The Ryan Garko who batted .319 after the All-Star break for the Indians last season is a fantasy asset. The Garko who hit .241 before the break and had just 61 runs scored, 14 home runs and 36 extra-base hits for the season? Not so much.

Garko's fantasy value isn't helped by his position, which is easily the deepest of the infield spots and features a Met with 38 homers and 115 RBI at No. 16 (Carlos Delgado), a promising Dodger who batted .289 in his first full big-league season at No. 17 (James Loney) and a Royal who had 32 homers as a Marlin in 2008 at No. 20 (Mike Jacobs).

Garko doesn't have enough pop -- a combined 35 homers in 979 at-bats the last two seasons -- to warrant a roster spot at such a quality position. If you plan on drafting him, remember that if Travis Hafner returns to health and Kelly Shoppach continues to average a home run every 17 at-bats, Victor Martinez will eat up a decent chunk of Garko's time at first base.

If that's the case, Garko will play left field or sit. Either way, I wouldn't be too optimistic.

Following are the fantasy rankings for first base, with second base to run on this site Wednesday, shortstop on Thursday and third base on Friday.

Note: Each player is listed at the position he is projected to play this season, according to the depth charts at mlb.com. … Statistics listed are from the 2008 season.

FIRST BASEMEN

Rank, player, team: R-HR-RBI-SB-Avg.
1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals: 100-37-116-7-.357
2. Lance Berkman, Astros: 114-29-106-18-.312
3. Mark Teixeira, Yankees: 102-33-121-2-.308
4. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: 85-37-127-1-.292
5. Ryan Howard, Phillies: 105-48-146-1-.251
6. Justin Morneau, Twins: 97-23-129-0-.300
7. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox: 91-29-115-3-.312
8. Prince Fielder, Brewers: 86-34-102-3-.276
9. Adrian Gonzalez, Padres: 103-36-119-0-.279
10. Derrek Lee, Cubs: 93-20-90-8-.291
11. Carlos Pena, Rays: 76-31-102-1-.247
12. Joey Votto, Reds: 69-24-84-7-.297
13. Chris Davis, Rangers: 51-17-55-1-.285
14. Aubrey Huff, Orioles: 96-32-108-4-.304
15. Carlos Delgado, Mets: 96-38-115-1-.271
16. James Loney, Dodgers: 66-13-90-7-.289
17. Adam LaRoche, Pirates: 66-25-85-1-.270
18. Paul Konerko, White Sox: 59-22-62-2-.240
19. Mike Jacobs, Royals: 67-32-93-1-.247
20. Jason Giambi, Athletics: 68-32-96-2-.247

SHORT HOPS

This is easily the deepest and most power-packed position in the infield. … National League MVP Pujols is the best all-around player in fantasy, and reigning home-run and RBI champ Ryan Howard ranks only fifth at his position because of his high strikeout totals (199 each of the last two years) and low batting averages (.268 in 2007 and .251 last season). … I give Berkman a slight edge over Teixeira and Cabrera because of his advantages in runs and steals. … If you can play Youkilis at third base all season, draft him there, where he’s even more valuable. … Check to see if Davis and Huff are third-base eligible in your league. The former was impressive as a rookie in 2008, and the latter had his best season since 2003. … The position is so loaded that Delgado, who had one more homer and one fewer RBI than Pujols last season, can be drafted as a backup.