If you play in a shallow mixed league, the odds are that you don’t need help figuring out what to do with the first base slot on your roster.  There are so many safe, top flight options that almost everyone in a ten team mixed league can take a 1B early in the draft and not have to worry about the position until draft day the following year.

But if your league plays with a corner infield spot, if you play in a deeper mixed league, or if you play in a single league format (which means AL or NL only), then some of the names a little bit further down the upcoming list might be of some interest to you.

Whether you need some help at 1B or not, I hope you’ll keep reading.  Actually, what do I care?  As soon as you clicked on this article I had everything I needed from you.  But I’m not a selfish lover, so I’ll try to give you what you need as well.

There isn’t much to say here as these guys are all pretty much money in the bank.  The only thing to note is that Pujols is supposedly planning to return tonight, but I’m still a little hesitant and can’t quite rank him #1 until I see him play a few games.  If he ends up missing a little more time, I’d have him a few spots lower.

First, Paul Konerko continues to get it done, and I see no reason why that should stop in the second half. 

Second, Ryan Howard really doesn’t deserve to be included in that top group anymore.  Gone are the days of 45+ home runs, and his average is what it is, about .250,  He only provides real top-of-the-line production in one category, RBI.  Don’t get me wrong, he’s still an excellent player, but he’s not an elite option at this point.

A few quick thoughts before I lay some Adam Dunn-related stat-age on you. 

·       Todd Helton is the poor (old) man’s Paul Konerko.

·       Pena is such a homer binger.  It looks like he just finished up a binge, but he probably has a couple more 6-7 homer binges in him this year.

·       Trumbo is a nice source of power and gives you a little something in the other counting categories.  His seven steals definitely add some value at a position where you rarely find steals.

And now for the Adam Dunn stats:

·       Andruw Jones to the age of 30: .263, 17.4 AB/HR, 21.4 K%.

·       Andruw Jones after the age of 30: .205, 19.6 AB/HR, 29.5K%.

·       Adam Dunn to the age of 30: .250, 14.1 AB/HR, 32.8 K%.

·       Adam Dunn is 31 this year: .173, 33.0 AB/HR, 43.3% K%.

Andruw Jones’ career path looks like the best comp for Dunn at this point, but I’m ranking him here just so I can cover my ass in case he hits 15-20 from here on out.

Never has there been a group with so much potential yet so little to be excited about.  Obviously I’m only speaking about this year, but because of the depth of first base, this group of young hitters does not provide a whole lot in the way of fantasy value for the rest of the year. 

Hosmer, Freeman, and Smoak have all been streaky as they continue to adjust to big league pitching, Moreland can’t seem to find enough steady playing time, and Wallace has been far more lucky than he has been good.

Someday these guys might top this list, but today is not that day.

It wasn’t anything special, but it was nice when James Loney posted a couple of .285, 13 HR, 7 SB, 90 RBI seasons at the ages of 24 and 25.  His production has fallen off a bit from those numbers over the last two years, but if he can provide production very close to those numbers, it’s never a bad idea to carry a guy who can give you a little bit of everything. 

Kotchman’s .335 batting average has fooled 6.6% of ESPN.com ten-team mixed league owners.  But his .364 BABIP and career .266 average mean you shouldn’t be one of them.