Ultimately, I accepted you were right. We moved the Jimenez file to the storage area and everyone moved on.

And now, shockingly enough, we have to discuss Jimenez again. That's what you get with this enigma. Just when we thought we were out, we get pulled back in.

Jimenez has been terrific over his last four starts, collecting three wins and posting a snappy 1.90 ERA. He's walked just eight batters over 23.2 innings and he's struck out 29. There's been a little batted-ball fortune here (.259), but nothing crazy.

It's been a moderate slate of opponents: two favorable ones (Royals, Mariners) and two difficult ones (Tigers, Athletics). Jimenez outpitched Justin Verlander in the Motown turn. Here's some zesty Jimenez video from the win over Seattle.

Okay, Ubaldo, where's this coming from? We know it's not velocity related; his readouts haven't changed much from April to May. Here's what he said to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Saturday (Hoynes with the Q, Jimenez with the A):

Q: What are you doing this year that you were unable to do last year?

A: I've been repeating my delivery with every pitch. Last year when I threw one pitch, I couldn't do the same thing on the next one. That's why I couldn't throw a strike. I couldn't be around the strike zone. I couldn't execute my pitches.

Q: Is there one thing that you corrected in your delivery that's made the biggest difference?

A: I can't say there's only one thing. I had way too many things to improve. My mechanics were all over the place. I was wide open too much, I was leaning too much to the back, my arm was showing too much. But I got it together.

Q: What's the biggest difference between this year and last year?

A: This year I go to the mound and just think about getting outs. Last year I'd go to the mound and say "where are my mechanics going to be today?" I'm using all my pitches, whatever feels good in the bullpen, I use it in the game. Last year I wasn't in the right position to let the ball go. Right now everything is good.

Maybe Cleveland pitching coach Mickey Callaway is a miracle worker, succeeding where so many others have failed. Callaway is just 38 and doesn't have an extensive record as a coach. It's a tidy thing to believe in, I suppose; Mike and the Mechanics. And it's reassuring to see Jimenez inducing a heavy chunk of ground balls again.

I can understand why Jimenez's ownership has jumped to 30 percent in Yahoo! leagues. That glorious 2010 season in Colorado is still fresh in everyone's mind. When Jimenez was at the peak of his powers, the Coors Field environment didn't trip him up. Alas, when he's been off his game in recent years, no cushy environment seems capable of saving him.

It's a shame the schedule doesn't play nice for the next few weeks. Jimenez has to face Verlander and the Tigers again Wednesday, and after that he's up for this run of hell: at Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, at Detroit, at Texas. All of those opponents are in the Top 7 in runs scored, and obviously the ball jumps at Cincinnati and Arlington.

How are you playing the Jimenez revival, gamers? Is this mixed-league worthy, or fool's gold for someone else to chase? I've added Jimenez to my Friends & Family roster, but I'm stalling for time. I haven't made a full commitment yet, and esteemed opponents are daring me to use him.

Your witness, pitching coach. Your turn to predict the future (or at least shake the 8-ball). Get out the clipboard and share your wisdom in the comments.

Justify our love: follow Roto Arcade on Facebook.

It's the middle of May and we've got plenty to talk about. Jurickson Profar's promotion. Doug Fister's college days. Derek Holland's OPS.

As usual, we'll do it in chat fashion. I'll provide the polls, you provide the beverages, everyone bring something silly. In Michael Scott's lingo, this is a win-win-win.

Headed for a magazine mock, so you're on your own for a while. Re-convene at 10:15 pm ET.

This is an actionable fantasy event, you guys. Add Profar where you can, then return here for additional details.

GO. MAKE THE ADD. SHOO.

Profar didn't race out to a huge start at Round Rock this season — he hit just .231/.355/.410 in April — but he's been on a tear lately. He's hitting .415 over his last 10 games, he homered twice on Saturday, and he's raised his slash to .278/.370/.438. Not bad for a 20-year-old at Triple-A. He's swiped six bags in seven attempts so far this year, too, and he's walked nearly as often as he's struck out (21 BB, 24 Ks).

Yes, we all understand that Profar is just a kid, and it's only the PCL. Plus he'll have no guaranteed spot in the Texas lineup when Kinsler returns (probably soon). There are issues here, no doubt. We can make no guarantees with Profar. Everyone should understand that 20-year-olds sometimes fail. Blah-blah-temper-expectations-blah-blah-losing-advice-blah. (There, satisfied with the caveats? Great.)

Still, Profar is a flier worth taking, based purely on talent and ceiling. In a few years, if Profar reaches his potential, you'll be drafting him in the first half of the first round. Take a shot today. He's available in 84 percent of Yahoo! leagues as of this writing, so most of you can buy the lottery ticket.

In every corner of the sports universe hard-to-explain anomalies push the boundaries of flukiness, crazy events that leave eyewitnesses with jaws dropped.

Fantasy football is no exception.

From Jerome Harrison’s trampling of Kansas City Week 14 2009 to Billy Volek’s unforgettable two-game stretch with the Titans in 2004 to an entire offseason week where neither Kenny Britt or Titus Young are incarcerated, unforeseen occurrences happen all the time, changing previously conceived notions about a particular player or team.

Take Detroit’s Matthew Stafford.

Last year, the former No. 1 pick was the definition of 'gunslinger.' Blessed with the game's finest target (Calvin Johnson), immersed in a pass-first offense and placed in numerous come-from-behind situations, the passer shattered Drew Bledsoe's single-season attempts record, firing an unreal 727 passes. Strangely, despite the high pitch-count, he found the end-zone a mere 20 times, the lowest number for a quarterback with at least 640 attempts in NFL history.

Head-scratching.

Inefficiency partially explains Stafford’s stunning underachievement. At times, he resembled Tim Tebow, overthrowing open receivers on simple 15-yard posts. Overall, he shaved nearly 3.7 points off his completion percentage from 2011 (63.5 to 59.8), a sophomore slump two years late. His red-zone production was equally underwhelming, evidenced in his three percentage point decline from the previous year (50.0 to 47.0).

But Stafford isn’t entirely to blame. During his bizarre voyage, several uncontrollable events also denoted why his TD total lagged. On numerous occasions an invisible sinkhole swallowed Johnson whole near the goal-line. At least a handful of times, Megatron was stopped inside the five, maddening outcomes which padded the stats of Mikel Leshoure and not Stafford. Johnson and Brandon "Butterfingers" Pettigrew also combined for 24 dropped passes.

Due to the dip in production – his 22.8 points per game mark ranked 10th among QBs – those who’ve accepted last year’s stats as the gospel view Stafford as nothing more than a middle QB1 in early drafts. To nonbelievers, he pales in comparison to the likes of Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan and Andrew Luck.

Oh how quickly people forget.

Just two seasons ago, Stafford, overshadowed by the tilt-altering campaigns of Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, was a statistical monstrosity. His 5,038-yard, 41-TD effort was the sixth-most productive season by a quarterback in NFL history. Among fantasy starters he ranked fifth in per game average, raking a 26.5 fppg. Projecting similar numbers in 2013 isn’t a drug-induced dream.

Little has changed since then. Scott Linehan and Jim Schwartz are still calling the shots, Megatron continues to terrorize secondaries and the Lions’ defense remains sketchy. Detroit's offensive line, though reconfigured, is also a plus. Last year it ranked No. 3 in pass blocking according to Pro Football Focus. If this year's unit emulates last year's, the QB will have ample time. With Reggie Bush in the mix and assuming the status quo prevails, Stafford could again finish among the position’s elites. The volume potential alone is sexy. At his current 70.1 ADP (QB9), he’s precisely the reason why you can wait on a quarterback until the middle rounds.

After an inexplicable 2012, a return to normalcy is in the cards for Stafford.

• In this week’s episode of fantasy’s ongoing soap opera “As the Gronk Turns,” Rob Gronkowski guided his dynasty owners on a rollercoaster ride of emotion. On Friday, NFL.com reported the Patriots expressed confidence about the target’s imminent fourth procedure on his forearm, saying he would likely be available when training camp opens in late July. The infection, which raised concern roughly a month ago, is no longer believed to be an issue, though its eradication will only be confirmed once he goes under the knife. Good news ...

Then Gronk supporters felt a sudden kick to the crotch.

Merely hours later USA Today noted the tight end could be forced to undergo a different surgery after tests revealed a disc issue in his lower back. That operation is tentatively slated 3-4 weeks after his latest forearm repair. And that’s assuming a fifth cleanup procedure on his forearm, which is still in play, isn’t needed. Though the back tune-up is considered ‘minor,’ it again clouds his availability not only for training camp but potentially the start of the season. It also isn’t a bulletproof prevention for future flare-ups, a worry when weighing his long history of back problems.

Very quickly it seems Gronk is becoming fantasy football’s version of Mark Prior, a highly talented commodity who simply can’t stave off the injury imp. Still, despite the risks involved, many within the expert community are not swayed by the recent developments. In a mag mock conducted Thursday, the Patriot went No. 11 overall, the second time this month his name was called in Round 1 of a 12-team pundit draft.

Again, knowing the crippling downsides involved, I would rather scale Everest sans oxygen than invest a high pick in Gronk. After all, the early rounds are all about minimizing risk, not chasing it. Yes, he was the third-best producer on a per game basis among all TEs and WRs a season ago, but there are no guarantees you’ll get 12 or even 10 games out of him in 2013. Be smart, gamers. Unless he falls to Round 6 or 7 of a 12-team draft, Gronk should be avoided.

• As for this week’s NFL police report, shockingly not involving Young, Mike Goodson was found severely inebriated in his SUV on a busy New Jersey highway in possession of marijuana and, get this, a gun loaded with hollow-point bullets. We can only assume he was out for a late-night werewolf hunt.

This may seem like irrelevant news, but for Chris Ivory enthusiasts, Goodson’s incarceration elevates the worth of the ex-Saint. If the veteran is suspended by the league, which seems likely, Ivory would enter the season as the Jets’ unrivaled starter, though Bilal Powell would likely dominate third-down touches. Still with a robust wall of blockers in front of him and with Rex Ryan committed to getting back to his ground-and-pound ways, he should tally borderline top-20 numbers, even against stacked fronts. Remember, he runs with Lynch-like fervor. In a cameo role with the Saints last season, 87.1 percent of yards he gained came after contact. Extraordinary. His appetite for destruction makes him more vulnerable to injury, but he's a strong candidate for 1,100 total yards and 7-9 TDs over 16 starts.

In initial drafts, Ivory has been drafted over a wide range in 12-teamers. The earliest: Round 3 (Pick 34). The latest: Round 6 (Pick 69). He loses wallop in PPR settings, but in standard formats he's in the Rashard Mendenhall/Ryan Mathews class, starting RBs with considerable upside. Pray Geno Smith, Mark Sanchez, Greg McElroy, Matt Simms, Vinny Testaverde, Ken O'Brien or A.C. Slater can at least prove semi-competent.

Want to bull rush Brad? Follow the Noise on Twitter @YahooNoise

It's a casual Friday. All bullets, all the time.

• The Arizona at Miami game got out of hand quickly, as the Snakes posted six runs in the first three innings and turned the game into a rout. Paul Goldschmidt clocked a couple of homers, because that's what Goldschmidts do, and I'd like to burn every nice thing I said about Kevin Slowey this spring.

But let's try to find an actionable item here. Say hello to Arizona's cleanup man, Eric Chavez.

The veteran lefty swinger filled the box score nicely, with three singles and a homer over five trips. Chavez knocked in two runs and is slashing .337/.398/.584 on the year. He's still a useful player at age 35, worthy of a fantasy audit.

A decade ago, the Chavez story was much different. He was one of the superstars on the Oakland juggernaut of the early 2000s, one of the players Moneyball more or less ignored so we could all learn to appreciate Scott Hatteberg. Chavez offered a nifty mix of power and patience, and he also bagged six Gold Gloves in a row. Durability wasn't an issue back then, as Chavez logged 151 games or more in five of six seasons.

Alas, the wave broke in Chavez's late 20s, when his body began to betray him. He missed a month of time in 2006 and things got progressively worse; from 2007-2010, he never played in more than 90 games. A career on a possible Hall of Fame trajectory quickly spiraled out of control.

Mixed leaguers probably didn't pay a lot of attention to Chavez's stealth comeback in 2012, when he homered 16 times in 278 at-bats for the Yankees. It was a speciality role all the way, as Chavez rarely played against left-handed pitching. That's the playbook the Diamondbacks are using this year; Chavez only has 10 at-bats against lefties, and he probably wouldn't be on the field if not for the Aaron Hill injury and the trickle-down roster effect.

I'm streaming Chavez in a few medium and deep mixers these days, appreciating the production and his eligibility at both corners. Hill is unlikely to return before June, and the cleanup spot in Arizona's lineup is a good place to set up shop. Arizona faces a right-handed opponent in its next four games (including two Colorado dates next week), so it's a convenient time to kick some tires. Chavez is available in 93 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Who's with me?

• Adam LaRoche went deep twice in Washington's victory at San Diego, and if you paid close attention, you saw him winking as he circled the bases. This LaRoche act is well-known by now: he doesn't hit a lick in April, then turns it on later. He's slashing .365/.443/.635 in May, with four homers, 11 RBIs and even a stolen base.

Normally I wouldn't bother with a bullet here, but LaRoche is unowned in 45 percent of Yahoo! leagues. That number should be significantly lower. Let's fix this issue so we can move onto more interesting things.

The Nationals should have finished the victory in nine innings, but the natty Padres (oh, those Winfield throwbacks) scratched two unearned runs off Washington closer Rafael Soriano. Another Ryan Zimmerman error, his ninth, made the rally possible. I'm no one's doctor (not professionally, anyway), but I'm worried about Zimmerman's health; maybe he needs a magic shot of the cortisone that fixed his 2012 season. In the meantime, every ground ball hit to Zimmerman is a coin flip.

• Terry Collins has been remarkably patient with Ike Davis in New York, but you have to wonder when the other cleat might drop. Davis went 1-for-4 in the matinee win at Wrigley, busting out of an 0-for-24 funk. He's carrying a messy .160/.245/.267 slash for the year, and he looked shaky on a number of routine infield plays Friday. It's a shame Keith Hernandez has to watch this every day.

According to Mets beat writer Adam Rubin, the club might be close to a Davis demotion. Outfielder Andrew Brown is swinging a hot bat at Triple-A Las Vegas (.366/.435/.616), albeit it's the inflationary PCL and he's already 28. He picked up a start at first base Friday, which might tell you something. The Mets could also move Lucas Duda to first base if they so desired.

It's your move, Davis. Show us something in the Second City. The clock is ticking.

• There's been a lot of talk about the AL East getting declawed, maybe too much talk. The big-money division has four wining clubs as we go to post Saturday, and it's far and away the highest-scoring division in the majors. Let's have a quick look at that latter list, the divisional scoring leader board:

-- AL East: 955 runs
-- NL Central: 895 runs
-- AL Central: 894 runs
-- AL West: 891 runs
-- NL West: 884 runs
-- NL East: 764 runs

It's a simplistic look at things, but the rule of thumb still applies. Streaming remains easier in the National League; heck, the Nationals are one of the better clubs in the NL and they're 27th in runs. The average starter ERA is 3.96 in the NL; it jumps to 4.35 in the AL. Don't run uphill if you don't have to.

• The Rays and Orioles played a delicious softball game at Baltimore, cooking up 22 runs and 30 hits of rotisserie goodness. Dig in, get what you need. Welcome James Loney back into your life, write a sonnet for Kelly Johnson, sing a song for Hazy Jane.

Joe Maddon ran his best Mattingly Misdirection play, closing with Joel Peralta less than 24 hours removed from a Fernando Rodney endorsement. But Rodney was overheated in Thursday's blown save (35 pitches), so a day off was a reasonable prescription. Rappin' Rodney still has the baton here, presumably.

• Coors Field is starting to let its hair down, too. The Giants and Rockies combined for 14 runs Thursday then took it to 19 on Friday, and this was despite San Francisco using Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner. Gravity, you had me at hello.

Any Rockies lineup at Coors Field is must-grab information the moment it's available, given the variable nature of the roster. Faux catcher Jordan Pacheco doesn't play a lot, but if you had a moment to stream him on Friday, you were rewarded with a grand slam and five RBIs. The pop is unusual but he's a career .337/.375/.480 hitter in Denver; perhaps you can get something out of him during the remainder of the homestand.

So Fernando Rodney was not exactly at his best against the Red Sox on Thursday night.

Asked to protect a two-run ninth-inning lead, Rodney immediately issued a pair of free passes. Nine of the first 11 pitches he threw were non-strikes. He eventually loaded the bases via walk, then gave up a two-out, three-run double to Will Middlebrooks. And then he walked Jarrod Saltalamacchia, just to prove the first three BBs weren't flukes.

Rodney's final fantasy line was a big steaming mess...

Yup, you're reading those ratios correctly: 40.50, 7.50. Some of us are hurting today.

Thursday's blown save was Rodney's third of the season in just 10 chances. In his 15.1 innings so far, he's already issued as many walks (15) as he did in 76 appearances last year. Velocity isn't a problem for Fernando — he hit 100 on the gun against Boston — but location certainly is.

For now, however, his role seems safe. Here are a few of manager Joe Maddon's post-game comments, via the Tampa Bay Times:

"I don't have any solid answers," Maddon said. "We've discussed different things with him, trying to get him to replicate what he had been doing last year more closely, and I think he has. I thought we had worked through it and all of a sudden this bit us tonight.

"I'm not really concerned yet. I'm not running away from Fernando. We'll get him right."

Rodney had indeed converted his three prior save opportunities, with flair: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 7 Ks. He threw 35 pitches in Thursday's loss, we should note, so it's possible we could see a rogue save for Joel Peralta on Friday. If you're speculating on potential replacements, Peralta is the priority add — he's had the eighth inning role, and he's been lights-out (1.96 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 20 Ks, 18.1 IP).

We'll get through this difficult hour together, Fernando owners. Stay strong.

*fires imaginary arrow*

Over the course of roughly 45 days, it's stunning how different the fantasy landscape appears. Alleged franchise cornerstones Matt Kemp, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and R.A. Dickey, once thought to be indispensable, have underachieved. Meanwhile, afterthoughts Manny Machado, Starling Marte, Jean Segura and Shelby Miller, who were nothing more than late-round Hail Marys, are keeping many in contention.

On this week's insightful program, Brad Evans and Brandon Funston redrafted the season, fearlessly forecasting what slow/hot starts in Fantasyland will continue. Also on this week's program, we chatted bloodied Bryce Harper, Vernon Wells' sudden versatility, the Dodgers bullpen and fantasy football mock trends.

Too busy exercising your liver? No problem. Listen to the replays below:

LISTEN TO HOUR 1 (MLB/NFL)

LISTEN TO HOUR 2 (MLB)

So Thursday's slate played out pretty much the way we all expected. Aroldis Chapman blew a save against the Marlins, Justin Verlander gave up eight runs and couldn't escape the third, and, of course, Francisco Liriano struck out seven batters in an easy win.

Baseball, you guys. Almost too predictable. Why they even play the games, I don't really know.

We're heading straight to the bullets, because nothing makes sense just now...

• Stay ready, Mike Dunn. Steve Cishek took an extra-inning loss on Thursday (following the Chapman blown save), giving up three hits, two walks and three runs to the Reds. He struck out no one, raising his ERA to 5.40 and his WHIP to 1.44. He's allowed runs in six of his 16 appearances. Most of Thursday's damage was inflicted in his second inning of work, so at least he has a valid excuse. Cishek hasn't been terrible in recent appearances, so he's probably safe(ish) for the moment. Probably. But Mike Dunn should stay ready.

• Here's a 458-foot Travis Snider homer, hit clean out of PNC and into the water. Please enjoy. Snider went 3-for-5 against Milwaukee, driving in three runs and swiping a bag. I'm starting Snider in an NL-only league, but I won't give a hard sell to mixed gamers quite yet. Just know that he's out there, hitting competently.

• We had a glitch-in-the-matrix moment in St. Louis, when Daniel Murphy's sixth-inning double somehow traveled through the right field wall. Yup, through the wall, not over it. Check the highlight right here. Not quite your standard-issue ground-rule double.

Murphy is blisteringly hot right now, we should note. He went 4-for-4 on Thursday afternoon, and he's 11-for-20 over his last five games. Murphy is owned in just 47 percent of Yahoo! leagues, eligible at multiple positions (1B-2B). AND HE CAN HIT BALLS THROUGH WALLS. How can you leave a guy like that unowned? You can't.

Ike Davis went 0-for-5 with four Ks from the clean-up spot, by the way, lowering his season average to .157. He's now hitless in his last 22 at-bats. Manager Terry Collins has apparently taken a blood-oath to keep Davis in the No. 4 spot in the batting order through the weekend, which seems...well, bold.

• David Price has hit the 15-day DL with a triceps strain, so that's a small inconvenience. Or, if you've been rolling with him in every start, maybe it's a relief. In any case, we don't believe he has terminal triceps soreness. According to his manager, we should not expect an extended absence.

The Rays have called up LHP Alex Torres from Triple-A Durham to take Price's spot on the active roster, though it sounds like he'll work from the 'pen. We could potentially see Jake Ororizzi take Price's next turn at Toronto on Monday, which would be fun. (Note: "Fun," not actionable. I'm not adding, just watching.) Odorizzi is 4-0 at Durham with a 3.83 ERA and 47 Ks in 44.2 IP. He was rocked on Wednesday (6 ER, 3 HR), but it's been a mostly good year for the righty.

• Miami farmhand Christian Yelich is still stinging the ball, in case you were wondering. He launched two homers on Wednesday in a 3-for-6 performance for Double-A Jacksonville, raising his season slash line to .319/.390/.659. He now leads the Southern League in OPS and slugging percentage. When Yelich gets the call, you should care.

• Mitch Moreland continued his binge, smoking a two-run double in the third inning on Thursday, off maybe the worst pitch of Justin Verlander's career. (Lazy slider, on a tee.) Moreland is on an absolute tear at the moment. He added an opposite-field RBI double in the fifth, finishing his night 2-for-3.

We can't blame velocity for Verlander's messy line against the Rangers, just so you know. He was hitting 97-99 mph from the stretch in the third, but strike-throwing was an issue — a major issue. He hit one batter and twice issued bases-loaded walks. Not normal.

• Nine of Fernando Rodney's first 11 pitches on Thursday were non-strikes. That's not generally a successful approach in the ninth, especially against a lineup like Boston's. Rodney eventually walked the bases loaded, then allowed a two-out, bases-clearing double to Will Middlebrooks. Save, blown. Arrow, not launched. Rodney had converted his three previous save chances and seven of his last eight, so it's not like he's useless. And he hit 100 on the gun on Thursday, so he ain't hurtin'. Still, if you're speculating, Joel Peralta is the play.

Junichi Tazawa got the win for Boston, shutting the door, but he's just a seat-warmer for Andrew Bailey.

• Nolan Arenado homered off Matt Cain in Colorado's loss to the Giants, his fourth bomb in only his 17th game. Arenado hasn't seemed over-matched so far, and deserves better than his current ownership percentage (45). Talented hitter, tricky position, friendly park.

• Speaking of under-owned young hitters: Jedd Gyorko went 2-for-3 against the Strasburgs on Thursday. That's five hits for Gyorko over the past two days; he's now batting .271, with three homers so far this month. He's just 29 percent owned, eligible at second and third. The kid hit 30 homers in the high minors last season, so we know the power is legit.

• The Cubs really need Matt Garza to emerge as a serious trade chip over the next two months, and Thursday's rehab start helped the cause. Garza pitched six scoreless frames for Triple-A Iowa, striking out six batters, walking none and yielding just two hits. Not sure what else you need to see, Texas. Let's see an offer, please.

Here are your Shuffle Up corners for the month of May. Dig into them, think about them, disagree with them.

Normal rules apply, of course. We're trying to project 5x5 value to come; what's happened to this point is an audition, not a mandate. Players at the same price are considered even. Don't worry about the prices in a vacuum - what matters is how the players relate to one another. Your intelligent and respectful disagreement is always welcome.

Please remember the golden rule of shuffling: a player doesn't gain (or lose) 15-20 percent of value simply because he's on your roster.

Courtesy injury ranks are at the bottom. I won't debate those (I'm generally not as shiny, happy and optimistic about injury comebacks) but everything else is in play. Make the jump, have a look around.

$34 Miguel Cabrera
$31 Prince Fielder
$30 Joey Votto
$29 Evan Longoria
$28 David Wright
$28 Paul Goldschmidt
$27 Adrian Beltre
$27 Edwin Encarnacion
$25 Albert Pujols
$22 Anthony Rizzo
$21 Chris Davis
$21 Allen Craig
$21 Billy Butler
$21 Freddie Freeman

An underrated part of Wright's game: baserunning. He's currently the No. 2 ranked baserunner in 2013 per Fangraphs, only behind Austin Jackson. But you can't help but wonder how long it will take for Wright to regret re-upping with the Mets. You can only bat in front of Ike Davis for so long before you want to hurl yourself in front of the subway. … No one expected Davis to make an MVP run or anything, but the first quarter looks legit with him. Walks are way up, contact has improved, and he's using the entire ballpark (and strong enough to hit a ball out anywhere, pole to pole).

$20 Mark Trumbo
$20 Manny Machado
$19 Pablo Sandoval
$19 Chase Headley
$19 David Ortiz
$18 Aramis Ramirez
$17 Ryan Zimmerman
$17 Adrian Gonzalez
$17 Martin Prado
$16 Mark Reynolds
$14 Kyle Seager
$14 Nick Swisher
$14 Matt Carpenter
$14 Justin Morneau

Machado only has five homers but eventually some of those 17 doubles turn into blasts over the fence. There's so much to like here: his contact rate is a robust 84.1 percent, he's ripping line drives 22 percent of the time, even his defense is terrific. And eventually Machado will learn how to take better advantage of left-handed pitching and his home stadium. The long-running Trout vs. Harper debate might be a three-way discussion by the end of the year. … Sandoval has played 117 and 108 games the last two years. That's an inescapable part of the profile. I'd love to push him into the 20s but I can't do any more wishcasting with his health. … I'm certainly not a doctor, but Zimmerman doesn't look healthy to me. Mind you, we all remember what happened in the middle of 2012: a cortisone shot relaxed his shoulder and he turned into Mike Schmidt for a while.

$13 Lance Berkman
$13 Mitch Moreland
$12 Todd Frazier
$12 Josh Donaldson
$12 Garrett Jones
$11 Ryan Howard
$11 Paul Konerko
$11 Michael Young
$11 Adam LaRoche
$11 Brandon Moss
$11 Nolan Arenado
$11 Kendrys Morales
$10 Eric Hosmer
$9 Brett Lawrie
$9 Marco Scutaro
$9 Pedro Alvarez
$9 James Loney
$9 Jedd Gyorko

Let's recap the Moreland angle, which you should have down by now. Age 27 season, check. Playing full time, check. Hanging in fine against lefties, check. Slotted in a good lineup and in a hitter-friendly park, check. And yes, you have my sign-off to drop a Konerko and add a Moreland. Enjoy. … A lot of blather is generated from lofty batted-ball rates, but it's important to look a little deeper on the outliers. Take Loney: his .398 BABIP isn't going to last all season, but at least he's forcing the issue with that 34.0 line-drive rate (best in the majors). You need to fill the power column elsewhere, but Loney should give you a plus average and respectable run-production numbers. … Hosmer's contact rate has dropped while his power is also falling through the floor. He's hitting the ball on the ground 57 percent of the time. And even the pretty steal trend from last year has disappeared, for now anyway. I was never worried about the Butlers and the Perezes in Kansas City, but I most certainly am concerned about Hosmer.

$8 Adam Dunn
$8 Brandon Belt
$8 Chris Johnson
$8 Daniel Murphy
$8 Yonder Alonso
$7 Will Middlebrooks
$7 Mike Moustakas
$6 Adam Lind
$6 Chris Carter
$5 Ike Davis
$5 Trevor Plouffe
$4 Yuniesky Betancourt
$4 David Freese
$4 Dustin Ackley
$4 Eric Chavez

If I ran the Cardinals, I'd trade for a second baseman (or maybe give Kolten Wong a shot), slide Carpenter back to third, and put Freese on the bench. It's always risky to ask a player to take on a harder defensive position (which is what they're doing with Carpenter). Here's how Bill James would frame it: "Rightward shifts along the defensive spectrum almost never work."

$3 Juan Francisco
$3 Carlos Pena
$3 Gaby Sanchez
$2 Marwin Gonzalez
$2 Matt Adams
$2 Lyle Overbay
$2 Mike Aviles
$2 Luis Valbuena
$2 Ryan Roberts
$2 Conor Gillaspie
$1 Jordan Pacheco
$1 Jeff Keppinger
$1 Nick Punto
$1 Justin Smoak
$1 Alberto Callaspo
$1 Maicer Izturis
$1 Placido Polanco
$1 John Mayberry
$1 Matt Dominguez
$1 Todd Helton
$1 Luke Scott

Courtesy Injury Ranks
$15 Hanley Ramirez
$13 Mark Teixeira
$12 Michael Cuddyer
$12 Corey Hart
$7 Kevin Youkilis
$5 Alex Rodriguez

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• Mariano Rivera setting example with speaker series
• Daniel Murphy's double vanishes through outfield wall
• Yu Darvish vs. Justin Verlander wasn't the pitching duel fans expected

For all the jagged numbers tied to Ryan Vogelsong this season, the number that surprises me most is 45 – his percent ownership in the Yahoo! game. I'm all for patience to a point, but eventually we hit a spot where it's time to accept a crummy start is probably a crummy season. I'm at that conclusion with Vogelsong now.

The batting practice tour landed in the YYZ for Wednesday's play and it was a mess from the start. Vogelsong went just two innings, allowing six hits and eight runs over 80 pitches. Two balls left the park. The Giants defense sabotaged Vogelsong, mind you, committing a couple of first-inning errors, but there was no positive spin from this outing. Vogelsong's ERA is 8.06 for the year, his WHIP 1.84.

Before we look at the secondary numbers, remember one inescapable fact: outlier stats always come with outlier peripherals. Any pitcher with a glittering ERA is going to look like the lottery winner in the under-the-hood areas, and the opposite applies when someone is struggling. Of course Vogelsong's BABIP is inflated (.369), and of course his HR/FB rate is crazy high (21.6 percent). That said, the hit rate isn't all flares and bloops - batters have a zesty 25 percent line drive rate against Vogelsong. And his swinging strike rate has fallen to 6.4 percent.

If you want to view home runs as a random fly-ball lottery, you might take heart in Vogelsong's xFIP being a less-penal 4.41. For my money, this is a good reason to pick another ERA estimator. The straight version of FIP spits out a 6.09 number, while tERA suggests 6.59. I'm not looking for a reason to excuse meatball artists getting crushed for mistakes and hittable pitches.

Vogelsong's fastball is also lagging in 2013, checking in at 89.6 mph (a notable drop from his 90.8 last year and 91.4 in 2011). For a finesse pitcher who needs to be precise with location, any velocity dip has to be taken seriously. And keep in mind Vogelsong turns 36 in July.

The Giants are talking about skipping Vogelsong in the rotation next week, but it sounds like the veteran righty will get another chance to right the ship as a starter. I'm rooting for the story, but it's from the sidelines. Vogelsong and I had plenty of good times in 2011 and 2012, but I can't see any reason for optimism now. Go work your waiver wire, gamers, there's something better waiting for you.

• Break up the Dodgers, they're on a two-game winning streak. Wednesday's 3-1 victory wasn't as tidy as the final score suggests; the Nationals collected 11 base runners and had a number of scoring threats that fell by the boards. Don Mattingly liberally employed his bullpen in this win, summoning five relievers after Zack Greinke's credible comeback (5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 83 pitches).

Mattingly kept everyone guessing with his closer spin: Kenley Jansen worked in the seventh and eighth one day removed from his ninth-inning finish. Jansen got into trouble with two eighth-inning singles but bailed himself out. Brandon League inherited the ninth and did his usual thing: throw strikes, hope they hit it at people. The Nationals came through with three ground-ball outs (and one single up the middle), giving League his ninth save in ten chances.

Looks like we're back to square one with this bullpen. The best numbers are coming from Jansen and should continue to, but Mattingly isn't going to bury League in the pecking order just yet. How badly do you need the handshakes?

• The Astros are clearly the worst team in the American League, a club headed for 100-plus defeats. But they still shake hands after a victory like anyone else. Houston isn't going to offer you a ton of save chances but it still can provide a fantasy-relevant stopper for our consumption.

Jose Veras, come on down.

Veras was a mess over the first two weeks, struggling to locate his fastball and command his curveball, but things have rounded into shape nicely over the last month. Veras has a nifty 1.59 ERA and 11 strikeouts over his last 11.1 innings of work, picking up five saves along the way. When the Astros have a lead in the final frame, this is the automatic option they call for.

It's not all sunshine and lollipops, of course: Veras has a 4.01 ERA for his career, and while he strikes out better than a batter per inning, he also walks 4.9/9 for his career (it's at 3.94/9 this year). This is the classic example of a closer who's worth owning but not worth watching; don't put yourself through the frustration. But if you're in a tricky spot for saves and can accept an ugly-duckling play, Veras is probably headed for 25 handshakes. He's out there in almost 60 percent of Yahoo! pools; your move, save chaser.

• The Phil Hughes Story isn't much different than the Vogelsong Diaries. New York's righty still boasts a solid K/BB clip, but he's getting crippled by home runs and a .354 hit rate. The Mariners threw a seven-spot at Hughes on Wednesday, knocking him out in the first inning. Vogelsong eventually will try to fix things in the roomy backdrop of AT&T Park; Yankee Stadium isn't a friend to a right-handed pitcher. If you were a Hughes streamer on hump day, show your scars and share your frustration in the comments. Really, it's therapeutic. We're here for you.

But stop using this guy aggressively, especially in home starts. The downside simply isn't worth it.

Old friend Raul Ibanez clubbed two homers Wednesday, giving him three in the series. I'd consider a short-term rental for Ibanez if left-hander Andy Pettitte weren't pitching Thursday. The runs were more than enough for Hisashi Iwakuma (7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K), who does something useful every start. If I were shuffling pitchers right this second, Iwakuma would be in the Top 20. He's a blast to watch, too; consistent strikes and sharp command, and more than enough stuff to make batters miss, even when he's working the middle of the plate.

• One minute they're talking about David Price allergies and the next minute he's walking off the diamond, dealing with left triceps tightness. It's been a tricky season under the catwalk, and things boiled to a head in Wednesday's 9-2 loss to Boston. The Rays ran an MRI on Price Thursday and "nothing serious" came back (per the Tampa Tribune) but he's going to miss at least one start. The loaded Rays organization has options to consider, with Jake Odorizzi and Chris Archer looming at Triple-A Durham.

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Fantasy is a speculative game. Predict the future, and you look like a genius. Don't, and you're painfully human. Gazing into the crystal ball, here's our view on 10 intriguing over/unders this week.

Corner Infield conundrum. Pick one from this point forward: Albert Pujols, Paul Goldschmidt, Chris Davis or Anthony Rizzo

Scott – GOLDSCHMIDT, Jerry, Goldschmidt. It pains me to have him on zero teams. (Check that: I have Goldschmidt in one hybrid league that doesn't count home runs. Boy is that league fun.)

Andy – GOLDSCHMIDT, easy. This one doesn't seem like much of a contest. He's an all-category contributor. If Price were in here, we would have had something to debate.

Brad – GOLDSCHMIDT. At the No. 15 pick in the Roto Arcade Redo Draft, I had the opportunity to acquire Pujols. However, I kicked the old codger to the curb, opting for the younger, sexier 'Schmidt. Goldy is what Phat Albert use to be, a multicategorical monster who offers much consistency. His BA will likely dip a little, but given the nourishing offensive environment it would be no stretch for him to finish in range of .285-35-120-15.

If participating in a 12-team mixed league redraft today, round Jean Segura deserves to be taken 4.5

Andy – OVER. We like the speed, obviously, and he plays a premium position. But I don't know that he'll hit another six homers rest-of-season, plus he almost certainly can't maintain that .390-something BABIP.

Brad – UNDER. The Brewers' breakout stud is worth every penny as a Round 3 pick in a 12-teamer. Shortstop is again brutally shallow and the former top prospect is blossoming right before owner eyes. His sudden power emergence seems anomalous, but another 30 swipes, 55 runs and a healthy BA is in the cards. Among shortstops, he might be second only to Troy Tulowitzki in the virtual game.

Dalton – UNDER. He was the No. 3 fantasy player entering Tuesday before he hit his seventh homer of the season. His 13 steals lead MLB. Obviously he'll regress some, but Segura is going to be a major BA help and already has a strong argument as the No. 2 fantasy shortstop behind Troy Tulowitzki.

Brandon McCarthy, who appears to be turning things around logging consecutive quality starts, rest of season ERA 3.75

Brad – UNDER. After his first six awful starts, most owners probably thought a McCarthy turnaround was McCrazy. But the high-priced free agent has looked dynamite in his past two turns, surrendering just three earned in 14 IP. If he continues to keep the ball down in the zone and draw weak contact (61.9 GB% vs. PHI), the righty should post a handsome mid-3s ERA down the stretch. His underlying profile is very attractive.

Dalton – UNDER. Chase Field won't help, but McCarthy has a 5.33 K:BB ratio, which currently ranks as the 10th best in all of baseball. He'll settle with around an ERA of 3.50 from here on out.

Brandon – OVER. He's getting the living tar beat out of him by opposing hitters - fourth highest LD% allowed in the league, 68 hits allowed in 48 IP! I do think he'll improve and get close to this number the rest of the way, but he's just too hittable to take the under here.

Fill in the blank: Dodgers speed demon Dee Gordon records ______ at-bats, swipes _______ bases and crosses home _______ times rest of season.

Dalton – 300, 23, 40.

Brandon – 264, 27, 33

Scott – 420, 37, 59. I think the Dodgers are stuck with him.

Multiple Choice: Hector Santiago, who Robin Ventura recently proclaimed will remain in the White Sox rotation for the foreseeable future, should graduate from the stream ranks in 12-team mixers: A) Strongly agree, B) Moderately agree C) Indifferent, D) Moderately disagree, E) Strongly disagree F) I would rather own a dozen Dickeys

Brandon – C (indifferent). He looks better in relief and his xFIP is about a run and a half higher than his ERA, but the K rate plays nicely in fantasy leagues as a starter. So, a little good, a little bad means I'm mostly indifferent.

Scott – Moderately agree. I'm a sympathizer for all things Hector and the BB/K rate is in place. I do worry about gopheritis.

Andy – E. The Ks should be there, but Santiago is gonna get hit. You won't love these ratios a couple months down the road. In a mixer of unusual size, maybe I'd stash and hope. But in a 12-teamer, I doubt he's the most appealing free agent SP.

Assuming J.J. Putz remains sidelined, date Kirk Gibson is fed up with Heath Bell’s transgressions and hands ninth-inning duties over to David Hernandez July 1

Scott – OVER. Bell's back to collecting strikeouts and pounding the zone, and that plays in the ninth. Kirk Gibson is the type of manager to pay for a proven-closer tag, too.

Andy – OVER. Hernandez is coming off an excellent season, but he was just some dude in 2010-2011. He hasn't exactly been lights-out this year, either.

Brad – OVER. Bell ruined McCarthy's best start of the season, failing to close out the Phils last Sunday. Still, he looked sharp in his three previous conversions. With his K/9 (11.25) back to what it was in 2010 and his walks under control (1.69 BB/9), he's in excellent shape to hold onto the gig long-term. It's not like Hernandez has lit the world on fire.

SP showdown. Who’s more attractive from a fantasy value view: Chris Tillman or Jorge De La Rosa?

Andy – TILLMAN, easy. Rout. Over. *Waves arms*

Brad – DE LA SOUL. Donning full body armor while riding a high horse, the Conquistador has quietly ruled over his opponents. His 1.65 K/BB is a bit unsightly, but because his velocity and repertoire haven't changed, I suspect his K/9 will eventually creep over 7.00, making the Rocky the prettiest of the pair.

Dalton – TILLMAN. De La Rosa has some upside and the current lower ERA, but he calls Coors Field home and has a poor 28:17 K:BB ratio. Tillman has to pitch in the AL East, but he's one year removed from a season in which he posted a 2.93 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Moreover, Tillman's K% this season is 17.5 compared to De La Rosa's 15.5.

Freshly activated Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson rest of season home runs 19.5

Brad – UNDER. Based on the precedent set by Grandy as a Yankee, eclipsing this number with more than half the season remaining would appear to be a simple feat. However, he needs to shake off a thick coating of dust, an adjustment phase which may hinder his power. It will be close, but I'm projecting 18 bleacher balls the rest of the way.

Dalton – OVER. It will likely come with a poor BA, but Granderson has averaged 42 homers over his past two seasons, so reaching 20 over 4.5 months is plenty doable. The new Yankee Stadium has been the best park for home runs for LHB in the American League (and only Coors Field has surpassed it in the NL) over the past three years, according to The Bill James Handbook.

Brandon – OVER. He's like Cris "All he does is catch touchdowns" Carter -- the long ball is what Granderson does these days. I don't have any confidence about what he'll do with the rest of his roto cats, but I'm confident you won't have to worry about the HR tally.

Underrated middle infielder, Kelly Johnson, combined homers/steals rest of the way 18.5

Dalton – OVER. Over Johnson's last two seasons, he's averaged 33.5 homers/steals. He's looking good so far in 2013 as well, as he's on pace to finish with 21 homers and 17 steals. I'm a believer.

Brandon – OVER. He's already reached half that number in just 33 games. With more than 120 games left, he shouldn't have too much trouble hitting this mark.

Scott – OVER, maybe well over. The category juice has always come with the KJ package. But that pretty batting average might burp along the way.

Requiem for a STREAM. Pick one Thursday thrower: Francisco Liriano (vs. Mil), Jhoulys Chacin (vs. SF), Edinson Volquez (vs. Wash) or Jerome Williams (vs. ChW)

Brandon – CHACIN. I'm a bit biased because I'm an owner of Chacin as opposed to a streamer of Chacin, but he's been solid in five of his six outings. I'll keep taking my chances with him.

Scott –None of these guys. I don't care if it's not an answer. It's okay to pass on a slate if you don't see the right answer; Ace Rothstein taught me that. Don't force it if it's not there.

Andy – Um...pass? OK, gimme CHACIN. But I don't feel great about it. He would only be a desperation heave for me, and Thursday is a little early in the week to throw up one of those.

Brad – WILLIAMS. Batting a mere .229 as a club and dead last in the AL in runs, the ChiSox are ripe for the picking. Williams was terrific in his last turn versus the Sox on May 11 (6.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 K, W). A repeat seems inevitable. Stream merrily.

Dalton – LIRIANO. Williams isn't a bad option at all against a struggling White Sox offense, but I'm a perpetual Liriano fan. I've been sucked in yet again.

In the mood for more advice? Tune into 'The Fantasy Freak Show' Friday nights on Yahoo! Sports Radio starting at 8 PM ET, 5 PM PT

I can understand why Mitch Moreland's name doesn't move the needle in a lot of roto circles. He's been a solid but somewhat forgettable bat over the last few years, a part-time power source with a so-so average and a platoon deficiency. In the typical mixer, you need to shoot for a higher upside.

That established, maybe Moreland's career arc is finally ready to pay the bill. Moreland is owned in just 21 percent of Yahoo! leagues as Closing Time goes to press - I'd like to see that number fixed over the next 24-48 hours.

[The windows are still open! Sign-up today for Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball 2013]

Moreland's power stroke has been on full display this month, as he's clouted six homers in his last nine games. He already has three taters in the Oakland series, including a pair Tuesday. He's carrying a .296/.347/.578 slash for the year, with nine homers over 39 games (that's a 37 pace). Those numbers at least force you to open the argument.

The Rangers have a different view of Moreland in 2013: they're letting him play against all kinds of pitching. While the obvious small-sample caveat applies, Moreland hasn't looked overmatched against left-handers, posting a .281/.333/.456 slash versus them. Ron Washington is viewing Moreland as a full-time player, and that's a game-changer in the mixed-league environment. Moreland has also nudged his strikeout and walk rates in the right direction, a key point to note (remember, he's no longer shielded from the platoon disadvantage).

Moreland has two other obvious factors in his favor: he's in the midst of his Age-27 season, and he plays his home games at the Arlington jet stream (career OPS: .835). This is what a growth season looks like, and the time to buy is now. Start auditing your waiver wire, gamers.

• Clayton Kershaw was the story at Chavez Ravine on Tuesday night. The ace lefty worked 8.2 brilliant, scoreless innings against Washington (5 H, 1 BB, 11 K), trimming his ERA to 1.40. There's no finer way to spend an evening than watching Kershaw, accompanied by Vin Scully. Have a look at the dazzling video.

But when the lefty needed relief help in the ninth, on the heels of 132 pitches, Don Mattingly didn't mess around. His team entered the game on a 2-9 skid, of course, and is renting the basement of the NL West. Kenley Jansen came on for the final out, a four-pitch strikeout, and lefty Paco Rodriguez was also warm in the bullpen. Brandon League never got out of his seat.

Has the closer baton been passed for good? Let's check in with Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:

In an interesting subplot, one day after manager Don Mattingly said that struggling Brandon League was still his closer, Mattingly brought in the overpowering Kenley Jansen to save the game. Jansen has struck out 13 in his last six innings.

"In that game, I had to go with the guy who's throwing the ball best; as much as anything he's been throwing the ball better than anybody," said Mattingly, who was lustily booed by the sellout crowd for bringing in anybody to relieve Kershaw.

Mattingly wouldn't say that Jansen is his closer, even though he never warmed up League.

There's no competition with respect to the numbers - Jansen has been electric (2.25 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 5 BB, 28 K) while League has been a mess (6.28/1.40, 4 BB, 7 K). League has somehow skated through eight of nine save chances. He's also been scored upon in seven of nine appearances.

Jansen has been owned in the most competitive of leagues for most, if not all, of the season. He's tagged at 66 percent right now. Eventually, all the fifth dentists will recommend Trident, too.

I don't blame anyone who holds League for a little while longer, mind you. The fact that he's outclassed in this bullpen doesn't necessarily mean he can't get another ninth-inning look. And Jansen has dealt with injury concerns in the past. But given the desperate state of things in LA, it sure looks like Jansen is going to get the ball in the critical moments going forward. The Dodgers can't keep digging a hole for themselves.

• It took a while but Fernando Rodney finally got it right, a shutdown inning against the Red Sox for the handshake. Jonny Gomes, Will Middlebrooks and Stephen Drew all went down swinging (surely Drew stayed up all night wondering why he didn't take the third strike instead). Rappin' Rodney now has 21 punchouts to go with his 11 walks over 14.2 innings. If the K rate stays in this area, maybe he can dodge the walk problem.

James Loney stayed relevant, slapping two hits and scoring a run. He's up to .381 on the year with almost as many walks (10) as strikeouts (12), and while the BABIP is in outer space, so is that 34.7 percent line-drive rate. Perhaps Loney is back to the solid player we saw in the 2007-2011 pocket, when he'd bat for a plus average and hit a homer every other week. A calf problem and an early-season slump crashed his 2012 season before it ever got started.

• The Royals took BP in Anaheim on Monday and the Angels returned the favor a night later, clubbing four homers off an ineffective Jeremy Guthrie. Mike Trout (homer, steal) has been sizzling for a while, but it was encouraging to see slumping Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton reach the seats. Howie Kendrick also homered.

Jason Vargas has been passable in his four OC turns (3.14/1.19) despite a so-so K/BB rate. His ERA is over five on the road. He's worth considering Sunday at home against the White Sox.

• Heath Bell needed a territory-marking handshake after the weekend meltdown and he came up with it, striking out two of three Phillies in a painless ninth. David Hernandez struck out the side in the eighth, dodging a single, and Patrick Corbin posted seven bagels despite spotty command. I'm on board with Corbin's mixed-league relevance, but no way I'm trusting him in Colorado next week.

Eric Chavez collected two singles and a walk and is a handy deep-league rental when the Snakes face right-handed opponents. Arizona doesn't see a lefty for the balance of the week, and will probably draw two righties in the Coors Field series.

We held a mid-season draft Monday, and I ended up taking Albert Pujols with the 19th pick. Judging by Yahoo’s updated rest of season rankings, I guess this could be considered something of a reach. I’m not necessarily going to argue against that, but it’s remarkable someone who was a unanimous top-three pick last year and was generally considered a top-10 pick this year is now a borderline top-25 pick after six more weeks of disappointment. Pujols’ first 10 seasons in the league were unprecedented, and he’s still just 33 years old (assuming his listed age is correct), but with a .234/.315/.393 line over 145 at-bats, it’s easy to see why he keeps falling down fantasy draft boards (or in most cases this time of year, it’s his sinking trade value). Picking arbitrary end points is cheating, but Pujols did hit .303 with 29 homers, 87 RBI, 66 runs scored and eight steals over 396 at-bats from May-September last season, a span in which he was the sixth most valuable fantasy player. I have no clue why Pujols batted .246 with just one home run over the other two months of the season (211 at-bats), and the ice cold start and finish to the year are equally as meaningful as the hot stretch in between, but at least there’s recent evidence Pujols is still capable of being an elite hitter.

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Obviously, Pujols’ start to 2013 has been highly discouraging and continues a disturbing trend, as his batting average and on-base percentage have decreased in each of the past five seasons (his SLG has dropped in each of the past four, highlighted by an anemic .393 this season). It’s clear Pujols is past his prime, but just how steep will his decline be in 2013? His current 21:18 K:BB rate is hardly abhorrent, and his 18.8 LD% is right in line with his career mark of 19.0% (although it may be worth noting his 1.31 GB/FB rate is a career high). Maybe this is simply a health issue, and Pujols is playing through injuries more serious than we realize, but that doesn’t exactly answer the question of whether or not he should currently be considered a top-20 fantasy player. Since I was willing to take him 19th, I’m of the belief he’ll bounce back (his current BABIP is .236), and hitting in between Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo (I could not have been more wrong about him so far) and Josh Hamilton (assuming the current version doesn't last forever) is certainly a nice spot to be, but I’m also willing to acknowledge a return to form is no sure thing at this point. The draft was a nice exercise to see the change in values over the first six weeks of the year. Before the season, it would have been a bit unexpected to see Chris Davis go just four picks after Pujols, that’s for sure.

This first pitch is one of the worst you’ll ever see, although still not as bad as this classic one by the Cincinnati mayor.

That’s just Manny Being Manny.

After hitting .290 throughout his minor league career, Carlos Santana batted just .247 over his first three years in the majors despite walking nearly as often as striking out (263:225 K:BB). So far in 2013, he’s batting .321, and it looks like he’s finally going to live up to his hype/potential. Santana currently sports a .420 OBP and a .598 SLG with seven home runs. His 1.027 OPS is 100 points higher than the next best mark from a catcher (Joe Mauer). Although Santana’s 6.6 SwStr% is encouraging, it’s probably safe to expect the slow runner’s batting average to drop moving forward, but the power is real. Now batting fifth directly behind Nick Swisher, who has a career OBP of .361, Santana’s RBI production should improve over the rest of 2013. It likely comes down to specific team needs, but in a vacuum, there’s a pretty good debate whether Santana or Mauer should currently be considered the No. 2 fantasy catcher.

Here’s a pretty terrific “Between Two Ferns.” (Warning, the song features some salty language).

Rich Manhattan Moms Hire Handicapped Tour Guides so Kids Can Cut Lines at Disney World.

Celebrities reading mean tweets.

What’s going on with David Price? With a 4.78 ERA and 1.39 WHIP (and a 1-3 record) over eight starts to open the year, he wasn’t taken until the eighth round in the aforementioned mid-season draft. In fact, 12 starting pitchers were taken ahead of last year’s Cy Young award winner. There’s some legitimate concern since Price’s average fastball velocity has been way down this year (93.3 mph) compared to last (95.5). Moreover, after failing to hit 95.0 mph in a start just once over the past two seasons, a span that covered 65 outings, Price has hit 95.0 mph on the radar gun in only one of his eight starts in 2013. However, the rest of his peripherals look strong, as he’s sporting a 21.3 K% with a 5.8 BB%. Price’s BB/9 rates have dropped each of the last four seasons, including a career best 2.22 this year. While the decreased velocity shouldn’t be ignored, Price’s poor start to the season looks mostly like a bad luck issue, as his .338 BABIP is nearly 60 points higher than his career mark (.280), and that’s with the Rays playing their typical strong defense. His HR/FB% (16.7) is also well above his career mark (9.6%). With a 48:13 K:BB ratio over 52.2 innings, I wouldn’t let eight starts change how I valued him before the season all that much right now.

Song of the week: This new video for “Mosquito” by the “Yeah Yeah Yeahs” is pretty elaborate.

Japanese Woman Spends $100,000 on Surgeries to Look Like a French Doll.

Shelby Miller is coming off an absolute dominant performance in which after giving up a broken bat single to Eric Young to start the game, he retired the next 27 batters he faced, with 13 via the strikeout. He’s thrown either his fastball or curveball 98.2% of the time this year, as he’s totally scrapped the changeup, which he threw 11.2% of the time last season. It’s rare to see a pitcher going from the bullpen to the starting rotation actually reduce his repertoire, as usually the opposite occurs, but it’s hard to argue with the results. Miller currently sports a 1.58 ERA and 0.88 WHIP with a 51:11 K:BB ratio over 45.2 innings, and if that wasn’t impressive enough, his opponents have had an aggregate OPS of .785, which is by far the highest among starting pitchers this season. In other words, he’s dominated while having faced the toughest schedule in all of baseball. Miller is the real deal.

Kiss cam moment goes from bad to worse for couple.

Here’s Anthony Gose easily stealing home.

Here are 25 photos you need to really look at to understand.

Jean Segura was a fairly trendy sleeper pick entering the season, but no one expected him to be the No. 3 ranked fantasy player in the middle of May. His .807 career OPS in the minors was modest, but he actually started at age 17, so he was young for the levels at which he was competing. Segura is already up to seven homers this year, which matches his total all of last season over 404 at-bats in the minors. He also leads the league with 13 steals (he’s now 20-for-23 in SB attempts in the majors). Segura’s .393 BABIP is obviously on the high side and likely to come down, but with a 21.6 LD%, a 1.84 GB/FB ratio and being a fast runner, it’s safe to project the shortstop as a .300+ hitter moving forward. He went ahead of Starlin Castro in Monday’s mid-season draft, and I can’t really argue against it.

Police Blotter: Woman Allegedly Slaps Cop to Get Thrown in Jail to Stop Smoking…Man Attacked by Alligator While Trying to Flee Traffic Stop...Suspect Stabbed Boyfriend After He Farted in Her Face...A Kentucky Man Broke Into a Supermarket, Cooked 6 Steaks And Went Through 57 Cans of Whipped Cream.

Quick Hits: Will Venable is on pace to finish the year with 22 homers and 31 steals, yet he’s owned in just 12% of Yahoo! leagues. Oddly, he has a .327/.411/.633 line at Petco Park compared to a .159/.229/.250 mark on the road. That should even out moving forward, and while the counting stats don’t look great, he’s batting second and now has Chase Headley directly behind him. Venable offers a sneaky power/speed combo. Plus, he hits confusing homers…Over the last calendar year, Matt Kemp is tied for last in WAR among all center fielders…Alex Cobb’s outing Friday had to be one of the craziest starts in MLB history, as he became the first pitcher to record 13 strikeouts (and 23 swings and misses!) in fewer than five innings. He also struck out every batter he faced in one inning and yet still gave up a run…After hitting .219/.287/.384 after getting traded to the Giants last year, Hunter Pence is on pace to finish 2013 with 30 homers, 30 steals, 85 runs and 94 RBI…Given a full-time job for the first time in his career, Nate Schierholtz has batted .299 with four homers, 19 RBI and four steals, as he’s quietly turned himself into a useful fantasy asset, especially for those in daily leagues who can bench him against southpaws.

Longread of the Week: The Murder Hustle.

Quick Hits Part Deux: Yovani Gallardo’s average fastball velocity is down (90.5 mph), as his is K/9 rate (6.07). Meanwhile, his LD% is a career-high 28.3, so there’s a lot to be worried about here. Gallardo’s 4.70 ERA and 1.50 WHIP isn’t necessarily a reflection of poor luck…Eric Hosmer has six extra-base hits this year. Since the start of the 2012 season, the left-hander has hit three home runs into the right field seats. Three!…Jeff Keppinger has zero walks over 126 at-bats this season. Now that’s impressive…Phil Humber has made seven starts this season, and his record currently sits at 0-8…Pedro Alvarez’s double Sunday was his first of the season…Doug Fister has hit more batters (10) than he’s walked (eight)…Matt Harvey is the first pitcher in the last 100 years with at least 125 strikeouts and 25 or fewer ER allowed in his first 17 starts. He also currently has the same amount of wins (four) as teammate Bobby Parnell, who’s thrown 40.0 fewer innings…A.J. Burnett has tossed five wild pitches (third most in MLB), hit four batters and has allowed a league-high 13 stolen bases on 13 attempts, yet he has a 2.73 ERA and 1.07 WHIP anyway. An NL-best 31.6 K% combined with a 55.0 GB% will do that.

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This column isn't targeted for injury news on a daily basis. We'd prefer to focus on player performance and the subtle changes that make someone ownable and unownable. But when Bryce Harper takes on an outfield wall at Chavez Ravine, that's going to push its way to the top of the fold. Time for a SoCal meetup.

The Nationals were nursing a comfortable 6-0 lead on Monday (thanks, Josh Beckett) when the Harper collision went down in the bottom of the fifth. A.J. Ellis drove a ball deep to right field and for some reason Harper lost his bearings; watch the replay and you'll see Harper completely unprepared for the presence of the wall. Good lord, that's a nasty shot. The Nats took Harper out immediately while fantasy owners held their breath.

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All of the initial check-ins with Harper are coming back favorably. His agent told beat writer Adam Kilgore that 11 stitches were required but Harper doesn't have a concussion. That established, the club figures to do its full diligence with its franchise player and Harper isn't necessarily out of the woods yet. We should know a lot more by the end of the day (lunchtime update, from Kilgore: X-rays came back negative and Harper is day-to-day).

Yoenis Cespedes and B.J. Upton were also part of the late-night outfielder drop; Cespedes had an early exit because of a stomach illness, while a shoulder contusion (thanks, Wade Miley fastball) took Upton off the field prematurely. Both players are day-to-day. Cespedes cranked his seventh homer in the Oakland victory, though he's stuck on 0-for-3 as a base stealer. The less we say about Upton's horrendous season, the better.

Houston infielder Jose Altuve should be fine despite his jaw injury Monday; he was hurt in a collision with right fielder Jimmy Paredes. The Astros offense has been surprisingly not terrible through the opening six weeks (with 156 runs, they're tied for 17th), but there's no depth on this roster - Houston can't afford to lose someone like Altuve. Fantasy owners feel the same way, given the ugly state of second base in today's fake-baseball world. (Noon update: Altuve will miss some time after all, for personal reasons: he's been placed on the Bereavement List following the death of his grandmother.)

• Say this for the Brewers, they did their homework prior to Monday's game against the Pirates. Milwaukee knows Bucs righty A.J. Burnett isn't capable of (or interested in) holding on base runners, so the Brew Crew ran wild. Jean Segura bagged three bases, Norichika Aoki copped two, and Carlos Gomez added one of his own. That's a 6-for-6 night against Burnett and catcher Michael McKenry, sparking Milwaukee's 5-1 win.

[Related: Bryce Harper banged up in collision with outfield fence]

Over Burnett's career just 22 percent of would-be thieves have been cut down, and they're 51-for-53 against him since he landed in Pittsburgh. It's not easy to get a hit against Burnett these days, but once you're on first, the carousel is open. It will be fun to see what Milwaukee cooks up when the teams meet again over Memorial Day weekend; in the meantime, Burnett gets ready for Houston.

Segura's quickly become one of the roto-critical players of the year. He's posted a ridiculous .368-20-6-16-13 line through 35 games, which ranks him second among all Yahoo! hitters (only Miguel Cabrera scores higher). Would you be willing to use a Top 40 selection on Segura in a start-fresh draft today? One Yahooligan had no trouble writing that check in Monday's F&F Redraft.

• When does the other cleat drop on Chicago starter Travis Wood? The surprising lefty has posted eight consecutive quality starts, mashing up a 2.03 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. The Rockies couldn't touch him on Monday, managing just two hits and three walks over seven scoreless innings. Wood is a Top 12 pitcher in the Yahoo! game to this point.

But does Wood have any staying power? He's only striking out 6.08 batters per nine innings, and his walk rate is solid but not exceptional (2.87/9). A friendly HR/FB rate is telling part of the story (6.1 percent), a story the peripherally-suggested ERAs don't believe (3.65 FIP, 4.46 xFIP, 4.45 SIERA). Maybe there's a logical reason why Wood is holding batters to a 15.1 percent line-drive rate, but we have to expect that to regress at some point, too.

[Related: Bryce Harper: 'I will keep playing this game hard ... even if it kills me']

At least the schedule is playing nicely: Wood faces the Mets on Sunday and the no-hit White Sox at the end of the month. He might get shafted at Cincinnati on Memorial Day weekend, but after eight consecutive starts of value, Wood has some circle-of-trust privileges. We might as well ride the wave until there's a solid reason to change course. Share your level-of-confidence in the comments.

• Andy Dirks gave us a temporary roto run in 2012, and he's back at it with the Tigers. Dirks ripped three hits in Monday's rout of Houston, including a homer and double, and already has four homers and four steals through 96 at-bats. Batting average shouldn't be an issue here; he's a career .288 man over 196 games. Dirks might be the team's dedicated leadoff hitter while Austin Jackson rehabs, so it's a perfect time to kick the tires. Dirks awaits your contract in 95 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Speed Round: The Yankees should have Curtis Granderson back shortly, perhaps as soon as Tuesday. He's been effective in a rehab assignment at Triple-A, going 7-for-17 with a homer over four games . . . Although Ryan Madson is making strides in his rehab assignment, he's expected to be the set-up man when he returns to Anaheim, working in front of Ernesto Frieri . . . Beckett's start was abbreviated by a left-groin strain, not that he was fooling the Nationals at all. Beckett now has a 5.40 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. No chicken for you . . . Terry Francona has all sorts of lineup options now that Lonnie Chisenhall has been demoted. Mike Aviles and Ryan Raburn could benefit, but there's not one clear path Francona is likely to opt for daily . . . A sore shoulder kept Chris Perez out of Sunday's save chance, but he was considered available Monday . . . Josh Hamilton hit the showers early Monday, dealing with a sinus problem and a respiratory infection. You'll remember Hamilton also had sinus issues late last season . . . The Royals needed to get their Ya-Yas out against someone, so a trip to Anaheim came at the right time (thanks Blanton, thanks Roth). KC rolled up 11 runs and 19 hits and some notable slumpers broke out here (not so fast, Moustakas). Jump into the summary, enjoy your numbers. Billy Butler and Salvador Perez are two hitters I'm not at all worried about . . . Luke Hochevar picked up the cheap working-man save in the Royals rout, finishing up the last three innings (3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K). The stubborn Royals resisted a Hochevar role change for years, but he's finding success in the bullpen this spring (1.17 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 3 BB, 17 K). Get out the list of failed starters who shined in the bullpen - it's time for another entry . . . A.J. Griffin cruised past the Rangers (7 IP, 1 R, 9 K), and although there's a WHIP differential, his career numbers are fairly balanced home and away. This doesn't mean I want to use Griffin in Arlington next week (if it comes to that), but maybe he'll squeeze into the Kansas City series on the weekend.

MLB video from Yahoo! Sports:

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At the risk of tearing down the entire "fantasy expert" scam, we begin today with an admission: Occasionally, fantasy gurus get stuff wrong.

It's rare, but it happens. Back in March, it's possible that some of us led you to believe Roy Halladay was salvageable and that Adam Dunn was not terrible at baseball. We apologize for these misunderstandings.

With six weeks of MLB data in the books, it's time to reassess the player pool. We've assembled a group of 10 experts for an in-season baseball draft. The league settings are fairly standard: 5x5, mixed player pool, CI & MI, head-to-head, weekly lineups. Nothing too exotic.

[Yes, you can still own Goldschmidt! Sign-up today for Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball 2013]

These were our participants, listed in draft order with industry affiliation:

1. Alex Kantecki, Fake Teams
2. Dalton Del Don, Yahoo!
3. Andy Behrens, Yahoo!
4. Paul Singman, Baseball Prospectus
5. Brad Evans, Cat Fancy
6. Patrick Daugherty, Rotoworld
7. Michael Salfino, Wall Street Journal
8. Scott Pianowski, Glamour
9. Derek VanRiper, RotoWire
10. Brandon Funston, Golf Digest

You can find full draft results right here. Or you can keep scrolling for a round-by-round review, with commentary from our experts. Rounds 1 and 2 really didn't look all that unusual. The reaching began in the third...

Rounds 1-3: Nothing too crazy about the first round. Justin Upton slugged his way into the first pass, and apparently Joey Votto hasn't unslugged his way out. Everyone knows well enough to wait on pitching. The top-5 had a consensus feel to me, but maybe not in that particular order. Season to taste.

It takes a special kind of stomach to take a Matt Kemp or Albert Pujols in the second round. Is Kemp's shoulder going to come around? Is Pujols going to hobble around like Fred G. Sanford all year? Yu Darvish's wicked slider and strikeout upside make sense with the 18th pick.

Round 3 is where the owners let their hair down. Shin-Soo Choo's collection of skills pushed him to the 21st overall pick. Chris Davis, one of the X-factors of this experiment, goes at 3.03. Two positions of eligibility and reliable pop sounds good to me. Justin Verlander slides to 3.04 because if you can't find starting pitching in 2013, you're not trying. Stephen Strasburg is an interesting play at 3.07; I'd like to see him get someone out in an eighth inning someday before I'm scribbling that one down. But hey, it's a game of opinions. Yoenis Cespedes hasn't run (or hit a lot), but he was going in the top-4 rounds no matter what, and 3.09 doesn't seem out of place.

Top 30 breakdown: 13 infielders, 11 outfielders, four pitchers, one catcher, one 1B/OF. With only three outfielders required, I thought the infield slant might be a little heavier. -Pianowski

Rounds 4-6: We could talk about Giancarlo Stanton’s rough April and gimpy hamstring knocking him from a near unanimous top-15 preseason pick to the fourth round, but let’s start with a pair of Brewers: Jean Segura and Carlos Gomez. They were spring-time afterthoughts. Gomez the third outfielder you begrudgingly took, Segura the shortstop you threw a dart at in the 22nd round to handcuff Troy Tulowitzki. Flash-forward two months, and they’re being drafted as top-50 fantasy studs. That’s because they’ve produced like top-ten fantasy studs. Whether they can sustain it is anyone’s guess (read: probably not), but this is the kind of draft where actions must speak louder than words written in March.

Elsewhere, Adam Wainwright and his 55/4 K/BB ratio slipped to No. 35 overall, and Starling Marte came off the board before Jason Heyward. Carlos Santana fell surprisingly far (No. 55) considering his hot start, while Chase Utley rocketed from his mid-100s spring ADP to No. 51. It was an action-packed three rounds marked by the expected (Allen Craig, Starlin Castro, Ben Zobrist and Joe Mauer), the unexpected (Matt Harvey), and the crazy (Segura). -Daugherty

Rounds 7-9: My, how the mighty Josh Hamilton has fallen. Despite a three-year average of 33 home runs, 107 RBI and a .313 batting average, one bad month to open '13 was enough to drop him more than 50 spots from his preseason ADP. Looking under the hood at Hamilton's plate discipline breakdown, you can certainly see an argument for the steep discount.

But Cole Hamels, who went five picks after Hamilton, probably didn't deserve to be thrown on the same clearance rack. Hamels was the No. 7 starter drafted on average in the spring, but fell to No. 15 here because of, well, two bad starts to open the season. He's since rolled off six straight quality starts, and there's little reason to believe he won't be the same low-3s ERA, 200K pitcher that we've known and loved in the past. Score the Hamels pick in Round 8 as a bargain for Del Don. Finally, I'm not sure how we let Alex Rios, the No. 16 player in the Y! game last season (currently sitting at No. 38 this year) fall to Evans at No. 85 overall. Shame on us. -Funston

Rounds 10-12: This slice of the draft was heavy on second-tier closers (eight of the 30 picks). But those who waited for pitchers were rewarded. A half-dozen quality arms went off the board. Funston kicked things off with Gio Gonzalez, a pitcher as dominant as anyone when he's right — which he hasn’t been for most of the early going. Shelby Miller went to Del Don eight picks later, and the only possible argument against him, based on his electrifying 2013, is an innings limit. But that doesn’t seem likely when you read between the lines of Cardinals’ statements. Clay Buchholz, Anibal Sanchez and Jeff Samardzija are all having Cy Young-caliber seasons. Kris Medlen, the ninth pick in Round 11, seems over-drafted in context, until you remember his 2012 finish.

Predictably, most of the hitters selected have either been beset by injuries or had disappointing starts. The biggest exceptions are Nelson Cruz (10.7) to Singman and Hunter Pence (11.7) to me. Dexter Fowler (10.5) was drafted by Daugherty well ahead of his preseason ranking, due to a surprising start. Another solid 2013 producer, Carlos Beltran, fell all the way to 12.4 due to ever-present injury risk and the short (three-man) bench in this league. -Salfino

Rounds 13-15: These rounds brought runs of middle infielders, starting pitchers and relievers. Considering the late start of this league, Johnny Cueto may only miss one turn in the rotation. Even if he still needs another rehab start or two before returning, it's a worthwhile gamble for Mike Salfino at 13.7. Thanks to his eligibility at second base and shortstop, Martin Prado still provides late-round value with his versatility.

Yovani Gallardo tumbled nearly six rounds from his spring Yahoo! ADP of 89.7. Now 27, Gallardo is showing an average fastball velocity at 90.5 mph — down 1.3 mph from last season — and a 6.1 K/9 well below his career 9.0 mark. Hitters are making contact on Gallardo's offerings more frequently inside and outside of the strike zone, while his swinging-strike rate has bottomed out at 6.5 percent (his lowest since 2008). Still, if it turns out to be something as simple as a mechanical adjustment to get him back on track, he could yield significant value from this spot.

Since the start of last season (38 starts), Jake Peavy has a 3.32 ERA and 1.09 WHIP along with an 8.3 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9. He's a huge bargain at 140th overall. -VanRiper

Rounds 16-18: These rounds saw some of this year’s struggling arms finally get scooped. The ineffective R.A. Dickey went in the middle of the 16th round, while the ineffective and injured Jered Weaver fell to the end of the 17th, They were the 39th and 42nd starters taken respectively. Tony Cingrani, who’s been stellar in his 28 innings (2.89 ERA, 37 strikeouts), was the next pitcher taken even though he easily could find himself in the minors after his next start. The normally injury-conservative Pianowski selected Jose Reyes as his 17th rounder, not a bad idea given the shallow format. Even though Alcides Escobar has been in a mini slump (3-for-29 with no homers or steals the past week), I was surprised to see him fall as far as the 18th round, given his 35-steal speed and decent pop. Adam LaRoche, who tends to heat up as the weather does, was a solid pick at No. 154 to Salfino. With a current nine-game hitting streak, he’s already showing signs of outgrowing his April struggles. -Singman

Rounds 19-20: Thanks to a Hanley Ramirez injury, the speedy Dee Gordon has life once again. The shortstop looks like he has the chops to stick, and I expect him to stay on as a regular once Ramirez does come back. He’s a potential base-stealing, run-scoring machine atop L.A.’s lineup, making him a 19th round steal. He was nowhere to be found on preseason draft boards.

Back in March, I would have drafted Nolan Reimold over Nate McLouth without hesitation. Today, I weep because I actually did it. Neither McLouth nor Reimold were 10-team options in the preseason, but McLouth has since separated himself in Baltimore, literally stealing his way to the hearts of fantasy owners.

A recent string of solid starts probably saved Tim Lincecum from being excluded altogether, but in March he was a top-35 starter. Timmy now falls under the category of a "What the hell I'll give it a shot" pick in the 20th. Jose Fernandez was a surprise addition to Miami’s rotation and I was surprised he lasted as long as he did. He’s the prototypical high-strikeout arm you target late on draft day. No risk, all reward. -Kantecki

Rounds 21-22: In the final two rounds of this exercise, we find cheap speed (Adam Eaton, Will Venable, Brett Gardner, Shane Victorino), awful closers (Brandon League, Steve Cishek), and talented underachievers (Ike Davis, Brandon Morrow, Salvador Perez, Brett Anderson). In a mixer of this size/shape, steals are available very late.

*Whacks self in head for drafting Michael Bourn*

Wil Myers went to Salfino at pick 21.7, the only prospect snagged in this league's draft. Myers needs to be owned in nearly all formats, despite the sluggish start at Durham. He's coming off a 98-37-109-.314 season across two levels, so we know he can handle the high minors. Mark Teixeira was a nifty DL lottery ticket for Daugherty. He could potentially return in June if things go well. Or he could potentially not return at all, if things go not-so-well. But the upside is certainly worth a final-round flier.

League, we should mention, could lose his closing gig at any moment. He's given up at least one earned run in six of his last seven appearances. Kenley Jansen was selected eight rounds ahead of him in this re-do draft. -Behrens

And that's that. Draft complete. Please note any errors or omissions in comments, or simply praise our gurus for their insight and professionalism.

Also, feel free to mention your favorite un-drafted players below. We're playing this thing out, and Brad needs all the help he can get...

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[The windows are still open! Sign-up today for Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball 2013]

The Internet age of 2013 has all sorts of advantages, but at some point trading became a major pain in the ass. I'm not really writing this blog post for you, I'm writing it for me. Here are the owners who make me want to throw my phone against the wall.

The Guy Who Thinks Three 4s Equal A Ten

A baseball season isn't official until the first collection offer comes back. No, I'm not gonna move Clayton Kershaw for your Easter basket of Ryan Raburn, Omar Infante and Scott Feldman. But I appreciate your dexterity test. I hit the bull's eye every night.

The Lowball Guy Who Tries To Wear You Down

The idea here is to open with a crummy offer so the residual bad offer doesn't seem so bad. First it's Yuniesky Betancourt for Adrian Beltre, then it eventually filters up to Josh Donaldson. Don't reply logically to these emails, you'll lose two hours a day. Do not engage, Maverick.

The Manifesto Writer

Not content to throw you a benevolent trade offer, he has to write a five-page explanation of how the shakedown helps your team. Sometimes it's a case of trying too hard, and other times it's simply a cocktail of condescension. Bottom line, the longer the pitch, the less likely it's something that helps you. (The lawyers and the Sorkin fans love this move. The volume is a dead giveaway. Keep them in skim mode at all times.)

The Guy with the "Now You See It, Now You Don't" Offer

At 1:05 pm the intriguing pitch comes down and at 1:13 it disappears. More often than not, this type of reneg comes from a flaky opponent, not a cunning one. He's not a bad guy, he just can't commit to anything. Just be glad you're not behind him in the breakfast line.

The Guy Who Never Responds

Sometimes the absentee owner has completely bailed on his team - look at his active roster, see if he's ignored dead spots. Other times, you realize you're dealing with someone who isn't tech savvy - maybe they don't have offers filtered to their email. Try a direct contact before you give up on them completely.

The Indecisive Worrier

You remember these guys from youth baseball; they had both feet on first base at all times. They'll tell you they don't trade until July. They'll want 5-7 days to audit even the most harmless trade inquiry. They're still stung from the bad deal of 2008, and it's paralyzed them ever since. The good side of this owner: he always pays his entry fee up front, and he rarely finishes higher than sixth. A few donators are always welcome.

My venting is done for the afternoon; please grab the baton and keep the theme rolling in the comments.

Pink is the color of the day. Pink ribbons, pink bats. Pink panthers, pink crayons. Little pink houses and Randall Pink Floyd, championship quarterback of '76.

Come join us for the fantasy chat only a mother could love. We'll look in on the bases and the pucks, the real sports and the fake ones. No need for a permission slip - Epstein's mother has already signed one for you.

Our pretend friendship renews at 10 pm ET. Make the jump, log in, and join us. Validation awaits.

When Mr. Irrelevant, South Carolina tight end Justice Cunningham, had his name called in front of a small group of reasonably sauced lingerers at last month’s NFL Draft, Fantasyland’s finest quickly began formulating thoughts and assembling cheat sheets for this year’s fake football drafts.

Mock season officially kicked off …

Over the next several weeks, armchair quarterbacks of various backgrounds will hone their draft skills in preparation for main events come August. During these exercises, participants will tinker with new strategies, rack their brains over complicated backfields and shout out expletives when desired players are pilfered just before their pick, all the while proclaiming victory in the draft room chat window. Practice, after all, does make perfect. Right, Allen Iverson?

No different from common folk, "experts" within the fantasy community are also partaking in the annual ritual. To the pushers of print, May marks magazine season, a time when editors and writers work frantically to crank out volumes of resourceful, yet soon-to-be-obsolete, material.

Last week the Noise, in addition to our eight-round PPR extravaganza, participated in a pair of standard snake drafts (Rotoworld 12-team, Rotowire 14-team), priming the pump on the draft season. Now that I’m properly deflowered, here are my top-five takeaways from the mag mock rush:

Adrian Peterson would agree, the running theory is alive and well

At this time last year, pundits were penning obituaries about the running back position. Due to the influx of shared backfields and offensive coordinators' emphasis on the pass, RBs were in free-fall. To seasoned fantasy vets, the once adhered to RB-RB method was antiquated, an outdated strategy that, if applied, would inevitably lead to heartache. Statistical trends supported the view. A decade ago, 15 rushers logged 300-plus touches. Five years back that number dipped to 11. In 2011, it hit rock bottom at eight, an all-time low in the broadband age.

Though the virtual masses saw a modest increase in workloads last fall – nine RBs crossed the 300-touch threshold – the position, thanks to Peterson's incredible resilience and rookie saviors Alfred Morris, Doug Martin and Trent Richardson, underwent a renaissance of sorts. The prevalence of two-back systems kept RB top-heavy, but 21 rushers in total averaged at least 11 fantasy points per game, an output better than run-happier years in 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2008.

In light of the upward tick, true workhorse scarcity and abundance of reliable passers available in the middle rounds, drafters are hopping into DeLoreans and flashing back to the future. In the Rotowire mock, 11 of the first 12 picks were plowshares. The Rotoworld exercise also followed suit as RBs were selected 12 times in the first 15. Unless you're in a league that scores six points for all touchdowns, it's imperative to hammer the position early and often. Don't and you could be staring at a Darren McFadden/DeMarco Murray tandem in your backfield, a proposition only owners with HUEVOS GIGANTES would consider.

Cue Axl Rose, “Patience” is the name of the game at quarterback

Quarterbacks in 2013 are akin to Stephen Hawking's theories on the universe – crazy deep. Last season marked the most prolific throwing year in NFL history. On a per-team, per-game basis pro franchises averaged an otherworldly 231.3 passing yards, nearly 10 yards more than 2010, a year that ranks third on the most-airborne list. Suffice it to say, pitch counts were extraordinarily high.

Unsurprisingly in this Golden Age of quarterbacking, fantasy scoring among signal callers has experienced boom times. A season ago, Andy Dalton, the No. 12 QB in Fantasyland, averaged 20.5 points per game. Astonishingly, that tally would've ranked No. 1 among passers in 2005. Overall, 13 gunslingers netted at least 20 points per game, the highest yield ever.

The position's swift evolution has caused a simple supply/demand phenomenon in drafts. Unless you're investing in safety, why overpay for the likes of Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Mannning when Colin Kaepernick (25.6 fppg as a starter including playoffs), Russell Wilson (26.1 fppg over his final 11 games, playoffs included) and Matthew Stafford (Set NFL record for attempts in '12), can be acquired some 2-5 rounds later? In single-QB, standard-scoring (4-points/pass TD) formats, focusing on thinner positions (e.g. RB and WR) in Rounds 1-3 is the savvy move.

‘O ye, of little faith’ applies to most rookies

Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, Martin, Wilson, Richardson, Morris, Josh Gordon – 2012's rookie class was a monkey-riding-a-dog awesome. RGIII, Luck and Wilson all finished inside the top-12 among passers in per game average. Despite rib discomfort, T-Pain crossed the chalk 12 times and racked 1,317 total yards. Meanwhile, the 'Muscle Hamster' and Morris each logged two of the greatest rushing seasons by a first-year RB in NFL history. Only Eric Dickerson and George Rogers accumulated more yards on the ground than 'The Butler.' As for Martin, his 1,926 yards from scrimmage was third all-time behind Dickerson and Edgerrin James.

After such a marvelous campaign for rookies, some would suspect drafters would be willing to take more chances on unproven products. However, that's hardly the case. The prove-it-to-me mentality still reigns supreme, a mindset that will definitely pay dividends for risk-takers. This year's youngster crop pales in comparison to last year's, but it's not completely devoid of instant impact players.

Montee Ball, who could deliver meaningful numbers in Denver if he can pass protect, has gone absurdly early in some mocks, but, for the most part, first-year players aren't overpriced. Le'Veon Bell, the Noise's pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year, has fallen off draft boards consistently in Rounds 4-6 in 12-teamers. Eddie Lacy, who should make a noteworthy impact in Green Bay, is landing in roughly the same territory. His tag-team partner, Jonathan Franklin, meanwhile, is getting crossed off cheat sheets roughly 2-4 rounds later.

Other freshmen are slipping well into the middle rounds, including St. Louis microwave Tavon Austin. Taken in the first-round of April's NFL draft, the former Mountaineer has dropped as far as No. 91 overall. Additional youngsters Zac Stacy, Giovanni Bernard, DeAndre Hopkins and deep sleeper Aaron Dobson are also going somewhere between Rounds 8-12. No shock, outside E.J. Manuel, no quarterbacks are drawing much interest, if any, from gamers.

After Jimmy Graham, tight end is a bottomless pit of uncertainty, values

Graham is the filet mignon of tight ends, a cut above the rest. Rob Gronkowski's upcoming fourth, and possibly fifth, procedure on his slow-healing forearm and various blemishes on the remaining class, places the Saint in a tier all to himself. This doesn't mean the position is suffering. Because of the popularity of two-tight end sets and unprecedented stockpile of athletic, polished targets, tight end, similar to last year, is loaded with productive options. Long gone are the days of Antonio Gates' sole domination. For example, Bills monolith Scott Chandler, who averaged a very respectable 6.2 fantasy points per game in standard formats, the 14th-best total among TEs, would have finished top-five 10 years ago.

Even in leagues that require multiple TE starters, stiff-arming the position early is the best approach. Perusing initial ADP data, dependable alternatives Dennis Pitta, Kyle Rudolph and Owen Daniels are going well after pick No. 80 in 12-team drafts. Tony Gonzalez, entering his swan song season, is also strangely discounted, selected on average at pick 64.8 according to Fantasy Football Calculator. In the Rotoworld and Rotowire brushups he went No. 49 and No. 68, respectively, overall. V-A-L-U-E!

Due to the bottomless talent pool, streaming the position could become a common tactic this fall. Potential breakouts Jordan Cameron, Rob Housler and Tony Moeaki, alongside proven, though occasionally erratic, commodities such as Dustin Keller, Brandon Pettigrew and Fred Davis, are typically going undrafted. Until defensive trends take shape, employing a plug 'n play strategy would be difficult at the onset, but if followed mid-season, it could cash handsomely.

Once the first 18-20 wide receivers come off the board, the position is ruled by mediocrity

Fantasy aficionados of all shapes and backgrounds typically talk in tiers. Grouping players with similarly skilled commodities is a fantastic way to denote when it's an appropriate time to jump aboard or abstain from a position 'run.' In this day and age of skyward thinking one would assume reliable wide receivers are plentiful. However, that's not entirely the case.

After the Vincent Jackson-Dwayne Bowe-Jordy Nelson class is selected, question marks about those remaining are palpable. Danny Amendola, though in a very ripe situation, would shatter a shoulder blade attempting to run over a Weeble Wobble . Wes Welker and Eric Decker could experience a decrease in production because of Denver's high-competition for targets. And Pierre Garcon, terrific when on the field last year, is expected to again fight through foot pain.

As always, there are plenty of diamonds in the rough at WR, but all have warts. Whatever format you play, it's critical to grab at least one receiver from the upper tiers.

Six players Mocksters are snapping tendons for …

Note: The numbers in parentheses denote where the player was drafted overall in the Rotoworld, Rotowire and Roto Arcade PPR mocks)

David Wilson, NYG, RB (Drafted at No. 28, 15, 14) – Bandwagoners are convinced Wilson is destined for greatness this fall. Though he's slated for an increased load, he will be involved in an undetermined timeshare with Andre Brown. Wilson is highly explosive in the open-field and around the edge and useful in the pass game, but concerns over his ability to pick-up the blitz combined with his marginal skills between-the-tackles may curtail his workload. Frankly, Brown, who should net at least 10-12 touches/game including all goal-line carries, might be the better all-around back and fantasy value. If Wilson finishes as a RB1, Miley Cyrus is indeed the hottest woman on the planet.

Montee Ball, Den, RB (68, 38, 13) – Don't you dare pronounce it 'Mon-tee.' Denver's 'Mon-tay' is hoping to make a name for himself. Because of the landing spot, most pundits are convinced he will. The Johns, Elway and Fox, are feeding the hype machine (The "next Terrell Davis," really Elway?), but the head coach's history of distrusting rookies is hard to overlook. Ball is a fluid, versatile rusher who fits well into the Broncos' ground scheme. However, if his pass protection skills aren't up to snuff, he'll fall out of favor quickly. Remember, though he's coming off his second knee surgery, Knowshon Moreno (110.5 total yards per game in six 2012 starts) and second-year sprinter Ronnie Hillman are still in the picture. The rookie should make an impact, but there are more trustworthy RBs available inside the top-50.

Isaiah Pead, StL, RB (44, 100, ND) – There are certain fascinations in society that are difficult to grasp – the tight jeans revival, Bitcoin, this criminally deceptive invention, whatever the heck Titus Young is thinking and 'expert' infatuations with Pead. The Cincinnati product recently admitted his inaugural season was "miserable," so awful it made him "tired of football." Encouraging. In total he saw just 42 snaps, carried the rock 10 times and accumulated 54 yards. Pead is again itching to play and with an available path to touches has some fanalysts jumping to absurd conclusions. Essentially, he's a speed complement in platoon backfield, nothing more. Daryl Richardson, who boasts more versatility, and rookie Zac Stacy, who possesses considerable interior brawn, will greatly hinder the second-year back's rep count and overall worth. Pead emerging as a viable RB2 in 12-teamers would be apocalyptic.

Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE (11, 31, 60) – Chew on this for a minute: Gronk is slated to undergo a fourth operation on his broken forearm, a procedure that may not completely correct the problem. As of mid-May, the odds of the ex-Pro Bowler suiting up in time for the regular season are akin to Tim Tebow hitting a preschooler on a 10-yard crossing route. When healthy, he's an elite contributor, evidenced by his stellar 2012, but when weighing the enormous risks, the tight end isn't deserving of a top-30 or even a top-60 pick. Let someone else panic over the partier.

Wes Welker, Den, WR (73, 45, 44) – For the tacky-handed wideout a change of scenery isn't a good thing. Yes, he's tied to another future Hall of Famer in an equally dynamic offense, but there are far more mouths to feed in Denver. Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, who combined for 263 targets last year, likely won't see a dramatic reduction in looks, especially inside the red-zone. Plus, Fox won't abandon the run. Add it up and it's probable Peyton Manning tallies roughly the same number of pass attempts as last year (583), meaning another 175 targets for Welker is highly unlikely. He'll still pack a punch in PPR settings, but because end-zone dances will be scarce, he's more WR3 than WR2 material in default leagues. Think 80-875-5.

Aaron Rodgers, GB, QB (37, 13, 12) – Inevitably, zealots in six-point per passing TD leagues will throw rotten cabbage at yours truly for merely mentioning Rodgers, a quarterback with a very high floor, here, but it's not necessarily a statement about the player, rather it's the position (See above). When push comes to shove, the difference between Kapernick and Rodgers will likely be negligible, which makes selecting the former Super Bowl MVP in the back-half of Round 1 or early-part of Round 2 senseless in traditional settings.

Six players Mocksters are missing the memo on …

Matthew Stafford, Det, QB (81, 91, 56) – Only a handful of months ago the Detroit rifleman wrapped up arguably the most inexplicable campaigns by a quarterback in NFL history. Despite smashing Drew Bledsoe's single season pass attempts record by 36 chucks and throwing for the seventh-most yards in a year ever (4,967), Stafford found the end-zone a mere 20 times – fluky. Unless an invisible wall is again erected inside the five – Calvin Johnson was tackled just shy of the goal-line an extraordinary number of times last year – the beleaguered passer is a prime bounce-back candidate. Detroit's secondary, though improved on paper, remains below average, which means shootouts will occur regularly. Couple that with the addition of Reggie Bush, and it's entirely possible Stafford compiles at least 4,500 yards and 35-40 TDs. He's the reason why you can wait on QB.

Danario Alexander, SD, WR (87, 71, 65) – Apparently, amnesia has afflicted many within the 'expert' community. Do people not remember what Alexander accomplished in half a season with San Diego? Here's a refresher: DX's 37-658-7 line and subsequent 10.8 points per game average (Non-PPR) checked in at No. 16 among wideouts, ahead of name-brands Victor Cruz, Randall Cobb and Reggie Wayne. Yes, his jelly knees and Philip Rivers' proclivity for boneheaded plays are downsides, but he's the Chargers No. 1 target in what should be a healthier offense under Mike McCoy. It would be no stretch if Alexander finished inside the WR top-20 once again.

Ryan Mathews, SD, RB (57, 59, 53) – Yes, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me; fool me three times, and I'm a (expletive) idiot. Mathews is crystal meth in human form. Get a taste of his potential, and you're instantly hooked. Because of drafters' "never again" perception toward the Bolt, he's actually a fantastic value at his common Round 5 price point. With a new regime in place, full support from San Diego's GM Tom Telesco and little competition for early down reps (Danny Woodhead and Revolutionary War vet Ronnie Brown are his backups), he's in good position to finally deliver on his RB1 promise, provided he doesn't puncture a Fallopian tube.

Mike Williams, TB, WR (103, 89, ND) – Overshadowed by Vincent Jackson and the Muscle Hamster, Williams also moved the meter offensively in Tampa last year. Bouncing back from a horrid sophomore slump, his 63-996-9 line tabbed him a back-end WR2 in standard formats. Greg Schiano has reservations about Josh Freeman and the Bucs likely won't be forced to play catch-up nearly as often with Darrelle Revis draping the opposition, but Williams, arguably the team's premier red-zone weapon, enters the regular season in a contract year. Count on him cashing in. It would be no stretch if he at least matched his numbers from 2012. Poach him in the late-middle rounds.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jax, RB (21, 24, 17) – Four months from now owners will be kicking themselves for not trusting the Oompah Loompah. Recovering from a Lisfranc sprain, he recently expressed he'll be full speed by June. In a contract year, playing for a ball control-minded head coach and with Denard Robinson expected to help ease the burden roughly 5-10 times per game, MJD should storm back with a vengeance. A return to 2011 isn't out of the question. You're robbing leaguemates blind in Round 2 or possibly later.

Jordan Cameron, Cle, TE (121, ND, ND) – Hiding in the TE shadows is a Brown with bite. Cleveland head coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner have a storied history featuring the tight end. Antonio Gates, Jay Novacek, Kellen Winslow Jr., Vernon Davis and Greg Olsen are noteworthy names associated with the sideline duo. The ex-Trojan contributed little in his first two years in the league (26 receptions, 259 yards, 1 TD), but he fits seamlessly into Turner's scheme and is firmly entrenched atop Cleveland's TE depth-chart. The potential certainly exists for him to become this year's Dennis Pitta. Once training camp opens, he's one to keep a close eye on.

For your derision, here are the teams I drafted. Please point out my gross incompetence in the comments section below.

Want to bull rush Brad? Follow him on Twitter @YahooNoise

Generally speaking, this is not a column where we celebrate the amazing feats of the universally-owned player. No one in a competitive league can go out and acquire Shelby Miller or Jon Lester today, and heck, it's the wrong time to ask for them in trade.

But some performances are too good to ignore, and sometimes you gotta break the rules (most of the formative life lessons come from discarded Burger King slogans). With that in mind, let's offer some words about the one-hit wonders.

Miller needed just 113 pitches (mostly fastballs) in his complete-game domination of the Rockies, racking up 13 strikeouts along the way. Eric Young Jr. opened the game with a flare single to right field, then Miller retired the next 27 batters. Check out the tape and you'll see a clinic in fastball location: in and out, up and down. You are special, Shelby.

Miller (1.58 ERA, 0.88 WHIP) now stands as the clear Rookie of the Year favorite in the NL, no great surprise given his pedigree and prospect status. And maybe there's a lesson here about stud pitching prospects who struggle in the minors prior to recall; Miller, after all, posted a 4.74 ERA and 1.38 WHIP at Triple-A Memphis last year. Was he bored in the bush leagues? Fiddling around with secondary stuff? It's all a moot point now; he's pitched his way into the Top 20 on anyone's pitching board. Whatever you paid for him in March was a ridiculous steal; take your victory lap (and share your scouting secrets) in the comments.

[Also: MLB punishes umpires after blown relief pitcher decision]

Lester's brilliant outing had no-hit intrigue tied to it, as he mowed down 17 Blue Jays in a row before Maicer Izturis lined a double down the left-field corner. Unfazed, Lester recorded the next 10 outs in crisp fashion and put the wraps on his fifth victory. No walks, five strikeouts, a modest 118 pitches. Everyone take a sip of dirty water.

While Lester required more batted-ball fortune than Miller did, the Boston lefty made a lot of his own luck: note the 12 ground-ball outs. Lester had excellent command of his two-seam fastball and change up all evening, inducing plenty of weak contact from the Jays. Lester's current ratios (2.73 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) are probably a little over his head, but he looks back in his 2008-2011 form. He's reunited with John Farrell, his former pitching guru, and it feels so good.

• The Boston bullpen enjoyed a full night of rest while Lester worked his magic, a welcome break for a group that's missing some big names. Joel Hanrahan won't be a part of the solution in 2013: his flexor muscle is torn and needs season-ending surgery. With Andrew Bailey (biceps) on the disabled list as well, the Red Sox handshake chase runs through recently-anointed Junichi Tazawa (2.93/1.04, 19 strikeouts against three walks). He's surprisingly unowned in 49 percent of Yahoo! leagues; given the messy injury history with Bailey, this is a spot for an aggressive speculation play. I'm expecting double-digit saves from Tazawa.

[Also: The Juice: Shelby Miller retires 27 straight Rockies in one-hit shutout]

• Alex Cobb is writing his own breakout story in Tampa Bay, posting a tidy 3.09 ERA and 1.22 WHIP through seven starts. His Friday turn against San Diego turned into a mixed bag of results; you love the 13 strikeouts but it led to an accelerated pitch count (117 tosses, 77 strikes) and removal in the middle of the fifth inning. When everything's hashed together we'll spin this as a positive - missing bats is always a good thing. Cobb's recommended next week against Boston, under the catwalk (as of right now, he's scheduled to miss Lester).

• Since we're embracing relaxed ownership-level rules in this edition of Closing Time, let's talk a little about Seattle stud Hisashi Iwakuma. Something was lost in translation when the Mariners initially deployed Iwakuma last year: he posted a mediocre 4.75 ERA over 30.1 relief innings. The story flipped in the rotation - Iwakuma has a sparkling 2.33 ERA and 1.06 WHIP since changing roles. The AL West, the heavy marine layer, it's all a wonderful thing. Oakland didn't do much against Iwakuma, as expected (7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 9 K).

Iwakuma's 2013 line is almost too good to be true: he's pushed his strikeout clip to 8.9/9 while trimming walks to a microscopic 1.4/9. His ground-ball rate has fallen from last year's dreamy level, but anytime a pitcher is striking out more batters while his control improves, I'm not looking to discredit it. Iwakuma isn't on any of my teams this year, sadly (and he was part of an annoying renege trade offer about a month ago), but you have to appreciate beauty where you find it. I'd start this guy anywhere, even at New York next week. (If you're in one of my leagues, offer me an Iwakuma trade right now. Be creative. I'm ready to overpay.)

• If you streamed Zack Greinke in your Single-A fantasy league, Friday turned into a grave disappointment. The rehabbing righty was hit for eight runs (three earned) over 4.1 innings, knocked around by the henchmen of Lake Elsinore. Biff. Bam. Zowie. Of course Greinke was merely looking to get work in (process, not results), and his temporary teammates didn't help the cause by committing three errors.

Greinke looks ready to go for Wednesday's LA start against Washington (finally, some good news for the star-crossed Dodgers). He was expected to miss two months with his collarbone injury, but he'll return in less than five weeks. Given that Greinke's injury wasn't related to his arm in any way, you might as well activate him right out of the box. He threw 80 pitches in the rehab turn, so the club doesn't appear worried about its ace.

• Michael Cuddyer missed Friday's bagel parade in St. Louis; he's battling a neck injury. Cuddyer says he's dealt with the problem off-and-on since 2004, but it's still possible he might need a DL stint. The widely-available Eric Young is around as an outfield option if Cuddyer needs an extended rest, and we can always dream about a reprieve for Tyler Colvin, someday. Colvin has been good, not great, through 29 games at Triple-A Colorado Springs (.283/.345/.472, four homers, two steals).

[Also: MLB, Louisville Slugger take shameful stance on breast cancer awareness]

It's not the richest time to add a Colorado bat, mind you. The Rockies don't return home until next Thursday, and the park generally doesn't show its full teeth at this time of year. Nonetheless, there's extreme offensive potential in this environment down the road, so we have to be mindful of the lineup at all times.

• Any Will Venable sympathizers in the house? The frisky Friar posted a homer (his fifth) and two steals (sixth, seventh) at Tampa. Venable hardly plays against left-handed pitching, but a .260/.325/.493 slash line is useful against the northpaws when you mix in the category juice. The Padres face just one left-hander over their next eight games, making it the right time to kick the Venable tires. He's good to go in 96 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

MLB video from Yahoo! Sports:

Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
• Warriors' Stephen Curry hobbled in Game 3 loss to Spurs
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Already 34 games into the fantasy baseball season, Southern California's supposed fearsome twosome of Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols have slowly crushed owner souls. Currently ranking No. 643 and No. 220 in Yahoo! Fantasy, the paltry pair have left their investors feeling jobbed.

Oakland's Adam Rosales can empathize.

On this week's investigative episode, fantasy sleuths Brad Evans and Scott Pianowski attempted to explain the Angels' ineptitude and decide edwhether buying low will lead to future riches. Also on this week's info-rich program, we partied shirtless with Rob Gronkowski, detailed the Montee Ball fascination, deciphered the Dickey, pinpointed when top prospect Oscar Taveras.

Too busy looking for shindigs in West Egg? No problem. Listen to the replays below:

LISTEN TO HOUR 1 HERE (MLB/NFL)

LISTEN TO HOUR 2 HERE (MLB)

Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
• Wigan shocks Man City for first FA Cup title
• Warriors' Stephen Curry hobbled in Game 3 loss to Spurs
• Bulls mock LeBron James, fan conspiracy flames after Game 3 loss
• MLB punishes umpires after blown relief pitcher decision

The Twins weren't expected to be a decent ballclub in 2013. Vegas projected them for 68.5 wins, the basement of the AL Central. Target Field remains a draw and Joe Mauer still has that winning smile, but there wasn't much else going on here, at least on paper.

Oswaldo Arcia wasn't supposed to be in the 2013 mix, either. Although the young outfielder was highly regarded on prospect boards, most considered his ETA to be 2014. Arcia had just 69 games of Double-A experience on his resume prior to the new season.

As we meander towards the Ides of May, Arcia and the Twins have a good thing going. Minnesota just put the wraps on an impressive 3-of-4 showing at Boston, capped by Thursday's 5-3 victory. They're now a game over .500. Arcia played in three of those Fenway games and took his cuts, posting a 7-for-13 line with two doubles, a triple and this Thursday blast into the Red Sox bullpen (does anyone else see a little Brian Giles in that swing?). He's off to a .313/.353/.547 run in The Show over 18 games, heady stuff for someone who just turned 22.

The initial plan had Arcia settling at Triple-A this year, but a ballistic .394/.474/.727 run and some Minnesota injuries forced a promotion ahead of time. The lefty swinger hasn't looked out of place in the majors (or against southpaws), albeit there have been contact issues as well (18 strikeouts). Down the road he profiles to be a high-average bat with a solid eye and some pop, but maybe the delivery is ahead of schedule. If you're in the mood to kick some tires into the weekend, Arcia is waiting for you in 96 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

• Although Boston didn't play inspired baseball in this series, Thursday starter John Lackey is pushing his way back into relevance. His costly throwing error led to four unearned runs Thursday, ruining what was otherwise a very strong line (7 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K). Lackey's collected 24 punch outs over 22.1 innings, against a modest seven walks, and the upcoming schedule looks reasonable (at Tampa, at Chicago White Sox). The redemption story is waiting for you in 90 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

• Heath Bell is probably headed for a day off Friday; his arm needs a rest and so does the handshake. Bell was the last man standing in the last three Arizona victories, though he worked around a double on both Wednesday (at LA) and Thursday (versus Philly). There's no question about the Arizona baton, it's in Bell's hands. And it's likely we won't see J.J. Putz again this year.

While Bell is still carrying a mediocre 4.11 ERA and 1.37 WHIP around for the season, you'll note three of the seven runs came on opening day. The zippy K/BB ratio (20:3) points to continued success. Look for David Hernandez to keep the eighth-inning bridge work, while lefty Matt Reynolds jumps around to where he's most needed.

All three Arizona relievers came through in Thursday's 2-1 victory over Philadelphia, supporting Patrick Corbin's fifth victory. There's nothing in Corbin's repertoire that jumps off the screen, but he's succeeding by pounding the zone and getting bushels of ground balls. A strikeout rate of 7/9 might be good enough when you keep the ball on the ground and rarely walk anyone (2.3/9). Two stronger challenges are on the way: a home date with Atlanta, and a trip to Coors Field.

• I understand the roto case against Jeremy Guthrie. He's not a big strikeout source and he was downright awful for the first half of 2012 (6.35 ERA in Colorado; thanks gravity). But let's tip the cap for how the veteran has responded since the Coors Field pardon. Guthrie has made 21 starts since joining the Royals in the middle of last year and most of them have been useful for fantasy. Here's the bottom line: 10-3 record (including Thursday's tidy win at Baltimore), 2.86 ERA, 1.15 WHIP. Those ratios play in any format.

You might want to steer from Guthrie in leagues that cap innings or starts (you're a K/9er in those formats), but he's handy for head-to-head gamers. The upcoming schedule opens up nicely: Guthrie works in Anaheim and Houston the next two weeks. Keep an open mind with this one.

• For two years, Ryan Vogelsong was sweet music playing on a slow Bay Area night. In 2013, the needle keeps scratching the record. The veteran righty needs precise placement of his fastball to be effective, and that's been elusive through seven messy turns (7.78 ERA, nine homers). The Braves knocked Vogelsong around Thursday (7 H, 6 R, 1 HR, 3 BB, 7 K), and there weren't many cheap hits in that mix. There's talk of the Giants possibly skipping Vogelsong's next turn.

I'm surprised more gamers haven't moved on from Vogelsong in the Yahoo! fantasy world (54 percent owned). He's two months shy of his 36th birthday and the circus leaves town for everyone eventually. The schedule hasn't been unfavorable to this point, as he's made four home starts and a couple of road-friendly stops (Chicago, San Diego). It's time to move on and drop Vogelsong; if he shows promise on the waiver-wire, you can re-evaluate.

• Scott Kazmir, back from the dead? There's no ignoring what he did against the scoring-happy Athletics on Thursday: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K. Here's some video evidence. And this gem came on the heels of a win over Minnesota (6 IP, 2 R, 7 K) and a reasonable outing at Kansas City. Oddly, it was the Astros who bowled over the lefty back on April 20.

Kazmir is probably going to draw the Phillies (road) and Mariners (home) over the next two weeks, reasonable assignments. He's still just 29. Anyone feeling sentimental or frisky on this one? He's yours for the taking in 90 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

• If you have DL spots to play with, Brandon Beachy (elbow) would like your attention. He's expected to kick off his rehab assignment next week, and while he might be in the minors for the full month, this is a potential No. 1 starter in a year or two. The first year back from Tommy John surgery comes with obvious caveats, of course, but I'm still intrigued at what Beachy might do in the second half of 2013.

Speaking of rehabbing pitchers, Zack Greinke's return is just around the corner. The Dodgers will give him a turn at High-A on Friday and if all goes well, Greinke (collarbone) will pitch next week against Washington. A modest pitch count is to be expected as Greinke rounds back into form, but no one's going to complain much - he's returning three weeks ahead of schedule.

When it comes to fake baseball, the outfield is where the fun is. The first couple of rounds will always include some of these stat-grabbing giants, and yet the waiver wire in an average mixer consistently offers something for the discerning shopper. Add it all up and there's a lot to digest.

The prices you see in this piece are roughly how I rank the roto-eligible outfielders going forward. What we've seen to this point is merely an audition; if you want a list of the top players to this point, there are plenty of places you can access that.

Don't obsess over the prices in a vacuum: what really matters is how the players relate to one another. Assume a 5x5 scoring format, as always, and players at the same price are considered even. I'll add comments as the evening goes along, and I reserve the right to edit this list in that period. Your intelligent and respectful disagreement is forever welcome in the comments; win the debate, win the rank. (Before you start your audit, remember the golden rule: a player doesn't gain 15-20 percent of bonus value simply because you roster him.)

As for the injured players, they're on this list but at the bottom - those are the courtesy rankings that we've added to the Shuffle Up series this year. I'm not going to debate the prices on hurt guys - if you feel it's all sunshine and lollipops for someone's injury rehab, that's fine. I'm generally more pessimistic when it comes to long-term injuries, but hey, it's a game of opinions.

Make the jump, see what you think.

$32 Ryan Braun
$31 Mike Trout
$30 Justin Upton
$30 Carlos Gonzalez
$29 Bryce Harper
$28 Andrew McCutchen
$27 Adam Jones
$24 Jacoby Ellsbury
$24 Matt Kemp

If there's a reason to feel good about Kemp right now, it's completely escaping me. He was a mild disappointment in the second half of 2012 (.280/.331/.461, 11 homers, seven steals), in part due to hamstring and shoulder problems. He had shoulder surgery in the offseason. Every indicator through the opening six weeks is pointing in the wrong direction: walks down, strikeouts up, slugging percentage nonexistent, contact down. And it's not like the lineup around Kemp is pushing the counting stats: the Dodgers are 28th in the majors in runs. If I were a Kemp owner (and I'm glad I'm not), I'd look to shop him the moment consumer confidence began to rebound.

Trout's current pace is headed for this: .281-95-24-105-24. I don't want to hear anything from the Regression Police; Trout's come down from 2012 (to this point) but those are terrific numbers. And I'll be stunned if Trout doesn't eventually kick up the running game again. The upside can be debated here, but the floor was always very safe.

$23 Allen Craig
$23 Yoenis Cespedes
$23 Jose Bautista
$22 Carlos Gomez
$22 Shin-Soo Choo
$22 Alex Rios
$22 Matt Holliday
$21 Josh Hamilton
$21 Chris Davis
$21 Jay Bruce
$20 Alex Gordon
$20 Mark Trumbo
$20 Austin Jackson
$20 Ben Zobrist
$20 Starling Marte
$18 Hunter Pence
$18 Dexter Fowler
$18 Carl Crawford
$18 Martin Prado
$18 Nelson Cruz

The Gomez breakout really began in the middle of 2012. He was one of fantasy's stars in the second half of the year, totaling 14 homers and 26 steals (on 29 attempts) over his last 75 games. He graded out as the No. 4 roto outfielder in the second half, trailing only Trout, Braun and Cespedes. You can say "arbitrary endpoints" all you like, but it's amazing what a player can do when he hits the (theoretical) peak age and his team stops jerking him around.

I recognize Gomez doesn't walk much and no one thinks he'll stay for a plus average going forward, let alone that shiny .386 number. The insane .447 BABIP is obviously unsustainable. That said, Gomez's category juice is very real and his dynamite fielding will keep him on the field no matter what. When I see Affordable Cargo ranked behind Nick Swisher or Josh Willingham on some other ranking lists, I want to start chucking things at the computer screen. This is what player growth looks like. Forget the player who drove you crazy a few years back.

$17 Michael Cuddyer
$17 Carlos Beltran
$17 Desmond Jennings
$17 Todd Frazier
$17 Michael Morse
$16 Josh Willingham
$16 Adrian Gonzalez
$16 B.J. Upton
$15 Torii Hunter
$14 Angel Pagan
$14 Matt Carpenter
$14 Michael Saunders

All you can really do with Bossman Upton is hold, hope he goes on one of his notorious hot streaks. I can't imagine he's sellable now unless you take a monumental loss. If you have traded for (or away from) Upton in the last week, share your story in the comments.

$13 Nate McLouth
$13 Shane Victorino
$13 Alejandro De Aza
$13 Norichika Aoki
$13 Nick Swisher
$13 Melky Cabrera
$12 Kelly Johnson
$12 Brett Gardner
$12 Garrett Jones
$12 Alfonso Soriano
$11 Brandon Moss
$11 Lorenzo Cain
$11 Domonic Brown
$11 Ichiro Suzuki
$10 Denard Span
$10 Vernon Wells
$10 Justin Ruggiano
$10 Nick Markakis

Markakis put a bounce in everyone's step a few years back, but he's flatlined for a while now. The pop never grew into anything special, he's no longer running, and a good-not-great average and regular playing time only carry you so far. I've become an Orioles Sympathizer in 2013 (my scouting team loves them), but Markakis isn't part of the admiration. You need to shoot higher. … No one's going to pay for Kelly Johnson's .282 average but we've seen the rest of the profile before: patience at the dish, some pop, some speed (albeit 4-for-7 is a messy percentage). Nice bargain shopping from the Rays, who love this kind of player.

$9 Jayson Werth
$9 Lucas Duda
$9 Jason Kubel
$9 Adam Dunn
$9 Andre Ethier
$9 Marcell Ozuna
$8 Trevor Plouffe
$8 Ben Revere
$6 Daniel Nava
$6 Chris Carter
$6 Jon Jay
$6 Juan Pierre
$6 Colby Rasmus
$6 Rajai Davis
$6 Cody Ross
$5 Oswaldo Arcia
$5 Gerardo Parra
$5 A.J. Pollock
$5 Michael Brantley

Brantley's scan looks a little like the Markakis profile, only with the power and speed contributions flipped. A .297 average certainly has worth in today's hacktastic game, but one homer (and a .381 slugging) is a concern, especially when it's attached to just two steals. Brantley's solid OBP makes him qualified for the leadoff spot, but you'd like to see more numbers coming along for the ride. … I'd like to go higher on Pollock and especially Rico Suave, but with Adam Eaton on the mend, there's a playing-time issue to worry about.

$4 Nate Schierholtz
$4 Will Venable
$4 David DeJesus
$4 Seth Smith
$4 Matt Joyce
$4 Drew Stubbs
$4 Carlos Quentin
$4 David Murphy
$3 Ryan Raburn
$3 Andy Dirks
$2 Chris Denorfia
$2 Jordany Valdespin
$2 Eric Young
$2 Nolan Reimold
$2 Jeff Francoeur
$2 Chris Parmelee
$2 Emilio Bonifacio

Francoeur isn't the worst short-term rental if you know a left-hander is pitching that day. Unfortunately for Frenchy, we live in a right-handed world. At least James Shields is removing much of the potential sting out of the Wil Myers deal. … While defense is never a big concern for us in the numbers racket, it matters with respect to playing time. Bonifacio's wheels could come to life at any time, but the Jays don't want to live with his horrendous glove.

$1 Jordan Schafer
$1 Brandon Barnes
$1 Marlon Byrd
$1 Jason Bay
$1 Delmon Young

Your courtesy injury ranks are below. I am not a doctor (save for some amateur experimentation) and these are not for debate.

$20 Jason Heyward
$20 Giancarlo Stanton
$18 Curtis Granderson
$16 Michael Bourn
$15 Coco Crisp
$14 Corey Hart
$12 Josh Reddick
$10 Adam Eaton
$10 Chris Young
$8 Cameron Maybin
$8 Dayan Viciedo
$5 Peter Bourjos

When Juan Francisco hits 'em, they generally stay hit. That dude leaves no doubt.

Francisco drilled an eighth-inning grand slam over the right field wall in Cincinnati on Wednesday, blowing open the game. The homer was his fifth of the season in 79 plate appearances — and most of them have been launched.

Remember this thing off the upper-deck facade in Miami? And this moonshot against KC? And this zillion-foot bomb, back in spring training?

So yeah, Francisco is kind of a monster. He recently returned to action following an ankle injury, and he's available in 88 percent of Yahoo! leagues. He's hitting .280 for the Braves with 16 RBIs, plus he has a history of solid power numbers in the minors. Francisco rarely walks, so he figures to be a liability in OBP leagues. But the pop here is very real. Can you use 25 or so additional homers? Of course you can. Consider the add.

And don't fear the platoon set-up with Chris Johnson, because Francisco gets the best of it (he's the LHB), and you're spared a bunch of 0-for-3s. Everyone wins. You can deal with the light lineup maintenance.

• The D-backs have decided that PROVEN CLOSER™ Heath Bell — not David Hernandez, not Brad Ziegler, not Matt Reynolds — will get the first shot to replace JJ Putz in the ninth. On Wednesday, Bell worked around a lead-off double by Skip Schumaker to collect his second save in as many nights. He's the guy you want in the Arizona 'pen. Be brave.

When asked about his tweaked elbow immediately after the injury, Putz offered this: "I've never felt anything like that before." Uh-oh. Buster Olney has reported that signs point to Putz needing "a major elbow operation." Brutal news.

• Cubs manager Dale Sveum announced that Kevin Gregg will remain the team's closer, even after Kyuji Fujikawa returns from the DL. Of course he's assuming that Gregg won't implode hilariously before Fuji rejoins the ball club. Not sure that's a safe assumption. Still, Gregg has pitched well over the past three weeks, allowing just three hits and three walks over 7.1 innings, striking out eight batters. He's a perfect 5-for-5 on save chances so far, and he hasn't given up a hit in his last five appearances. And no, things won't always go this well for him. Just enjoy the saves, until Gregg begins to misfire.

• The Roy Halladay situation is complicated in real-life, but the fantasy spin is simple: He's a drop in nearly all leagues. Halladay is going under the knife next week, having all sorts of maintenance performed on his throwing shoulder:

He announced he will have arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder as early as next week, when doctors plan to remove a bone spur and clean up fraying in the labrum and rotator cuff. That is serious stuff for a pitcher who turns 36 next week.

Drop, unless you have an abundance of DL spots available. Don't look back. Sorry it's come to this. Halladay sounds optimistic about returning to the mound this season, and we wish him well. But I have zero expectation for him, rest of season.

• PROSPECT ALERT: On Tuesday, Marlins prospect Christian Yelich 5-for-6 at Double-A Jacksonville with a homer and a pair of triples. On Wednesday, he went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run homer. Yelich has gone deep in each of his last three games, he's hit safely in 14 straight, and he has five multi-hit games in his last seven. Not too shabby, kid. Whenever he's called up, mixed leaguers should care.

• I'm gonna trust that you understand Jason Marquis is not a player who needs to be added. Let's just forget this bullet ever took place, OK? OK.

• Congratulations, Bud Norris, on becoming the first starting pitcher on the 2013 Astros to pitch into the eighth inning. Pretty sure your owners are gonna get a fantasy medal for this. Unfortunately, Norris couldn't quite go the distance, nursing a two-run lead. He allowed a pair of singles to lead-off the ninth, which led to the utterance of the five scariest words in baseball: "Jose Veras enters the game."

But things actually worked out just fine for the Astros. Veras struck out Mark Trumbo, then HBP'd Josh Hamilton, and then coaxed a 6-4-3 double-play. Ball game. Another Houston win.

• Chris Perez tried to blow a save on Wednesday, but the umps were having none of it. Adam Rosales' two-out blast to left-center in the ninth was ruled a double on the field, yet replays clearly showed the ball striking a metal railing above the wall, then bouncing back into the field of play. See it for yourself right here. Somehow, even after video review, the umps didn't give Rosales the homer. Of course Angel Hernandez was involved.

If you're facing a Perez owner in head-to-head this week, feel free to file a complaint below. So sorry.

• Conor Gillaspie was hitting clean-up for the White Sox on Wednesday, which maybe tells you how things are going for Chicago. Gillaspie went 2-for-4, raising his average to .291. There's not much power to be found in his minor league stats (14 HR in the PCL at age 24) and he projects as a .275-ish bat, so ... yeah. Time to move on.

• Ricky Romero recorded just one out against the Rays on Wednesday, yielding four hits, two walks and three earned run. He's lost 15 of his last 16 decisions. [Expletive]. We used to write sonnets about that guy.

• Not a great night for the Red Sox, as buzzy young pitcher Allen Webster was rocked by the Twins. When Webster checked out in the second, he'd retired only five batters and he'd given up seven runs. Ryan Doumit and Pedro Florimon both homered off the right-hander. Florimon's home run was his first since third-grade kickball.

Oswaldo Arcia went 4-for-5 for Minnesota, scoring one run and driving in another, raising his average to an even .300. Arcia was 13-for-33 with three homers at Triple-A Rochester before his April promotion. Last year, he had 61 extra-base hits (17 HR) across two minor league levels, while batting .320/.388/.539. If you're looking to add, I won't argue.

• OK, one final item for you: Curtis Granderson (forearm) is expected to begin a Triple-A rehab assignment on Thursday, facing Gerrit Cole and the Indianapolis Indians. If all goes well, Granderson could rejoin the Yankees next week.

In other Yankees news, look who's easing back into light workouts in Florida...

Alex Rodriguez has been cleared for baseball activities, though he hasn't put a firm timetable on his return from hip surgery. Details here from MLB.com:

Rodriguez could be in Tampa for quite some time. He said Monday began a 30-day plan put together by his doctors and the Yanks, and they will re-evaluate where he stands after that. It's likely that Rodriguez would then begin another 30-day schedule, putting him in line to return some time after the All-Star break.

Rodriguez said he didn't want to set a timetable regarding his comeback, instead focusing on the plan for each day. He wouldn't even say for certain that he'll be back on the field this season.

We really have no idea what the 37-year-old might be capable of doing when he returns, if he returns. He was a mess in the post-season last year, you'll recall (3-for-25, 0 XBH, 12 Ks). And of course the Biogenesis thing still hangs out there. No shortage of red flags with this guy. Still, I've stashed him in a pair of leagues, mostly because I hate to let DL spots go unused. Maybe he becomes a fantasy trade chip. Or maybe he actually gives us a useful month or two.

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Fantasy is a speculative game. Predict the future, and you look like a genius. Don't, and you're painfully human. Gazing into the crystal ball, here's our view on 10 intriguing over/unders this week.

What the Buck?! Rest of season long-balls for possessed Mets catcher John Buck 14.5. Also, rank the following backstops in power terms ROS: Buck, Wilin Rosario, J.P. Arencibia

Dalton – UNDER. This was a tough one for me, as Buck definitely has pop, and I acknowledge his start to the year may be more than just a small sample fluke when it comes to home runs. But he plays catcher (he's reached 410 at-bats just once during his career), so I'll say he finishes with around 23-24 homers this season. Even including his scorching start to the year, Buck's career SLG is .411.

Scott – UNDER, and Buck is the lowest option on this list (Arencibia first, Rosario second). We can't throw everything we know about Buck in the shredder.

Andy – UNDER. Maybe not by a lot, though. I would have laughed off this question two weeks ago. Rest of season, gimme JP, then Wilin, then Buck.

With Joel Hanrahan and Andrew Bailey disabled, BoSox backup Junichi Tazawa season total saves 9.5

Scott – UNDER. With so many capable candidates in this bullpen, the baton might be passed around a few times.

Andy – UNDER. Bailey and Hanrahan aren't dead, just dinged. I don't think Tazawa will run away with the job.

Brandon – UNDER. I'm betting that Uehara will get the occasional spot save chance, and when Hanrahan and Bailey come off the DL, Tazawa will return to third in line.

Miami miracle Kevin Slowey, one of the most added commodities in Yahoo! leagues this week, rest of season ERA 3.99

Andy – UNDER. I mean, that's actually worse than league-average for the N.L. He doesn't even have to be particularly good in order to beat this number.

Brandon – UNDER. He always felt like a pitcher that belonged in the NL, and he's certainly looked the part in his first month in the senior circuit. Slowey has altered his pitch offerings a bit from the past and it seems to be helping. As is Marlins Park, which suppresses the long ball. So, while regression will certainly happen, I don't think it'll be "over 3.99 ERA" drastic.

Brad – UNDER. Let Slow lead you to the dough, deep leaguers. His 3.80 xFIP is a bit concerning, but his other secondary stats sparkle. The man doesn't walk guys, has missed more bats and is benefited by a pitcher-friendly home park. Wins will be a rarity, but he should continue to be a godsend in the ratios department.

Combined rest of season homers/steals for under-owned (43-percent) Bravos shortstop Andrelton Simmons 16.5

Brandon – UNDER. Surprisingly, I think it's the SB count that will hurt him here. He's just not running much for the Braves (3 attempts in 79 games since last season). And while his power is developing, it won't be enough to carry him over this mark.

Brad – UNDER. Speaking as a Simmons supporter in NL LABR, I would love nothing more for him to exceed the above number. However, he projects as a high single-digit home run hitter and, with only a pair of attempts on the season, low double-digit base stealer. He'll be close but an additional 4-5 HRs and 8-10 SBs seems most likely.

Dalton – UNDER. Again, a close one. Simmons is a terrific commodity for the Braves, as he might be the most valuable defensive player in baseball. But his seven homers over 273 major league at-bats have already eclipsed his career total of six during 930 minor league ABs, and he's not a prolific base stealer. So I say he falls just short of this number.

Hot Corner Hoedown. Which third basemen would you rather roster rest of season: Josh Donaldson, Yuniesky Betancourt, Kyle Seager or Nolan Arenado.

Dalton – ARENADO. Donaldson is looking more and more legit, but Arenado has both the most room for growth and is in the best situation. Coors Field becomes even more so a hitter's park during the hotter summer months.

Scott – Just to rile everyone up, I'd love to say Betancourt. I'm always sentimental to the Wiggys. But the right answer here is SEAGER: line-drive bat, and he's been around the block once already.

Andy – ARENADO, easy. Brad obviously loaded this field with pushovers (Seager aside), because he wants us all to pick his guy. Arenado offers the highest ceiling, plus he'll do his home hitting in the friendliest park.

Snake in the grass, Patrick Corbin, who’s surrendered just eight earned in 40.0 IP, final ERA 3.50

Brad – UNDER. His 3.69 xFIP would suggest Derrick Rose has better odds of returning to the Bulls than the D'Back does staying under the proposed number, but his other peripherals suggest otherwise. His 3.20 K/BB and 1.32 GB/FB are outstanding. If he keeps the ball in the park, a problem he had last year, his final ERA should land in the 3.30-3.40 range.

Dalton – UNDER. I certainly didn't see this coming, but Corbin has impressed (20.1 K%, 6.3 BB%, 1.32 GB/FB). Both his fastball and slider velocities are up, and even calling Chase Field home, he looks likes a strong fantasy option. And even if he posts a 3.75 ERA from here on out, he already has a 1.80 ERA banked through 40.0 innings this season

Scott – UNDER. This is reason #51 you don't have to overly chase pitching on draft day, you can always find stuff for free.

Since April 27, former top prospect Dominic Brown, owned in just over a quarter of Yahoo! leagues, has clubbed four homers. Homers from this point forward for the outfielder 17.5

Scott – UNDER. Are we sure Charlie Manuel has completely bought in? Brown wasn't exactly Dave Kingman in the minors, either.

Andy – UNDER. I'm just gonna see if I can go under on everything here. Brown is a talent, but not necessarily a special power source. His single-season minor league HR high was 20. He'd need perfect health to reach this total.

Brandon – OVER. He'd have to average a HR a little every seven games the rest of the way, which is doable, but I think it'll be very close since he's not much of a fly-ball hitter.

R.A. Dickey, pounded of late allowing 14 earned in his past 19 IP, final ERA 4.30

Andy – One of the best numbers Brad has selected all year. Tip of the cap, sir. OVER. I'm gonna say he finishes at 4.33. So basically, I think he gets better, but I'm still concerned about both the league switch, plus his health.

Brandon – UNDER. He hasn't been all bad, with four of his first seven starts being of the Quality variety. I think he'll probably settle in a bit under this mark the rest of the way, but he should have stayed in the NL.

Brad – OVER. The fat lady is warming up on Dickey's amazing three-year run. For much of the season, his knuckler has resembled a slow-moving asteroid to opposing hitters, indicative in his ghastly 1.71 HR/9. Missing fewer bats and strike zones, he is likely to have a final ERA north of 4.50.

Fill in the blank: Suddenly mighty Marlin Marcell Ozuna, still available in 80-percent of Yahoo! leagues, finishes the year with a line reading _______ BA, _______ HR, _______RBI, _______R and _______SBs.

Brandon – .260-14-60-50-5

Brad – .267-13-53-48-4

Dalton – .260-16-65-65-9

Requiem for a Stream. Pick one Friday freak: Matt Magill, LAD (vs. Mia), Dan Straily, Oak (at Sea), Phil Hughes, NYY (at KC), or Freddy Garcia, Bal (at Min)

Brad – GARCIA. It's nothing short of amazing how Garcia continues to resurface on contending teams. The man is the Robert Horry of MLB, minus the rings. Strikeouts will be few and far between, but look for him to carry over momentum after a near no-no last week versus LAA. Minnesota ranks 26th in the Bigs in runs scored.

Dalton – HUGHES. Mainly because I think he's easily the best pitcher in a vacuum, but the Royals have also scored the eighth fewest runs in the majors this season, and Kauffman Stadium has always suppressed home runs for left-handed batters. Straily is a strong alternative, but Hughes has a 34:7 K:BB ratio over 35.0 innings this season.

Scott – I've been chasing STRAILY all spring and I'm not going to stop now. The marine layer is your friend.

Andy – STRAILY. Terrific strikeout potential, plus a clear favorite vs. M's. (Sorry, Brandon.)

Brandon – STRAILY. Seattle has scored the fifth-fewest runs, including the third-fewest against right-handed hitters. (Can't fault the logic, Andy)

Hungry for more advice? Listen to The Fantasy Freak Show on Yahoo! Sports Radio Friday nights at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

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Arm surgery, partying, infection, partying, rehab, partying – it’s been an offseason filled with anesthesia and booze for Rob Gronkowski.

With recent reports about the former Pro Bowler’s recovery from a broken forearm ranging from glowingly optimistic to frustratingly somber, pinpointing exactly what the tight end is worth has been an exercise in futility. However, Wednesday’s news, as first reported by the Boston Herald, finally provided clarity prospective buyers were looking for. The lowdown:

According to a source familiar with the case, Gronkowski is going to need a fourth operation to change the plate that’s securing the broken bone in the forearm.

While there has been some suggestion recently that this step might be avoided, the source indicated the fourth operation still has to happen. The plate has to be switched, no matter what, and the surrounding tissue tested. The real question is if Gronkowski, who has been taking part in the team’s offseason program, will need a fifth operation.

If tests show the infection has been completely flushed out, the plate will be replaced, and the recovery process begins. If there are still signs of infection, that won’t happen.

That’s a scenario no one wants to contemplate. Ultimately, Gronkowski would need more surgery and his participation for the start of the season and perhaps beyond would be in jeopardy.

Obviously, the above info is a significant blow to Gronk and the Patriots. With fellow batterymate, Aaron Hernandez, and backup wideout Julian Edelman, also uncertain for Week 1, it’s entirely possible Tom Brady will chuck passes exclusively to ex-Rams Danny Amendola and Michael Hoomanawanui and rookie receiver Aaron Dobson early on; potentially well into the regular season. That’s not necessarily a downgrade for Brady. Because of the system and with plenty of time to build chemistry, the Pats passing offense may not skip a beat. However, it certainly fosters questions and was reason enough for yours truly to drop him from No. 4 to No. 6, behind Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick, in my initial QB ranks.

To overcome the potential Gronk void, Bill Belichick will invariably adapt, possibly emphasizing ball control. A two-pronged ground attack featuring Stevan Ridley (ADP: 20.5, RB15) and Shane Vereen could be deployed heavily to begin the season, bolstering the rushers’ draft day values. Recall with the oversized target sidelined from Weeks 12-16 last year, The Riddler scored 15.7, 13.1, 13.2, 2.3 and 8.4 fantasy points. The second-to-last performance was a Debbie Downer, but when considering the unyielding opponent, San Francisco, it was completely understandable. This year, the Patriots open with Buffalo and the New York Jets, teams that ranked No. 31 and No. 26, respectively, versus the run last year. If immediate improvements aren't made by the Pats' divisional foes, The Riddler could be one of the most fawned over RBs in Fantasyland out of the gate.

As for Gronk, a fourth, and potentially fifth, surgical procedure would place him on the clearance rack. In three ‘expert’ mocks executed this past week, he went No. 11 (REACH!), No. 31 and No. 60 overall. Assuming he does indeed go under the knife at least one more time, his ADP will surely plummet, presumably outside the top-60 (Current ADP: 32.5, TE2). Though his short-term value is complicated, he would be worth the moderate risk even if his recovery lingered into October. Remember, his 13.2 fantasy points per game average last year ranked No. 3, behind Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall, among WRs/TEs. A healthy Gronk would be worth every penny in Round 2 of a 12-team draft, but as of today, he’s my No. 6 ranked TE behind Jimmy Graham, Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Dennis Pitta and Hernandez. And given the incredible depth at TE this year that’s likely a stretch. Titus Young's fantasy stock may offer more security.

Time inevitably heals all wounds, but for arguably the most cherished tight end in Fantasyland, another lengthy recovery could prove very damaging.

Want to bull rush Brad? Follow him on Twitter @YahooNoise

All's well that ends well, especially when you're beating a division opponent on the road. But as the Diamondbacks celebrate their 5-3 victory at Los Angeles on Tuesday night, they also have to ponder the state of their closer situation.

J.J. Putz entered the game in the bottom of the ninth, fresh off his recent vote of confidence, but he wasn't around long. He walked Nick Punto on four pitches and shortly after that sullenly walked off the field, dealing with elbow stiffness (per beat writer Jack Magruder, tests are scheduled for Wednesday). Heath Bell relieved Putz and handled the assignment just fine, setting down Juan Uribe, Carl Crawford and Dee Gordon. Give this one to the Union of the Snakes.

Bell was the closer choice here given David Hernandez had already pitched (scoreless eighth, dodging two base runners). Lefty Matt Reynolds, the man mowing down everyone in 2013, didn't work in the game.

Time for another place-your-bet moment, save chaser. Are you worried by Hernandez's eight walks in 15.2 innings? What about the long ball? Hernandez has served up four already, while Bell is at two. Their ratios don't leave much to be desired: Hernandez trades at 4.02 and 1.47, while Bell is at 4.72 and 1.42. Putz was in this neighborhood, too (4.26/1.58).

Bottom line, if Putz needs DL time, I don't think Reynolds will be the new stopper unless everyone else absolutely craps out. Hernandez has a solid 2012 to point to, while Bell has the silly "closing experience" tag. My guess right this second says Bell handles the baton, as needed, if Putz can't go, but this is nothing more than a dart throw at 2:08 am EST on Wednesday morning. Feel free to share your gut feeling in the comments.

Another day, another bullpen in crisis. We'll get through this together.

• We've been discussing LA's terrible offense all month (28th in runs), and it could be a while before things turn around. Hanley Ramirez won't be back anytime soon; he's expected to miss 4-6 weeks while he rehabs his hamstring injury. Gordon owners won't mind - he'll be around, stealing bases - but feel free to liberally stream pitchers at Chavez Ravine. I'm in on Jose Fernandez and Kevin Slowey this weekend, no matter that they're tied to Miami's mediocre ballclub.

Is the LA bullpen headed for a reshuffling? Only Don Mattingly knows for sure. Brandon League picked up Tuesday's loss, entering in a tie game in the top of the ninth (standard closer work) and allowing a mammoth two-run homer to Dodger-killer Paul Goldschmidt. League's now carrying a 5.40 ERA and 1.28 WHIP on the year, and yet he's also 8-for-9 on save chances. There are two ways to spin this.

Kenley Jansen continues to be money as the eighth-inning bridge: 17 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 5 BB, 21 K. That's a 2.12 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, and it looks even more impressive on-screen. But perhaps the Dodgers recognize Jansen is more valuable not tethered to the ninth-inning role; it might make sense to treat Jansen as the true ace reliever while League collects a bunch of saves, some of them cheap finishing jobs with leads of 2-3 runs. My guess: we'll see the status quo for now, and League isn't on the brink of losing his gig, even as he's clearly not the team's best reliever. But I don't blame Jansen owners for their nonstop campaign.

• Josh Reddick hurt his wrist in the first week of April and playing through the injury has proven to be a monumental error (.152/.266/.250, one measly homer, 25 strikeouts). While everyone appreciates Reddick's five steals and heroic facial hair, the sooner he gets fully healthy, the better we'll all be. The Athletics are expected to place Reddick on the disabled list Wednesday; look for Brandon Moss to take an outfield spot, while Daric Barton gets promoted from Triple-A.

• The Tampa Bay bullpen continues to be an ugly giveaway, and Tuesday night you couldn't even blame Fernando Rodney. The Rays had a 4-1 lead through six innings, then watched Jake McGee (2 R, 1 HR; he looks awful), Kyle Farnsworth (3 H, 1 R) and Joel Peralta (3 H, 2 R, 1 HR) give the game away. And once you fall behind Toronto late, you're going to lose if Casey Janssen has any say in it (one inning, 10 pitches, handshake No. 9; this is baseball's most underrated reliever).

Peralta still has solid ratios on the year (2.51/1.19), but he's always had a gopher problem. If Joe Maddon and Jim Hickey can fix this burning bullpen, they can fix anything. Rodney remains the best fantasy option simply because he still has the baton, but if he does anything to restore public confidence in the next few weeks, I'd look at that as a window to cash out.

• The Kyle Kendrick music keeps playing, as he posted seven creamy-smooth innings by the bay (6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 K), rolling past Tim Lincecum and the Giants. Kendrick's probably pitching a little over his head right now (the lofty strand rate sticks out and the ERA estimators are in the 3s), but let's remember he posted a 2.87 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in the second half of 2012. You can get away with a so-so strikeout rate if you hardly walk anyone and aren't crippled by home runs, and that's the right-hander's game. Maybe Kendrick, Slowey and Kyle Lohse can all go to lunch together someday.

The schedule isn't easy for Kendrick the next two starts: he works at Arizona, then returns home to face the Reds. That said, his 52-percent tag still seems a little light to me. Put the boot to the tires.

• Look at the Cubs, all tidy with their 2-1 victory over St. Louis. Unheralded lefty Travis Wood worked into the seventh (1 R, 8 K) and picked up the win; he's been useful in all seven of his 2013 turns. He's at home against the Rockies and Mets for his next two assignments; it's about time the fantasy community woke up to Wood (35 percent owned).

Carlos Marmol dodged three base runners as the bridge man, and Kevin Gregg was surprisingly clean in the ninth (strike out, pop out, line out). The begoggled Gregg now has five saves and Dale Sveum is impressed: the skipper told beat writer Patrick Mooney that Gregg will remain at closer even after Kyuji Fujikawa returns. We'll see how long that lasts.

Leaving a home park that ranked first, second and seventh when it comes to suppressing runs scored over the past three years respectively (according to Park Factors) and a defense that has the highest UZR over that span as well, I was down on James Shields entering 2013. After all, he was just two years removed from a season in which he posted a 5.18 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. But I’ve been dead wrong. Shields has been one of the best pitchers in baseball so far in 2013, as he’s currently sporting a 2.52 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with a 48:12 K:BB ratio over 50.0 innings. His average fastball velocity (92.4 mph) is a career high, but it’s been the increased use of his cutter that’s led to the early season success. Shields is not only becoming a better pitcher than I gave him credit for, but his change in environments might have been overblown as well. For one, leaving the AL East for the Central was a plus, and the Royals’ defense currently leads the American League in UZR by a wide margin, and while that’s an extremely small sample when it comes to defensive numbers, it’s also worth pointing out Kauffman Stadium has a HR Park Index for LHB of 81 over the past three years, which is the eighth lowest in MLB. Shields is legit, and while those who criticized the Wil Myers trade (myself included) may very well be right in the long term, the deal certainly looks good for Kansas City right now.

Here are David Ortiz’s OPS marks from 2009-2013, respectively: .794, .899, .953, 1.026 and 1.272. This isn’t exactly a normal trajectory for someone during his age 33-37 seasons, especially considering his body type. After a slow-healing Achilles injury delayed the start of Ortiz’s year, it would have been easy for fantasy owners to be scared away, and it certainly would have made sense if a slow start followed. Instead, Ortiz is batting .426/.458/.815 over his first 54 at-bats, with four homers and 17 RBI. Since 2009, his .420 wOBA ranks second in all of baseball, behind only Miguel Cabrera (who by the way is having an even better season so far this year than his triple-crown winning 2012 campaign). Fenway is a terrific hitter’s park, but it actually suppresses home runs for left-handed batters quite a bit, so Ortiz’s power display over the latter stages of his career has been impressive. His first base eligibility is nice too, as is him batting cleanup in a Boston lineup that has scored the fifth-most runs in MLB this season. Ortiz is obviously going to regress some, but his fantastic start is big news because it suggests he’s healthy.

This is one of the best local TV ads I’ve ever seen. The song remains stuck in my head.

Here’s a seven month old baby water skiing.

Closer Talk: After allowing five earned runs over 74.2 innings last season, Fernando Rodney has already surrendered six over 10.2 innings this year. His job is likely safe for now, but don’t forget he had a collective 4.46 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over the previous four seasons before last year’s out-of-nowhere campaign. Rodney has nine walks already in 2013, so Joel Peralta needs to be owned in fantasy leagues…With Andrew Bailey shockingly hurt, and Joel Hanrahan joining him on the DL with forearm tightness, the Red Sox are turning to Junichi Tazawa to close. Koji Uehara would have been a strong option, as his 10.53 K/BB ratio over the past five seasons is easily the best among all pitchers (Sergio Romo is second at 7.37), and his WHIP (0.79) is also the lowest over that span as well. But Boston apparently feels more comfortable leaving him in a setup role, and Tazawa is plenty capable of handling the closer’s role, so he’s obviously a must-own in fantasy leagues…Ernesto Frieri has a 2.03 ERA with 18 strikeouts over 13.1 innings, but that’s accompanied by a 1.35 WHIP thanks to 11 walks. Meanwhile, Ryan Madson is about to start a rehab assignment, and he very easily could overtake the role within the next month…Jose Veras has been given just four save opportunities more than a month into the season, blowing half of them. No one has emerged as a clear viable alternative, and it’s unlikely Houston maintains its current 122-loss pace, and with 14 strikeouts over 12.0 innings, it’s best to remain patient with Veras…John Axford has given up a whopping six homers over 12.2 innings. He’s a long ways away from replacing Jim Henderson at this point…Worse pitchers than Kevin Gregg have posted 25+ save seasons, but I’d still bet on Kyuji Fujikawa finishing with the most saves in Chicago’s pen.

Here’s an interview with Charles Ramsey, the man who helped save the three kidnap victims in Cleveland.

Here’s a woman drinking a beer from her ear hole.

Closer Talk Part Deux: Craig Kimbrel has already allowed more hits with runners on base this year (five) and twice as many doubles (two) than he did all of last season, but it’s hard to complain about someone with a 2.13 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. Kimbrel’s 19.2 SwStr% last year was the highest in baseball since Brad Lidge back in 2005 (in 2004, Lidge’s 25.0 SwStr% was the highest ever recorded by far). Regression has hit Kimbrel so far in 2013, as his SwStr% sits at (a still fantastic) 14.5…Brandon League has converted 8-of-9 save opportunities and likely remains entrenched in the closer’s role, in no small part to his contract, but he currently sports a 5:3 K:BB ratio over 12.1 innings. It comes as no surprise Kenley Jansen has easily been the team’s best reliever this season…Jason Grilli is a perfect 12-for-12 in save opportunities while averaging the highest mph (93.9) on his fastball of his career. Since last season, Grilli’s 37.6 K% ranks third best in all of baseball, behind only Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman. Pretty remarkable for a 36 year old who entered this season with five career saves…He’s not in the closing mix, but Brad Ziegler has a 9.35 GB/FB ratio since the start of 2012. The next highest is 4.60. Wow.

This water polo handshake didn’t go quite as planned.

Song of the week: Here’s the first single from “The National’s” upcoming new album. If you’re unfamiliar with them, here’s another from their last album.

Closer Talk Part Tres: Edward Mujica has a reputation of giving up too many homers (and even if this were true, I still don’t understand why it’s more of a problem for a closer than a setup guy), but after posting a 34.1 GB% over his first four seasons in the league (2006-2009), he’s recorded a 47.8 GB% since, so he’s a different pitcher now. His career HR/FB% is 11.1, which isn’t too far off league average. Over the last five years, Mujica has a 3.13 ERA and 0.98 WHIP, so I see no reason why he can’t take the Cardinals’ closer’s job and run away with it (and yes, I too love Trevor Rosenthal). Plus, you can name your fantasy team “The Last of The Mujicans,” which is a bonus…Sergio Romo is on pace to finish the season with 61 saves and 10 wins, but that would also entail 91 appearances, which isn’t exactly ideal for someone who throws so many sliders. Still, only durability concerns should prevent anyone from ranking Romo has a clear top-five fantasy closer right now. Since 2011, he has a 1.66 ERA and 0.72 WHIP with a microscopic 3.6 BB%.

Here’s an unnecessarily censored AT&T commercial.

Speaking of censorship, China is trying to forbid everyone from giggling at penis-shaped building.

Prospect Talk: Jurickson Profar is currently hitting .230/.342/.380 over 100 at bats at Round Rock in the PCL. He’s added two homers and is 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts, but 23 of his 26 starts have come at shortstop. It doesn’t appear he’ll be joining Texas any time soon…Oscar Taveras is batting .302 with three home runs and three steals, as potential fantasy owners continue to wait for injuries to strike in the Cardinals’ outfield…Wil Myers has a .372 OBP but is slugging just .422, as the power has been missing. He’ll also have to deal with an extreme pitcher’s park when he joins the bigs. Still, unlike Taveras, it’s mostly a service time issue with Myers, as he’d likely be an immediate upgrade to a middling Rays’ lineup. He’ll get an opportunity soon enough…Billy Hamilton is off to a horrible start, hitting just .189/.256/.270 over 111 at-bats during his first taste of Triple-A. Of course, he has 17 steals already anyway. Maybe the defensive switch to the outfield has affected his performance at the plate, and Shin-Soo Choo is currently sporting a -27.2 UZR/150, but Hamilton isn’t exactly forcing his way to Cincinnati…With Dylan Bundy receiving a PRP injection and resting for at least six weeks, Kevin Gausman has clearly become Baltimore’s top pitching prospect. His 3.52 ERA in Double-A doesn’t jump off the page, but it comes with a 32:1 K:BB ratio over 35.2 innings. Freddy Garcia is unlikely to be the team’s answer for the No. 5 starter spot, so expect Gausman to get recalled sooner rather than later.

Here’s a 12 year old filming a cop breaking the law (I don’t really care about the minor infraction, but the cop’s attitude toward this kid is a little suspect).

A classic: One of the worst bids in the history of “The Price Is Right.”

Prospect Talk Part Deux: Marcell Ozuna is going to be given an everyday opportunity with Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) sidelined, even hitting fifth in the lineup (albeit baseball’s worst lineup). He’s off to an extremely hot start (.407/.448/.667) and is likely gone in most fantasy leagues by now. Ozuna won’t help in batting average and is still quite raw (the 22 year old has played a total of 10 games above High-A in his minor league career), but he had five homers and two steals over 57 ABs to start the year in the minors, so it’s easy to see some nice potential here…Carlos Martinez isn’t going to be that valuable to fantasy owners in a middle relief role, but he’ll help St. Louis right away. He’s averaged 96.4 mph with his fastball so far for the Cardinals…While a bit under the radar, Allen Webster was rated as a top-50 prospect by Baseball America entering 2013, and he recorded a 2.70 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with 26 strikeouts over 20.0 innings in Triple-A to open this year. He’s taking Felix Doubront’s spot in the Red Sox’s rotation for at least one turn and possibly for good, so Webster is worth a shot in fantasy leagues…Zack Wheeler’s 4.00 ERA and 1.42 WHIP don’t impress, but it can’t be understated just how difficult of an environment he’s pitching in. Moreover, he’s been much better of late, allowing just one run with a 12:2 K:BB ratio over his last two starts (12.2 innings). Wheeler’s control is a work in progress, but he has the stuff to miss major league bats right now. If he remains dominant in his next couple of starts, expect New York to give him a call. As far as stashes go, I personally dropped Jurickson Profar for Wheeler in my home league recently, for what it’s worth.

Police Blotter: Man Called 911 80 Times Seeking “Kool-Aid, Burgers and Weed”…Woman Charged With DUI After Celebrating End of DUI Suspension…Police Dog Eats Pet Hamster During Raid on Home…Man With No Arms Plans to Fight Seatbelt Ticket.

Quick Hits: From 2008-2011, Nelson Cruz averaged a per-150 game season of this: .283-35-84-111-19. Clearly, he was a star when on the field, but that stretch covered an average of just 97.8 games played. Naturally, the least expected outcome occurred last season, when Cruz stayed healthy (he played in 159 games, which was 35 more than he’s ever played during his career) and yet wasn’t nearly as dominant at the plate, posting a .260/.319/.460 line. Cruz is back to his productive ways at the dish so far in 2013, as he’s on pace to finish with 36 homers and 117 RBI with 10 steals and a .288 batting average. So I guess that means an injury is right around the corner…On April 16, James Loney was hitting .167/.265/.233. His current line is .391/.436/.540. It’s come with just one homer, as his lack of power really limits his fantasy upside, but that’s a pretty crazy turnaround. Maybe he can turn into a useful regular after all…I’m really upset Hyun-Jin Ryu ended up on none of my fantasy teams…The White Sox have somehow scored just six more runs than the Marlins this season. They’ve played three fewer games, but Chicago also has the benefit of the DH and calls one of the league’s best hitter’s parks home, whereas Marlins Park has been anything but. That’s pretty remarkable.

Longread of the week: The Gangster Princess of Beverly Hills.

Quick Hits Part Deux: Dee Gordon has a .390 slugging percentage throughout his minor league career, but he also has a .303 batting average and .357 OBP. Since he turned 21 years old, he’s swiped 174 bases over 370 games. Gordon also now has 59 steals over just 537 at-bats in the big leagues, despite a .302 OBP that should only improve with more experience. He’s an obvious must-add in all fantasy leagues with Hanley Ramirez (hamstring) once again sidelined…Brandon McCarthy currently has a 7.22 ERA and 1.72 WHIP, but he’s also sporting a 4.80 K:BB ratio and is averaging the highest mph on his fastball in his career. I’m not ready to give up on McCarthy, but it would be really discouraging if a banged up Dodgers team lights him up Tuesday night (LA has actually scored the third fewest runs in MLB this year)…Carlos Gomez currently leads the majors in WAR…If Kevin Slowey qualified, his 3.0 BB% would be the lowest in baseball since 2011, including all relievers (minimum 100 innings)…I’m beginning to think there might be something wrong with Roy Halladay…The Tigers outscored the Astros 37-8 during their recent sweep. That will help your run differential in a hurry…The highest K/9 rate for a starter in the history of baseball was set in 2001 by Randy Johnson, when he recorded a 13.41 mark. Yu Darvish currently has a K/9 rate of 14.19. He has nearly as many strikeouts as the Twins starting pitchers have combined.

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Red Sox closer Joel Hanrahan checked out of Monday's game with an injury that doesn't sound minor, and Tazawa is the next man up.

Boston manager John Farrell offered these comments on Tuesday on SiriusXM MLB Network Radio:

"I think what we'd look to do is close Tazawa. We'd keep Koji [Uehara] in that eight inning role that he's been in."

Nothing vague about that quote. Tazawa it is. He's a hard-thrower (93-96) who perhaps fits the traditional closer profile better than Uehara. Tazawa's numbers have been absurd over the past two seasons: 58.1 IP, 8 BB, 63 Ks, 1.70 ERA, 0.96 WHIP.

Yup, that's right: Eight walks and 63 strikeouts. His stuff is solid. Just check the tape.

The Red Sox entered the season with a loaded 'pen, so they can probably survive the loss of both Andrew Bailey (DL, biceps) and Hanrahan, at least for a little while. Grab Tazawa where you can, gamers. And let's hope this team's closing gig isn't cursed.

Monday was a fun day to be a sports fan in The Hub. The Bruins took care of business in the YYZ, thumping Toronto, while the Red Sox enjoyed a walk-off win over Minnesota. John Farrell's club has a 21-11 record through the opening five weeks, the best mark in baseball.

A high-octane offense is driving much of the Red Sox story: Boston currently stands fifth in runs, third in OBP, third in slugging, and second in stolen bases. There's solid production all over this lineup. And with that in mind, let's check in with the most under-appreciated part of the group, shortstop Stephen Drew.

Drew was the hero of Monday's victory at Fenway, collecting four hits. His homer in the seventh inning tied the score for the locals, and a wall-scraping double in the bottom of the 11th (thanks, Ryan Doumit) ended the game. Drew also made a couple of snappy plays in the field.

Yahoo! owners haven't been keen on Drew this spring: he's owned in just eight percent of leagues. Gamers surely remember the injury-riddled past with Drew, and that seasonal line of .225/.317/.394 also sticks out at you.

The latter fact is misleading, however. Drew battled concussion issues in March and spring training was essentially a washout for him. He looked completely lost in his first two weeks back with the big club. If you focus on what Drew's done over the last 12 games (yes, a cherry-picked sample) you see a far different player: .317/.395/.585, two homers, 11 RBIs. Sounds like a guy worth adding to me. Get on your footwear of choice and let's kick some tires.

Boston's bullpen also requires an immediate audit. Andrew Bailey (biceps) is currently on the disabled list, a common spot for him, and Joel Hanrahan isn't healthy either. Hanrahan blew Monday's lead in the ninth, courtesy of a Brian Dozier homer, and he departed soon thereafter, complaining of right forearm tightness. Hanrahan's line through nine games is an absolute mess (7.1 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 4 HR, 6 BB, 5 K) and he's already had one DL stint in 2013.

A pair of Japanese relievers are worth considering as save-chasing adds. Veteran Koji Uehara has been sharp over 13.2 innings (2 BB, 17 K, 2.63 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) while emerging Junichi Tazawa has an almost identical stat line (14.1 IP, 3 BB, 18 K, 2.51/0.98). There are lots of options when Farrell picks up the bullpen phone; welcome to the Tokyo Police Club.

Uehara has some closing experience in the majors, if that matters to you, and he's proven to be reliable over 172 MLB appearances. The biggest downside to his case: Farrell prefers not to use the 38-year-old in back-to-back games. Tazawa, 26, was one of the AL's most underrated relievers last year (1.43/0.95, 5 BB, 45 K), and he's been sharp again this spring.

[Also: Giants' Brandon Crawford more than just a 'defense-first' shortstop]

Head to the waiver wire and place your bets. Uehara is currently owned in 22 percent of Yahoo! leagues, while Tazawa trades at 13 percent. Even if quality innings are all you want (with or without the handshake), these guys are worth your time.

• The grip-it-and-rip-it approach didn't hold the Braves back at Cincinnati; Atlanta scored seven runs (in spite of 15 strikeouts) and grabbed the first game of the series. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons clocked a couple of homers (you get the idea he won't be batting eighth too much longer) and Justin Upton, Freddie Freeman and Dan Uggla collected two hits each. (Uninvited: Bossman Junior and his four strikeouts. That's what you sign up for with him, ridiculous peaks and valleys.)

Evan Gattis contributed a run-scoring double but his mixed-league usefulness could be near the end. Brian McCann (shoulder) made his seasonal debut Monday (0-for-4, walk, strikeout) and obviously is Atlanta's regular backstop, effective immediately. Gattis was given a start in left field Monday but looked uncomfortable throughout (one error, a handful of spotty routes). I'm guessing Gattis will be looking at 7-12 at-bats per week going forward, assuming nothing happens to McCann. And even if the rookie proves playable in left field, the Braves should have their full outfield back in business soon (Jason Heyward took BP on Monday). Start shopping for a new catcher in your start-one mixers.

• I realize the name brand of the Dodgers is hard for some to look past, but I want my pitchers up against this team right now – especially in Chavez Ravine. The star-crossed offense is currently 28th in the majors in runs, along with a piddly .363 slugging percentage. Hanley Ramirez and Mark Ellis are on the DL, Adrian Gonzalez is dinged up, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier aren't doing much. There's no fear attached to names like Punto, Gordon, Schumaker and Uribe.

Bottom line, a start against this club is good work if you can get it. Brandon McCarthy and Wade Miley finish out the Arizona series, and Jose Fernandez and Kevin Slowey take their shot on the weekend. LA is your lady.

Trevor Cahill cruised past the Dodgers on Monday, spinning a pitch-to-contact story (7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K) in a 9-2 victory. There's a reason why discerning scouts like Cahill in his Age 25 season: his career ground-ball rate is a zippy 55.3 percent, and his K/BB rate continues to gain steadily. He's still on the escalator, and surprising unrostered in a third of Yahoo! leagues.

• The stomach-punch loss of the night came under the catwalk, as the Rays somehow frittered away a seven-run lead against Toronto. J.P. Arencibia's ninth-inning homer off struggling Fernando Rodney put the wraps on the comeback. Creamy-smooth Casey Janssen rolled in the bottom of the inning, as he normally does. He's been ridiculous all year (one run, three baserunners, 12 Ks).

Back to Tampa, let's keep in mind eight different closers have led this team in saves over the past eight years (hat tip, Jason Collette). If Rodney doesn't rediscover the strike zone soon (he's walked nine men over 10.2 innings, to go with that messy 5.06 ERA and 1.78 WHIP), Joe Maddon might be forced back to the drawing board.

Set-up man Joel Peralta is the logical hedge if you need to bet against Rodney. Peralta occasionally struggles to keep the ball in the park, but his K/BB and WHIP trends all fit a closer profile. He had 37 holds for the Rays last year, so you know he's in the circle of trust.

Speed Round: Remember all that speculative silliness about Anthony Rizzo being demoted? That was a good one. Rizzo collected a homer and four RBIs in Monday's romp over Texas. He's up to .262 with nine homers, 25 RBIs and a .905 OPS. … Dominant James Shields (eight scoreless) lost a win courtesy of a Greg Holland blown save, but the Royals would have escaped if not for a misplay from Chris Getz (no error was charged on the play, par for the course) . . . Vinnie Pestano (elbow) was finally put on the DL, extending the leash on Chris Perez. … Kyuji Fujikawa (forearm) is on a rehab assignment and could rejoin the Cubs this week. … Jarrod Parker allowed four homers in Cleveland and now has a sore neck to go with that 7.34 ERA and 1.98 WHIP. Eventually the other cleat is going to drop here. … Andrew Cashner only had four strikeouts against the Marlins, but a shutout into the eighth inning is fine with everyone (7.1 IP, 4 H, 3 BB). Jedd Gyorko added his third homer of May.

Fantasy baseball video from Yahoo! Sports:

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A week ago, when Giancarlo Stanton hit the disabled list with a hamstring strain, the Marlins called up 22-year-old outfielder Marcell Ozuna from Double-A Jacksonville. Ozuna was off to a noisy start in the Southern League, hitting .333/.383/.810 over his first 10 games with five homers and 15 RBIs.

Upon joining the Fish, he actually picked up the pace.

Ozuna has hit safely in every game he's played for Miami thus far, going 11-for-23 with four doubles, four runs scored and four RBIs. He hit his first major league home run on Saturday, a wall-scraper off Cole Hamels, then went 4-for-5 on Sunday with a pair of doubles.

So it's time we kicked the tires on this kid. He's owned in just eight percent of Yahoo! leagues, available to most of you.

The first thing we should note about Ozuna is that he seems unlikely to hit for average, long-term. He's a career .274/.333/.487 hitter in the minors, and he posted a .266/.328/.476 slash in the Florida State League last season. Plate discipline has been an issue. And the Marlins obviously promoted Ozuna ahead of schedule, before he'd even made 50 plate appearances above Single-A. He's hardly a finished product. In Miami, he'll play in a pitcher-friendly home park, batting in a lousy lineup. So there's no shortage of reasons to be skeptical.

But if you're looking for at least a low-level power upgrade, then perhaps Marcell can help. He's hit 20-plus homers in each of his last three minor league seasons, and he led the FSL in runs, RBIs, homers and total bases in 2012. He's also just a year removed from a 17-steal campaign at Greensboro, so he offers sneaky speed.

Stanton's injury is a Grade 2 strain, which means he'll be out of the mix for multiple weeks. Ozuna has a shot to firmly establish himself with Miami — he's already batting fifth — and he's spent time at all three outfield spots in the minors (mostly right-field). Consider the add, mixed leaguers.

With Ozuna already doing damage in the bigs, plus Jake Marisnick and Christian Yelich (12-game hit streak) lurking at Double-A, there's clearly outfield talent in the pipeline here. You know, in case the Marlins wanted to flip Stanton to a team where he could maximize his upper-tier fantasy potential. No pressure, Fish.

Sports mismatches are usually easy to spot a mile away. Verlander against the Astros. The Patriots against the Bills. Usain Bolt against anyone.

In 2013, oddly, we can add Kevin Slowey versus Roy Halladay to that list.

The worst team in the majors finally had a day to laugh about Sunday, as the Marlins crushed the Phillies, 14-2. Slowey was brilliant over seven two-hit innings (2 BB, 7 K), lowering his ERA to 1.81 and his WHIP to 0.94. Halladay was the opposite extreme, allowing nine earned runs and leaving in the middle of the third. He's now carrying an 8.65 ERA and 1.41 WHIP; looking at his stat page is like staring into the sun. Step away from the laptop, gamer.

Halladay conceded after the game that he's been pitching through a sore shoulder. It's just about a lock he'll go on the disabled list. It's sad to see a likely Hall of Famer struggle like this. That said, if you're limited in your DL slots, I'm not sure Halladay is even worth a stash at this point. He turns 36 in the middle of the month, he's been dealing with velocity problems all year, and he's coming off a messy 2012 season (4.49/1.22). Gravity always wins.

It would have been nice to know about Halladay's shoulder issues before Sunday, of course, not that fantasy owners couldn't see the smoke in this case. This is why the buy-low (or last year's bum) mantra can be tricky with pitchers - you never know who's secretly broken.

Gamers have been slow to adopt the Slowey story: he's still unowned in 85 percent of Yahoo! leagues. But after seven excellent turns in a row, what's keeping you? At some point a great start becomes a worthwhile season. Slowey has a pedigree (he was well-regarded as a Minnesota prospect in the mid-to-late 00s) and he's working half the time in a roomy ballpark, an ideal fit for a fly-ball pitcher. The strikeout rate is just okay, but he's hardly walking anyone (thus, the K/BB ratio supports the story). He's held up nicely on the road, succeeding against three tricky matchups (at Washington, Cincinnati and Philly).

I've seen some Slowey reservation for next week's start at Chavez Ravine, but I don't sign off on that angle. The Dodgers were 28th in scoring entering Sunday's play and obviously they play in a pitcher-friendly stadium. While I'm not going to trust Slowey in any hitting-extreme environments, I'm fine to use him in most other parks. Yes, the crummy Miami offense (Sunday to the side) is a concern, but let's take tidy ratios and quality innings anywhere we can get them.

Sunday Night Baseball. Giants and Dodgers. Cain and Ryu. That should be enough of a hook right there.

The usual subjects apply: baseball real and fake, music, food, film, crayons. Grab a drink, vote in a poll, learn a stat. Come get silly with your pretend internet friends.

The chat applet is yours after the jump, jumpers. Cancel all engagements, this is where you need to be. 

On the NFL calendar, May is usually marked with contract disputes, unsubstantiated rumors and, in the case of Justin Blackmon, unlawful acts. However, an interesting tidbit trickled off the wire last week prompting Eagles, and fantasy, fans to reminisce about 2010.

Ahh, the good ol’ days.

Last Thursday, with teammates looking on, Michael Vick went all Usain Bolt on LeSean McCoy, burning the gum-flapping youngster, a player eight years his junior, in a 40-yard footrace, a resounding victory for thirty-somethings everywhere.

[Fantasy mock draft: Rounds 1-2]

Most will understandably brush off the four-yard dusting as nothing more than a meatless bite on an otherwise slow news day. Their perspective, to a point, is legitimate, but when you take into account the big picture, Vick’s triumph offers so much more.

This season, the veteran is slated to enter training camp atop Chip Kelly’s depth chart, a guinea pig in the mad scientist’s experiment. As discussed in detail previously, the NFL has never seen an offense quite as sophisticated as Kelly’s zone-read option. Its lightning-fast complexity – Kelly wants to go snap-to-snap in seven seconds – is designed to keep coordinators guessing and defenders gasping for air. At the collegiate level, it was remarkably effective, evident in Oregon’s 44.7 points-per-game average during Kelly’s four-year tenure as head coach. However, given the speed of the game, the NFL presents a much stiffer task.

[Fantasy mock draft: Rounds 3-4]

But if there’s one team in the league with the resources to successfully implement the zone-read, it’s the Eagles. The quick-footed offensive line, which gets Jason Peters back and drafted Lane Johnson with the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft, has a chance of being one of the league's best. If it executes at a high level, it should light the offensive wick. McCoy, Bryce Brown, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are rockets who will keep tacklers on their toes.

Vick apparently will too.

Because of his cannon arm and ability to tuck and run, the veteran really is the prototype soldier to carry out Kelly’s marching orders. As seen in spurts over his past two injury/turnover-marred seasons, when on and unharmed, he’s an instrument of destruction (e.g. Week 2 vs. Baltimore last year). Conversely, when off, he’s a catalyst of disaster.

[Fantasy mock draft: Rounds 5-6]

To achieve consistency, Vick must be wiser in his decision-making. Over the past three years, his completion percentage has steadily declined, dropping from 62.6 in 2010 to 58.1 last year. No surprise, his fantasy contributions also slipped during that span, sliding from 29.7 to 20.7 points per game. Still, as Kelly recently explained on local radio in Philly, Vick isn’t solely responsible for his statistical downfall:

“The guy in 2010 who is the comeback player of the year and is running all over the field making great decisions? A lot of that because he’s clean in protection, he’s not getting hit immediately after he’s getting the snap. The one thing, when I watched the film and I saw Michael last year, you just kind of almost felt bad for him, is you lost four lineman to season ending injuries…

He can throw the ball, it comes off his hands, he can make people miss, but no one, there’s no quarterback in the NFL, there’s no quarterback in any level of football that can function when you are missing four of your offensive lineman. So a lot of things that happened when you watch the film last year, it isn’t all Michael’s fault.”

Yes, his propensity for cracking ribs and committing turnovers are major downsides, but name a passer who will be drafted as a QB2 with as much top-five upside. Take your time. Eli Manning? You’re crazier than Amanda Bynes on a 24-hour bender. Joe Flacco? I’ll happily provide 120 million reasons to the contrary. E.J. Manuel? You must be inebriated. Fact is, save for Vick, there are ZERO QBs going after Tony Romo (QB12) in average drafts that have realistic odds of penetrating the elite class. NONE. Sage owners who pluck him around pick No. 100 (ADP: 110.1, QB14) in Yahoo! drafts may score a valuable trade chip. There’s a 4,000-combined yard, 25-TD (Pass and rush) slinger still in that body.

It may take an act of God for him to suit up 14-plus times, but don’t be shocked if the soon-to-be 33-year-old smokes the QB2 field.

Just ask Shady.

• Elsewhere in Fantasyland, Justin Blackmon (ADP: 103.6, WR41) is quickly becoming a formidable challenge to Kenny Britt for the league's Biggest Dunderhead honor. Last week, the troubled wide receiver was suspended four games by the league office for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Because of his previous pre-pro brushes with the law, the Jag is on extremely thin ice. He's one trip to the pokey or failed drug test away from a one-year hiatus. Despite the missteps, new head honcho Gus Bradley was quick to support Blackmon noting he still "trusts" the wideout and remains "confident" he will get on the straight and narrow.

Blackmon finished his rookie season on a high note. Over his final seven games, he hauled in 38 receptions for 615 yards and four touchdowns. Extrapolate that data over a full 16 game season and you're talking Demaryius Thomas-like production. Obviously, he shouldn't be dubbed a WR3 on draft day in 12-team leagues, but place him just outside the WR top-40 on your cheat sheet. When his head is screwed on straight, he's a viable fantasy starter, with or without Chad Henne under center.

[Fantasy mock draft: Rounds 7-8]

In his absence, Cecil Shorts (ADP: 89.7, WR37) will likely be peppered with targets against KC, Oakland, Seattle and Indy, the Jags' first four opponents. Sure Blaine Gabbert would struggle hitting the Jolly Green Giant on a shallow cross, but last year's waiver sensation could pick up where he left off. Slide him up a notch or two on your draft board.

• Rob Gronkowski enthusiasts can breathe a deep sigh of relief, for now at least. According to an ESPN Boston report, the hard-partying tight end has "looked great" in offseason programs and has not suffered any unexpected setbacks. However, Gronk isn't completely out of harm's way. Doctors are still a couple weeks away from determining if his slow-healing forearm will need to undergo a fourth procedure after an infection surfaced roughly a month ago. If forced onto the surgeon's table, his Week 1 availability would be very cloudy.

In a pair of mock drafts I participated in this week, Gronk went No. 11 and No. 60 overall, clearly a wide variance. Given the measurable uncertainty, plucking the former Pro Bowler at the back-end of Round 1 was a reckless pick. A season ago, his 13.2 fantasy points per game was third-best, one spot ahead of Dez Bryant, among WRs and TEs. Still, given the significant risks involved and the incredible depth at tight end this season, he isn't worth passing up a Brandon Marshall, Drew Brees or Alfred Morris to acquire. There's huevos. And then there's HUEVOS ESTUPIDOS. Play it safe, gamers.

Want to bull rush Brad? Follow him on Twitter @YahooNoise

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Casual Friday rules are in play, which means we'll go right to the bullets. But the wall-to-wall coverage of Cincinnati's rookie left-hander continues. Score like a champion today, gamer.

• Tony Cingrani returns to the mound Saturday for his fourth start with the Reds. He's quickly becoming appointment television after three electric turns (1.50 ERA, 28 K, 4 BB), including last week's six-inning domination of the Nationals (2 H, 0 R, 11 K). The Cubs will be well-armed as well, sending Jeff Samardzija to the mound. Opening pitch is 1:05 pm ET.

Cingrani owners can't just worry about their man, of course. There are peripheral elements in play; Cingrani's 2013 role with the club is by no means solidified. The teammates that shape the story were both in the news Friday.

Mike Leake had a solid if unspectacular start in the matinee at Wrigley Field, working 5.2 credible innings (9 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K). The Reds supported him with six runs and held off a late Chicago rally (closer Aroldis Chapman didn't have it in the ninth, for once; J.J. Hoover bailed him out).

Leake is now 2-1 on the year, with a pedestrian 4.15 ERA and 1.53 WHIP, 11 walks and 22 strikeouts. You'd like to think that profile wouldn't guarantee him anything forward with a contending ballclub, but the Reds (Dusty Baker specifically) have always had a soft spot in their collective hearts for Leake. Maybe it's the Bad News Bears connection. Maybe it's not something tangible.

The Reds have some extra time to sort out their rotation because Johnny Cueto's rehab has hit a snag. Cueto's minor-league start Friday was wiped out due to the right-hander's oblique injury; this is a separate ailment from what originally pushed him to the DL (lat strain). Let's check in with Reds beat writer Mark Sheldon (Les Nessman is currently on assignment):

The Reds got some bad news during the off day that ace Johnny Cueto had a setback discovered during his checkup in Cincinnati. His rehab assignment start today at Double-A Pensacola has been scratched.What’s particularly troubling is the injury. Cueto, who is on the DL for a strained right lat, felt soreness in his oblique muscle.

“He had a good bullpen [Monday] and he didn’t experience anything in his arm but he experienced soreness in that oblique that he hurt last year in the playoffs,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “So, we’ll wait and see.”

You may recall that Cueto had to exit Game 1 of the NLDS at San Francisco after only eight pitches because of a strained right oblique.

Cueto will be examined again on Monday and a potential rehab schedule will be updated then. That means any future roster move and figuring out what to do with Tony Cingrani has been tabled.

So there's your Cincinnati story, gamers. Cingrani's going to be around for a while. Let's have some fun with him Saturday, and also pencil him in for a home start next weekend against Milwaukee.

• So much for the glorious Hanley Ramirez return to the lineup. Ramirez suffered a strained hamstring in Friday's loss to the Giants and appears to be DL-bound (here's Tim Brown with the info on that). The Dodgers are considering a Dee Gordon recall, which is of use to anyone in need of a steals jolt. Gordon't can't do much else for fake baseballers, as we saw last year.

If you're looking for a third baseman to replace Hanley on your active roster, here are some names to consider: surging Josh Donaldson (51 percent owned in Yahoo), Chris Johnson (50), buzzy prospect Nolan Arenado (44), versatile Jordan Pacheco (14) and former Wiggy Mike Aviles (three percent). Obviously one size never fits all for this sort of exercise.

If a shortstop is more your speed, perhaps Gordon can do something for you (pending his actual recall). Other names of interest: Andrelton Simmons (41, much better potential than what current stats suggest), Jhonny Peralta (39), Aviles again, or maybe a stab at Stephen Drew (better swings the past week; widely available).

• Sunday success on the mound is a critical part of head-to-head roto, so let's give you a few streaming names to consider.

Jason Hammel (48 percent) has won all of his road starts this year and there's nothing intimidating about the Angels right now. Dial him up. Jose Quintana (23) is an intriguing lefty to be aware of, if the weather gods will stop picking on Kansas City for a moment. I'd want Daniel Straily (11) in my long-term plans, not that I'm eager to use him in Yankee Stadium. Kevin Slowey (10 percent) passed the eye test in his first six turns and finally might be ready to cash in on the potential we all saw back in the late 2000s. If only his teammates would score some runs for him (2.15 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, zero victories).

• Anyone feel like kicking the tires on Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso? He's off to a solid .292/.350/.462 start, with four homers in 106 at-bats (his clout Friday sparked a San Diego win). The pop is encouraging to see, given that he didn't have a huge power profile in the minors and he slugged just nine round-trippers in 155 games last year.

The new fences at Petco Park obviously help the cause, and Alonso has a zesty 1.020 OPS in front of the home fans thus far. He's waiting for your call in 85 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

• Although Arizona starter Wade Miley took the loss at Petco, the Snakes bullpen didn't cover itself in glory (Josh Collmenter allowed three hits and two runs, and Brad Ziegler was ineffective in the eighth). The only consistent arm getting outs for Arizona is left-hander Matt Reynolds; he struck out the side in the Thursday game against the Giants and had another smooth inning Friday (no baserunners, one punchout). He's now posted 15 bagels on the season, with silly side numbers (6 H, 1 BB, 12 K)

Kirk Gibson is sticking with J.J. Putz as his closer (for now) and Reynolds has to fight against left-handed bias (and a handful of other options), but if you're in a deeper league and need relief help or longshot save speculation, there might be something to this story. A pitcher freed from the the shackles of Coors Field is a beautiful thing.

Speed Round: Chris Davis is dealing with a sore knee and will have an MRI Saturday. First base generally isn't a difficult fill for any club, but a Davis sitdown wouldn't open the door for anyone special. … Vinny Pestano has been pitching through a sore elbow. He's been solid through eight innings, but not at his best (2.25 ERA, four walks, eight strikeouts). … The hits keep coming for the Oakland offense: Chris Young (quad) landed on the 15-day DL. Michael Taylor, a buzzy prospect not long ago, is up from the minors (where he was slashing .329/.380/.616 with five homers) to replace Young. … Aramis Ramirez (knee) came back to Milwaukee and stroked a couple of singles. Ramirez must be feeling rather hale because he didn't take a rehab assignment. Yuniesky Betancourt went 1-for-3 as Milwaukee's first baseman (and also made an error on the first play of the game). … The Jason Motte story is done for the year: he's headed for Tommy John surgery. The Edward Mujica experience has been just fine in the ninth, thanks (2.25 ERA, 13 strikeouts, one walk). … Austin Jackson is battling sore hamstrings and took the day off Friday. It's not considered serious. … Nick Swisher (shoulder) didn't start Friday but he's settled in as Saturday's DH.

SEE ROUNDS 1-2 HERE

SEE ROUNDS 3-4 HERE

SEE ROUNDS 4-5 HERE

ROUND 7

Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers (PK73, RB28) – Everyone saw what a monster he was at the collegiate level, averaging 6.8 YPC during his Alabama career, finding the end zone 19 times last season. Still, I won't guarantee that he's the Green Bay rookie to own this year. Maybe I should have snagged both Lacy and Franklin at the turn. – Behrens 1

Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens (PK74, WR33) – With another small uptick in targets, Smith will be a 1,000-yard receiver with double-digit touchdown potential. – Behrens 2

Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers (PK75, RB29) – On the positive side, J–Stew is a highly–skilled complete RB. On the negative side, he plays with a QB who steals goal-line carries, a platoon partner that limits his touches and he's seemingly constantly nickel-and-dimed by minor injuries. But there's a chance DeAngelo will be cut, which would make Stewart a luxury as a RB3.
– Brandon 1

Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys (PK76, WR34) – I have a hard time quitting Miles. When he's healthy, his chemistry with Tony Romo is magnetic. Dallas is focused on ways to keep Austin from succumbing to soft tissue issues this year. If it works, he'll easily return value from this spot in the draft. – Brandon 2

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons (PK77, QB10) – He won't do anything much with his legs, but life is good when you're chucking the ball to Roddy White, Julio Jones and the next name, below. – Scott 1

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons (PK78, TE5) – Here's the rare player who will be dominant until the day he retires. Thankfully for all of us, he's decided to come back another year. Keep doing what you do, No. 88. You're a sneaky profit just about every year. – Scott 2

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Arizona Cardinals (PK79, RB30) – Without question the Cardinals were a disaster on the ground a season ago. An ant couldn't have found a hole behind their horrendous offensive line. But under a new regime and with first-round pick John Cooper and Carson Palmer on roster, space between the tackles will be widened. Mendy, expected to be a three-down workhorse, is a sensational value at this point in the drafting process. There's 1,400 total yard, 7-9 TD upside here. - Brad 1

DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (PK80, WR35) – Over the past two seasons, D-Jax has frustrated fantasy audiences with his tepid play. But Chip Kelly brings intrigue. In his zone-read offense, the wideout should undergo a revival contributing meaningful stats via the pass and rush games. A total output around 65 receptions, 1,100 total yards and 6-8 TDs seems feasible. - Brad 2

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys (PK81, QB11) – He just threw for the ninth-most passing yards in NFL history last season, and I'm able to grab him late in the seventh round. Dez Bryant's emergence as a true stud will help Romo continue to put up big numbers. I've yet to hear a compelling argument why not to wait on the QB position. – Dalton 1

Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins (PK82, QB12) – This is obviously a gamble, but of course, that's why RG3 was available here. If not for his injury, he would have been gone in round two. I strongly considered James Jones, but I felt there was a major drop off at QB after Griffin (there's an obvious top-12 this season, in my opinion). – Dalton 2

James Jones, WR, Green Bay Packers (PK83, WR36) – I was going to take him last pass and here he still is. I understand the sharps don't like the catch and target total last year. But he's scored a TD about once ever seven catches in his career. So Let's start the projection bidding at 70 catches and 10 touchdowns. Sold! – Salfino 1

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (PK84, WR37) – Chip Kelly's offense should suit his hybrib possession/run after catch skills very well. There's a lot of upside with this selection. And losing Vick, when it happens, will not matter much to Maclin given the chemistry he developed last year with Nick Foles. – Salfino 2

ROUND 8

Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (PK85, RB31) – BenJarvis Green-Ellis has a lot of heart. But show me a guy with heart in the NFL and I'll show you a guy getting his butt kicked. Unsurprisingly, the Law Firm was near the bottom of Pro Football Focus's elusiveness ratings. So why not speculate in nice setup with the highest drafted RB? – Salfino 2

Michael Floyd, WR, Arizona Cardinals (PK86, WR38) – Need a receiver and want T.Y. Hilton here but have one too many Colts already. So we'll go with draft pedigree and expect that the veteran Carson Palmer will employ Floyd aggressively with defenses loading up on Larry Fitzgerald. Thinking Chad Johnson/T.J. Houshmandzadah here. – Salfino 1

Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers (PK87, TE6) – VD has shown the propensity to completely disappear for stretches, but he also looks like a tight end in the same tier as Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski other times. A full year with Colin Kaepernick at QB could lead to big things. His upside compared to all the other tight ends available at this stage of the draft warrants the pick here. – Dalton 2

Kenny Britt, WR, Tennessee Titans (PK88, WR39) – Speaking of upside, Britt remains the ultimate boom-or-bust option. The knucklehead factor remains, but at least he enters 2013 fully healthy, something he never was last season. Britt is just 24 years old and worth the swing for the fences at this point of the draft. – Dalton 1

Andre Brown, RB, New York Giants (PK89, RB32) – Pundits and novices alike are riding David Wilson's jock. To the rusher's ardent supporters, he's a slam-dunk breakout candidate, a player that will surely handle most of New York's carries. But because of Wilson's pass pro downside, it's highly doubtful that will be the case. Brown is the better all-around back and poised for the bulk of the goal-line work. Don't be surprised if he nets 13-16 touches per game and emerges as the most valuable RB for the G-Men. – Brad 2

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns (PK90, WR40) – What Gordon accomplished last year was nothing short of extraordinary. The 2012 supplemental pick, who hardly played in college due to disciplinary issues, came in cold and registered a praiseworthy 50-805-5 line. He's clearly the Browns' most talented down-field weapon and Brandon Weeden's top target. He's very capable of reaching 70-1000-7 in his second season, making him a highly employable WR3 in just about any format. – Brad 1

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers (PK91, RB33) – I'd love to see him leave Carolina, an organization that's never really understood how to best use Williams. I've never questioned the talent or upside here, I just want someone to make a serious attempt at unlocking it. – Scott 2

Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints (PK92, RB34) – He'll probably be a zero in the passing game, but the light bulb seemed to come on with Ingram in the late stages of 2012. He has a shot to score 10 times. – Scott 1

Kyle Rudolph, TE, Minnesota Vikings (PK93, TE7) – Rudolph the Red Zone Reindeer was tied for second among TE in red-zone targets last season and he should only benefit from the additions of Greg Jennings and rookie Cordarrelle Patterson creating diversions in the passing game. – Brandon 2

Mikel Leshoure, RB, Detroit Lions (PK94, RB35) – Reggie Bush will steal a significant chunk of the backfield workload, but Leshoure should still be good for 200-250 touches, including the all-important goal line work. – Brandon 1

T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts (PK95, WR41) – Don't even talk to me about DHB. Stop it. Hilton had a terrific first season in Indy (50-861-7), and I'm expecting an uptick in targets this year. (Next pick: Probably Ben Tate, as the traditional Foster handcuff.) – Behrens 2

Jonathan Franklin, RB, Green Bay Packers (PK96, RB36) – Phew. With Lacy and Franklin on the roster, this team has locked up the Green Bay rushing committee. And when has that ever failed to produce a fantasy title? (Next pick: Maybe Ben Tate, just to mess with Behrens 2. Otherwise, Dennis Pitta.) – Behrens 1

Editor's Note: That's a wrap! Please reveal your favorite team(s) – keep in mind it's PPR with a FLEX (RB/WR/TE), 4 points/passing TD – in the comments section below. Additional derision about any and all of Salfino's selections is also welcomed.

Searching for more fantasy advice? Tune into 'The Fantasy Freak Show' Friday nights at 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET on Yahoo! Sports Radio

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Yes, we're roughly five months away from the official kick-off of the 2013 season, but the NFL draft and opening of May mini-camps typically wakes fantasy football fans from a long hibernation.

It's time to rock out with your mock out.

On this week's engaging program, Brad Evans and Dalton Del Don assessed this year's draft class. Will Le'Veon Bell be a top-20 RB with Pittsburgh? Exactly when will the ButtFumbler, Mark Sanchez, surrender snaps to Geno Smith? Is human juke button, Tavon Austin, the game's next great slot machine? Additionally, we spun Chris Ivory's value jump in the Big Apple, Justin Blackmon's decent into madness and detailed the strangest magazine draft we've ever participated in.

Meanwhile in Hour 2, we turned our attention toward the diamond discussing concerns over B.J. Upton, our affections for Nolan Arenado and Clay Buchholz's sizzling start.

Too busy reorganizing your sock drawer? No sweat. Listen to the replays below:

LISTEN TO HOUR 1 HERE (NFL)

LISTEN TO HOUR 2 HERE (MLB)

The Boston bullpen was tidy and orderly just a few days ago. Joel Hanrahan was fresh off the disabled list but headed for a non-closing role; Andrew Bailey's electric start to the season (1.46 ERA, 20 strikeouts in 12.1 innings) couldn't be ignored.

But just when Hanrahan seemed out of the picture, he's pulled back into the mix.

Hanrahan worked the ninth inning of Thursday's win at Toronto, dodging one hit and securing his fourth handshake. The surging Red Sox are off to a dazzling 20-8 start, a whopping 10.5 games ahead of the star-crossed Blue Jays. Hanrahan's season numbers are messy (9.45 ERA, five walks, four strikeouts), though he has just one blown save in his five opportunities. Love that dirty water.

Bailey owners wanted Thursday's chippy save chance, but he was held out of the game due to biceps discomfort. Any pitcher injury is something we have to take seriously, but that's especially true when we're talking about someone with Bailey's medical history. He worked 83.1 innings during his brilliant rookie season of 2009; he hasn't gotten to 50 innings in any season since.

The Red Sox are putting a positive spin on the Bailey situation, as you'd expect. Here's the skinny from long-time Boston beat writer Sean McAdam, one of the best in the business:

"I just felt a little something the last time I pitched,'' said Bailey, "and we're just being very cautious with it. We've got a lot of guys down there who can do a lot of different jobs and they want to be smart about it and take the extra time.

"It shouldn't be more than a couple of days. We're just letting it die down.''

Bailey termed the discomfort "very minor, nothing crazy. We want to get out in front of it and be smart about it. It's still very early on and we've got a long season and we have a staff that can handle it.''

Bailey said there were "no plans" to be further exmained over the next few days. Farrell was less definite saying an exam was "to be determined.''

The roto plan is straightforward: we'll hope for the best with Bailey but obviously prepare for the worst. The Red Sox don't have any reason to rush their stopper back, and they don't seem down on Hanrahan despite his poor start to the year. Make sure Hanrahan wasn't dropped in any of your pools earlier this week. And you might want to explore a possible Bailey trade after he returns to action; he's someone you never want to make a six-month assumption on.

• Let's stop for a second and consider how utterly complete Toronto's month-long collapse has been. What's gone right here? J.P. Arencibia, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion have clubbed some homers, sure, and the bullpen has a couple of smooth operators (closer Casey Janssen has been terrific). Otherwise, this is the underachiever team of the year thus far, a staggering collection of players doing far less than expected.

I'd still buy low on Bautista if it's out there, and Encarnacion looks like a safe place to park your money. Arencibia's batting eye and contact issues (two walks, 40 strikeouts) present him as an easy cash-out candidate; maybe you can sell his homers and lock in some profits. Forget rabbit Emilio Bonifacio; he's a defensive liability and he's not getting on base much or running at all. You'd have to talk me into any Toronto starting pitcher; I'm worried about all of them forward. And if there's anything good to say about Melky Cabrera's first 29 games (.561 OPS, no homers), I can't think of it. Bad times in the YYZ.

• Time-the-market plays come with obvious caveats; they probably bring pain at least as often as profit. Nonetheless, I'm going to kick the tires on Carlos Pena this weekend. He's established a reputation as a notorious streak hitter, and I like what Pena's shown the last five games (9-for-20, homer, three walks).

Pena went deep in Thursday's loss to Detroit and also had a sharp left-field single off a southpaw; you know he's in a good place at the plate when he's not trying to pull every pitch he sees. The Tigers don't have a lefty in their rotation, so the platoon matchups are in line. Pena is ready for work in 96 percent of Yahoo! leagues and the Astros offense has been surprisingly competent (15th in runs scored). Let's have some fun at the rummage sale.

• We can't say it was vintage Dan Haren in Thursday's win at Atlanta - he only struck out four batters against a team of aggressive hackers. But no one is ever going to turn down eight innings of one-run baseball, especially with the W attached. Haren has allowed seven homers on the year and hasn't gone past five strikeouts in any turn, but at least he's making the opponents beat him (just five walks issued). I'm not going to trust him next week against the Tigers; if he's back in your circle of trust, make the case in the comments.

• Predictable things were all over Baltimore's clean 5-1 victory at Anaheim: Joe Blanton took another loss (albeit he didn't pitch poorly); Nate McLouth clouted one to the seats (with a little help from center fielder Mike Trout); the Angels struggled to score. Obviously the Orioles had a ridiculous run of luck last year with all those one-run wins, but this looks like a solid ballclub nonetheless, a six-month contender. Chris Tillman worked eight scoreless innings for the victory, a pitch-to-contact story (two walks, three strikeouts, 12 air outs). He's worth streamer consideration at home next week against Kansas City.

Speed Round: Nasty weather wiped out the Royals again - they're the postponement kings of the league this year. Kansas City and Tampa Bay made it to the bottom of the fourth, in between the raindrops, before the game was delayed and ultimately deleted. Underrated righty Ervin Santana worked four scoreless innings and struck out seven; it's a shame to see those numbers filter down the drain. … Jayson Werth has proven to be a high-attrition player since joining the Nationals, and he's currently dealing with a tight hamstring. Have other plans ready to go for the series at Pittsburgh. … Jake Peavy (back) was a game-day scratch at Texas, but the White Sox hope he'll be able to start on the weekend, with Saturday the new target. … Ryan Howard and Domonic Brown both homered to support Kyle Kendrick's win over Miami. Brown had three hits on the day and is in the midst of a 12-for-31 clip, pushing his average up to .266. … The Mitchell Boggs reign of relief terror is on hold for now. He's been optioned to Triple-A. Edward Mujica has been money as the surprise closer (though he didn't have his best splitter in Thursday's messy save), with Trevor Rosenthal a solid (if overworked) eighth-inning bridge. … Ben Revere is dealing with a finger injury and is considered day-to-day. John Mayberry figures to see time in center field while Revere heals up. … Matt Garza (lat) might be able to come back in two weeks, with the May 17-19 series against the Mets as a target. Garza worked 2.2 innings in his first rehab start at Double-A, allowing one run (2 BB, 0 K). It's a process.

Alright, gamers, settle in and let's get to work. Of all the baseball shuffles, this is the one that really matters: the starting pitcher shuffle. The fickle men of the mound are sure to define our season, for good or for bad.

We're trying to gauge everyone's 5x5 value going forward - everything to this point is merely an audition. We're only playing for 2013 here, and we're assuming a mixed-league environment. Don't worry about what the prices mean in a vacuum - they're only tools to compare the players with one another. Players at the same price tag are considered even.

I'll add comments as the night goes along, and I reserve the right to make rank changes over that time frame. Your intelligent and respectful input is most welcome, of course; win the debate, win the rank. Just remember the golden rule of roto: no one gains 15-20 percent of bonus value simply from being on your roster. (And for the pessimists in the crowd, the opposite is true: someone's not an instant stiff the moment you believe in him.)

I'm also moving forward with ranks of injured players; they're outside the shuffle proper but listed at the bottom. I'm not going to debate the worth of an injured player to you. Some leagues have DL spots and some don't. There's an extra level of variability that makes their pricing almost pointless to do. But I get asked about them in every shuffle, so I'm including these courtesy ranks. If you think I'm being too conservative in my price (that's my general MO with injured players), no worries. Add some extra bucks on your personal sheet. No one will be offended.

Enough premable ... let's amble to the mound.

$32 Clayton Kershaw
$30 Justin Verlander
$29 Felix Hernandez
$28 Stephen Strasburg
$27 Yu Darvish
$27 Adam Wainwright
$25 Cliff Lee
$25 Cole Hamels
$24 David Price
$24 Madison Bumgarner
$22 Matt Cain
$22 Chris Sale
$22 Jordan Zimmermann
$22 Matt Harvey

It's all about the home runs with Cain; the other numbers are in place. He's been on the road for four of his six starts. AT&T Park is a good thing for what ails you, most of the time. … Everyone sees the obvious upside with Strasburg, but is it possible we've (collectively) overrated him? He's never worked more than seven innings in a start, for one thing, or gone past 160 innings. Would you take Darvish or Wainwright over him right now? I don't see an obvious answer to Strasburg.

$21 CC Sabathia
$21 Gio Gonzalez
$21 Mat Latos
$21 Max Scherzer
$20 Matt Moore
$19 Jon Lester
$18 James Shields
$18 Jeff Samardzija
$17 Yovani Gallardo
$17 Anibal Sanchez
$17 Clay Buchholz

Gallardo's messy first month was tied to a notable velocity dip, though he has a history of slow starts. So long as you have at least two pitchers better than Gallardo, you should be fine. … Lester's fastball location has been excellent, perhaps tied to the return of John Farrell. … Samardzija could be this year's Ryan Dempster, the reliable righty who gets screwed by the supporting cast in Chicago, But then you see those 47 strikeouts in 37.2 innings and shrug - he'll be plenty valuable no matter where the win column ends up. … Moore has been a magician with runners on base (hello, 100 percent strand rate) and his peripherally-suggested ERAs are all over 3. You love the bat-missing stuff, but you'd love to see him get his control (4.2 BB/9) back in line. A .149 BABIP is also screaming for a major correction. I realize outlier ratios come with outlier luck stats, but this looks like a good time to explore a sell-high. Your mileage may vary.

$16 Kris Medlen
$16 Jake Peavy
$16 R.A. Dickey
$16 Doug Fister
$16 Hiroki Kuroda
$15 Ian Kennedy
$15 Homer Bailey
$15 Lance Lynn
$14 Hisashi Iwakuma
$14 Shelby Miller
$13 A.J. Burnett
$13 Hyun-Jin Ryu
$13 Tony Cingrani
$13 Jaime Garcia

Cingrani is probably the most volatile player to rank in this exercise; he could easily be a $20-plus commodity for the season, or down in the minors by the middle of this month. Dusty Baker, for reasons no one can fully understand, has always had a soft spot in his managerial heart for Mike Leake. The Reds might feel they're doing a favor to Cingrani by not putting too much pressure on him (thus justifying a future option), but when you strike out 28 (and walk just four) in your first three MLB starts, how can you lose a rotation spot?

Cingrani obviously relies on his fastball primarily; most of his strikeouts come from hiding the ball and putting his heater where he wants it. Being left-handed helps, obviously. His slider has been a plus pitch thus far but he rarely throws it, and the change shows up even less. You'd like to see any starter have 2-3 reliable pitches, and teams should be better prepared for Cingrani on the second and third time around the league. But at the end of the day, I want to chase someone with Cingrani's silly strikeout potential. I think he'll be in Cincinnati for most, if not all, of the season.

The case for Iwakuma is simple: control, ground balls, big ballpark. And it's not like he's a zero in the strikeout category: he's whiffed a batter per inning this year, against a scant five walks. The strikeouts will probably regress a bit, but this is a very safe option for the middle of your rotation.

$12 Ryan Dempster
$12 Mike Minor
$12 Alex Cobb
$11 Alexi Ogando
$11 Derek Holland
$10 Brandon Morrow
$10 Kyle Lohse
$10 Tim Hudson
$10 Wade Miley
$10 Ervin Santana
$10 Jeremy Hellickson
$10 Patrick Corbin
$10 Paul Maholm
$9 Tim Lincecum
$9 Roy Halladay
$9 C.J. Wilson
$9 Jonathon Niese
$9 Andy Pettitte
$9 Trevor Cahill
$9 Tommy Milone
$8 Justin Masterson
$8 Barry Zito
$8 Jason Hammel
$8 Carlos Villanueva
$8 Andrew Cashner
$8 Dan Haren
$7 Ryan Vogelsong
$7 Wandy Rodriguez
$7 Ross Detwiler
$7 Marco Estrada
$6 Bartolo Colon
$6 Kyle Kendrick
$6 Jeremy Guthrie
$5 Josh Beckett
$5 Travis Wood
$5 Justin Grimm
$5 Edwin Jackson
$4 Daniel Straily
$4 Phil Hughes
$4 A.J. Griffin
$4 Jose Fernandez
$4 Shaun Marcum
$4 Jose Quintana
$4 Julio Teheran
$4 Felix Doubront
$4 Kevin Slowey
$3 Jarrod Parker
$3 Wei-Yin Chen
$3 James McDonald
$3 Drew Smyly
$3 John Lackey
$3 Trevor Bauer
$3 Hector Santiago
$2 Brandon McCarthy
$2 Tommy Hanson
$2 Jake Westbrook
$2 Jason Vargas
$2 J.A. Happ
$2 Jorge De La Rosa
$2 Wade Davis
$2 Nick Tepesch
$2 Ricky Nolasco
$2 Ted Lilly
$2 Garrett Richards
$2 Mike Fiers
$1 Bronson Arroyo
$1 Mark Buehrle
$1 Chris Tillman
$1 Kevin Correia
$1 Bud Norris
$1 Miguel Gonzalez
$1 Zach McAllister
$1 Scott Diamond
$1 Lucas Harrell
$1 Jonathan Pettibone
$1 Joe Blanton
$1 Dillon Gee
$1 Edinson Volquez
$1 Josh Collmenter
$1 Rick Porcello
$1 Ubaldo Jimenez
$0 Eric Stults
$0 Clayton Richard
$0 Mike Leake

Provisional, unofficial rank of the injured:
$18 Johnny Cueto
$16 Zack Greinke
$15 Jered Weaver
$14 Josh Johnson
$14 Matt Garza
$13 Brandon Beachy
$8 Brett Anderson
$6 Michael Pineda
$6 Colby Lewis
$5 Jhoulys Chacin
$5 Cory Luebke
$5 Matt Harrison
$3 Ricky Romero
$1 Francisco Liriano

When Mr. Irrelevant, Justice Cunningham, had his name called Saturday, the fantasy football mock season officially got underway. To kick off Yahoo!'s festivities, we'll mock two rounds per day Tuesday-Friday (12-teams, PPR scoring, w/one FLEX) to help you get educated on which players will be valued/undervalued when the bulk of the draft season begins in August. Please declare a winner and/or express your general disdain for our 'stupidity' in the comments section below.

SEE ROUNDS 1-2 HERE

SEE ROUNDS 3-4 HERE

ROUND 5

Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints (PK49, WR18) - This fantasy roster will pair Colston with Drew Brees, which usually works well. Marques has delivered three straight 80-catch, 1,000-yard seasons. Vincent Jackson and Jordy Nelson were under consideration here, too; the goal was simply to get someone from their tier. – Behrens 1

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots (PK50, QB6) - I'd intended to wait on quarterback with this team, but, well ... c'mon. Someone needed to take Brady, just to maintain the integrity of the mock. I realize his tight ends are dinged and his wideouts are new, but I'd still be shocked if we didn't get another 4,400-plus yards and 30 TDs from Tom, with very few negative plays. – Behrens 2

Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers (PK51, WR19) – Be it a hamstring, ankle, knee or foot injury, Nelson never quite seemed to reach 100 percent in '12, but he still managed 7 TD in 11 games, and Greg Jennings' exit just means a bigger piece of the ample passing pie in Green Bay.
– Brandon 1

Vincent Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (PK52, WR20) – I'm typically the most bearish Vincent Jackson guy in the room, but he's hard to ignore when he's still on the board outside the top 50 picks. V-Jax was the 9th-most targeted WR in his first season in Tampa, and between Weeks 2-16, he was the No. 7 fantasy WR in PPR leagues. – Brandon 2

Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers (PK53, RB24) - This deep down the running back list, you're simply looking at theoretical upside. Or maybe I'm dreaming of a mock-trade with Mathews-sympathizer Evans. – Scott 1

Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos (PK54, QB7) - This can't be a surprising pick, as my franchises keep stockpiling Denver receivers. Once Manning got his sea-legs under him last year, he was without question a First Tier quarterback. I often play the waiting game with QBs, but I'm fine to swoop in now and grab someone who could easily pace the position in 2013. – Scott 2

Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (PK55, RB25) – If you put a '77 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in neutral and pushed it down a steep hill that would resemble the running style of Bell. He's not blazing fast or flashy. He's simply a pulverizing, an old school workhorse with plus hands and superb blocking skills who Todd Haley believes is a three-down back. It would be no shock if he recorded 1,300 total yards and 8-10 TDs this fall. – Brad 1

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions (PK56, QB8) – I know what you're thinking. The Noise suffers from several mental deficiencies. Stafford over Matty Ice? The Lion's 2012 was best characterized as 'fluky.' He established a new NFL record for pass attempts, but found the end-zone only 20 times. Tied to the game's finest target (Calvin Johnson), adding Reggie Bush and immersed in a pass-first system, he should return close to his 2011 production level (FF: 4,750 yards, 35-40 TDs). – Brad 2

Mike Wallace, WR, Miami Dolphins (PK57, WR21) – I don't love the fact he's switching systems and downgrading QBs, but Wallace has a career yards-per-catch mark of 17.2 and has scored 26 touchdowns over the past three seasons. With so few alternatives in Miami, he should set a career high in targets in 2013. – Dalton 1

Eric Decker, WR, Denver Broncos (PK58, WR22) – Will lose some looks this season with the Wes Welker addition, but Decker led the NFL with 26 red-zone targets last season, so his 13 touchdowns were no fluke. He also had 85 catches. Not bad in a PPR format late in the 5th round. – Dalton 2

Vick Ballard, RB, Indianapolis Colts (PK59, WR23) – He should get bulk of the carries in Indy. Unfortunately, Ballard didn't do much with his opportunities last season. The Colts didn't aggressively pursue a replacement, though Donald Brown still may be better. All feature backs who last this long should come with flea collars. – Salfino 1

Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots (PK60, WR24) – Gronkowski By August this will seem either very smart or very dumb. Reports are that Gronkowski will be back to full health by then, in which case, as we all know, he's arguably the top TE in fantasy football. – Salfino 2

ROUND 6

Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis Rams (PK61, WR25) – I hate rookie receivers, but Austin is playing a position that defies categorization. There will still be a learning curve, but I expect solid volume in the air and on the ground. Remember, Austiin RUSHED for 344 versus Oklahoma last year. – Salfino 2

Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts (PK62, QB9) – If this was a live league, I would have passed on a QB here and taken James Jones. But I felt obligated to draft Luck where he belongs relative to Stafford and Peyton given the incredible passing volume in Indy and great room for efficiency growth, too. – Salfino 1

Greg Jennings, WR, Minnesota Vikings (PK63, WR26) – I'm actually a bit skeptical of Jennings leaving Aaron Rodgers, but he should be the clear No. 1 option in Minnesota, and Percy Harvin racked up a ton of targets in the system when lining up at flanker (where Jennings will) before getting injured. If not for the PPR format, I might have gambled on Chris Ivory here. – Dalton 2

Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington Redskins (PK64, WR27) – If Garcon and RG3 were both fully healthy, I'd rank the former as a top-10 WR easy. As is, Garcon fell to the 6th round, at which point his upside is worth the risk. The fact he elected to not undergo surgery on his foot and is already admitting he may have to play through pain this season isn't ideal, that much I'll concede. – Dalton 1

Danario Alexander, WR, San Diego Chargers (PK65, WR28) – Stolen off waivers by the Chargers, DX was also quite the free agent sensation in all leagues last year. His 14.5 fantasy points per game in PPR formats ranked just inside the WR top-20. He is constructed from fragile materials, but his WR2 upside is worth the risk at this juncture. – Brad 1

Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (PK66, WR29) – Most counted on the wideout to take a step forward last season, but, unfortunately, he trended the opposite direction. Big Ben's three-game absence and a porous Steelers O-line cramped Brown's style. However, PIT's revamped front combined with Mike Wallace's departure could finally unlock the target's full potential. A 80-1100-7 projection isn't cockamamie. – Brad 2

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (PK67, RB26) – He's a plodder, a straight-line runner, and maybe a two-down back in the near future with Bernard around. The PPR format is not favorable to the Law Firm, obviously. But now that we're 67 picks into this dance, a boring floor player starts to look worthwhile. – Scott 2

Stevie Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills (PK68, WR30) – Sure, he's a mercurial type and the touchdown upside is limited. But he's also caught 79, 76 and 82 passes the last three years - those guys don't last forever. – Scott 1

Chris Ivory, RB, New York Jets (PK69, RB27) – I suspect that Mike Goodson is also going to get a healthy share of the Jets' backfield load, but Ivory should be the platoon chairman, and his high-motor style should bring a nice return on this late Round 6 investment. – Brandon 2

Cecil Shorts, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (PK70, WR31) – From Weeks 7-16, he was one of the most consistently productive receivers in the fantasy game, and he was top 8 in PPR scoring among WR in that span. And he'll start the '13 season as the clear go-to guy with Justin Blackmon on suspension for four games. – Brandon 1

Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys (PK71, TE4) – Yup, the youth movement continues for this team. Witten just set the single-season record for catches by a tight end, he led his position in receiving yards, and his quarterback loves him like a kitten. Floor is incredibly safe, high. – Behrens 2

Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers (PK72, WR32) – Seriously, when did I become the guru who has to take all the old-but-great players, just so the mock doesn't look ridiculous? Smith is coming off a 73-catch, 1,174-yard season, finishing strong. – Behrens 1

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Actually, um ... please disregard the question posed in the headline. I don't need to know what happened to the real Ryan Raburn. Let's just hope he's somewhere safe, not gagged and stuffed in the trunk of Ty Van Burkleo's Honda. Because that would not be cool.

For now, let's just enjoy the insane production we're getting from imposter Raburn. Over the past three days, he's gone 11-for-13 with four homers and nine RBIs. He went 4-for-5 on Wednesday, 3-for-4 on Tuesday and 4-for-4 on Monday. He's raised his season batting average 150 points in just three games, and he's raised his career average from .255 to .260.

Ridiculous. This is player who had zero three-hit games in 2012. He is now Earth's hottest hitter, the most popular add in fantasy.

The annoying thing with hot streaks, of course, is that by the time we can react to them, they typically end. Ryan Raburn is almost certainly not going to continue the crazy multi-hit binge. We know this guy. He's 32, well-established. Most of us swore him off last season, when he flopped for Detroit (35-for-205, 53 Ks, .480 OPS). He'll soon get back to being the guy who strikes out once ever four at-bats while hitting the occasional home run. You don't make long-term plans for dudes like Raburn.

Still, there's a decent chance he'll help mixed leaguers over the next 3-4 days. That's as far as I'm willing to look ahead with Raburn. (Or with imposter Raburn, or whoever this is.) Cleveland has a three-game weekend series on deck against the Twins, and the pitching match-ups aren't too scary: Hernandez, Correia, Pelfrey. And then on Monday, the Tribe will face a scuffling Jarrod Parker.

So we have a blisteringly hot hitter set to face a parade of un-intimidating hurlers. I'm in, at least through the weekend. With any luck, Raburn will turn himself into a fantasy trade chip by Monday.

• While we're on the subject of notorious streak hitters riding streaks, have a look at the Matt Joyce game log. No, it's not Raburn-level production, but it's good. The Tampa slugger has homered in three straight games, and four out of five. He's available in 93 percent of Yahoo! leagues at the moment, cheap power with a three-game series upcoming at Coors Field. Do what needs doing.

• OK, here's one more low-average outfielder to consider: Michael Saunders went 3-for-5 against the O's, batting lead-off for the Mariners. Saunders also swiped a bag, his fourth of the season. This is a guy who gave us a 19/21 campaign in 2012, so we know he's useful. At the moment, Saunders is only 18 percent owned.

• Juan Pierre's next steal will be the 600th of his career, which is pretty badass. Pierre went 2-for-4 against the Mets on Wednesday, driving in one run and scoring another. He entered the day leading the N.L. in steals (8-for-9), yet he's still just 22 percent owned in Yahoo! leagues. He's a category specialist for sure, a severe liability in homers and RBIs, but no one should be surprised if he finishes with 40-plus steals this year.

• Stephen Strasburg owners, you can dial down the panic. Strasburg threw his usual side session this week, emerging undamaged and without pain. He'll be good to go in his next scheduled start on Saturday against Pittsburgh. I'm thinking maybe you roll the dice and start the kid. But it's your team, your call.

We received an injury scare from Bryce Harper on Wednesday night, as he was removed from the Nats' 2-0 win at Atlanta, clearly hurting. The initial fear was an oblique injury, but it turns out he's dealing with a bruised left side. He's merely day-to-day, not week-to-week or month-to-month. Phew. Crisis averted. Go back to your everyday lives, citizens.

• Ernesto Frieri gave us the rare three-walk save on Wednesday, recording the final five outs in LAA's 5-4 win at Oakland. Scott Downs was forced from the game with an injury in the eighth. The save was Frieri's fourth of the season in five chances; the walks were his ninth, tenth and 11th. So that's a worry.

• David Hernandez allowed yet another homer on Wednesday, his fourth in his last seven appearances, and Heath Bell was doing Heath Bell things (0.2 IP, H, 2 R, 2 BB). Matt Reynolds sure seems like the least dangerous Putz handcuff in Arizona's 'pen. The lefty earned another hold on Wednesday, striking out three batters in a clean frame. He's been lights-out this season, posting a 0.50 WHIP over 14.0 innings, recording 11 punch-outs.

• Scott Feldman delivered the pitching line that Andrew Cashner was supposed to give us on Wednesday night, as he struck out 12 batters in a complete game effort. (Cashner was an absolute mess, needing nearly 100 pitches to get through four innings against the Cubs, struggling to locate.) Fantasy owners shouldn't run to the wire for Feldman, not with starts upcoming against Texas and Washington. But if you streamed the guy against the Pads, smooth move. Please take a victory lap in comments. You've earned it. Well done.

• If you're the sort of fantasy owner who tends to care too much about radar readings, just give Bruce Rondon one inning. He'll make you give up the velocity chase for good. Rondon was chucking 99-101 mph heat on Wednesday afternoon...

...yet he was terrible. Rondon faced five Twins hitters, retiring just one. He gave up a triple and a single to the first two batters he faced (both on 101 mph fastballs), and he walked the final two. He threw 17 pitches, just five of which were strikes. Five. And then he was optioned to Toledo, probably before the game had ended, because c'mon.

• Not so long ago, we all thought John Axford had pitched his way back into the closer discussion for Milwaukee — his manager even said as much. But on Wednesday, Axford pitched his way right back out of the ninth-inning conversation. He allowed a game-tying homer in the eighth to Starling Marte, then coughed up two additional earned runs before the inning finished. We're only 11.1 innings into his season, and he's already allowed six bombs. Axford has been hit thoroughly in his last three appearances. Unless you're in an N.L. Central-only, just move on.

Carlos Gomez continued binging for the Brewers, we should note, delivering two hits on Wednesday, a homer included. He now has six multi-hit games in his last eight. Let's hope you didn't panic at the two-week mark this season, when Gomez was hitting .162. (Many did.) He's now batting .367 with five homers and four steals.

• Matt Garza successfully navigated a 42-pitch rehab appearance at Double-A, which is obviously good news for the Cubs. He'll need a few more turns in the minors before joining the major league rotation, however. Chicago just needs to find a way to keep him healthy-ish until the trade deadline. That's the only goal.

• Buzz is building about a Kevin Gausman call-up, gamers. And why should you care? Because the 22-year-old Gausman is piling up Ks for Double-A Bowie (29 in 28.2 innings), and he's issued just one walk all year. The right-hander is one of baseball's more interesting pitching prospects; his eventual promotion will be an actionable event in deep-ish fantasy formats.

When Mr. Irrelevant, Justice Cunningham, had his name called Saturday, the fantasy football mock season officially got underway. To kick off Yahoo!'s festivities, we'll mock two rounds per day Tuesday-Friday (12-teams, PPR scoring) to help you get educated on which players will be valued/undervalued when the bulk of the draft season begins in August. Please declare a winner and/or express your general disdain for our 'stupidity' in the comments section below.

SEE ROUND 1 HERE

ROUND 3

Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers (PK25, WR8) - With Greg Jennings now out of the team picture, expect another leap in value from Cobb. He could easily deliver a 90-1100-10 fantasy line. (Note: This team considered taking a third-tier back at this spot, but didn't want to get shut out on the elite receivers, not in a PPR.) - Behrens 1

Steven Jackson, RB, Atlanta Falcons (PK26, RB16) - No player received a bigger upgrade in team context during the off-season. Jackson is now the featured back in an offense that ranked seventh in scoring last season (26.2 PPG) and eighth in total yardage (369.1). Michael Turner somehow managed to rush for 800 yards and 10 scores for Atlanta last season, and he was terrible. - Behrens 2

Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers (PK27, QB3) – Newton has finished top 4 among QBs in fantasy points per game in each of his first two seasons, thanks to a QB-high 64 red zone rushes in that span (22 combined rushing TD). – Brandon 1

Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks (PK28, QB4) – When Seattle opened things up for Wilson and started mixing in the read-option in the second half of the season, Wilson exploded – No. 1 fantasy QB over final eight weeks of '12. A year under his belt and with Percy Harvin added to the mix, I'm as bullish a Wilson supporter as you're gonna find. – Brandon 2

Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints (PK29, TE1) – Given what's happened to Rob Gronkowski over the last 12 months or so, I now view Graham as a solo tier at this position. Keep grabbing those blue chips. – Scott 1

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos (PK30, WR8) – Thomas finally learned something about route-running last year (thanks, Peyton), and he might be a Top 5 talent at the position. The floor starts at 80-1200-8. The upside? I don't think 2012's monster haul will go down as Thomas's best NFL season. Yes, please. – Scott 2

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers (PK31, QB5) – With Dalton, an obsessed Niners fan picking behind me, there was absolutely no way St. Nick was going to survive Round 3. Many will remain skeptical about his high-end QB1 label, but recall he averaged over 26.0 fantasy points per game as a starter in standard formats last year. Add a full-offseason of prep as starter, his versatility and addition of Anquan Boldin and it's hard to imagine he'll finish outside QB top-7. – Brad 1

Danny Amendola, WR, New England Patriots (PK32, WR9) – Some will claim I pulled shoulder out of socket with this selection, but in a PPR setting, the slot machine will register shiny sevens. His injury downside is weighty, however, his situation is ripe for a 100-1100-6 campaign, especially if Hernandez/Gronk don't recover quickly. High-risk, high-reward. – Brad 2

Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers (PK33, WR10) – Over his final 12 games last season (including the playoffs and most of which came after Colin Kaepernick became the starter), Crabtree had 71 catches, 1,022 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 10.5 targets over the final eight games, and Pro Football Focus graded him higher than A.J. Green and Brandon Marshall despite playing just 692 snaps (49th among WRs). There's top-five upside here. – Dalton 1

Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans (PK34, WR11) – I actually didn't love this pick, at all. Johnson had just seven red-zone targets last year and only one inside the five yard line, which has been a trend for years now, so his scoring upside is really limited. He's also a bit of an injury risk, but it's hard to pass on someone who just had 1,598 receiving yards with 112 catches in a PPR format at this stage of the draft. – Dalton 2

Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants (PK35, WR12) – Best PPR receiver on the board. Combines consistency as a possession guy in the slot with long-ball explosiveness. That's a rare combination. Love this value. – Salfino 1

Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots (PK36, RB17) – The Patriots play a lot of games with their running backs so the Ridley owner is sure to be disappointed many weeks. Ridley also is unlikely to contribute much in the passing game. But the numbers should add up to justify this selection. – Salfino 2

ROUND 4

Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons (PK37, WR13) – Could be the Falcons best receiver in PPR. And he's the best value for sure. – Salfino 2

Aaron Hernandez, TE, New Engalnd Patriots (PK38, TE2) – Pretty much guaranteed at this point to be the Patriots leading receiver. He will pick up a lot of the slot work, assuming Amendola gets hurt like he always does. Even if he doesn't, I see a receptions total approaching 100. – Salfino 1

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans (PK39, RB18) – Even while viewed as a bum last year, CJ totaled 1,475 yards. He's likely to cede goal-line carries to Shonn Greene, but the latter is generally terrible and not much of a threat to steal many touches. Johnson is still just 27 years old, and the addition of Chance Warmack and Andy Levitre should improve the offensive line, and a healthy Kenny Britt would open up space as well. – Dalton 2

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Dolphins (PK40, RB19) – A total unknown, but he did get 4.9 YPC during limited work last season. With Reggie Bush gone and Daniel Thomas as his biggest competition, Miller is poised to be given the opportunity to be a workhorse. For what it's worth, Miami coaches have been effusive when praising him. But I could have just as easily selected Darren McFadden or DeMarco Murray with this pick. – Dalton 1

Darren Sproles, RB, New Orleans Saints (PK41, RB20) – Given the receptions-friendly format, the Pocket Rocket is a bargain buy at this point in the draft. His role within the league's most explosive offense is clearly defined. Most importantly for fantasy purposes, he's finished well-inside the RB Top-10 in consecutive seasons totaling 13 touchdowns while averaging 76.8 total yards and 5.5 receptions per game. – Brad 2

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (PK42, WR14) – Bowe underachieved greatly last year, the victim of an anemic offense spearheaded by QB clunkers Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn. Now with a semi-competent passer under center and the featured target in Andy Reid's pass-happy scheme, he could regain his previous dominance. Roughly 80 receptions for 1,100 yards and 7-9 TDs is entirely possible. – Brad 1

Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants (PK43, WR15) – Last year's bum, sure, but it's been discounted here. Nicks is an easy Top 10 wideout when he's on the field. – Scott 2

Wes Welker, WR, Denver Broncos (PK44, WR16) – Always a PPR monster, we've heard that music for years. I don't worry too much about the other good wideout here; Denver doesn't throw that much to the backs and tight ends. There's enough Manning to go around. – Scott 1

DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys (PK45, RB21) – About as durable as a wet paper towel, which is the only reason he's lasted until Round 4. Murray has a career 1,990 yards from scrimmage on 384 touches. Compare that with Doug Martin, the No. 3 pick in this draft – 1,926 YFS on 368 touches last season. – Brandon 2

Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders (PK46, RB22) – Mercifully, Oakland has scrapped it's zone rush system that it inexplicably implemented last season. If McFadden can manage to stay healthy (yes, a big IF), the plan is to make him the center of the Raiders' offensive universe, affording him every opportunity to return to fantasy RB prominence. – Brandon 1

Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts (PK47, WR17) – And so begins a run of four boring, veteran selections. Wayne saw 195 targets last year, second most in the NFL, and he's tied to one of the game's best young QBs. Easy pick. – Behrens 2

Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers (PK48, RB23) – He's given us back-to-back 1,200-yard rushing seasons, he runs behind a terrific line, and hasn't missed a game due to injury over the past two years. Thought about Le'Veon Bell here (thrilled that he can't terrorize the Big Ten this year), but opted for the proven commodity, playing in the superior offense. I did not think about Ryan Mathews with this pick, because we're all rooting for Brad to take that plunge. – Behrens 1

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Fantasy is a speculative game. Predict the future, and you look like a genius. Don't, and you're painfully human. Gazing into the crystal ball, here's our view on 10 intriguing over/unders this week.

Top Tampa prospect Wil Myers, who is crushing in Durham, call-up date June 1

Andy – OVER. Or LATER. Or...well, you know what I mean. Never bet on the Rays to make things easy on the fantasy community.

Brandon – OVER. The Rays are frugal, which means they'll likely look to avoid Super 2 status for Myers, which means prolonging his arbitration eligibility arrival. So look for Myers in mid-June, which should keep the Rays safe of the dreaded Super 2.

Scott – OVER. Tampa seems to have a "what, me worry?" approach to their start, though it's made more acceptable with James Loney waking up from the dead. See you in June, rookie.

Preseason darling Kris Medlen has recorded a mere 18 strikeouts in 30.1 innings pitched. Final K/9 for the hurler this season 6.75

Brandon – OVER. I've always been a Medlen fan, and he's been one who has seen his K totals gain steam as the season progresses. Since he's never had a K/9 rate below 6.94 in his career, I'll bet he brings his strikeout numbers up to a point that he finishes over 6.75.

Scott – OVER. I still love his approach, his mix, and his moxie. Sounds anecdotal, doesn't it? That's because it is. It's a gut call, sure. I still expect Medlen to figure it out.

Brad – OVER. Similar to Funbags, yours truly is also a card-carrying member of the Medlen fan club. His unwieldy command has been puzzling to say the least, but count on him rediscovering his groove in short order. He's simply too talented to be just mediocre.

Nate McLouth, the most popular outfield addition in Yahoo! leagues this week, combined homers/steals rest of the way 19.5

Scott – It's a good thing you invited me to the McLouth question, so I didn't have to crash it. Don't give me the AL-only silliness; he's a strong mixer play. He won't play against lefties but that's fine; you can plan ahead with that sort of thing, especially in daily pools. When he wants a bag, he takes it (career success rate: 86.2 percent). McLouth showed category juice in last year's 55-game sample in Baltimore, so this run isn't completely out of nowhere. Of course I'm going OVER on my boy.

Brad – OVER. Provided he isn't randomly mauled by a renegade tiger, the journeyman's chances of eclipsing this number are strong. He's solidified his standing as the Orioles' lead-off man, displaying a 91-plus contact percentage and willingness to run. Another 7-8 homers and 15-17 steals are certainly possible.

Dalton – OVER. He's playing over his head right now, and of course his .346 BA is going to come way down, but McLouth combined for 19 homers/steals over just 209 at-bats after joining Baltimore last season. He's been successful on 24 of his last 26 stolen base attempts and currently sports a 9:15 K:BB ratio.

Nolan Arenado, who cracked his first big league homer Monday, final rank among third basemen rest of season 12.5

Brad – UNDER. Feasting on Triple-A pitching is a simple exercise, especially at hitter-friendly Colorado Springs, but his bat should translate seamlessly to the next level. More aggressive at the dish, he is finally blossoming. Don't be surprised if he tallies numbers equivalent to Pablo Sandoval's this summer. Fearless Forecast (ROS): 500 at-bats, .285 BA, 18 HR, 72 RBI, 65 R, 1 SB

Dalton – OVER. I like Arenado, and Coors Field will really help, but I peg him around the 15th ranked third baseman from here on out. His power projects more as doubles than homers right now.

Andy – UNDER. He was called up early enough in the season that his year-end counting stats will look just fine. The talent is evident and the home park is friendly. Add and enjoy.

Steals Showdown (Revisited). What shortstop finishes with more swipes: Jean Segura or Everth Cabrera?

Andy – EVERTH. I'll take the defending NL champ in this showdown. We know he can reach 40-plus. I'm still forecasting 30-35 steals for Segura, so it's not like he's Brett Wallace.

Brandon – CABRERA. I went with Everth last time this question was posed, and I don't have a strong enough reason to change my initial opinion – Cabrera now has 53 SB in his past 142 games.

Scott –I'm a SEGURA believer now that he's parked at the top of the lineup, and if this were overall value (I know it isn't), he wins this in a romp. I wish I had any shares, but I worried too much about the bat batting slot in March. You win, kid.

Kevin Gregg, who miraculously is 4-for-4 in late-game opportunities, rest of season saves 15.5

Dalton – UNDER. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be surprised if he surpasses this number, but it's more likely he doesn't. Gregg hasn't finished with an ERA of 3.50 or lower or a WHIP of 1.30 or lower since 2008. It also sounds like Kyuji Fujikawa will return relatively soon. There's also incentive to build Carlos Marmol's trade value.

Andy – UNDER. C'mon. No way he locks down a closing gig — even a bad team's closing gig. Fujikawa should reenter the saves discussion at some point; he's nearly read for rehab appearances

Brandon – UNDER. Fujikawa, baby! (the less words said about Gregg, the better)

Fill in the blank: Hot-slugging third baseman Pedro Alvarez finishes with ______ homers and musters a _______ BA.

Brandon – "25" and ".233" batting average (his career clip)

Scott – "28: and ".239." But remember, in today's hack-heavy offensive environment, that's useful and playable in most leagues.

Brad – "27," ".241"

What struggling corner infielder will be less of a rest-of-season burden: Adam LaRoche, Will Middlebrooks, Mike Moustakas, Erik Hosmer or Ike Davis?

Scott – LAROCHE does this April rope-a-dope every year. He's locked into a deep lineup. Go with the proven resume.

Brad – IKE. Davis is quickly becoming the Adam Dunn of the NL. His epic swoons followed by power binges makes him tough to own, but he offers more HR/RBI upside than anyone else on this list. If you can stomach what will be a sub .250 BA, he should deliver another 23-25 long-balls and 70-plus RBI.

Dalton – DAVIS. I had Hosmer ranked slightly higher entering the season, but I'm officially worried about him. Not that Davis hasn't been horrendous to open the year, but he got off to a terribly slow start last season too before hitting 20 homers over 251 ABs after the All-Star break. He has the most power upside among this group.

Andrew Cashner, brilliant in his second start of the season allowing just one earned with five strikeouts against San Francisco, rest of season ERA 3.70

Brad – OVER. This is extremely close, but peg the finely-bearded starter for a rest-of-season ERA in the 3.85-3.90 range. His propensity for walks (3.72 BB/9) and homers (12.5 HR/FB%) will occasionally lead to unpalatable appearances, especially on the road.

Dalton – UNDER. Cashner walks too many batters to be a big asset in WHIP, but he throws extremely hard (average FB velocity is 96.6 mph for his career) and has combined a 25.0 K% with a 51.0 GB% this season. The 25 year old should only continue to improve, and I haven't even mentioned the fact he has Petco Park on his side. I'll say he finishes way under this mark.

Andy – UNDER, barely. In this case, the number is just slightly below NL-average, and I think Cashner has more than enough stuff to get there.

Requiem for a STREAM. Pick one plug ‘n play pitcher: Travis Wood (vs. SD), Justin Grimm (vs. ChW), Jonathan Pettibone (vs. Mia), Mike Leake (at ChC)

Dalton – WOOD. He's been lucky so far this season, there's no question about that, but a matchup at home against a middling Padres lineup is a decent enough spot start. I could also see the case for Pettibone, as the Marlins offense has been historically bad so far and will be without Giancarlo Stanton.

Andy – LEAKE, pitching for his job, facing a lousy lineup.

Brandon – WOOD. The Padres have one of the league's worst OPS marks on the road, and they haven't been that good against lefties. And then there's the fact that Travis Wood is a perfect 5-for-5 in Quality Starts this season.

Scott – Take me to PETTIBONE JUNCTION because the Marlins can't hit, with or without Mikey Stanton. (Whisper to a Stream? We're never going to consider the Stream Police? Mike Damone was one of my heroes, Bradley.)

Brad - GRIMM. His -1.73 ERA vs. xFIP differential is a tell tale sign not to expect the status quo. However, his near 8.00 K/9, low walks yield (2.12 BB/9) and sterling groundball rate (48.1 GB%) offer plenty of encouragement. Considering the ChiSox are hitting just .216 as a team, he's definitely trustworthy.

Hungry for more advice? Listen to The Fantasy Freak Show on Yahoo! Sports Radio Friday nights at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

In the middle of a draft, those secondary closers can start to look the same. I'm not going to bag on anyone who decided to take a ride with J.J. Putz. If you're down with JJP, it probably made sense in March.

That said, let's keep both eyes open and be proactive as needed. Putz is a closer on the brink right now, and it's time to audit the Diamondbacks bullpen.

The Arizona closer let another game slip away Tuesday, allowing a game-flipping home run to Pablo Sandoval in the top of the ninth. Nothing cheap about the homer; it landed somewhere around Flagstaff. Putz inherited a scant one-run lead and a runner on first; this giveaway doesn't grade a 10 on the Slocumb Scale. But when you're getting beat in the ninth inning and with the long ball, it leaves a scar on your clubhouse. It's the fourth blown save for Putz and the third homer allowed. He's carrying a 4.26 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.

To be fair, it's not like Putz's stuff has completely flown out the window: he does have 17 strikeouts in 12.2 innings. But seven unintentional walks over a month of play is asking for trouble, not to mention the gopher problem. And the Snakes have some intriguing relievers percolating behind their struggling closer.

Let's start with David Hernandez, the eighth-inning bridge. He posted a snappy 2.50 ERA and 1.02 WHIP last year, with 98 strikeouts (against 22 walks) over 68.1 innings. That's a closer profile. Don't hassle me about his six blown saves - they were all leads handed away in the eighth inning, a situation where the reliever inherits blown-save risk without a chance at the reward. Hernandez is doing his normal fine work this year, albeit the ratios have crept up (2.84/1.34). He has 14 strikeouts against four walks over 12.2 innings. He's widely available, and looks like the logical first stop for Arizona hedging.

If manager Kirk Gibson wants to play the "proven closer" card, Heath Bell is around. Bell's 4.50 ERA and 1.60 WHIP push you off the scent, but he doers have 15 strikeouts (and just one walk) over 10 innings. He's allowed a couple of homers. I'd prefer to stay away from this guy once and for all, but I don't run the bullpen phone in the desert.

Left-hander Matt Reynolds also deserves a mention, albeit he'd have to fight through the bias against southpaw closers. He's been the lockdown guy in this bullpen: 13 innings, six hits, zero runs, one walk, eight strikeouts. He didn't show this type of ability in Colorado the last two years, but you can't take those thin-air samples seriously. And Reynolds doesn't need to be pigeonholed as a left specialist; righties are slashing .120/.120/.160 against him. Sure, it's a small sample, but still - that's ridiculous.

You'll recall Reynolds picked up two extra-inning saves in the San Francisco series last week, (Putz had a meltdown there, too). But his career strikeout profile is ordinary for a reliever, and the brilliant April could go down as batted-ball luck more than anything. Not dissing the guy or dismissing him out of hand, just trying to keep both cleats firmly on the ground.

So there you have it, something for everyone. Place your bets, save chasers. Four reasonable options are on the board. Will the Snakes stick with Putz (or try to fix him)? Will Hernandez get the call, a nod to usage patterns? Will Bell be pressed into the ninth, given his ninth-inning resume? Will Reynolds get some chances at handshakes, or do the Diamondbacks view him too valuable in the earlier innings?

Share your slants and pickup ideas (and logs) in the comments.

• If you go very deep into the Roto Arcade archives, you'll surely come across some Kevin Slowey propaganda. He was considered Brad Radke 2.0 once upon a time (that was actually meant as a compliment), a yearly sleeper along with Scott Baker. Alas, Slowey crashed hard in 2009-2011, and he didn't even pitch in the majors last year (a rib-cage injury wiped out his season). He's been off the radar for a while.

Slowey is coming back from the dead in 2013, though one month anyway (2.15 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, six walks, 29 strikeouts over 37.2 innings). He turns 29 later this week; still young enough for a career rejuvenation. Here's some scouting video to consider, have a look. The Mets looked overmatched Tuesday. Slowey's luck-rate stats look, well, lucky – but you can say that about anyone with his stellar ratios. The big home park and zippy K/BB rate provide a reason to believe.

Unfortunately for the comebacking righty, he still has to work along with Miami's horrendous offense. He's winless in 2013, despite six consecutive starts of roto usefulness. Slowey will try to get that first victory this weekend, working against the Phils and Doc Halladay. After that, a trip to Chavez Ravine is on tap. There's deep-league streaming juice here (and maybe it's a temp-to-perm position), but unfortunately Slowey never gets to pitch against his own team.

• The Indians have rebounded nicely from their 9-0 loss at Kansas City on Sunday afternoon, rolling to three straight wins (including the Sunday nightcap) by a combined score of 33-5. The Tribe welcomed the Phillies into town Tuesday and served a 14-2 beatdown, garnished with 17 hits and seven homers. Bang the drum slowly. Enjoy your box score. Stop booing Kipnis and Cabrera.

Ryan Raburn is someone to consider as a short-term mixer pickup. He's homered four times in the past 48 hours, seeing time in the outfield. Eventually the Indians are going to welcome Michael Bourn back (it should be in the first half of May) but maybe Raburn can steal some at-bats as a super-utility player; he's not much of a defender but he can, theoretically, play all over the field.

Raburn didn't hit at all in Detroit last year but he was a sneaky power source from 2009-2011, clocking 45 homers on 1019 at-bats. He's currently a 2B/OF option in the Yahoo! game, and ready to grab in 97 percent of leagues. Shallow players can ignore Raburn (or have a good laugh), but the calculus is different in the deeper pools. (I'm not going to recommend Raburn in AL-only. We all know he's long-gone there.)

Over in the NL, the Brewers have their version of Raburn: Yuniesky Betancourt. The much-maligned hacking veteran has a career .290 OBP (it's .299 this year) but when you've got six homers and a .549 slugging percentage in 2013, who cares? Unfortunately for the Wiggy Sympathizers like yours truly, Aramis Ramirez is probably going to be ready Friday - Betancourt's time at third base is just about done. Will the Brewers consider giving Betancourt a super-utility gig at the four infield spots? He's played all of them before. I've got a few deep-league rosters that could use more Betancourt. (Ask and you receive: manager Ron Roenicke made it official Wednesday, saying he'll use Betancourt at first base after Ramirez returns.)

Speed Round: Joel Hanrahan is back off the DL, returning from a hamstring injury, but his ninth-inning baton is long gone. Manager John Farrell is doing the logical thing, sticking with lights-out Andrew Bailey. Hanrahan worked in the eighth inning with a one-run deficit at Toronto on Tuesday, giving up two hits and a run. It's going to take a while to fix that 11.12 ERA. … It's possible the Cubs might go to a bullpen-by-committee approach even when Kyuji Fujikawa returns, Dale Sveum told Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. Just what we all want, six months of fire in Chicago. … With Brett Anderson (ankle) going on the disabled list, we welcome Daniel Straily back into our lives. Straily didn't have it Monday against the Angels but I still like him long-term. That said, if he goes Sunday at Yankee Stadium, that's a spot to avoid. … Hyun-Jin Ryu continues to pass the eye test. He struck out 12 in an easy win over the Rockies on Tuesday. Next up: a date in San Francisco. … Coco Crisp (hamstring) was another casualty for the A's, hitting the DL - but you know the score with him. This is risk you priced into March's ranking. Chris Young, assuming he's hale, could benefit with Crisp out, and Seth Smith is another option. … The Cardinals still haven't made a decision on rehabbing Jason Motte (who did some throwing Tuesday). In the meantime, Edward Mujica had a delicious three-strikeout save against the Reds. … Johnny Cuteto (triceps) will make a rehab start Friday, which means the eventual rotation decision between Tony Cingrani and Mike Leake isn't far off. You'd like to think Cingrani's three ridiculous starts will be rewarded, but organizations sometimes do strange things. … Carl Crawford is battling a sore hamstring and probably won't play Wednesday. … Curtis Granderson is making good progress on his rehab, but things appear to be stalled with Mark Teixeira.

Matt Cain entered this season having allowed 129 homers over 1,536.2 innings (0.76 HR/9). This year, he’s already served up nine home runs over 34.2 innings. Put differently, he’s allowed the same amount of long balls this month as he did all of the 2011 season, which spanned 221.2 innings. Cain has never had a season in which his HR/FB% was higher than 8.4. That number currently sits at 19.1% in 2013. While some could view this as regression hitting hard, Cain’s previous sample was too big to be written off as a fluke, and it’s worth pointing out just two of his six starts this year have come at home. Cain’s fastball velocity is down slightly in the early going (about 0.5 mph less compared to last year), and thanks to two deep playoff runs, he’s averaged 238.2 innings pitched over the past three seasons, so it’s at least possible he’s wearing down. However, with a 32:10 K:BB ratio over 34.2 innings this year, Cain could just as easily be viewed as a prime buy-low candidate. A 6.49 ERA typically isn’t accompanied by a 1.30 WHIP. I’d try to take advantage of owners fed up with an extremely unlucky stretch of home runs allowed and throw out some trade offers. From 2009-2012, Cain’s ERA (2.93) and WHIP (1.10) were both the fourth-best among all starters in baseball (accompanied by a HR/FB% of 7.0), so don’t let one month change just how consistently good Cain has been. The home park, SF’s bullpen and strong defense are all in his favor as well.

Here’s a funny clip asking people at Coachella about fake bands.

Here’s a cop yanking a suicidal man off train tracks at the last possible second.

Eric Hosmer posted a .338/.406/.571 line as a 20 year old in the minors in 2010. The following season he posted a .439/.525/.582 line (over 118 PAs). His spring training stats over the past three years look like this: .400/.458/.684 with nine homers, six steals and 51 RBI over 155 at bats. But after a promising rookie year in 2011, Hosmer has since posted a .659 OPS – fewer than 20 players have a lower mark over that stretch. He hasn’t homered in his past 114 at-bats. Kauffman Stadium suppresses home runs for LHB at a pretty high rate, but at some point the excuses need to stop. If it’s been a mechanical issue, as suggested, then why did he dominate again in spring this year, only to revert once the stats started counting? There’s upside as a first baseman capable of swiping 20 bags, and he’s still just 23 years old, but Hosmer has been a major disappointment so far this season, as he currently ranks as the 489th most valuable fantasy player despite having a BABIP (.327) 40 points higher than his career mark. In other words, things could actually be even worse. His ISO of .044 is tied for 180th among qualified hitters. Hosmer’s 2.45 GB/FB ratio is the 15th highest in all of baseball and suggests it doesn’t matter what park he plays in – that type of profile isn’t going to hit more than 10 or so homers at best. I was a believer in Hosmer bouncing back in 2013, but it’s been a highly discouraging start, to say the least. Meanwhile, Mike Moustakas is currently sporting a .176/.265/.243 line, while Salvador Perez is at .256/.271/.366. It’s almost as if the Royals struggle to develop hitters.

The sounds made at the end of this Koala fight seriously had me in tears.

Two monkeys were paid unequally, and the consequences were pretty funny.

Jordan Zimmermann is in the midst of a fairly fascinating run. He posted a 3.18 ERA despite a 6.92 K/9 rate in 2011, and then proceeded to record a 2.94 ERA with a 7.04 K/9 rate last year. Zimmermann’s walk rates have always been really low, and he limits homers, but he’s taken it to a new level so far this year, as he has a 2.00 ERA with a 4.75 K/9 rate. Zimmermann’s SwStr% of 6.0 ranks 94th among all starters (other surprising names with extremely low SwStr% include Yovani Gallardo (6.0), Alex Cobb (6.3) and Kris Medlen (6.6)), so he’s really struggled when it comes to missing bats. Zimmermann has defied mediocre underlying stats in the past, but it’s especially crazy to note he currently sports a .200 BABIP accompanied by a 51.8 GB% and a 21.8 LD%. I’m a Zimmermann fan, but if Matt Cain is a prime buy-low candidate, Zimmermann might very well be the No. 1 sell-high pitcher right now.

This basketball footage of two radio hosts versus “wet, dry and baby back ribs” is oddly humorous. Remember, the goal was to see if they could score five points in 45 seconds. "This is the most embarrassing moment of my life."

Here’s Nathan Fielder asking his Twitter followers to play a joke on their parents. And here’s Nathan’s follow up.

Entering 2013, first base was seemingly by far the deepest position. So far, it’s been anything but. Here are some 1B who all had relatively high ADPs entering 2013, with their current overall ranks, according to Baseball Monster: Allen Craig (258), Billy Butler (224), Adrian Gonzalez (141), Eric Hosmer (489), Ike Davis (467), Freddie Freeman (374) and Paul Konerko (233). Among that group, only Freeman has injuries to blame, and it took a two-homer game Monday to get Albert Pujols inside the top-100, so it’s been a disastrous start for most of the league’s premier first basemen. And it’s not like it gets much better for the deeper options, either: Nick Swisher (259), Adam Dunn (371), Brandon Belt (289) and Justin Morneau (366). Early congratulations belong to those who drafted Chris Davis, Mark Reynolds, Prince Fielder and Paul Goldschmidt. What an epically horrible start to a season by the first base position.

Here’s another news anchor fail. This one's reminiscent of a “Bruce Almighty” scene.

The human chair scare prank.

Austin Jackson has seen his batting average drop more than 100 points (from .393 to .286) over the past dozen games, but he’s off to an encouraging start nevertheless. His K% (16.2) is easily a career low, while his LD% (25.0) is a career high. After being successful on just 57.1 percent (12-of-21) of his stolen base attempts last year, Jackson is a perfect 5-for-5 in 2013, and if that is a sign of things to come, it’s huge news for his fantasy value. He’s swinging and missing at the lowest rate of his career, and after scoring 103 runs in just 137 games last season, he’s on pace to finish 2013 with a whopping 169. That number is unrealistic, of course, but he’s among the favorites to lead the league in the category, as it really helps hitting in front of Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. Still just 25 years old, Jackson is quietly developing into a star, as he’s also terrific defensively in center field. Hopefully the newfound base stealing ability is here to stay for his fantasy owners.

Headlines of the week: Dead Prostitute Leaps From Her Coffin..…11 Haunting Larry David Tattoos..…Scrotum Surgery Leaves Las Vegas Man 132 Pounds Lighter.

Here’s a couple attempting to steal fuel. It doesn’t go as planned.

This robbery attempt wasn’t exactly successful either.

Quick Hits: The average true distance of home runs in the majors this season has been 396.6 feet. Justin Upton’s MLB-leading 12 homers (11 of which have been solo shots) have averaged a league-high 423.5 feet. What a start to the year. Every fantasy owner of his should name their team “True Grit”…After getting traded to Texas last season, Ryan Dempster posted a 5.09 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. The year before that he posted a 4.80 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with the Cubs. He’ll turn 35 years old soon and joined a Boston team in the offseason that plays in a tough AL East division and calls Fenway, a terrific hitter’s park, home, so it’s safe to say Dempster’s 3.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 43 strikeouts over 30.0 innings have been unexpected. His 35.3 K% is the third highest in all of baseball….Bartolo Colon is having quite a remarkable season, posting a 3.38 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with a 20:1 K:BB ratio. He’s done so by throwing his fastball 90.5% of the time (there’s only one other pitcher who’s thrown his FB more than 75.1%). Since joining Oakland last season, Colon has recorded a 4.63:1 K:BB ratio, second only to Cliff Lee among all starters in baseball…Anibal Sanchez became just the third pitcher ever to record 17 strikeouts in eight innings or fewer during his dominant performance against the Braves on Friday…Entering the All-Star break last season, Ryan Vogelsong had a 2.57 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with a 2.3:1 K:BB ratio and a 6.7 K/9 rate over 290.1 innings after joining the Giants. Since then, he has a 5.19 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with a 2.9:1 K:BB ratio and an 8.8 K/9 rate over 109.1 innings. Your guess is as good as mine. Moreover, Vogelsong has a .330 BABIP this season despite playing for a Giants team that ranks first in UZR.

Police Blotter: Cops seize 53 king cobras from car…After 396 arrests, woman begs for parole…Man arrested after board game turns violent…Man gets 15-year jail sentence for having sex with his pit bull.

Longread of the week: Michael Bay’s movie looks pretty campy, but the real story behind “Pain & Gain” is absolutely crazy.

Quick Hits Part Deux: Matt Moore has walked more batters (15) than he has allowed hits (13). It’s not exactly easy to have a 1.13 ERA with a 4.22 BB/9 rate. His average fastball velocity is way down (92.5 mph compared to 94.4 last year), as is his SwStr% (8.5). Moore has obviously experienced some luck (as every pitcher with an ERA that low does), with a .149 BABIP, but his HR/FB% of 9.4 is close enough to league average. In fact, Moore hasn’t allowed a run this season other than via the home run (h/t Jason Collette)…Brandon Belt’s homer Monday was the Giants’ first from their first basemen this season…In a high stakes NFBC league, I have Giancarlo Stanton, Stephen Strasburg, Coco Crisp and Chris Young. Monday night wasn’t exactly ideal for me. Speaking of Strasburg, he’s allowed more earned runs in the first inning (7) than he has in all others combined (6)…If you haven’t seen this unbelievable GIF of Yu Darvish’s five pitches (with the same release point), check it out. I want to brag about me picking him as the AL Cy Young winner before the season, but the problem is he ended up on none of my fantasy teams, so I didn’t exactly back up my talk. I’m an idiot…This pitcher didn’t appreciate the batter asking for time…Gio Gonzalez has a 10.00 ERA and 2.44 WHIP against the Braves this season and a 3.52 ERA and 0.96 WHIP when not facing Atlanta…Since June 1 of last year, Josh Hamilton has batted .236/.306/.446 over 543 PAs, striking out 29 percent of the time over that span. His plate discipline has become frighteningly bad. Oh and in case you were scoring at home, my first three picks in Mixed LABR this year were Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez and Hamilton. Oof.

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When Mr. Irrelevant, Justice Cunningham, had his name called Saturday, the fantasy football mock season officially got underway. To kick off Yahoo!'s festivities, we'll mock two rounds per day Tuesday-Friday (12-teams, PPR scoring) to help you get educated on which players will be valued/undervalued when the bulk of the draft season begins in August. Please declare a winner and/or express your general disdain for our 'stupidity' in the comments section below.

SEE ROUNDS 3-4 HERE

SEE ROUNDS 4-5 HERE

SEE ROUNDS 7-8 HERE

ROUND 1

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings (PK1, RB1) – Is there even an argument for anyone else? Only a lunatic contrarian would veer away from the game's best back, coming off an all-time season. – Behrens 1

Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans (PK2, RB2) – There really shouldn't be much debate with the top two picks in 2013. Foster gave us over 1,600 scrimmage yards last season with 17 scores, and he was terrific in the playoffs. – Behrens 2

Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (PK3, RB3) – Lands No. 3 here after finishing behind only Peterson and Foster in terms of RB fantasy points as a rookie. And in PPR leagues, only Peterson was better out of the backfield. – Brandon 1

LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (PK4, RB4) – Every indication is that Chip Kelly will deploy a run-heavy system in Philly, so McCoy, with his versatility and elusiveness, should be put to good use. Plus, he's still only 24 years old – plenty of tread left on the tires. – Brandon 2

Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens (PK5, RB5) – Page me when he has a bad season (okay, Tweet me, or Facebook me, or text me, maybe). Even in an ordinary campaign for Rice, we saw double-digit touchdowns, 61 receptions, and one absolute clowning of the San Diego Chargers. Welcome to the huddle. – Pianow 1

C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills (PK6, RB6) – It was painful to be 0-for-Spiller last year; that will not happen in 2013, even if it's mock-only. I know Calvin Johnson looks appealing in this spot, but the running back roundup is more critical in PPR, and Spiller's 6.0 YPC also moves the needle. – Pianow 2

Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (PK7, RB7) – Stock the sacramental wine, the JC of KC is about to deliver holy numbers. In Andy Reid's pass-happy offense, McCoy averaged 55 receptions per year over four seasons. Rookie Knile Davis should wrest away 8-10 carries/game, but expect Charles to rack 1,500 total yards, many of those coming through the air. – Brad 1

Trent Richardson, RB, Cleveland Browns (PK8, RB8) – T-Pain posted uneven totals in a season marred by poor run-blocking and tender ribs that forced him to sleep standing up. Despite the discomfort, he still managed to register the seventh-best RB line in PPR settings. A step forward is entirely possible. – Brad 2

Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions (PK9, WR1) – He just set the single season record for receiving yards, including a ridiculous 1,197 over the final eight games. Johnson scored 28 touchdowns over the previous two seasons, so last year's five feel like a fluke. He also had 122 catches, which works pretty well in a PPR format. – Dalton 1

Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks (PK10, RB9) – Has scored 25 touchdowns over his past 28 games and is in a terrific situation in Seattle. Still in the prime of his career, Lynch's 58 broken tackles last season were second only to Adrian Peterson (64). Beast mode. – Dalton 2

Alfred Morris, RB, Washington Redskins (PK11, RB10) – Maybe he catches more dumps now as the Redskins seek to protect RGIII. The success of this pick hinges on RGIII remaining a dangerous running threat in 2013. We're guessing this early, but reports to date on his ACL recovery are beyond encouraging. – Salfino 1

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers (PK12, QB1) – Money in the bank at quarterback. Maybe he doesn't finish the season No. 1. But he has a very high floor and as high a ceiling as anyone when you factor in his propensity for rushing scores, too. – Salfino 2

ROUND 2

Montee Ball, RB, Denver Broncos (PK13, RB11) – A reach. But I see double-digit touchdowns in this offense and none of the remaining backs offered that kind of upside. You have to reach at RB in this draft slot, unfortunately. – Salfino 2

David Wilson, RB, New York Giants (PK14, RB12) – Provides the allure of being the feature back plus 50-catch upside in PPR with explosiveness, too. Rushing touchdowns are likely going to be a problem. But there should be plenty of scoring opportunities in a good Giants' offense. – Salfino 1

Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys (PK15, WR2) – Had 50 catches for 879 yards and 10 touchdowns over the final eight games last season, as the light bulb finally went on. Still just 24 years old, he showed toughness playing through a badly broken finger down the stretch. Got 10.0 YPT last season and has the best chance of any WR of finishing ahead of Calvin Johnson in 2013. – Dalton 2

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears (PK16, RB13) – Has averaged 1,512 yards from scrimmage over the past three seasons despite missing five games. Forte isn't a big scorer but gets a boost in PPR format. He should thrive in new HC Marc Trestman's system. – Dalton 1

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (PK17, RB14) – Four months from now this will be an incredible value pick. The Oompah Loompah, recovering from a Lisfranc sprain, recently expressed he'll be full speed by June. In a contract year and with Denard Robinson expected to help ease the burden, MJD should storm back with a vengeance. A top-five campaign isn't out of the question. – Brad 2

Reggie Bush, RB, Detroit Lions (PK18, RB15) – Jim Schwartz's declaration Bush could catch upwards of 80 passes this year is 100-percent pure fantasy porn. Yes, he'll yield goal-line work to Mikel LeShoure, but 1,200-1,400 total yards and 5-7 TDs combined with his contribution in receptions would push him inside the RB top-10. Essentially, he's Detroit's Sproles. – Brad 1

A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (PK19, WR3) – I can't imagine any possible downside to this stud, who's coming off a dynamite 97-1350-11 season as a sophomore. They feed him the ball between the 20s and at the goal line, and Andy Dalton should be ready for more downfield responsibility in 2013. – Scott 2

Brandon Marshall, WR, Chicago Bears (PK20, WR4) – He was reunited with Jay Cutler in 2012 and it felt so good: a monster 118-1508-11 season and a silly 192 targets. Even if Marshall is bitten some by the regression bug, he's one of the most bankable PPR options on the outside. – Scott 1

Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons (RD2, PK21, WR5) – We don't talk about that magical third-year breakout phenomenon for receivers anymore because times have changed and players get thrown into the fire earlier. But the athletic freak Jones is all arrows up coming off a Year 2 in the NFL in which he went for 1,200 yards and 10 TDs. – Brandon 2

Percy Harvin, WR, Seattle Seahawks (RD2, PK22, WR6) – Harvin led WR in catches (60) over the first eight games of '12, and he's heading to a team in Seattle that found another gear on offense with the read-option, averaging 34 PPG over the final nine games of the season. The possibilities for Harvin playing alongside Russell Wilson seem endless. – Brandon 1

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals (RD2, PK23, WR7) – Arizona has a credible quarterback (Carson Palmer) directing a Bruce Arians offense, with Fitz as the primary receiving threat. Don't bet against him going 100-1200-10 this season. By the time we're drafting for keeps in August, Fitz will be going higher than this. – Behrens 2

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints (RD2, PK24, QB2) – Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints - Yeah, sure, OK. I'll pair the game's best running back (AP) with fantasy's top quarterback. Brees has topped 5,000 passing yards and 40 TDs in each of the last two seasons, and there's no obvious reason to expect a decline this year. (And even if he does decline, the numbers will still be sick.) – Behrens 1

Still hungry for fantasy advice? Tune into 'The Fantasy Freak Show' Fridays starting at 8 PM ET on Yahoo! Sports Radio.

We try to keep Closing Time from becoming an injury-driven blog, but on some occasions we can't avoid it. The Monday night (and Tuesday morning) slate turned into a medical watch, with key players falling by the wayside all over the place.

The biggest individual hit came in Miami, where Giancarlo Stanton suffered a right hamstring strain and landed on the DL after the game. He's out for at least 15 days, and might need more time than that (we'll see what Tuesday's MRI tells us). The timing is particularly rotten for Stanton, who had a three-homer weekend against Chicago.

With Stanton out of the mix, highly-regarded outfielder Marcell Ozuna gets a chance to show what he can do. The 22-year-old was off to a ridiculous 10-game start at Double-A (.333/.383/.810, five homers), his first time at the level. We'll see how he handles a double-jump to the show. But no matter what Ozuna is ready for, the Marlins already had the worst offense in the majors by far (71 runs; .226/.287/.312 slash) – and now we can be even more aggressive in our efforts to stream against them.

New York right-hander Dillon Gee is the first guy to grab for the South Beach special; he works in Miami on Wednesday. Then the Phillies come to town for a four-game set; the widely-available (and notably underrated) Kyle Kendrick opens that series. Do you feel frisky enough to try Jonathan Pettibone on Friday? The weekend ends with Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay.

History will note Miami actually won Monday's game, a 4-3 decision over the Mets in 15-innings. A pair of rallies (and a pair of blown saves from the New York bullpen) flipped the result twice. But if you wanted truly weird baseball, you needed to be in Oakland, where the Athletics outlasted the Angels in a 19-inning beauty. Brandon Moss sent the last remaining diehard fans home 6.5 hours after the game started, clocking a two-run homer at 1:41 am PST. It capped a monster night for Moss: two homers and a steal. He's still unclaimed freight in 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Alas, the result in Oakland is secondary to the laundry list of injured suffered on both sides. Peter Bourjos strained his left hamstring running to first and is ticketed for the DL. Coco Crisp (hamstring) and Chris Young (quadriceps) were also injured running the first 90 feet (maybe strike-a-pose Yoenis Cespedes had the right idea; don't bother running at all). We'll see what we learn on re-evaluation Tuesday. Billy Beane apparently knew what he was doing when he assembled all that outfield depth over the winter; his troops sure need it now.

Daniel Straily (4.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 2 HR) was mediocre in his much-anticipated spot start, taking over for the injured Brett Anderson, but the length and flow of the game eventually forced Anderson to pitch after all. Anderson took over to open the 13th and worked 5.1 strong innings (3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K) before an apparent foot injury forced him to the sidelines. No one was safe from the injury gods on this night.

• The Nationals were whistling an optimistic tune after Monday's 3-2 loss at Atlanta, but anytime Stephen Strasburg has any type of physical ailment, we're going to worry. Strasburg worked six innings against the Braves, then was diagnosed with "a little tightness" in his right forearm. "That was a tough one," Johnson told the Associated Press, talking about the loss. "But the main thing I was a little concerned about was Strasburg." Johnson added that Strasburg "didn't look right to me" during the balance of the evening.

Washington's ace says he'll make his next start; that's what most athletes do, they downplay injury talk. I don't think we'll know anything for sure until the game at Pittsburgh actually comes to pass. Strasburg is now 1-4 on the year, albeit with a reasonable 3.14 ERA.His strikeout rate is down, not that 36 whiffs in 37.1 innings is anything to be ashamed of.

• The injury talk had a positive spin at Chavez Ravine, with the Dodgers and Rockies feeling good about big-name infielders on the rebound. Troy Tulowitzki (shoulder) didn't play Monday but he took batting practice and might be able to go Tuesday. And let's hear it for Hanley Ramirez, who returned ahead of schedule from his busted thumb. Ramirez struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance (watching a perfect third strike sail by, like an honorary Drew brother) but big deal; he's likely to play Tuesday.

As for the game, the Rockies put on a rare road hitting display and laughed to a 12-2 victory. Dexter Fowler, Wilin Rosario and new toy Nolan Arenado went deep (here's to you, rookie), and Arenado, batting sixth, had three of Colorado's 19 hits. The visitors did all of their scoring against Ted Lilly (3 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 HR) and Josh Wall. Emergency mop-up man Skip Schumaker worked a scoreless ninth, dodging two hits and a walk.

• The Saunders connection carried the Mariners to a 6-2 victory over Baltimore. We'll ignore Joe, the soft-tossing lefty on the mound (despite a pitch-to-contact gem here), but we should pay attention to Michael, the category-juice option finally back in the outfield. Michael Saunders posted a useful 4-2-1-2 line (leadoff homer, walk) in his return from a shoulder injury, and he's quietly collected 21 homers and 24 steals (in 28 attempts) over his last 149 games. Sounds like someone who should be owned more aggressively; he's unrostered in 84 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

The Orioles didn't use surging outfielder Nate McLouth in this loss, par for the course; McLouth rarely plays against lefties (a logical call given his career splits). But don't make an emotional drop on your free-agent find; eight of the next nine probable starters against Baltimore are right-handed, so we'll see plenty of the sweet swinger at the top of the lineup.

Speed Round: Although Asdrubal Cabrera's seasonal numbers are still ugly, he's on a 12-for-29 push since returning from his quadriceps injury. Jason Kipnis also represented in Monday's rout of Kansas City, hitting a solo homer and scoring twice. … The scary Matt Cain music keeps on playing: he had one horrible inning at Arizona (three homers) and five good ones. The gopher ball largely explains his 6.49 ERA; at least we can feel good about his K/BB clip (32 whiffs, 10 walks). It's the wrong time to sell him in most leagues, given the current rate of consumer confidence. Let's take a good scouting look at him in the Sunday nighter against Los Angeles. … Life was just groovy without Delmon Young but he's almost ready to return from his ankle injury. We might see him as soon as Wednesday. … Jayson Werth is dealing with a minor hamstring cramp, and he also dinged his left ankle Monday. … Albert Pujols collected four hits, including two homers, in Monday's marathon loss, putting the slump concerns on ice for a while. … Kevin Youkilis (back) still might need a trip to the DL, albeit his MRI came back negative. … Pablo Sandoval left in the sixth inning at Arizona, dealing with a sore right elbow. Panda's stroke is forever gorgeous, but injuries always come as part of the territory with him. We'll see what we learn Tuesday. No matter your affection for the skills here, you never want to chase six months with the Panda.

Fantasy is a speculative game. Predict the future, and you look like a genius. Don't, and you're painfully human. Gazing into the crystal ball, here's our view on 10 intriguing over/unders entering the mock draft season.

Now ex-Saint Chris Ivory, traded from New Orleans to the New York Jets in exchange for a fourth-round pick, rushing yards this fall in the Big Apple 1,099.5

Brandon – UNDER. I like Ivory's motor, but I also like Mike Goodson, who has been productive when healthy. And Bilal Powell was at least serviceable working in tandem with Shonn Greene last season. I expect we'll see a rotation of these guys, something that Ivory should be very used to coming from New Orleans.

Andy – UNDER. I would have struggled with this one if the number was, say, 849.5 rushing yards, but 1,099.5 seems crazy. To approach this total, Ivory would need to play all 16 games, plus he'd need to dominate the backfield touches, leaving little for Mike Goodson. I think we've set this line at something close to Ivory's ceiling.

Scott – I want to say over, I really do. Ivory brings a 5.4 career YPC to the mix and the Jets, largely to their detriment, can't quit the ground and pound motif. But Ivory would have to shove Mike Goodson completely out of the way to get into the 1100s, and I wonder how much of his New Orleans effectiveness was built on context (running late in games, and against defenses designed to stop an elite passing attack). UNDER is the only reasonable ticket.

Sam Bradford, who was gifted Jared Cook via free agency and Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey in the draft, passing touchdowns this upcoming season 26.5

Andy – UNDER. I like Bradford a fair amount, plus I like what the Rams did on draft day. (You can have Jared Cook, though. What a dog. Worst hype-to-stats ratio in fantasy history.) But in each of the past two seasons, only eight quarterbacks have topped 26 TD passes. This number is no layup, and St. Louis' offense is full of new pieces.

Scott – I love that the Rams are giving Bradford a chance, but I look at the division and have to say UNDER. The Niners and Seahawks have elite defenses, and the Cardinals are pretty nasty, too. And heck, when has Jared Cook ever justified his pre-season hype?

Dalton – UNDER. I can see the case for Bradford continuing to improve, but he'd have to stay fully healthy to beat this mark, and this is a QB who got just 6.7 YPA last year. He'd need to show major strides to approach 30 passing TDs. Facing the Niners, Seahawks and Cardinals defenses six times sure doesn't help either.

Presumed starter in Pittsburgh Le'Veon Bell final fantasy rank among RBs in standard scoring leagues 15.5 (Will he be a top-15 RB?)

Scott – Have to shade OVER here. I don't like the offensive line and the backfield still has some other reasonable options.

Dalton – OVER (as in, no he won't be a top-15 RB). The Steelers ranked second to last in run blocking according to Pro Football Focus last year, and Bell isn't exactly an elite prospect. He's the obvious favorite to lead the team in touches, but Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman have both shown flashes at times when healthy.

Brad – UNDER. Bell is a runaway armored bank truck, a blend of Jerome Bettis and Steven Jackson. The workhorse is easily the best RB currently on the Steelers roster and should easily tote 20 touches per game in Todd Haley's offense. Pittsburgh's O-line is rickety, but Bell's YAC and receiving abilities should tuck him inside the RB top-15.

Pick a Packer (For PPR): Eddie Lacy or Johnathan Franklin?

Dalton – FRANKLIN. He's the superior pass catcher, so the PPR angle here matters greatly. Moreover, many draft pundits had Franklin ahead of Lacy on their boards outright, and there's legit concern about the latter's health (his big toe has been "fused"). But bottom line, Green Bay drafting both really hurts the fantasy value of each back.

Brad – FRANKLIN. A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report Sunday revealed concerns over Lacy's toe/foot explained why the Steelers refused to touch him, a reason other teams likely circumvented the rusher. I'm convinced Franklin is not only the better fit for Green Bay's zone-blocking scheme, but also the better all-around back. If he keeps Lacy at arm's reach, he could finish inside the RB top-24 in PPR formats.

Brandon – LACY. The Alabama bulldozer should get a much bigger chunk of the carries, including the goal line carries, and he's got at least some promise as a receiver – and he's also decent in pass pro – so it's not like Franklin will be an automatic substitution on every passing down situation.

Number of touches Bengals running back Giovani Bernard will net per game 13.5

Brandon – UNDER. Bernard is my favorite RB in this class, but I don't see him going over this number as a change-of-pace complement to BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who averaged 20 touches a year ago. I expect 10-12 touches with return work thrown in for the Tar Heel rookie.

Andy – UNDER. So many things can derail our plans for the best rookie backs. I really like Bernard, so I don't think he'll miss this number by much. It's the right neighborhood. Bernard caught 92 balls in his two collegiate seasons; he definitely gets a value bump in PPR.

Scott – Given that he's 5-10, 205 and will play more as a change-of-pace and satellite player, I have to shade UNDER. But I'm still excited to watch Bernard and draft Bernard, especially in PPR formats.

Fill in the blank: E.J. Manuel starts Week _____ and from that point on throws for ________ passing yards, chips in _______ rushing yards and posts a _______ TD:INT split (All scores).

Scott – 5; 2,242; 191; 14:20

Dalton – 4, 2,340, 180, 15:19

Brandon – Week 2 (after Kevin Kolb is waxed by New England in the opener); 2,500 pass yards; 375 rushing yards; 15:17 TD-to-INT split (but 5 rushing TDs as well)

Former Baylor wide receiver and new Cowboy Terrance Williams receptions 49.5

Andy – UNDER. Williams found a great landing spot, and he's one of my favorite WR prospects. I'm a fan. However, he'll enter the season as presumably the fourth option in this passing game, so it's tough for me to project more than 42-45 catches for his rookie campaign.

Scott – UNDER. Too many wranglers already in place here. It will happen eventually, but I'm not going to chase it for 2013.

Dalton – UNDER. Barring health, the rookie wideout will at best be the fourth option in Dallas' passing attack. It wouldn't shock if he goes over with injury-prone WRs ahead of him on the depth chart, and Williams' strength (going vertical) seemingly a fit in the Cowboys' scheme, but the safer bet here is the under.

Regular season week Geno Smith supplants the ButtFumbler, Mark Sanchez, on the Jets' depth-chart 3.5

Brad – UNDER. The Jets say they will hold onto Sanchez through the preseason, but, unless Rex Ryan wants a premature vacation, Smith starts the year under center. What a circus Jets HQ will be this fall.

Brandon – WEEK 11. This would come after the bye week, with the Jets likely to be no better than 2-7 or 3-6 going in. He'd get two weeks to prepare, and it'd be a relatively soft launch coming out of the bye with his first matchup being the Buffalo Bills.

Andy – UNDER. It should happen as soon as possible. Everyone can see where this thing is headed. No reason to delay the inevitable

RB rank 'em (For standard leagues): Le'Veon Bell, Giovani Bernard, Montee Ball, Eddie Lacy, Jonathan Franklin and Zac Stacy

Dalton – Ball, Bell, Lacy, Franklin, Bernard, Stacy.

Brandon – Bell, Lacy, Ball, Bernard, Franklin, Stacy.

Brad – Bell, Ball, Franklin, Bernard, Stacy, Lacy.

Andy – Bell, Ball, Franklin, Bernard, Stacy, Lacy.

Scott – Bell, Ball, Lacy, Bernard, Franklin, Stacy.

TE/WR wrangle. Rank for PPR: Tavon Austin, DeAndre Hopkins, Robert Woods, Cordarelle Patterson, Keenan Allen, Justin Hunter, Tyler Eifert, Zack Ertz and Aaron Dobson

Brandon – Austin, Eifert, Hopkins, Dobson, Hunter, Allen, Patterson, Woods, Ertz

Brad – Austin, Hopkins, Dobson, Eifert, Woods, Ertz, Hunter, Patterson, Allen

Andy – Austin, Dobson, Hopkins, Woods, Hunter, Patterson, Ertz, Allen, Eifert.

Scott – Austin, Dobson, Hopkins, Woods, Patterson, Ertz, Hunter, Eifert, Allen.

Dalton – Austin, Dobson, Hopkins, Patterson, Woods, Hunter, Ertz, Eifert, Allen

Hungry for more fantasy opinion? Tune into 'The Fantasy Freak Show' Fridays on Yahoo! Sports Radio from 8-10 PM ET

It's been a lazy, rainy Sunday in The D, so I can't guarantee you the Braves and Tigers will be on the field when we check in tonight. But good baseball talk has no clock and no reliance on the weather. Let's get together and do what we do. Paws cordially invites you (or maybe that's Hobbes - get Bill Watterson on Line 1).

And as always, you're welcome to go off the map as you like. Wine, women and song are always approved topics, and maybe we'll sneak in some hockey, soccer or NFL talk. What sport isn't in season right now?

You've got a few hours to get in character; see you at 10 pm ET.

When it comes to rookies conventional wisdom no longer applies. With a few notable exceptions, most first-year players, particularly quarterbacks, were once thought to be multi-year projects, the Steve McNair approach – observe, learn and wait.

But in this day and age where instant gratification is constantly sought after, time isn’t of the essence. Several players picked in April are immediately pressed into competitive situations where often times they emerge as the go-to option, evident in the rapid ascension of guys like Robert Griffin III, Doug Martin and Josh Gordon, to name a few, last year. Because nuances from the college game are commonplace in playbooks throughout the league, the transition for some guys is seamless. From level-to-level, system terminology and execution are often not drastically different.

In football’s version of speed-dating, an inexperienced player that excels under fire typically buys at least another 2-3 years of trust. Conversely, those that fail quickly crash the pity party, drinking foamy beer alongside fellow busts JaMarcus Russell, moo cow Mike Williams (Not the Tampa version) and Mark Ingram (Too soon?).

Unfortunately, many commodities from this year's draft may soon pump the keg.

From a talent standpoint, this year’s class pales in comparison to 2012’s, a group that will be deemed ‘legendary’ 10 years from now. Though there is quality depth at wide receiver and running back, other fantasy focused positions lack punch, especially quarterback. However, success is all about opportunity. Any player given a chance to showcase his wares can thrive. Look at what 'The Butler' Alfred Morris, a passed-over sixth-round pick, accomplished a season ago. Displayed in the chart above, he totaled 246.3 fantasy points, the third-best among rookie RBs since 2000. His 1,613 rushing yards ranked third all-time for freshmen backs behind Eric Dickerson and George Rogers. As always, it all boils down to volume and system fit.

After weeks of poking, prodding and Wonderlicking, destinations are now determined. What newcomers will be cornerstones on fantasy rosters next season? Here's seven superb players poised to make an impact (in order of projected contribution):

Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh, RB (Watch highlights here)
Projected fantasy round drafted (12-team league): 5-6
Scrawl it in blood. Bell will be the most sought after rookie among fanatics this fall. The Spartan embodies characteristics the Steelers typically cherish in a running back – brawn, toughness, endurance, strong blocking ability and a three-down skill set. The rusher isn't particularly flashy. He lacks lateral agility, elusiveness and ran a mediocre 4.60 40-yard dash at the Combine. However, straight-line speed at running back is an overrated trait. What Bell does best is steamroll over defenders. He's a thundering herd of bison in human form. It would be no surprise if he finished well-inside the top-10 in yards after contact. He's also a better-than-advertised receiver, an instant upgrade in all facets over inconsistent options Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman. A blue collar throwback in a timeshare age – he logged 30-plus carries in seven of 13 games at Michigan State last year – he's Steven Jackson in Black and Gold. Pittsburgh's above average passing attack only enhances his statistical upside. The Steelers' line remains a work in progress, but expect him to conduct the train from Day 1. Trust him as a RB2 in 10-team leagues and deeper.

Fearless Forecast: 268 attempts, 1,125 rushing yards, 31 receptions, 228 receiving yards, 9 total touchdowns

Tavon Austin, St. Louis, WR (Watch highlights here)
Projected fantasy round drafted (12-team league): 7-8
The Rams, in desperate need for an upgrade at WR with Chris Givens atop the depth-chart entering the draft, traded up to the No. 8 spot to acquire the Mountaineers' microwave. He must be Percy Harvin's long lost brother. He's a compact, sure-handed wideout equipped with fantastic speed, enhanced versatility and supreme elusiveness, a textbook 'matchup nightmare.' The human juke button's Austintaneous ability to shift direction and accelerate will prove lethal at the next level. With Danny Amendola now the apple of Tom Brady's eye, the youngster steps in to fill the slot void for Jeff Fisher's club. Expect him to be trusted immediately. Last year, Sam Bradford targeted Amendola 9.1 times per game. Without much competition for looks on roster outside of Givens and ex-Titan Jared Cook, the rookie should net at least 7.0 targets per game. Because of his explosiveness and plus route-running skills, look for him to establish an instant bond with Bradford, becoming a top-flight WR3 in virtual leagues.

Fearless Forecast: 71 receptions, 928 receiving yards, 145 rushing yards, 7 total touchdowns

Montee Ball, Denver, RB (Watch highlights here)
Projected fantasy round drafted: 5-6
After Knowshon Moreno underwent a second procedure on his knee in February, it became imperative for John Elway to solidify his backfield. Prior to landing in Denver, many, including yours truly, questioned Ball's potential at the next level. His yeoman persona, undeterred attitude towards contact, terrific pad level and fluidity as a receiver are admirable qualities. However, he's a one-speed runner with significant tire wear. During his last two years in Madison he accumulated 697 total touches. Throw in his average power and lack of finesse, and Ball isn't a player that immediately jumps out. Still, his situation is ripe. Due to the Broncos' embarrassment of riches in the pass game (Peyton Manning, Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker), whoever logs carries in Denver will see tractor trailer-wide holes. He'll have to fend off Moreno and Ronnie Hillman for touches, but, provided his cut-block abilities please No. 18, he should deliver top-25 numbers at RB.

Fearless Forecast: 227 attempts, 1,007 rushing yards, 24 receptions, 211 receiving yards, 7 total touchdowns

DeAndre Hopkins, Houston, WR (Watch highlights here)
Projected fantasy round drafted: 8-9
The Clemson product wrecks secondaries like he does expensive hotel rooms, in spectacular fashion. Nabbed by the Texans at No. 27 overall, Hopkins really is Houston's missing offensive link. For years, the organization failed miserably in its attempt to find a reliable vertical weapon to complement Andre Johnson. Futility no more. Hopkins is a polished talent that has few weaknesses. He runs crisp routes, accelerates quickly up-field, can break press coverage, sheds tackles and is fearless across-the-middle. In many ways, he's a younger version of Atlanta's Roddy White. The Texans were old school offensively a season ago calling 'run' a whopping 508 times, the fourth-most in the NFL. This offseason, Gary Kubiak expressed his desire to ease the burden on Arian Foster. With Hopkins now in tow, he has that luxury. Because of his well-rounded skill set and likelihood of seeing favorable coverages, the kid is in a great position to pay a handsome dividend in his inaugural campaign. In the race for rookie WR bragging rights, he and Austin will be neck-n-neck. Draft him with confidence as a WR3 in 12-teamers.

Fearless Forecast: 53 receptions, 713 receiving yards, 5 total touchdowns

Jonathan Franklin, Green Bay, RB (Watch highlights here)
Projected fantasy round drafted: 10-11
Many will question the Noise's sobriety ranking Franklin ahead of Eddie Lacy. After all, the Bruins' All-time leading rusher was drafted two rounds later, slipping to the fourth. But the Packers robbed the Glendale Train. Franklin is an outstanding downhill runner with superb lateral movement who, despite his slight build, gains extra yards by churning his legs after initial contact. Faster than his new tag-team partner (Frank: 4.49 40-yard, Lacy: 4.57) and more versatile, he's a better all-around fit for Green Bay's zone-blocking scheme. After fumbling problems plagued Franklin early in his college career, several scouts questioned his ball security along with his blocking abilities pre-draft, which likely explains why teams overlooked him. However, he resolved those issues in a dynamite senior campaign under Jim Mora, displaying excellent across-the-board skills. He'll need a sparkling camp to surpass Lacy, but given his plus speed, strong zone running and useful hands, his chances are better than you might think. That happens, and the late-round flier will turn a massive profit in drafts. With defenses focused on grounding Aaron Rodgers, he will be gifted plenty of space to operate.

Fearless Forecast: 208 attempts, 910 rushing yards, 26 receptions, 197 receiving yards, 5 total touchdowns

Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati, RB (Watch highlights here)
Projected fantasy round drafted: 7-8
The Bengals, rumored for weeks to be heavily interested in an explosive complement to plodder BenJarvus Green-Ellis, succumbed to temptation and selected the North Carolina product in Round 2. Not only impressed by his blazing wheels around the edge, tender hands and adeptness on special teams, Marvin Lewis and company covet Gio's leadership and work ethic qualities. Soon, fantasy owners will too. Cincinnati's offense is shaping up to be one of the league's deadliest. With A.J. Green, an improved Mohamed Sanu, Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert to throw to and a rigid offensive line anchored by newly re-signed tackle Andre Smith to protect him, Andy Dalton could have a field day vertically, paving the way for Bernard and BenJarvus to gain appreciable yards on the ground. Because of his unsavory injury track-record in college, questions loom about the rusher's long-term durability. But because he'll likely work between the 20s, earning roughly 12-15 touches per game, his odds of remaining upright are favorable. Since the LawFirm will remain the closer, TDs will be few and far between, but the Spiller-like rookie will likely contribute soundly as a FLEX option in PPR leagues. Highlight his name on your cheat sheet.

Fearless Forecast: 153 attempts, 684 rushing yards, 41 receptions, 336 receiving yards, 5 total touchdowns

E.J. Manuel, Buffalo, QB (Watch highlights here)
Projected fantasy round drafted: 11-12
In the 'Oh snap!' moment of Round 1, the Bills traded down from the No. 8 pick, a move most believed was to make drafting a quarterback more palatable. That indeed was the case, but the name uttered from Warden Goodell's mouth wasn't Ryan Nassib, the passer Bills head coach Doug Marrone mentored for four years at Syracuse, it was Manuel, the tantalizing prospect from Florida State. Ten years from now when pundits and fans look back at the 2013 QB class, a bright aura will surround the QB's name. He is the prototype passer for the modern era – mobile, highly athletic, strong-armed and intelligent. Best in play-action or in the 'gun, the signal caller, who clocked a 4.65 40-yard time at the Combine, is a poor man's Cam Newton. Critics contend his progressions and reads are highly questionable, legitimate concerns. Even late in his career with the Seminoles, he recklessly chucked passes into tight coverage. Still, Marrone plans to run an up-tempo offense predicated on reacting, not thinking, a style of play that should help Manuel reach his full potential. The rookie will battle Kevin Kolb this summer for first-team reps, but considering the talent package and hefty investment in him, it's likely the veteran will soon take a backseat. Manuel is far from starter material in 12-team leagues, but with a number of quality weapons around him (e.g. Stevie Johnson, Robert Woods and C.J. Spiller) and playing behind an robust offensive line, he could be the surprise sensation of the fantasy season. Don't forget about him in the beer hazy rounds.

Fearless Forecast (16 starts): 3, 176 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, 19 interceptions, 508 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns

BEST OF THE REST

Zac Stacy, St. Louis, RB (Watch highlights here) – Physically, Stacy is a cross between Mike Tolbert, Maurice Jones-Drew and a dorm-room fridge. Though he lacks foot-speed and wiggle, the 5-foot-8, 220-pound rusher is an ox-strong plow between the tackles who should rack considerable yards after contact. As a member of the Vanderbilt Commodores he averaged a laudable 5.6 yards per carry from 2010-2012. He's also a decent receiver out of the backfield. Already the best rusher on the Rams roster, he should overtake incumbents Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead in short order. If there's an Alfred Morris in this year's draft class, it's likely Stacy.

Fearless Forecast: 197 attempts, 866 rushing yards, 10 receptions, 78 receiving yards, 6 total touchdowns

Eddie Lacy, Green Bay, RB (Watch highlights here) – Projected by most pundits to be the first RB selected, Lacy actually was the fourth back off the board, falling to Green Bay at pick No. 61. The former 'Bama star is a battering ram who relishes contact and displays excellent pad level. But after a miserable Pro Day, some soured on his overall abilities. One scout I talked to said Alabama's sterling offensive line masked Lacy's deficiencies. Yes, his power is reminiscent of vintage Michael Turner, but his one-dimensional skill set offers little outside early-down/short-yardage work. Additional questions about his pass-blocking abilities, work ethic and hamstring/toe/foot health, further tarnishes his perceived 'glowing' fantasy image. Add in Franklin's presence and it's entirely possible Lacy goes the way of Mark Ingram.

Fearless Forecast: 154 attempts, 654 rushing yards, 11 receptions, 94 receiving yards, 5 total touchdowns

Terrance Williams, Dallas, WR (Watch highlights here) – Two years ago Laurent Robinson altered the tilt of the fantasy world, emerging from the shadows to produce a 54-858-11 line in 14 games for the 'Boys. Williams could be the second-coming. He isn't the greatest crossing-route receiver, but, because of his long frame and plus body control, he's a fantastic outside threat, particularly in the red-zone. Since Miles Austin would break a bone penetrating a thin fog and with defenses stretched dealing with Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, Williams will make a measurable impact in at least a handful of games this fall. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better bench WR with more upside.

Fearless Forecast: 48 receptions, 632 receiving yards, 5 total touchdowns

Geno Smith, New York Jets, QB (Watch highlights here) – Jets HQ is one sword-swallower away from becoming a full-blown circus. Smith, who gruelingly waited out Day 1 without hearing his name called, slipped to Round 2, a value pick for the Jets. The ButtFumbler is officially on the hot seat. Smith's unreal stats at West Virginia masks a questionable skill set. At times, his accuracy was impeccable. However, in other instances, his throws greatly missed his intended target. Mark Sanchez is the Titanic personified, which should pave the way for Geno to start by Week 5, but with a bare arsenal, his chances of fantasy success Year 1 are minimal.

Fearless Forecast (12 starts): 2,436 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 198 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns

Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati, TE (Watch highlights here) – Undoubtedly, the Notre Dame tower is the king of this year's TE class. Not only blessed with size, he's a terrific, tacky-handed vertical threat who mirrors Greg Olsen in style and substance. With Jermaine Gresham also on roster, it's clear Cincinnati is hoping to emulate New England's two-TE approach, setting up Andy Dalton to be successful inside the red-zone and on intermediate throws. Don't expect the moon from Eifert in his first season, but a low-yard, high-TD yield, similar to what Kyle Rudolph tallied with Minnesota last year, seems attainable. Consider him a high-end TE2 in 12-teamers.

Fearless Forecast: 38 receptions, 502 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns

Aaron Dobson, New England, WR (Watch highlights here) – Love or hate The Hoodie, the man knows how to work a draft. Earning a windfall from Minnesota by trading out of the first round, the Patriots spent one of two second-round picks on the Marshall product. An anti-Welker – Wes led the league in drops last year – Hobson possesses quite possibly the stickiest fingers in this year's WR class. Last year as a senior with the Thundering Herd he had zero drops on 92 targets. Now teamed with ultra-efficient Tom Brady and with minimal competition outside Danny Amendola on the Pats roster, he could be a real diamond in the rough. Tuck his name away.

Fearless Forecast: 46 receptions, 624 receiving yards, 4 total touchdowns

Cordarelle Patterson, Minnesota, WR (Watch highlights here)– Watch highlight reels of the receiver and he leaps off the screen. He's big, highly explosive and tough to tackle, a true athletic marvel. Unfortunately, in terms of immediate fantasy value, he offers little. Clearly, Patterson is an unfinished product. Yes, his raw skills are sensational, but his route-running skills are very unrefined. With that in mind and because Christian Ponder routinely chucks wounded ducks downfield – he ranked dead last in deep-ball passing among eligible QBs last year according to Pro Football Focus – the wideout will be largely unreliable this fall. His long-term upside is immense, but for those in non-dynasty formats, better first-year options are available.

Fearless Forecast: 39 receptions, 519 receiving yards, 117 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns

HANGIN' IN THE SHADOWS – Zack Ertz, Phi, TE, Robert Woods, Buf, WR, Justin Hunter, Ten, WR, Keenan Allen, SD, WR, Stedman Bailey, StL, WR, Joseph Randle, Dal, RB, Christine Michael, Sea, RB, Da'Rick Rogers, Buf, WR

Want to bull rush Brad? Follow him on Twitter @YahooNoise

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The Colorado Rockies have called up prospect Nolan Arenado, and he'll immediately take over full-time third base duties. You want this guy. Arenado's promotion is without question an actionable event for fantasy owners.

Go scan your league's free agent pool for this kid, right now. GO. SHOO.

Chris Nelson has been designated for assignment by the Rockies (and he shouldn't have much trouble finding a new major league home. A fair number of teams have a need at third.)

You'll recall that Arenado, 22, had a terrific spring for Colorado — so good, in fact, that he nearly opened the season in the big leagues. He was off to a tremendous start at Triple-A Colorado Springs, batting .364/.392/.667 over his first 18 games, with 11 doubles, three homers and 21 RBIs.

Arenado is a former Arizona Fall League MVP, ranked among the game's better prospects by all sources. He projects as a heart-of-the-order hitter with respectable pop, and his home environment is obviously friendly. He's expected to bat eighth in his MLB debut, which is less than ideal, but he'll eventually find a favorable spot.

In nearly any format, he's a player of interest. Definitely worth a pick-up. That's the bottom line. Make the add while you can. Arenado is available in 87 percent of Yahoo! leagues as of this writing.

This call-up is clearly a bold move by the first-place Rockies, and the fantasy community approves.

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On Sunday, that latter problem is mercifully eliminated. Carlos Ruiz is finally walking through that door.

Ruiz was ineligible for the first 25 games of the year as he served an Adderall suspension. The time has run out and he's back in uniform Sunday, batting fifth against the Mets. Cole Hamels will be happy to see his old running mate.

It's not easy to get a definitive handle on who Ruiz is for fantasy purposes. He provided a solid average and marginal power in 2010-2011 before exploding into last year's career season (.325-56-16-68 over 114 games). He turned 34 in January. If you're satisfied with your current backstop and only need to start one, you can probably watch this story from the sidelines.

That said, I'm surprised Ruiz is owned in a mere 22 percent of Yahoo! leagues. I'd have no problem adding him right now in favor of a John Buck (no, it probably won't last), Evan Gattis (helluva story but what happens when McCann returns?) or Jesus Montero. You might feel differently, and that's cool – that's why we have a game. Sort through your backstops in the comments.

The mere numbers in the box score might not sound like much. Lots of pitchers work six tidy innings allowing just one run, especially in Petco Park. To get the full perspective of how Andrew Cashner is regarded, we need other elements: a little video, and some post-game comments.

Roll the tape first, have a look at Cashner stepping on the high-90s gas in his Friday victory over San Francisco. Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Belt both struck out twice, and no one managed an extra-base hit against Cashner. The converted reliever allowed five hits and one run over his stint, with one walk and five strikeouts.

"The guy has a great arm and he just shut us down," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told MLB.com. "It's that simple."

His secondary pitches don't offer the same visceral reaction, but Cashner also had decent command of his change and curve Friday. The Padres feel he could be a No. 1 or No. 2 starter down the line; that's why they essentially swapped Anthony Rizzo for Cashner back in January 2012 (two non-prospects on each side completed the deal).

[Also: Owner Jeffrey Loria further alienates Marlins, fans with lineup mandate]

"He hasn't reached his ceiling," Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley said. "When he starts rolling, the sky's the limit."

Cashner opened the year in the bullpen and the plan was to slowly stretch out his arm, get him ready for the rotation. A temporary setback for Clayton Richard gave Cashner the first spot start, and a DL stint for Tyson Ross pushed Cashner in the rotation for good. He's not going anywhere now.

"It's like a fun new toy to play with," catcher John Baker said.

Feel like a shiny new toy, fake-baseball player? Of course you do. Cashner is owned in a mere 13 percent of Yahoo! leagues and he carries both pitching tags (SP, RP). He'll go up against the unthreatening Cubs next week, then he draws the Marlins at Petco Park (as good as a matchup gets). Sounds like a good time to get in on the ground floor.

• Kyle Kendrick is another NL right-hander at the 13-percent ownership level, though he doesn't have the buzzy file of a Cashner. Kendrick is entering his seventh season and he's never gone past 11 wins or 116 strikeouts. His career ratios (4.22/1.35) don't move the needle.

That said, Kendrick found his best form in the second half of 2012 (nine wins, 2.87 ERA, 1.06 WHIP), succeeding as an extreme control artist who misses just enough bats. And the positive results have carried over to this spring: Kendrick has been sharp in four straight turns (after a poor start against the Royals), capped by Friday's three-hit shutout at Citi Field (1 BB, 5 K, 107 pitches). Maybe everything is finally clicking at age 28. Kendrick's next start is a home date against the friendly Marlins, so make your streaming plans now.

• One thing you're not doing in any competitive league today is picking up Jordan Zimmermann or Anibal Sanchez; those guys were drafted (and fairly aggressively) back in March. Generally we don't talk about players of this regard unless they get hurt or so something wrong, but their outstanding turns from Friday demand a brief mention. Zimmermann worked the pitch-to-contact route in a one-hit shutout of the Reds (1 BB, 4 K, 91 pitches), while Sanchez fired a 17-strikeout masterpiece against the Braves (122 pitches, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB). Here's your Washington tape, and here's the Sanchez clip; dig in and enjoy.

One of the takeaways from the latter game ties to the Atlanta offense. It's a hacking group, with 203 whiffs through the opening three weeks (only the Astros and Red Sox have more). The Braves are also an ordinary 12th in runs scored. The driving factor in Atlanta's fast start is the pitching (2.87 ERA), and while we don't want to aggressively target this club for our pitchers, there's no reason to play dodge-em, either.

[Also: Injury bug bites Yankees again]

• The cheap three-run save is a closer's best friend and it cushioned Brandon League against Milwaukee. League had a messy time over his inning, allowing two hits and a run, along with an error and a wild pitch. The crowd couldn't exhale (and Vinny couldn't begin his wrap-up poetry) until Ryan Braun grounded out to end the game. Cue up the Newman and shake some hands, the Dodgers win.

League's story has mostly been pitch-and-duck: he's sitting on one walk and four strikeouts over 10 innings. He's been scored on in five of his last seven appearances. But he's also converted 13-of-14 saves since the Dodgers turned his way in the second half of 2012; he's got a fair amount of leash to work with (a three-year contract worth $22.5 million also comes into play). Kenley Jansen owners can at least take heart in this: if the Dodgers have a save chance Saturday, he'll probably get the call (League needs a rest after three straight days of work).

• The Cubs haven't had many shiny-happy days in 2013, so let's savor the tidy Friday win at Miami. Anthony Rizzo clocked two homers and stole a base; forget the batting average, he's not going anywhere. Gogglin' Kevin Gregg worked a smooth ninth for his second save of the week (James Russell recorded one out in the seventh and Shawn Camp got through a messy eighth). The committee is alive and well, what with Carlos Marmol also shaking hands this week and Kyuji Fujikawa making progress in his rehab. There are several options on Dale Sveum's bingo card.

Chicago leftover: somehow Welington Castillo is batting .300 despite a curious batting eye (20 whiffs, no walks). Good luck keeping that up, hacker.

Speed Round: It's not easy to beat soft rock Tommy Milone in Oakland, but the Orioles completed the task Friday, thanks to a Wei-Yin Chen gem (8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K) and an unearned run off Mayday. Chen has been useful in every start, impressing the discerning scouts. Perhaps you'll want to dial Chen up before next week's assignment at Seattle; he's best used in an uncapped-innings league, where the low strikeout rate won't hurt you. The HR/FB trend eventually is going to normalize, but the marine layer provides a handy backdrop. … The Royals have been rainout kings of the early schedule. Friday's game was washed away, which means Kansas City and Cleveland will play a doubleheader Sunday. … Jordan Pacheco is getting occasional playing time with the Rockies, part of the replace-Helton plan. Pacheco is at .357 after a three-hit Friday, and he carries a faux-catcher tag in Yahoo! leagues. You need daily maintenance here, but there's utility in deeper leagues. … I'll cut some slack to Paul Maholm (eight runs in Detroit); the Tigers offense can do it to anyone. Alas, the Nationals and Reds await Maholm over the next two weeks. I'm holding firm with the lefty, but I can understand why anyone in a 10-team (or lower) pool might want to move along, kick the tires elsewhere. … Mark Ellis (quad strain) and Didi Gregorius (temple contusion) both got hurt in the second wave of games, so you might need to shop for a weekend solution in the middle. Context clues point to Ellis needing an extended break (and maybe a DL stint), while Gregorius is in a day-to-day situation.

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The Seattle Mariners, as you might have heard, are not exactly a run-scoring juggernaut. They currently rank 13th in the American League in OBP and slugging percentage. They've lost seven of their last 10 games, and the team's run differential is now -31. They just replaced Brendan Ryan with Robert Andino, which is sort of like replacing passionflower tea with chamomile.

The Mariners, in a nutshell, are not good.

But things are going a bit better for Seattle's Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers.

On Thursday, the Rainiers beat Zack Wheeler and the Vegas 51s in a game that gave us an absolutely loaded box-score: 25 runs, 27 hits, six errors, a 7-run ninth inning rally. Prospect Nick Franklin had a ridiculous line for Tacoma, reaching base six times in a 5-for-5 performance. The 22-year-old infielder is now batting an even .400 for the year with an OBP of .509. He's hit a pair of homers this season, plus he's swiped three bags in as many attempts.

Franklin entered the year ranked as a top-100 prospect by pretty much everyone, and his early performance has justified the hype. The kid has demonstrated double-digit power and speed potential at various levels; in 2010, he delivered a 23-homer, 25-steal season in the Midwest League. He's seen time at both short and second defensively, so it isn't too difficult to imagine a path to Seattle's lineup this year. (Seriously, the team is rolling with Robert Andino. Not even a joke.)

I won't recommend that you stash Franklin in your mixed league, not now — not ahead of guys like Myers, Arenado, Puig and Taveras. But he's a middle infielder capable of making noise in the second half, blocked by no one. Thus, he belongs on the fantasy radar. File away the name. And if you're a Mariners fan, um ... maybe just focus on the PCL for a little while.

We're still in April and the caveats about small-sample size remain. But at some point a fast start turns into a good season. When is it okay to fully buy into Boston right-hander Clay Buchholz

Buccholz won his fifth consecutive start Thursday against the Astros, turning in 7.2 superb innings (6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 10 K). Have a look at the scouting video, see what you make of it. Obviously no one mistakes the 2013 Astros for the 1927 Yankees (and they strike out at a ridiculous clip), but they are 13th in the majors in runs. Houston's crummy record is driven by the awful pitching staff, worst in the majors thus far.

Back in The Hub, take a look at that snappy Buchholz resume. He's worked at least seven innings in every turn, he flirted with a no-hitter against Tampa Bay two weeks ago, and he's striking out better than a batter per inning. His WHIP is a tidy 1.01, the ERA a silly 1.19. Perhaps this is a career year at age 28.

Outlier ERAs are going to come with some outlier stats in the luck categories, that's to be understood. A 3.7 FB/HR clip immediately comes to mind, not to mention a 90.2 strand rate. That said, Buchholz makes a lot of his own luck with a 47.7 ground-ball rate, and the BABIP against him is a reasonable .264 - not too far below his career mark of .281.

The biggest story from the opening five turns is the strikeouts. Buchholz has never pushed past seven whiffs per nine innings, but he's at 9.32/9 thus far in 2012. His cut fastball (a pitch he added in 2011) has become his best pitch, but he's also getting better results with his traditional heater. Perhaps it's better location and sequencing that's leading to a lot of called strikes; meanwhile, Buchholz is actually getting fewer swinging strikes this year (7.9 percent) than ever before.

If I were doing a Shuffle Up for pitchers right now, Buchholz would be somewhere in the 20-25 range. In shallow leagues, he might be your No. 3 or No. 4 pitcher; in a deeper pool, you're likely slotting him as a two or three. We're talking about a former first-round pick (sandwich round) and touted prospect, someone who already has a no-hitter and an ERA-plus title to his name. It's likely we're looking at the start of a leap season, and while the AL East isn't a smooth ride by any means, it's not nearly as jagged as it was a few years back. Enjoy the ride.

• The Cubs bullpen (that freaking Cubs bullpen) actually came through for once, which gives you an idea of how bad the Marlins really are. Hector Rondon, Shawn Camp and Carlos Marmol combined for three scoreless innings as Chicago secured a 4-3 victory; Edwin Jackson picked up a no-decision for his ordinary start (6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 4 K).

The Marmol close wasn't smooth; they never are. He allowed a walk and a hit and threw 18 pitches. He's still carrying a 1.84 WHIP and 4.35 ERA around for the year, with nine walks over 10.1 innings. This carnival ride isn't for everyone. Marmol is free to add in 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues; it's going to take a while for consumer confidence to rebound.

Is there anyone in this bullpen you're willing to gamble on? I'm still a Kyuji Fujikawa believer, but until he's back on the field healthy, maybe that's a moot point. Kevin Gregg is around if everyone else crashes. James Russell has snappy numbers, but he's the only lefty in this bullpen and that works against his ninth-inning chances.

• It will be interesting to see how patient the Athletics are with struggling right-hander Jarrod Parker. The Orioles kicked him around for eight hits and six runs in a blowout victory Thursday, pushing Parker's ERA over eight and his WHIP over two. Parker's walk and strikeout rates are moving in the wrong direction, he's had problems with home runs, and his ground-ball number has dropped almost five percent from last year. I can't be the only roto follower who's pining for a Daniel Straily recall.

Jason Hammel picked up the win for Baltimore, allowing just two unearned runs over six solid (if unspectacular) innings. You'd like to see his strikeout rate pick up, but a 3.82 ERA and 1.14 WHIP (tied to a solid Orioles club) has value. Get ready to use him at Seattle next week.

Baltimore's offensive production was spread around in the victory, but I'd like to spotlight the underappreciated Nate McLouth (okay, I know Andy did this in the previous CT; he's on the bus). McLouth's power has been MIA this year and he's not going to hit much (or even play much) against left-handers, but there's still an ownable player here. McLouth posted a tasty 5-2-2-2 line Thursday with two stolen bases, pushing him up to seven on the year. He's posted a .302 average and .429 OBP through his first 19 games, with 16 runs scored. A lot of skeptics wanted no part of McLouth late last year; they missed out on seven homers and 12 steals over 55 Baltimore games. McLouth is a speciality player, but he should be owned in more than 13 percent of Yahoo! groups.

• The surging Pirates grabbed their third straight win Thursday, necessitating a rogue save from Tony Watson (Grilli & Co. needed the night off). It was far from an artistic success from the lefty (two hits, one run) but everyone shook hands at the end. Pittsburgh has the second-best relief ERA in the majors, trailing only the Braves. Pedro Alvarez collected two singles and is starting to come out of it after a horrendous opening two weeks; he's on a 9-for-24 run with four homers over the last eight days. He's still under the Mendoza, but the cobwebs have cleared.

• Plenty of fantasy owners want to see Brandon League get the boot in favor of Kenley Jansen, but they might want to cool their jets. Sure, League blew a save in Wednesday's game and he allowed an Ike Davis homer in Thursday's victory, but he's still 12-for-13 in save conversions since joining the Dodgers in the middle of 2012. The team is paying him like a closer and it will take more than the occasional hiccup to force a change.

And it's not like Jansen's recent work has been spotless; he allowed a wall double in Wednesday's game (the ensuing Mark Ellis defensive gem kept the runner from scoring), and he worked around two base runners Thursday. For the moment, the Dodgers are unlikely to fix something they don't see as broken. Respect the baton, gamers.

With all the injuries to the LA starting rotation, it's a good thing Hyun-Jin Ryu has hit the ground running. He had to settle for a no-decision Thursday despite seven super innings (3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, K). With 34 strikeouts against just eight walks and solid ratios (3.41/1.20), this is someone ready for the circle of trust. He'll get Colorado next week (at Chavez Ravine), and then it's probably a trip to San Francisco.

• Oh, that tricky Brandon Maurer. His opening start was a mess in Oakland, then he got pounded by the Astros a week later. Dump city, move along. Alas, Maurer has found his stride over the last three turns, producing quality starts and picking up two victories. You probably won't get zesty strikeout numbers here, but Maurer rarely walks anyone and he's inducing plenty of weak contact. I'll give him a long scouting look next week, when he has a home turn against the Orioles.

Play to this point matters as an audition, but that's it. The goal is to figure out who will play the best (and collect the juiciest stats) from this point forward, 2013-only. Pretend we're starting from scratch with a fresh draft tonight. Don't worry about the dollar value in a vacuum; they're merely used as tools to compare. And players at the same price tag are considered even.

I'll add extensive comments as the day goes along and I may tweak a ranking here and there. Win the debate below and you may win the rank. Assume a 5x5 scoring format, as per usual, and remember the golden rule: a player doesn't gain 15-20 percent of bonus value simply because you own him.

One change for this week: I adding a brief ranking of some injured players, down at the bottom of the list. Consider it an experiment. The value of injured roto commodities is highly variable, depending on your DL rules and roster space. I'm known for having a more pessimistic view of the average injured played than most people; "live for today" is one of my roto rallying cries.

[Also: MLB Power Rankings: Rangers climb near top]

Important: I will *not* debate the rank of the injured players in any way. I'm not a doctor and it's not my hamstring. If you view the long-term injured players more optimistically (or more pessimistically) than I do, that's fine. I almost see ranking long-term injured guys as a fool's errand (similar to how some football sites are giving you Strength of Schedule data now - can we really predict defense strength that's coming in November?), but we'll throw it out there this week, see how it goes.

Your healthy-player discourse, yes, bring it on. The shopping cart is ready for you now.

$32 Robinson Cano
$30 Troy Tulowitzki
$29 Ian Kinsler
$28 Dustin Pedroia
$25 Brandon Phillips
$23 Starlin Castro
$20 Ian Desmond
$19 Chase Utley
$19 Martin Prado
$18 Ben Zobrist
$17 Jason Kipnis
$16 Josh Rutledge
$16 Jean Segura
$16 Howie Kendrick
$15 Jimmy Rollins
$15 Jose Altuve
$15 Jed Lowrie

We saw a host of contrary opinions with Rutledge in the preseason. The believers pointed to his snappy 73-game sample in Colorado last year, while the doubters worried about the crash landing over the final 31 games (.181/.235/.276, 33 strikeouts). The pros were dreaming of a thin-air spike in Coors Field; the antis were worried about a possible demotion to Colorado Springs (a stop Rutledge skipped last year, making a double jump).

Through three weeks of the fresh season, the believers appear to be in the lead. Although Rutledge is hitting a modest .230 (and has an OBP south of .300), he's provided the category juice we love to see (three homers, 5-for-5 on steals). The Rockies are using him primarily as the No. 2 hitter in the order (that may change if Eric Young keeps starting), and while Rutledge is never going to be the epitome of batting patience and contact rate, he does have his walk and strikeout rates moving in the right direction. I only have two Rutledge shares this year, a mild regret. The dual-position eligibility is worth an extra buck, I suppose.

It pains me to not go all-in with Utley and Lowrie after their hot starts. Heck, maybe I went too far anyway. But we have to be mindful of the obvious elephant in the room, the injury history.

Utley's career has been in a three-season free fall since his 156-game campaign in 2009; he's still a heck of a player when on the field (though not the same batting average contributor), but we have to expect an injury tax at some point. And then there's Lowrie's star-crossed career; he's never gotten past 97 games or 340 at-bats in any season. A healthy Lowrie could be a .285-90-25-85 player over a full season; this is a smart hitter and a powerful hitter. But we have to try to learn something from the flags on the resume.

$14 Elvis Andrus
$14 Asdrubal Cabrera
$13 Everth Cabrera
$12 Matt Carpenter
$12 Rickie Weeks
$12 Alcides Escobar
$12 Kyle Seager
$11 Michael Young
$10 Dan Uggla
$10 Neil Walker
$9 Daniel Murphy
$9 Brandon Crawford
$8 J.J. Hardy
$8 Danny Espinosa

What's the big deal with Andrus again? A .274 career average isn't that big of a deal, he offers marginal power, and his stolen bases dipped to 21 last year (though he's 4-for-4 this season). How much better is he, really, than Alcides Escobar? Arlington helps, but it doesn't turn ordinary or good players into superstars. I never considered selecting Andrus during any March draft; the room always wanted him much more than I did.

Carpenter's power upside is modest and he's not going to run much, but a line-drive bat and OBP skills in the No. 2 slot of a good lineup? Yes, please. And you always want at least one Swiss Army Knife on your roster.

$6 Erick Aybar
$5 Zack Cozart
$5 Andrelton Simmons
$4 Stephen Drew
$4 Yuniesky Betancourt
$4 Jhonny Peralta
$4 Kelly Johnson
$4 Omar Infante
$4 Alexei Ramirez
$4 Marco Scutaro
$3 Mark Ellis
$3 Darwin Barney
$3 Marwin Gonzalez
$3 Didi Gregorius
$3 Chris Nelson
$3 Jedd Gyorko
$3 Emilio Bonifacio
$3 Jeff Keppinger

There's been a lot of talk about Gregorius this week . . . maybe, maybe too much talk. Hopefully I can offer a better explanation of my Gregorius stance in this space.

I certainly understand why some fantasy owners want to make a pickup on a player like Gregorius, a hot prospect with the upside of the unknown. And I probably erred when I talked about passing on Gregorius in favor of a handful of known but unexciting veteran players who have limited ceilings (the Ellis/Getz group). A tip of the cap to the readers who made this point. That said, I stand behind my feeling that Gregorius won't be much of a fantasy player in 2013; I get there through his so-so minor league batting profile and the fact that the Diamondbacks are hitting him in the bottom third of the lineup (curbs the running game, and he's raw as a stealer anyway).

Here's the bottom line: I wouldn't want to make a "resources move" on a Gregorius play in a mixed league; if your additions are capped or cost money, I'm not touching him. I don't want to give up something of value to make the swap. He's going to strike out a lot, I don't buy the two early homers as indicative of special pop, and I know he's still learning as a runner. But if you're able to make a Gregorius grab in a format where pickups are free or readily available (or where you have an obvious drop), I see why you might want to point and click. Your ability to U-turn out of the move comes into play; if you feel safe alternatives are likely to be present all season if and when you eventually need them, then go ahead and kick the tires.

It's important to stay open minded with these things, and sometimes you have to build the "why not?" case when others are saying "why bother?" Some of our fine readers remembered that rule better than I did earlier this week, and I thank them for that. My conclusion isn't really much different, but I should have framed my argument better. Upward and onward.

$2 Jordany Valdespin
$2 Sean Rodriguez
$2 Dustin Ackley
$2 Cliff Pennington
$2 Chris Getz
$1 Eduardo Escobar
$1 Ronny Cedeno
$1 Pete Kozma
$1 Brian Dozier
$1 Mike Aviles
$1 Eric Sogard
$1 Ryan Roberts
$1 Ruben Tejada
$1 Justin Turner
$1 Steve Lombardozzi
$1 Eduardo Nunez
$1 Donovan Solano
$1 Yunel Escobar
$0 Alexi Casilla
$0 Daniel Descalso

Injured Players (please read the disclaimer above; these are courtesy ranks and not intended for discussion/debate). This is roughly how I'd rank them if I were starting a new roster right now.

$16 *Hanley Ramirez
$13 *Aaron Hill
$10 *Jose Reyes
$6 *Derek Jeter
$3 *Gordon Beckham

Baseball video from Yahoo! Sports:

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For many of you, the act of cutting John Axford from your fantasy roster was probably the high point in your season. Very few events in fantasy are as satisfying as the vengeful drop. I get it. No argument.

Alas, if you're still chasing saves, it sounds like you're just going to have to pick up Axford again. His name remains in the ninth inning conversation for the Brewers, apparently.

This from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt:

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke was asked Wednesday what it would take to re-install John Axford as his closer.

"Probably not much," replied Roenicke.

[...]

"That's nothing against [Jim] Henderson. He's done a great job for us pitching there. But I think with Ax, because of his breaking ball, and when he's throwing it well, I think he has a chance to repeat that season he had two years ago."

So it sounds as if Henderson doesn't have much of a leash — odd, because he's off to a fantastic start. Henderson currently ranks as a top-12 fantasy pitcher, thanks to his excellent ratios (0.90 ERA, 0.80 WHIP), his stellar K-rate (14 in 10.0 IP), and his 5-for-5 performance in save opportunities. He's done nothing wrong.

But Axford has pitched well over his last six appearances, earning four holds, allowing just two hits and no walks in 5.1 innings, striking out six batters. His ratios are still terrible, of course (9.35, 1.50), because the man was a fantasy plague in the opening week of the season. He deserved to be mass-dropped by mixed leaguers.

And now, it seems, he should be mass-added. If Henderson slips, Axford is clearly next in the hierarchy. (Sorry, you guys. I'm just the messenger.)

It may seem insane-ludi-ridiculously early for fantasy football ranks, but with the NFL draft beginning Thursday, it's time for a refresher. In the final part of a special four-part series, the Noise tangos with TEs, and gets you a leg up on scoring extra beer money this fall. Team Huevos, shout, shout, let it all out in the comments section below.

See also: TOB Running backs, Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers

Last year, NFL teams averaged 231.3 passing yards per team per game, the highest mark by a wide margin in the league’s 91-year history. Offensive coordinators, no longer satisfied saddling workhorse running backs, have put the onus on QB arms. Pitch counts are higher. Points are more plentiful. And a certain offensive position, once an almost exclusive function of the run, has evolved into a tried-and-true weapon of mass destruction.

Tight ends are wrecking havoc over the modern NFL game.

Just a few years ago when trailblazers Shannon Sharpe, Tony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates fell off the draft board, most owners essentially punted the position. How TEs were handled paralleled viewpoints on defense and kicker. Streaming based on matchup was a common strategy. Because of the week-to-week unreliability of hotheads like Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow it only made sense to follow such an approach.

However, due to the abundance of wide-bodied, uber-athletic, soft-handed, fast-moving tight ends available in today’s game, perceptions have definitely changed. Oversized targets are matchup nightmares, indispensable weapons in the pass game. Almost every franchise has one. Those that don’t desperately want one. Suffice it to say, they are similar to criminal attorneys during any given NFL offseason – in high-demand. Just ask Cleveland's Quentin Groves.

Unsurprisingly, because of the position's vast talent pool, it's Grand Canyon-deep entering 2013. Yes, Jimmy Graham stands in a class by himself, but concentrating on RB or WR in the early rounds is the money move. The questionable long-term health of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez only supports that notion. Think about it. Suitable producers like Brandon Myers, Fred Davis and Brandon Pettigrew are going well after pick No. 125 in initial drafts.V-A-L-U-E!

This year at TE, patience will profit.

Pumping the pigskin juices, here are my top-25 tight ends entering Thursday's NFL draft:

Want to bull rush Brad? Follow him on Twitter @YahooNoise

Everybody enjoys mammoth home runs, right?

Of course they do.

Take a look at this blast off the bat of Houston's Chris Carter, and tell me that wasn't one of the deepest, baddest, loudest homers in recent memory. Ridiculous. That thing was destroyed.

It's tough to identify the ball's impact area in the clip above, but the in-stadium eyewitness accounts had it hitting the top of one of those upper billboards in left, a zillion feet away from home plate. (Officially 440, but c'mon.) The homer was Carter's fifth of the year. He's cleared the fence 21 times over his last 295 big league at-bats, dating back to his call-up last June.

Carter remains available in 77 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and I can understand some of the reasons you've been reluctant to ride the bandwagon. For one thing, it's a bandwagon headed for a .240-ish batting average. Carter is a strikeout machine, a career .268 hitter at Triple-A. And the Astros' lineup isn't necessarily stacked with talent. There are issues here.

[Also: Yu Darvish reminiscent of MLB pitching legend]

But Carter has serious power — his best single-season homer total in the minors was 39 — so it wouldn't be much of a surprise if he topped 30 this year, assuming good health. If you can manage around a few (dozen) 0-for-3s, then make the add.

• Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson isn't bumping JJ Putz from the ninth, despite the recent results. But you'll note that Wednesday's vote of confidence wasn't loaded with flattery:

"His split isn't very good right now," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said.[...]

"His command is not as good as it has been in the past, so he's going to try and clean some stuff up. It's more about location for him at this point in his career."

Putz was unavailable on Wednesday so David Hernandez handled the save-blowing, allowing a game-tying homer to Brandon Crawford. It appears that Hernandez is still the appropriate handcuff here, although Heath Bell also lurks. Matt Reynolds earned a rogue save on Wednesday, cleaning up in the tenth.

• Nate McLouth reached base four times for the O's on Wednesday, scoring three of the team's five runs and driving in another. He swiped a bag, too, his fifth of the year. Fantasy owners have largely ignored McLouth (5 percent owned), but he's batting lead-off for a not-terrible team and hitting .293. I'm interested.

[Also: Fantasy: Which struggling L.A. outfielder will have the better season?]

• Dustin Ackley has been mostly terrible this season, until very recently. He went -3-for-4 on Wednesday, his second three-hit game in the Houston series. So the demotion threat-level has been dialed down, for now.

The M's have decided to rearrange other infield deck chairs, however, sending Brendan Ryan (bad at hitting) to the bench in favor of Robert Andino (also bad). You have to imagine a mid-season Nick Franklin call-up is inevitable. Franklin, 22, is hitting .325/.449/.500 for Triple-A Tacoma with two homers and three steals. He entered the season as a top-100 prospect in pretty much everyone's ranks, and his stock certainly hasn't lost value this month.

• If you're looking for additional homer porn, check the missile launched by Todd Frazier, accounting for the only run in Cincinnati's win over the Cubs. Goodness. Crushed. As with the Carter blast, the camera couldn't even capture the landing spot.

• Jose Quintana's streak of scoreless innings finally ended at 18.2, but he picked up a win against the Tribe on Wednesday. He went 5.0 innings, worked out of jams, struck out three batters, and generally pleased anyone who streamed him. Still, I'm afraid you have to continue to view him as a spot play in mixers, not an every-start guy. Quintana's next turn should be next week at Texas, which clearly isn't the friendliest pitching environment.

• Edward Mujica is now officially reliable enough that we don't even need to acknowledge his saves in Closing Time anymore. This is his last bullet for awhile. He pitched a clean frame against the bottom of the Nats' order on Wednesday, collecting his fourth save. If you snagged him last week, well played.

• Roy Halladay deserved a better result than what he got on Wednesday, as he pitched 6.0 solid innings in a no-decision vs. Pittsburgh. Halladay yielded just one hit, two walks and one run, striking out eight. He whiffed the side in the first after allowing a lead-off walk. Roy has now given us three straight quality efforts, and he has an appealing two-start week on deck (at CLE, vs. MIA). Enjoy responsibly.

• Brandon League owners, you guys had to know a blown save was coming, right? It happens. Shake it off. It's not like you didn't know you were drafting a sketchy closer. League allowed a two-out game-tying single to David Wright in the ninth on Wednesday, then Jordany Valdespin walked us off in the tenth with a grand slam. And then this tremendous post-game interview happened.

• Jose Valverde and his two-tone goatee made their 2013 debut on Wednesday...

...and, naturally, Papa Grande recorded a 1-2-3 save against the Royals. Outs number 1 and 3 were warning track shots, but let's not dwell on the details. A save is a save is a save, right?

Sleep well, Detroit.

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Fantasy is a speculative game. Predict the future, and you look like a genius. Don't, and you're painfully human. Gazing into the crystal ball, here's our view on 10 intriguing over/unders this week.

What fading ‘star’ will yield more fantasy value come year’s end: Josh Hamilton or Matt Kemp?

Dalton – KEMP. I liked him far more entering the year, and at least he has an excuse for a slow start since he's coming off shoulder surgery. Kemp is also three years younger and isn't the one who left an extreme hitter's park.

Brandon – KEMP. If I was drafting today, I'd still take Kemp ahead of Hamilton. The difference is the speed factor, which remains a a key differentiator as Kemp has run off three steals in his past four games (8-for-18 at the plate, as well)

Scott – I'm still on KEMP'S side on this one – he's three years younger and has a more diversified set of skills. But I'm glad to be watching from the sidelines in both cases, uninvested on both. That's not a victory lap really, it's a sigh of relief.

[Also: Yu Darvish reminiscent of MLB pitching legend]

Waiver flavor of the week, Didi Gregorius, combined homers/steals for season 14.5

Brandon – UNDER. His combined HR/SB number for his past 167 games split between Double- and Triple-A is only 15. I wouldn't expect him to do that well in his first go-round in MLB with the expectation of less games.

Scott – Did he hit in the minors? No. Is he used near the top of the order? No. Bury the UNDER, kids.

Brad – OVER. Stranger things have happened. His minor league track-record is weak, no question, but his mitt will keep him in the lineup everyday, even when Aaron Hill returns. He should be able to muster another 13 combined homers/steals.

Believe or Make Believe: Mike Minor, who currently ranks No. 18 among SPs, will be a top-25 starter over the remainder of the season.

Scott – NYET. Still too much gopheritis for me to fully buy in. But calling Minor a Top 40 or 45 pitcher isn't a slap in the face.

Brad – BELIEVE. So he faced baseball's version of the Charlotte Bobcats to start the season (Colorado the exception), but the underlying data in those turns oozes deliciousness, especially his 21:3 K:BB in 25 IP. Gopheritis plagued him last year. Keep the ball in the park and he should tuck just inside the SP top-25.

Andy – FALSE. NO. REJECTED. Minor hasn't exactly faced a murderer's row of opponents (KC, MIA, CHC). He's a nice enough piece for your fantasy rotation, but wouldn't crack my overall top-35.

Travis Hafner, the youngest looking player on a club overflowing with septuagenarians, rest of season home runs 17.5

Brad – OVER. It's entirely possible Hafner would slip a disc tying his shoe, but Yankee Stadium favors what he does best: driving balls to right field. I realize it's a gigantic IF, but assuming he logs 450 at-bats, he should finish in range of 23-25 long-balls.

Andy – UNDER. Heck, I might take the under here if we were talking about games-played instead of homers. All the old issues still apply with Hafner. Just enjoy the stats while he's healthy-ish.

Dalton – UNDER. He already has five bombs, and Yankee Stadium boosts home runs for LHB as much as any park in baseball, but Hafner hasn't hit more than 17 homers in a season since 2007, let alone in five months. Moreover, his playing time should decrease once the Yankees get healthier.

Matt Adams, who has crushed everything in sight, rest of season at-bats 299.5

Andy – OVER. As long as this oblique issue is minor, not requiring a DL stint, then I think the Cards will make sure Adams finishes his year with something like 350 at-bats. It's not that difficult to find playing time for him. Carlos Beltran and Allen Craig are gonna need a few (dozen) off-days.

Dalton – UNDER. Adams is a nice player who's admittedly been terrific so far, but he's not some super elite prospect (he didn't exactly go crazy during his time with St. Louis last season), and there's just not a place for him to start. And even if an injury strikes, Oscar Taveras also looms as an alternative.

Brandon – UNDER. He's "Patch Adams" for the Cards, meaning that he only has a fill-in here, fill-in there role with the team. He's only projected for 194 ABs right now. It's a big leap to 299.5 ABs from where he's at in line right now.

Bingo, Bango, BOSTON! What Sox starter rocks harder the rest of the way: Ryan Dempster or Clay Buchholz?

Dalton – BUCHHOLZ. This one wasn't particularly close for me. I'm pretty shocked by what Dempster has done so far this year, but compare their ages, and my thoughts on Buchholz (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/fantasy-roto-arcade/mostly-mlb-notes-max-scherzer-bryce-harper-making-083109118--mlb.html) are pretty strong. I'm buying in.

Brandon – DEMPSTER. While not exactly a consistency king himself, Dempster has a more bankable track record, and he's currently churning out huge swing-and-miss totals with a heavier reliance on his splitter.

Scott – A slight lean towards BUCHHOLZ, who's seven years younger. But in mixed leagues, I'd rather spin the dice on an NL pitcher or someone in the other AL divisions. The AL East isn't the death sentence it used to be, but there are still bumpy roads here.

Fill in the blanks: Soon-to-be-activated hot corner Hanley Ramirez finishes with ______ home runs and ______ stolen bases and tallies a final _______rank among shortstops, _______rank among third basemen.

Brandon – 13 HRs, 16 SBs, No. 10 at SS and No. 13 at 3B

Scott – "14," "11," "No. 11," "No. 13." And I expect to be the most bearish with those numbers.

Brad – "15," "16," "No. 7," "No. 11"

Ervin Santana, who currently sports a tidy 2.48 ERA, rest of season ERA 4.49

Scott – Easy UNDER. Nice buy-low from the Royals. I see 4.00 as the truer O/U.

Brad – UNDER. Though last year was a disaster, he's contributed serviceable numbers in the past. Homers are an ongoing problem, but if he can continue to miss bats (8.07 K/9) and limit free passes (1.55 BB/9), he should tally ROS ERA well-below 4.00.

Andy – UNDER. C'mon. As of this writing, the average team ERA in the A.L. is 3.99. I'm not the world's biggest Santana fan, but I certainly think he can finish somewhere near league-average.

Pick your OF Poison: Lorenzo Cain, Angel Pagan, Alejandro De Aza or Denard Span

Brad – CAIN. Placed him on a pedestal preseason. After a smokin' start, he'll remain there. He won't wow in any single category, but he's a strong candidate to be a .285-12-65-60-18 player by year's end.

Andy – CAIN, please. Injuries delayed the breakout last season, but this is still a player with respectable power/speed potential. Can't complain about the early results.

[Also: Here are five guys not worthy of a MLB All-Star vote]

Dalton – PAGAN. He has zero homers and just one steal but has displayed solid plate discipline and is on pace to finish with 123 runs scored and 85 RBI despite the slow start. Sign me up if there's a buy low opportunity.

Requiem for a STREAM (Hush your mouth, Behrens). Which plug ‘n play pitcher: Justin Grimm (at Min), Hiram Burgos (at LAD), Andrew Cashner (vs. SF), Kevin Slowey (vs. ChC) or Garrett Richards (at Sea)?

Andy – RICHARDS, easy. The match-up isn't too intimidating, and he's coming off a terrific start vs. Detroit (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 8 Ks). There's lots to like here.

Dalton – CASHNER. He'll be limited to 5-6 innings at best, and his opponent has won two of the past three World Series, but Cashner will be pitching at Petco Park and is by far the most talented option among this group.

Brandon – Take me down SLOWEY and easy ... the Cubs have hit .202 on the road, so far, and Marlins Park has played as the fourth-toughest venue for hitters in '13.

Scott – RICHARDS gets the check mark. He just kept the Tigers in check, and the Mariners don't scare anyone (what would Ackley need to do to get demoted? Put a hit out on the Mariner Moose?).

Brad – SLOWEY. Undoubtedly, runs will be a premium for both clubs, but the ex-Twin has pitched masterfully allowing a combined five earned against quality opponents Cincinnati, Philly, Atlanta and Washington. The Cubs are far from intimidating.

MULTIPLE CHOICE BONUS: Recently axed rookie TV anchor A.J. Clemente, who famously muffled expletives on his first ever newscast for KFYR-TV Bismarck, should work next as: A) Rodeo clown, B) Broadcast journalism professor, C) Fantasy writer, D) Porn star E) Joe Pesci impersonator F) Ron Burgundy’s personal mustache handler

Dalton – FANTASY WRITER. I loved his response to the mistake and feel for the guy. I'd welcome him with open arms. He seems self-deprecating, which is pretty much a must in our industry

Brandon – FANTASY WRITER - the one industry where they'll let any 'ole "Yahoo" claim to be an expert.

Scott – He needs a redemption like Mike finds in Swingers. Is Heather Graham still a working actress? Rollergirl to a housephone, please? Maybe A.J. Clemente can flush his demons down at the Ha-Ha Hole on Pico.

Brad – PESCI IMPERSONATOR. Clearly he already has the lingo down. I could definitely see him thrive in a one-man Broadway show reprising Pesci's role as Nicky Santoro from "Casino." SMASH HIT! ... "I think in all fairness, I should explain to you exactly what it is that I do. For instance tomorrow morning I'll get up nice and early, take a walk down over to the bank and... walk in and see and, uh... if you don't have my money for me, I'll... crack your (expletive) head wide-open in front of everybody in the bank. And just about the time that I'm comin' out of jail, hopefully, you'll be coming out of your coma. And guess what? I'll split your (expletive) head open again. 'Cause I'm (expletive) stupid. I don't give a (expletive) about jail. That's my business. That's what I do."

Andy – FANTASY WRITER, no question. He's already blurbing for Rotoworld, actually. You've probably read some of his work and didn't know it. "Is Gregorius worth a flyer in an only-league? [Expletive] yeah he is. What are you, a [expletive] [expletive]? [Expletive]. Add him already, [expletive]-weasel."

Hungry for more advice? Listen to The Fantasy Freak Show on Yahoo! Sports Radio Friday nights at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT

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It may seem insane-ludi-ridiculously early for fantasy football ranks, but with the NFL draft beginning Thursday, it's time for a refresher. In the third part of a special four-part series, the Noise takes on WRs, and gets you a leg up on scoring extra beer money this fall. Team Huevos, shout, shout, let it all out in the comments section below.

See also: TOB Running backs, Quarterbacks

Depth, balance, sustainability – these are the characteristics that typically define the wide receiver position. In this era of downfield proclivity, it's lusher than ever before. Once top-heavy just a few short years ago inflating draft day price-tags of pacesetters like Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens and Torry Holt, WR today is essentially one giant Vince Young yard sale, a position sporting bargains galore.

Coaches’ willingness to throw and the immense QB talent pool has blown receiver production into uncharted waters. At least, that’s what most owners commonly perceive. One can always cherry-pick the stats to prove a point. For example, at the beginning of the century only 13 wideouts netted at least 10 fantasy points per game. A season ago 20 targets reached that feat. However, the yearly difference in receiver production is, in general, negligible.

Compared to QB, RB and TE, the position hasn’t undergone a complete makeover in standard formats. Last year’s tier-to-tier drop-off (WR1-WR36 = 6.7 fan points/game) was in line with recent seasons and also with those during run-friendlier times. PPR enthusiasts, too, haven’t experienced measurable change. In total, 22 receivers hauled in at least 70 receptions a season ago, two fewer than in 2005, a year that ranks No. 24 in passing yards per game per team all-time (2012 is No. 1).

In an age where vertical records are shattered virtually every year, it would only seem plausible WRs would also universally increase in value. But because most NFL teams often feature three, four or in the case of the Saints, five-wide sets, that trend hasn’t materialized. Passers are spreading the wealth, which explains why WR scoring has evened out.

Expect more of the same in 2013.

Obviously, Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant, Brandon Marshall and A.J. Green will attract early round selections, deservedly so, but bypassing them for commodities in the next or third-best class is a savvy strategy.

Sorting through the madness, here are my top-60 wide receivers entering Thursday’s NFL Draft:

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