"Will meet with Dr. James Andrews."

The six words you never want to read about a pitcher.

Brian Wilson -- he of the superhuman beard, memorable post-World Series championship interview and rifle of a right arm -- deserved better than this.

You can't help but like the Giants' closer, who likely is facing season-ending surgery because of structural damage in his elbow. But if you're a fantasy owner, you must put those feelings aside -- and people say we aren't tough -- and find a replacement via trade or the waiver wire.

If you are looking for saves, here are five possible options. All are available in more than half of the leagues on ESPN.com, and two are teammates of Wilson in San Francisco.

1. Hector Santiago, White Sox (owned in 44.4 percent of the ESPN leagues): If you're in a 12-team league or larger, it's likely too late to acquire Santiago, who was Manager Robin Ventura's unlikely choice to pitch the ninth inning. The former minor-league starter who had appeared in two career games in the big leagues prior to 2012 has four strikeouts and three saves in as many chances thus far. He's a must-start in category leagues and points leagues in which you have to play more than one reliever.

2. Henry Rodriguez, Nationals (4.1 percent): The reports say promising Washington closer Drew Storen had "minor surgery" on his elbow and could return before the All-Star break. I say any elbow surgery is scary, and Rodriguez is a very promising option moving forward. Thus far, Brad Lidge and Rodriguez have one save each, but I'd give the edge to the latter. The 25-year-old Rodriguez has three Ks in his last three appearances, a span in which he hasn't allowed a run in three innings, and he has struck out 113 batters in 100 2/3 innings in his career.

3. Alfedo Aceves, Red Sox (38.8 percent): He failed to record an out in his first two appearances of the season, leading many Sox fans to panic following a stretch in which Boston's choice to replace Jonathan Papelbon -- Andrew Bailey, who will miss at least two more months because of a thumb injury -- was already injured. In his last three appearances, however, Aceves has returned to his 2011 level. He has a pair of saves in three perfect innings, striking out four in the process. Last season, he had 80 Ks, a 2.61 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 114 innings.

4. Sergio Romo, Giants (9.1 percent): Manager Bruce Bochy has indicated he will take the closer-by-committee approach in replacing Wilson. He has two quality options in Romo and Santiago Casilla, though Romo -- who struck out 70 in 48 innings last season -- would seem to have the overpowering stuff managers prefer in their stoppers. Plus, like Wilson, he has a great beard. Romo has three career saves, but if he's the choice and doesn't have to share chances, he should be a must-start. Romo has averaged 10.7 Ks per nine innings in his career.

5. Santiago Casilla, Giants (1.9 percent): If Bochy goes the committee route, Casilla, who had six saves last season, is a decent selection in NL-only formats. Last season, the 31-year-old had a 1.74 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. He is a decent source of strikeouts (45 in 51 2/3 innings last season), but not as effective as Romo in that category.

Don't draft a wide receiver first overall.

Don't take a pitcher first overall.

Don't let the amusing Joe Mauer commercials fool you into believing he is still a top-three catcher.

We all have our rules in fantasy.

Another of mine: Don't take a closer early.

It's an argument for another day, but the basic premise is there is value at the position in the middle to late rounds, and avoiding the inevitable closer run in your draft allows you to stock up at other (much more important) positions.

Braves pitcher Craig Kimbrel is a rare player who will make me question that philosophy.

In his career, he has struck out 167 batters in 97 2/3 innings -- a ridiculous average of 15.4 Ks per nine innings. In 2011, his first full big-league season, Kimbrel set a rookie record with 46 saves, and posted a 2.10 ERA and 127 Ks in 77 innings.

He's a stud. But he's a closer, which means you shouldn't take him in the first five rounds of a 12-team league. In points-based leagues, which minimize closers more than rotisserie formats, Kimbrel should go even lower.

On to our final set of position rankings. We'll finish the early rankings rush later this week with our top 100 overall.

Note: All players are ranked at the positions at which they are expected to spend the most time in 2012, not all positions at which they are eligible. ... Stats are from 2011.

Rank, player, team IP, W-L, ERA, K, SV-Opp
1. Craig Kimbrel, Braves 77, 4-3, 2.10, 127, 46-54
2. Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies 64.1, 4-1, 2.94, 87, 31-34
3. John Axford, Brewers 73.2, 2-2, 1.95, 86, 46-48
4. Mariano Rivera, Yankees 61.1, 1-2, 1.91, 60, 44-49
5. Drew Storen, Nationals 75.1, 6-3, 2.75, 74, 43-48
6. Brian Wilson, Giants 55, 6-4, 3.11, 54, 36-41
7. Heath Bell, Marlins 62.2, 3-4, 2.44, 51, 43-48
8. J.J. Putz, Diamondbacks 58, 2-2, 2.17, 61, 45-49
9. Jose Valverde, Tigers 72.1, 2-4, 2.24, 69, 49-49
10. Joakim Soria, Royals 60.1, 5-5, 4.03, 60, 28-35
11. Ryan Madson, Reds 60.2, 4-2, 2.37, 62, 32-34
12. Joel Hanrahan, Pirates 68.2, 1-4, 1.83, 61, 40-44
13. Andrew Bailey, Red Sox 41.2, 0-4, 3.24, 41, 24-26
14. Jason Motte, Cardinals 68, 5-2, 2.25, 63, 9-13
15. Sergio Santos, Blue Jays 63.1, 4-5, 3.55, 92, 30-36
16. Carlos Marmol, Cubs 74, 2-6, 4.01, 99, 34-44
17. Jordan Walden, Angels 60.1, 5-5, 2.98, 26, 67, 32-42
18. Joe Nathan, Rangers 44.2, 2-1, 4.84, 43, 14-17
19. Chris Perez, Indians 59.2, 4-7, 3.32, 39, 36-40
20. Huston Street, Padres 58.1, 1-4, 3.86, 55, 29-33

Last three out: Brandon League, Mariners; Kyle Farnsworth, Rays; Javy Guerra, Dodgers.

Eligibility notes: As we noted in the rankings of the starting pitchers, Texas' Neftali Feliz and Tampa Bay's Matt Moore will begin the year in the rotation of their respective teams. If you are in a deep league and must play multiple relievers, start them as relievers if possible.

Key stats: Expect Papelbon to have a monster first season in Philly. Prior to 2011, he had averaged 37.6 saves in his previous five seasons. Last year, his save total dropped to 31, but he struck out 87 in 64 1/3 innings and blew only three save chances. As a team, the Phillies have averaged 44.5 saves per year since 2008.

PREVIOUS: Catchers, first basemen, second basemen, shortstops, third basemen, designated hitters, outfielders, starting pitchers

NEXT: Top 100 overall

Brian Wilson’s spring training injury is worrisome on two levels.

It could mean the Giants closer will open the season on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, and it could mean fewer chances for us to watch one of the most entertaining characters in baseball.

Wilson hasn’t been ruled out “completely” for opening day, according to Manager Bruce Bochy, and I wouldn’t worry about his injury to the point I would consider dropping him from the top of the closer rankings.

Wilson might start the year on the DL, but his stay there should be brief, and once he returns, you should get the closer who was lights out in 2010.

Wilson has 127 saves the last three seasons, and he has struck out a combined 176 in 147 innings the last two years.

All of which brings us to our rankings of the top closers — the last position in our series (the overall top 100 will follow):

Rank, player: IP-ERA-K-SV-Opp.
1. Brian Wilson, SF: 74.2-1.81-93-48-53
2. Heath Bell, SD: 70-1.93-47-47-50
3. Joakim Soria, KC: 65.2-1.78-71-43-46
4. Neftali Feliz, Tex: 69.1-2.73-71-40-43
5. Mariano Rivera, NYY: 60-1.80-45-33-38
6. Carlos Marmol, ChC: 77.2-2.55-138-38-43
7. Jonathan Papelbon, Bos: 67-3.90-76-37-45
8. John Axford, Mil: 58-2.48-76-24-27
9. Francisco Rodriguez, NYM: 57.1-2.20-67-25-30
10. Chris Perez, Cle: 63-1.71-61-23-27
11. Jonathan Broxton, LAD: 62.1-4.04-73-22-29
12. Huston Street, Col: 47.1-3.61-45-20-25
13. Jose Valverde, Det: 63-3.00-63-26-29
14. Joe Nathan, Min: DID NOT PITCH
15. Francisco Cordero, Cin: 72.2-3.84-59-40-48
16. Matt Thornton, CWS: 60.2-2.67-81-8-10
17. Andrew Bailey, Oak: 49-1.47-42-25-28
18. Brad Lidge, Phi: 45.2-2.96-52-27-32
19. Craig Kimbrel, Atl: 20.2-0.44-40-1-1
20. J.J. Putz, Ari: 54-2.83-65-3-7

Preseason top 100 players (6): Wilson (78), Bell (79), Soria (83), Feliz (91), Rivera (94), Marmol (95).

Short hops
The Padres’ Bell has saved a combined 89 games in 98 chances the last two years. In that span, he has 12 wins and 165 Ks in 139 2/3 innings. ... The Rangers still haven’t announced their plans for Feliz. He is being considered as a starter, but we can only hope he stays as the closer following a first full season in which he saved 40 games in 43 chances. ... In four full big-league seasons, Marmol has 441 Ks in 308 1/3 innings. ... The Tribe’s Perez saved 16 games in 17 opportunities and was 2-0 with a 0.63 ERA after the All-Star break last season. ... Broxton is back as the Dodgers’ closer after losing his job to Hong-Chih Kuo last season. ... Nathan is expected to resume his role as the Twins' closer after missing all of last season following Tommy John surgery. If you draft him, consider taking teammate Matt Capps late. The latter had a combined 42 saves and a 2.47 ERA with Washington and Minnesota in 2010.

NOTE: Statistics are from the 2010 season. ... Players are listed only at the positions at which they are expected to spend the most time in 2011.

THIS WEEK: Outfielders, Wednesday; starting pitchers, today; relief pitchers, today; later today: overall top 100.

LAST WEEK: Shortstops, March 17; third baseman, March 19; designated hitters, March 20.

TWO WEEKS AGO: Catchers, March 7; first baseman, March 8; second baseman, March 9.