07, when he clubbed 50 homers. Preseason: 12

11. Jake Peavy, SP, SD (16)Will fight Santana tooth and nail for Cy Young award, top fantasy pitcher honors. Preseason: 16

12.David Ortiz, DH/1B, BOS: .188 batting average still an eye sore, but struggles are behind him — has 16 RBIs in last 7 games. Preseason: 14

13. Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI: High K rate (32 in 83 ABs) always more concerning when he’s scuffling (.181, 4 HRs, 9 RBIs). Preseason: 10

14. Carl Crawford, OF, TB: Is fantasy gold if he manages to reach 20 HR mark, something he could do for the 1st time in ‘08. Preseason: 17

15. Ryan Braun, 3B/OF, MIL: Starting to heat up; has 3 multi-hit efforts and 4 RBIs over last 4 games. Preseason: 13

16. Carlos Beltran, OF, NYM: Too many 0-fers killing his average; bad news is, there are no signs of letting up. Preseason: 18

17. Jimmy Rollins, SS, PHI: Was off to a red-hot start before sprained ankle forced first career DL trip. Preseason: 8

18. Alfonso Soriano, OF, CHC: Silly calf injury sent him to DL, leaves grim outlook for SB potential. Preseason: 15

19. B.J. Upton, 2B/OF, TB: Every bit the real deal; more comfortable in first full season as center fielder. Preseason: 20

20. Lance Berkman, 1B/OF, HOU: Big April (.325-20-6-20-4) a change of pace from way he started poor ‘07 season. Preseason: 28

21. Manny Ramirez, OF, BOS: Not a coincident that this sweet-swinging simpleton is off to a hot start in a contract year. Preseason: 28

22. Grady Sizemore, OF, CLE: Early disappointment should break loose, especially with power, as summer approaches. Preseason: 21

23. Vladimir Guerrero, OF, LAA: Stays afloat with modest production early, then carries fantasy teams with dominant Septembers. Preseason: 22

24. Ichiro Suzuki, OF, SEA: No need to worry about slow start; hit .255 in April in best season as a pro (hit .372 with 33 SBs in ‘04). Preseason: 23

25. Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN: Team struggles and lack of road production (.194-2-0-0-0) reasons for sluggish start. Preseason: 19

26. Carlos Lee, OF, HOU: El Caballo is a fantasy horse - should follow suit with 5-year averages of 33 HRs, 112 RBI and 14 SBs. Preseason: 23

27. Aramis Ramirez, 3B, CHC: Take it to the bank; if he plays 150 games, he hits 40 homers this year. Preseason: 43

28. Garrett Atkins, 3B, COL: Comes handcuffed to Ramirez; hits for less power, but is more sure bet to stay healthy. Preseason: 44

29. Derrek Lee, 1B, CHC: Consider that 2006 wrist injury a thing of the past; hitting .378 with 7 HRs. Preseason: 50

30. Alex Rios, OF, TOR: Power will come around, not sure if the surprising speed (5 SBs) will stick. Preseason: 44

31. Brandon Webb, SP, ARI: MLB’s first to 5 wins; road to Cy Young will once again go through Arizona. Preseason: 46

32. Chone Figgins, 3B, LAA: Picked up where he left off last season (.341, 7 SBs); sure to rank among AL’s top base stealers. Preseason: 47

33. Nick Markakis, OF, BAL: Marches along to nice, consistent pace — hitting .310-15-4-10-4 for upstart O’s. Preseason: 49

34. Jonathan Papelbon, RP, BOS: Lots to love about power K-to-walk ratio (18:1) and number of leads Sox hand him. Preseason: 53

35. Cole Hamels, SP, PHI: Among elite pitchers because he works deep into every start, limits damage against him. Preseason: 54

36. Rafael Furcal, SS, LAD: Few hotter than this guy; hitting .398 with 3 HRs, 18 runs and 6 SBs. Preseason: 64

37. Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN: Plugging along OK, but there are serious questions about the rest of that Twins’ lineup. Preseason: 25

38. Mark Teixeira, 1B, ATL: Sleeping giant; one quick hot streak and he’s among the game’s most productive first basemen. Preseason: 47

39. Curtis Granderson, OF, DET: His all-around game, though not all applies to fantasy, has woken up Tigers offense. Preseason: 30

40. Josh Beckett, SP, BOS: Knick knack injuries persist (stiff neck), and he’s getting roughed up to boot. Preseason: 40

41. Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL: Far and away the hottest hitter in baseball; is a Hall of Famer when healthy. Preseason: 58

42. Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET: Looking for first 30-homer season since 2002; got two homers closer on Thursday night. Preseason: 27

43. Torii Hunter, OF, LAA: Ups and downs in production, but still on pace for 28 HRs, 84 RBIs. Preseason: 42

44. Carlos Zambrano, SP, CHC: Contract situation is behind him, will pitch like an All-Star. Preseason: 67

45. Eric Byrnes, OF, ARI: Sore hamstrings could slow him on basepaths until further notice. Preseason: 33

46. Miguel Tejada, SS, HOU: Numbers anchored by recent back-to-back 4-for-5 performances; playing like he’s 31 again. Preseason: 70

47. Brian Roberts, 2B, BAL: Fantasy’s top-stealing second baseman already has 8 in ‘08. Preseason: 40

48. Russell Martin, C, LAD: Ignore overall stats, he’s back into form; .302 with 2 HRs, 4 RBIs over last 2 weeks. Preseason: 36

49. Carlos Guillen, 1B/3B/SS, DET: Third base eligibility icing on the cake; line (.338-14-3-11-3) is shaping up as expected. Preseason: 50

50. C.C. Sabathia, SP, CLE: Doesn’t take long for proven veteran to straighten things out. Preseason: 32

THE REST:

51. Felix Hernandez, SP, SEA
52. Ian Kinsler, 2B, TEX
53. John Smoltz, SP, ATL
54. Carlos Pena, 1B, TB
55. Francisco Rodriguez, RP, LAA
56. Adam Dunn, OF, CIN
57. Erik Bedard, SP, SEA
58. Victor Martinez, C/1B, CLE
59.
Robinson Cano, 2B, NYY
60. Aaron Harang, SP, CIN
61. Hideki Matsui, OF, NYY
62. Derek Jeter, SS, NYY
63. Brian McCann, C, ATL
64. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, COL
65. Vernon Wells, OF, TOR
66. Bobby Abreu, OF, NYY
67. J.J. Putz, RP, SEA
68. Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, BOS
69. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, SD
70. Chris Young, OF, ARI
71. Joe Nathan, RP, MIN
72. Roy Oswalt, SP, HOU
73. Edgar Renteria, SS, DET
74. Pat Burrell, OF, PHI
75. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS
76. Mark Reynolds, 3B, ARI
77. Mariano Rivera, RP, NYY
78. Chris Young, SP, SD
79. Michael Young, SS, TEX
80. Conor Jackson, 1B, ARI
81. Cliff Lee, SP, CLE
82. Justin Upton, OF, ARI
83. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS
84. Justin Verlander, SP, DET
85. Tim Lincecum, SP, SF
86. Johnny Cueto, SP, CIN
87. Alex Gordon, 1B/3B, KC
88. Jeff Francoeur, OF, ATL
89. Dan Haren, SP, ARI
90. Roy Halladay, SP, TOR
91. Corey Hart, OF, MIL
92. Hunter Pence, OF, HOU
93. Joe Mauer, C, MIN
94. Evan Longoria, 3B, TB
95. Kosuke Fukudome, OF, CHC
96. Chien-Ming Wang, SP, NYY
97. Raul Ibanez, OF, SEA
98. James Loney, 1B, LAD
99. Josh Hamilton, OF, TEX
100. Takashi Saito, RP, LAD
101. Paul Konerko, 1B, CHW

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.