Week 5 of the fantasy baseball season is complete and there were many great individual performances this week that helped propel head-to-head league owners to wins. From the best in the game to some surprise fantasy contributors, here's a review of the top 10 fantasy baseball players from April 30 to May 6*.
10*. 1B Adam Dunn, Chicago White Sox
Week 5 statistics*: 7/22 H/AB, 5 R, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, .318 AVG
A joke in 2011, Dunn has had a great start to 2012 with plenty of home runs and a decent batting average for his standards. Owned in about 75% of leagues, Dunn has finally made himself a solid play for the White Sox and in most leagues.
9. OF Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
Week 5 statistics: 7/20 H/AB, 4 R, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 1 SB, .350 AVG
With already eight home runs and 18 RBIs on the season, Braun has continued to put up All-Star type numbers in 2012.
8. SP Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Week 5 statistics: 16.0 IP, 1 W, 0 S, 18 K, 0.56 ERA, 0.75 WHIP
With matchups against the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins, Hernandez dominated both teams with eight innings pitched and nine strikeouts in each game. Hernandez is already looking like a leading American League Cy Young candidate with a 1.89 ERA and 51 strikeouts this season.
7. 3B Chris Johnson, Houston Astros
Week 5 statistics: 7/18 H/AB, 4 R, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 0 SB, .389 AVG
One of two Astros on the list, Johnson's best game of the week came on May 2 against the New York Mets with four hits, including two home runs, and six RBIs. A decent power hitter for Houston, Johnson is an above-average NL-option at third base.
6. OF Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
Week 5 statistics: 9/27 H/AB, 5 R, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, .333 AVG
Currently in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak, Stanton has found his power in May with four home runs in the first six games of the month.
5. 3B Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh Pirates
Week 5 statistics: 8/22 H/AB, 7 R, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, .364 AVG
Now batting cleanup for the Pirates, Alvarez has seen some success in a spot that has troubled him in the past. With teams now looking to pitch around the powerful third baseman, Alvarez is an above-average fantasy third baseman.
4. SP Chris Capuano, Los Angeles Dodgers
Week 5 statistics: 7.0 IP, 1 W, 0 SV, 7 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.71 WHIP
One of the more surprising starting pitchers this season, Capuano improved his record to 4-0 after pitching seven scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs. With only one subpar start to begin the season (4.2 innings and four earned runs against the San Diego Padres), Capuano has become more than serviceable for the Dodgers and fantasy owners.
3. OF Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks
Week 5 statistics: 8/30 H/AB, 7 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 SB, .267 AVG
Despite showing a .242 batting average at the end of Week 5, Upton has slowly shown signs of being an all-around contributor. With an impressive 21 runs scored and five stolen bases already this season, Upton is well on track to another 100-20 runs scored-stolen base season.
2. 3B/SS Jed Lowrie, Houston Astros
Week 5 statistics: 10/21 H/AB, 6 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, .476 AVG
Easily one of the hottest hitters in the National League, Lowrie nearly hit .500 in Week 5 and has manned the team's shortstop spot nicely. A popular add by owners over Week 5, Lowrie has become one of the better National League shortstops this season.
1. OF Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
Week 5 statistics: 9/23 H/AB, 6 R, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 1 SB, .391 AVG
Playing like one of the top outfielders over the past two seasons, Gonzalez improved his overall numbers with a two-homer game against the Dodgers on May 2 and a four hit game against the Atlanta Braves on May 5.
Honorable mentions (ranked 11-15 in order): Los Angeles Angels SP Jered Weaver, Tampa Bay Rays SP David Price, Atlanta Braves 3B Chipper Jones, St. Louis Cardinals SS Rafael Furcal, St. Louis Cardinals OF Matt Holliday
*Rankings according to Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball rankings in default scoring leagues (head-to-head, 5x5 scoring). Statistics gathered from games on Monday, April 30 to Sunday, May 6. H/AB: Hits/At Bats, R: Runs Scored, HR: Home Runs, RBI: Runs Batted In, SB: Stolen Bases, AVG: Batting Average, IP: Innings Pitched, W: Wins, SV: Saves, K: Strikeouts, ERA: Earned Run Average, WHIP: Walks + Hits / Innings Pitched.
Sources:
Ryan Braun Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Felix Hernandez Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Chris Johnson Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Giancarlo Stanton Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Chris Capuano Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Justin Upton Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Carlos Gonzalez Game Log, Yahoo! Sports
Who's Hot, Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Baseball
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Austin Chang is a lifelong baseball fan, San Francisco Giants supporter, and fantasy baseball player since 2005 who has been a Top 3 finisher in 70% of the leagues he has played in. Follow this contributor on Twitter @_austinchang.
