Top 10 fantasy baseball players for 2013

Robinson Cano is ranked at #4. He is definitely the best 2B in fantasy baseball, but I'm not sure I personally agree with him being this highly ranked overall.2012 stats: 161 games, 627 at-bats, 105 runs, 33 HR, 94 RBI, 3 SB, .313 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 5Behrens: 3Evans: 5Pianowski: 3Del Don: 7Ryan Braun is ranked #3 overall heading into the 2013 season after breaking the 40 home run barrier for the first time last year (a career high).2012 stats: 154 games, 598 at-bats, 108 runs, 41 HR, 112 RBI, 30 SB, .319 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 5Behrens: 3Evans: 5Pianowski: 3Del Don: 7 One of the usual suspects among the top-tier fantasy baseball players, Miguel Cabrera is ranked #2 overall for his power and RBIs.2012 stats: 161 games, 622 at-bats, 109 runs, 44 HR, 139 RBI, 4 SB, .330 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 2Behrens: 1Evans: 2Pianowski: 1Del Don: 3View the list »
After a breakout season last year in which he helped fantasy owners in almost every statistical category, Mike Trout is the general consensus at #1 heading into the 2013 season.2012 stats: 139 games, 559 at-bats, 129 runs, 30 HR, 83 RBI, 49 SB, .326 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 1Behrens: 2Evans: 2Pianowski: 2Del Don: 1 

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The experts over at Yahoo! Sports have released their initial fantasy baseball rankings for the upcoming 2013 season over the weekend and there are a few surprising faces in the top 10. The players are ranked by experts Brandon Funston, Andy Behrens, Brad Evans, Scott Pianowski, and Dalton Del Don.

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While using these rankings lists to help you with your league draft is generally a pretty good idea, you shouldn't take what the "experts" say as gospel. Try to remember that despite popular opinion, they aren't all-knowing fortune tellers. They are often wrong.

You might remember last summer when Scott Pianowski told people that Jim Thome was a good pickup after being traded to the Baltimore Orioles. I warned people not to listen to this nonsense. When all was said and done, Thome actually had worse stats post-trade (28 Games, 8 Runs, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .257 average in 101 at-bats).

If you disagree with where an expert ranks a certain player, then by all means listen to your gut. If you want to take Pujols higher than he is ranked in your draft, do it!

Check out the top 10 list below:

View the list
  • After a breakout season last year in which he helped fantasy owners in almost every statistical category, Mike Trout is the general consensus at #1 heading into the 2013 season.2012 stats: 139 games, 559 at-bats, 129 runs, 30 HR, 83 RBI, 49 SB, .326 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 1Behrens: 2Evans: 2Pianowski: 2Del Don: 1 
  • One of the usual suspects among the top-tier fantasy baseball players, Miguel Cabrera is ranked #2 overall for his power and RBIs.2012 stats: 161 games, 622 at-bats, 109 runs, 44 HR, 139 RBI, 4 SB, .330 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 2Behrens: 1Evans: 2Pianowski: 1Del Don: 3
  • Ryan Braun is ranked #3 overall heading into the 2013 season after breaking the 40 home run barrier for the first time last year (a career high).2012 stats: 154 games, 598 at-bats, 108 runs, 41 HR, 112 RBI, 30 SB, .319 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 5Behrens: 3Evans: 5Pianowski: 3Del Don: 7 
  • Robinson Cano is ranked at #4. He is definitely the best 2B in fantasy baseball, but I'm not sure I personally agree with him being this highly ranked overall.2012 stats: 161 games, 627 at-bats, 105 runs, 33 HR, 94 RBI, 3 SB, .313 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 5Behrens: 3Evans: 5Pianowski: 3Del Don: 7
  • Matt Kemp comes in at #5. He missed a lot of time with injury last year and his numbers suffered because of it (especially his stolen bases). Look for him to rebound in 2013.2012 stats: 106 games, 403 at-bats, 74 runs, 23 HR, 69 RBI, 9 SB, .303 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 4Behrens: 9Evans: 4Pianowski: 7Del Don: 4
  • Carlos González is ranked at #6. This comes as somewhat of a surprise because his numbers really aren't that great when compared to other guys on this list.2012 stats: 135 games, 518 at-bats, 89 runs, 22 HR, 85 RBI, 20 SB, .303 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 6Behrens: 6Evans: 8Pianowski: 10Del Don: 5
  • Joey Votto is ranked #7 overall. He is another guy that missed a lot of time last year (he had less than 400 at-bats) so his numbers were much lower than they would have been.2012: 111 games, 374 at-bats, 59 runs, 14 HR, 56 RBI, 5 SB, .337 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 8Behrens: 8Evans: 7Pianowski: 8Del Don:6
  • Andrew McCutchen is ranked #8 overall by the experts. This is another shock to me because McCutchen has never really produced at an elite level before last year. He posted career highs in home runs, RBIs, and batting average but I am skeptical he can repeat this.2012 stats: 157 games, 593 at-bats, 107 runs, 31 HR, 96 RBI, 20 SB, .327 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 9Behrens: 5Evans: 10Pianowski: 4Del Don: 11
  • Albert Pujols is ranked tied for #8 with McCutchen. Not too long ago Pujols was generally considered the best player in all of fantasy baseball so falling to eighth best is disappointing for him.2012 stats: 154 games, 607 at-bats, 85 runs, 30 HR, 105 RBI, 8 SB, .285 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 7Behrens: 7Evans: 6Pianowski: 11Del Don: 8
  • Rounding out the top 10 is Prince Fielder. He is known for putting up huge numbers in the home run and RBI categories, but also raised his batting average to over .300 for the first time last season. Brad Evans doesn't seem to have much faith in him, though. He ranks Fielder really low.2012 stats: 162 games, 581 at-bats, 83 runs, 30 HR, 108 RBI, 1 SB, .313 averageExpert Ranks:Funston: 12Behrens: 10Evans: 18Pianowski: 6Del Don: 12
View the list
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, Rochester Fantasy Sports Examiner

Alexander Hinkley has been playing fantasy sports for more than 10 years. He currently works as the Fantasy Content Manager for the National Lacrosse League and has an interest in fantasy lacrosse, hockey, baseball, and football. You may contact Alex with your comments and questions.

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