fPAR: 2009 Running fantasy values

Face it. During the fantasy season, it’s easy to lose perspective, and you can’t see the forest for the trees. zOMG! Someone just dropped (insert big name, little production player)! I gotta buy low and get him on the cheap! That’s right, but only some of the time. One of the great things about our fPAR player valuation system is that you can use it to evaluate any past performance, i.e. year-to-date numbers. As of May 10th, here are your top 10 fantasy players:

1. Zack Greinke, SP. 6-0-59-0.51-0.79? It isn’t even close.
2. Evan Longoria, 3B. With a higher average and 44 RBI, just edges out the man you think should be here.
3. Albert Pujols, 1B. The man I was just talking about.
4. Jason Bay, OF. Now here’s a surprise. I wouldn’t expect this to last too long, though.
5. Johan Santana, SP. He’s still got it. Does he ever.
6. Ian Kinsler, 2B. He’s been like solar hot at .316-25-9-28-8.
7. Carl Crawford, OF. 22 steals will do that for a guy.
8. Nick Markakis, OF. HRs and SBs are not the only stats that count.
9. Dan Haren, SP. His performance on an otherwise rotten Dbacks team has gone largely unnnoticed.
10. Adam Jones, OF. That .358 average sure helps. Who’d have thought that two Orioles would break this top 10?

Chances are if you have two or more of these guys, you are mopping the floor with the pretenders in your league.

Now, among the top 50 players, some of the more surprising names (read: consider picking them up!)

Raul Ibanez, OF, 13th overall. Uh, come again? .327-24-9-23-3 has silenced the critics – for now.
Aaron Hill, 2B, 14th overall. Finally healthy, Hill is showing the breakout people were hoping for least year.
Johnny Damon, OF, 15th overall. The man with Jesus hair has resurrected at .314-23-9-25-3. He edged out Kevin Youkilis.
Adam Dunn, 1B, 17th overall. I’ve maligned this man much, but so far not drafting him has cost me.
Jorge Cantu, 1B/3B, 19th overall. .294-17-8-32-1. Don’t hate the playa, hate the game.
Wandy Rodriguez, SP, 29th overall. He’s really turning it on, so ride him while the ridin’s good.
Johnny Cueto, SP, 36th overall. I knew he was gonna be good, just not this soon. It’s still early, though.
Jason Bartlett, SS, 44th overall. What the heck is Bartlett doing this high? About .351-18-4-13-7. 

Full value listing here.