2009 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: First Basemen

By Kevin Kleps, Fantasy Correspondent

The top 20 fantasy baseball first basemen for the 2009 season, with 2008 statistics in parentheses):

1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals (100 runs, 37 HR, 116 RBI, 7 SB, .357 AVG)
2. Lance Berkman, Astros (114 runs, 29 HR, 106 RBI, 18 SB, .312 AVG)
3. Mark Teixeira, Yankees (102 runs, 33 HR, 121 RBI, 2 SB, .308 AVG)
4. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (85 runs, 37 HR, 127 RBI, 1 SB, .292 AVG)
5. Ryan Howard, Phillies (105 runs, 48 HR, 146 RBI, 1 SB, .251 AVG)
6. Justin Morneau, Twins (97 runs, 23 HR, 129 RBI, 0 SB, .300 AVG)
7. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox (91 runs, 29 HR, 115 RBI, 3 SB, .312 AVG)
8. Prince Fielder, Brewers (86 runs, 34 HR, 102 RBI, 3 SB, .276 AVG)
9. Adrian Gonzalez, Padres (103 runs, 36 HR, 119 RBI, 0 SB, .279 AVG)
10. Derrek Lee, Cubs (93 runs, 20 HR, 90 RBI, 8 SB, .291 AVG)
11. Carlos Pena, Rays (76 runs, 31 HR, 102 RBI, 1 SB, .247 AVG)
12. Joey Votto, Reds (69 runs, 24 HR, 84 RBI, 7 SB, .297 AVG)
13. Chris Davis, Rangers (51 runs, 17 HR, 55 RBI, 1 SB, .285 AVG)
14. Aubrey Huff, Orioles (96 runs, 32 HR, 108 RBI, 4 SB, .304 AVG)
15. Carlos Delgado, Mets (96 runs, 38 HR, 115 RBI, 1 SB, .271 AVG)
16. James Loney, Dodgers (66 runs, 13 HR, 90 RBI, 7 SB, .289 AVG)
17. Adam LaRoche, Pirates (66 runs, 25 HR, 85 RBI, 1 SB, .270 AVG)
18. Paul Konerko, White Sox (59 runs, 22 HR, 62 RBI, 2 SB, .240 AVG)
19. Mike Jacobs, Royals (67 runs, 32 HR, 93 RBI, 1 SB, .247 AVG)

Short hops

This is easily the deepest and most power-packed position in the infield. ... National League MVP Pujols is the best all-around player in fantasy, and reigning home run and RBI champ Ryan Howard ranks only fifth at his position because of his high strikeout totals (199 each of the last two years) and low batting averages (.268 in 2007 and .251 last season). ... I give Berkman a slight edge over Teixeira and Cabrera because of his advantages in runs and steals. ... If you can play Youkilis at third base all season, draft him there, where he’s even more valuable. ... Dunn, who can match Howard K-for-K, makes the move to first base in Washington. He has 886 strikeouts in his last five seasons, but he’s also had at least 40 homers and 92 RBI each year in that span. ... Check to see if Davis and Huff are third-base eligible in your league. The former was impressive as a rookie in 2008, and the latter had his best season since 2003. ... The position is so loaded that Delgado, who had one more homer and one fewer RBI than Pujols last season, can be drafted as a backup.