The standard for excellence at second base can be summed up in one sentence. Chase Utley, and then everybody else. This year’s crop is much stronger than in years past, but there remains a steep drop between Utley and No. 2 second sacker Ian Kinsler. Kinsler is a quality second-round choice in standard fantasy drafts, but still has question marks about health and that .253 average from last season.

The prototypical fantasy second baseman hits for high average, scores runs and puts up competitive numbers across the board. Beyond Utley, who provides big-time production in all these areas, the second tier of second basemen goes seven deep. In order, Utley, Kinsler, Brandon Phillips, Dustin Pedroia, Brian Roberts, Aaron Hill and Robinson Cano all will produce at a very solid level. Read more »

For the most part, finding a second baseman in fantasy is a give-and-take venture. Take some power, give some batting average. Take some speed, give some power or run production. With a few down seasons from some of the position’s key players, those kinds of tradeoffs have been even more common this season.

Take Texas’ Ian Kinsler, for example. He may have been a constant injury risk entering the year, but his healthy production had never come into question. He’s shown chinks in his armor in both regards this season. A 70-point decline in his batting average, from .319 to .249, and a hamstring injury have kept his numbers at bay and again begged the question, will he ever put it all together and become a bona fide star? Read more »

Success in any brand of baseball, Major League or fantasy league, is measured by more than just the contributions of star players. The guys who unexpectedly step up and deliver throughout the season most often make or break that team’s chances of competing for a championship.

In real baseball, managers have tentative ideas of what each player on his 25-man roster will give him throughout the season. Fantasy owners aren’t much different. They do their best selecting players in their preseason drafts, then scour the waiver wire all season long looking for diamonds in the rough who can help their chances for a league title. Read more »