Though tucked away in Cincinnati, Brandon Phillips produced one of the greatest fantasy seasons for a second baseman in major league history in 2007.

AP

By David Sabino, SI.com 

SI's resident fantasy guru, David Sabino, takes a preseason look at the fantasy prospects position-by-position and ranks the candidates in four tiers from the superstars to those who should be left at home. Today, first basemen ...

Second base has become a fine-tuning position to cure what ails the rest of your team. With only a few power-speed combo guys available, most fantasy owners will settle for a budget pick toward the end of your draft, where there will be plenty of mid-range two-category types who mix speed, average and power available. And with many potential meteoric risers available, the best strategy is to lay in the grass and pick off some bargains.

• Most Valuable: Brandon Phillips, Reds
• Most Overrated: Luis Castillo, Mets
• Most Underrated:  Placido Polanco, Tigers
• Most likely to breakout: Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
• Most likely backup to earn a starting spot: Kevin Frandsen, Giants
• Most improved: Danny Ricar, White Sox
• Most likely to flop: Adam Kennedy, Cardinals
• Comeback second baseman of the Year: Jose Castillo, Marlins
• Best rookie: Jayson Nix, Rockies
• Best $1 Long shot: Jorge Cantu, Marlins

Locked at the Top

1. Brandon Phillips, Reds: As underappreciated in last year's drafts as he was by the Indians the previous season, Phillips rewarded his owners with one of the finest fantasy seasons in history, joining Alfonso Soriano as the only 30 home run, 30 stolen base men ever to man the pivot position. He'll  be challenged for the top spot from a healthy Chase Utley, but  Phillips' speed gives him the edge entering 2008.

2. Chase Utley, Phillies: Despite missing a month of the '07 season with a broken hand, Utley was one of the NL's most productive players, finishing third in the league in hitting (.332), leading NL second basemen with 103 RBIs (tying him with Albert Pujols for 12th in the NL) and finishing eighth in the MVP voting. He's had three straight 20 home run, 100 RBI seasons (missed adding double-digit steals to that list by one) and is one of the NL's brightest young stars in perhaps the league's most formidable lineup.     

3. Brian Roberts, Orioles: Roberts' name has been bandied about all offseason in trade talks and was implicated in the Mitchell report, but neither should have a huge impact on his fantasy value. He's the only second baseman this decade to steal 50 bases and collect 50 extra base hits in the same season, and the first since Craig Biggo in 1998. Only 13 second basemen have ever accomplished the feat. Now two years removed from his grotesque elbow injury and fully healthy, you can expect a rise in home runs (from the 12 he hit in '06) whether he plays his home games on the Inner Harbor or on the North Side.

4. Dan Uggla, Marlins: Two years removed from being a Rule 5 pick who entered camp trying to earn a spot as Pokey Reese's backup, Uggla led all players at his position last year with 31 home runs. With former starting second basemen Jose Castillo and Jorge Cantu on board in Florida, there's a chance Uggla, originally a third baseman, would switch back to the hot corner, but in any case he'll retain his middle infield eligibility this year.

5. Robinson Cano, Yankees: Many observers have long felt Cano is primed for a run at a few batting titles in his career, and armed with a new four-year, $30-million contract and a lineup in which he'll still bat in the bottom third, this might be the year he does it. Cano's only shortcoming is his lack of stolen bases, but you can live with that as long as he hits his 20 home runs, drives in 100 runs and keeps his average in the .300s.

6. Rickie Weeks, Brewers: The future All Star bounced back from a horrid middle of the season to hit 11 home runs, steal 15 bases and bat .273 in August and September.

7. Ian Kinsler, Rangers: Possessing the greatest power potential of any second sacker in the AL, Kinsler should improve on his 20-20 output last year.

8. Jeff Kent, Dodgers: The sometimes surly Kent contemplated retirement after playing fewer than 150 games for the fifth straight season, but should be invigorated by batting in the middle of Joe Torre's lineup.

9. Mark Ellis, A's: Credit better pitch selection for the surge in his stats last season. With Oakland in full rebuilding mode, he'll be asked to offer even more in '08. AL-only Buyer Beware: He's in the last year of his current contract and could become trade fodder by the penny pinching A's at some point during the year.

10. Placido Polanco, Tigers: Over the last three seasons Polanco ranks eighth in the majors in batting average, and with Detroit's loaded lineup, has a fantastic chance to improve his career high in RBIs from the 67 he drove in last season.

The Next Best

11. Kaz Matsui, Astros
12. Aaron Hill, Blue Jays
13. Kelly Johnson, Braves
14. Orlando Hudson, Diamondbacks
15. Freddy Sanchez, Pirates
16. Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians
17. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
18. Jose Lopez, Mariners
19. Brendan Harris, Twins
20. Mark DeRosa, Cubs
21. Howie Kendrick, Angels

Matsui resurrected his once illustrious career in Colorado last year and could challenge for the lead in NL runs scored lead batting ahead of Hunter Pence, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee ... Hill turns 26 in spring training and is just entering his prime ... Once dubbed the next Chipper Jones, Johnson's transition to second base after returning from Tommy John surgery went smoothly last season. Look for more consistency at the plate and action on the basepaths ... Hudson, though not a candidate for any standout stats, is solid enough across the board to be very useful in your lineup ... The '05 NL batting champ Sanchez hit a career-high 11 home runs and kept his average above .300 ... Cabrera seized the Tribe's starting job at the end of the regular season, and although you couldn't tell from his stats (0 steals), speed is his biggest fantasy asset ... Harris was highly touted in the Cubs and Nationals systems and showed good pop playing regularly for the Rays last year. He could be a surprise 20 home run hitter as Minnesota's starter.

From the Risks to the Reaches

22. Luis Castillo, Mets
23. Jose Castillo, Marlins
24. Mark Grudzielanek, Royals
25. Tad Iguchi, Padres
26. Danny Richar, White Sox
27. Ray Durham, Giants
28. Akinori Iwamura, Rays
29. Mark Loretta, Astros
30. Ryan Raburn, Tigers
31. Kevin Fransden, Giants
32. Ronnie Belliard, Nationals
33. Brendan Ryan, Cardinals
34. Jorge Cantu, Marlins
35. Esteban German, Royals
36. Jayson Nix, Rockies
37. Marco Scutaro, Blue Jays
38. Marcus Giles, Rockies
39. Alfredo Amezaga, Marlins
40. Adam Kennedy, Cardinals
41. Ramon Vazquez, Rangers
42. Martin Prado, Braves

Even on the run-n-gun Mets, Luis Castillo's days of stealing 30 bases are over and he's never had any power to speak of. Still he'll bat close to .300 with over 500 at bats ... Jose Castillo lost a numbers game in Pittsburgh but is an elite defender and has landed in an excellent situation to resurrect his career with the talent-starved Marlins should Fredi Gonzalez decide to shift Uggla to third ... Remember that Iguchi was an everyday starter and big-time run producer for the World Series champs just two years ago ... The man who replaced Iguchi with the White sox, Richar, has to start strong or he'll be in jeopardy of losing playing time to last season's starting shortstop, Juan Uribe, who's been displaced by Orlando Cabrera ... Iwamura ‘s numbers (7 HR, 12 steals) are much better-suited for a third or fourth middle infielder than they were for a starting AL third baseman ... Nix will battle with non-roster invitee Marcus Giles for the distinction of replacing Matsui in Colorado. Management is pulling for the onetime top prospect Nix, to finally contribute on the major league level ... Two utility men to take serious note of are Detroit's Raburn, who should qualify at third, second and the outfield and would be the first injury replacement at most positions for the Tigers, and Marco Scutaro, who became one of the AL's best reserves with the A's and now moves to Toronto and poses a serious threat to David Eckstein at short ... Also on the utility front, it's probably wise to take a flier on Cantu, who fell off the fantasy map in Tampa Bay before jump starting his career as a backup with the Reds ... Like his Cardinals keystone mate, Cesar Izturis, Kennedy needs to produce or he'll be in danger of being replaced by Brendan Ryan or Aaron Miles.

Don't Even Think About

43. Jamey Carroll, Indians
44. Nick Punto, Twins
45. Donnie Murphy, A's
46. Josh Barfield, Indians
47. Pablo Ozuna, White Sox
48. Juan Castro, Reds
49. Ramon Santiago, Tigers
50. Jason Smith, Royals
52. Omar Quintanilla, Royals
53. Eric Bruntlett, Phillies
54. Joe Dillon, Brewers
55. Jose Valentin, Mets
56. Alexi Casilla, Twins
57. Miguel Cairo, Mariners
58. Anderson Hernandez, Mets
59. Josh Wilson, Pirates
60. Ruben Gotay, Mets
61. Robert Andino, Marlins
62. D'Angelo Jimenez, Cardinals

SI.com's 2008 Fantasy Preview:

• Avoiding holes key at catcher
• Power in short supply at first base