When you think of deep positions in fantasy baseball, the obvious ones -- outfield, first base and starting pitcher -- come to mind.

Second base? Not so much.

That has certainly been the case the last couple of years, though. When I was researching all of the positions for a (ridiculously early) top 100 overall, eight of the top 80 were second basemen. That matches the total at first base. (I'm counting only the players whose primary position is first or second, not all eligible players at each position.)

Our eighth-ranked second baseman in 2012 is the Brewers' Rickie Weeks, who batted only .269 with 49 RBI last season, but hit 20 home runs. In 2010, Weeks had 29 homers, 83 RBI, 11 steals and 112 runs scored.

Our No. 7 second baseman is the Braves' Dan Uggla, who hit 36 homers and scored 88 runs last season, and has averaged 32 homers, 91 RBI and 98 runs in his six-year career.

A player who just missed the cut in the top 100 (which will be unveiled shortly; please hold your applause until the end) is the Angels' Howard Kendrick. Our No. 9 second baseman batted .285 with 18 homers, 86 runs and 14 steals last year.

Without further delay, our top second basemen ...

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 R-HR-RBI-SB-Avg.
1. Robinson Cano, Yankees 104-28-118-8-.302
2. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox 102-21-91-26-.307
3. Ian Kinsler, Rangers 121-32-77-30-.255
4. Brandon Phillips, Reds 94-18-82-14-.300
5. Chase Utley, Phillies 54-11-44-14-.259
6. Ben Zobrist, Rays 99-20-91-19-.269
7. Dan Uggla, Braves 88-36-82-1-.23
8. Rickie Weeks, Brewers 77-20-49-9-.269
9. Howard Kendrick, Angels 86-18-63-14-.285
10. Dustin Ackley, Mariners 39-6-36-6-.273
11. Neil Walker, Pirates 76-12-83-9-.273
12. Danny Espinosa, Nationals 72-21-66-17-.236
13. Jemile Weeks, Athletics 50-2-36-22-.303
14. Jason Kipnis, Indians 24-7-19-5-.272
15. Aaron Hill, Diamondbacks 61-8-61-21-.246
16. Kelly Johnson, Blue Jays 75-21-58-16-.222
17. Daniel Murphy, Mets 49-6-49-5-.320
18. Brian Roberts, Orioles 18-3-19-6-.221
19. Gordon Beckham, White Sox 60-10-44-5-.230
20. Omar Infante, Marlins 55-7-49-4-.276

Last three out: Marco Scutaro, Rockies; Jose Altuve, Astros; Darwin Barney, Cubs.

Eligibility notes: Zobrist could play a lot at first base and in the outfield, but he primarily was a second baseman in 2011. ... Arizona's versatile Ryan Roberts should be eligible here, but we have him ranked No. 12 at third base.

Key stats: In the last two seasons, Cano has norms of 29 homers, 114 RBI and 103 runs. He gets the nod over Pedroia because of his power.

PREVIOUS: Catchers, first basemen

NEXT: Shortstops

Second base has one more player in the top 70 overall than the hot corner, and six players at second are ranked in our top 42.

A player who has averaged 31 homers and 88 RBI the last two seasons is ranked ninth at the position (Aaron Hill), followed by a former stud in Chone Figgins and a promising Pirate who hit .296 with 12 homers and 66 RBI as a rookie in 2010 (Neil Walker).

Somewhere Ryne Sandberg is smiling.

On to the rankings:

Rank, player: R-HR-RBI-SB-Avg.
1. Robinson Cano, NYY: 103-29-109-3-.319
2. Dustin Pedroia, Bos: 53-12-41-9-.288
3. Ian Kinsler, Tex: 73-9-45-15-.286
4. Dan Uggla, Atl: 100-33-105-4-.287
5. Brandon Phillips, Cin: 100-18-59-16-.275
6. Chase Utley, Phi: 75-16-65-13-.275
7. Rickie Weeks, Mil: 112-29-83-11-.269
8. Brian Roberts, Bal: 28-4-15-12-.278
9. Aaron Hill, Tor: 70-68-68-2-.205
10. Chone Figgins, Sea: 62-1-35-42-.259
11. Neil Walker, Pit: 57-12-66-2-.296
12. Gordon Beckham, White Sox: 58-9-47-4-.252
13. Kelly Johnson, Ari: 93-26-71-13-.284
14. Howie Kendrick, LAA: 67-10-75-14-.279
15. Jose Lopez, Col: 49-10-58-3-.239
16. Juan Uribe, SF: 64-24-85-1-.248
17. Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Min: ROOKIE
18. Omar Infante, Fla: 65-8-47-7-.321
19. Mike Aviles, KC: 63-8-32-14-.304
20. Bill Hall, Hou: 44-18-46-9-.247

Preseason top 100 players (8): Cano (11), Pedroia (22), Kinsler (33), Uggla (41), Phillips (42), Utley (55), Weeks (56), Roberts (66).

Short hops
Cano set career highs in home runs, RBI and OPS (.914) last season and tied his career best in runs. ... We had Utley ranked second at second and No. 18 overall, but bumped him to No. 6 and 55, respectively, because of concerns about his right knee. He has been receiving cortisone injections in the knee and was limited to 425 at-bats by injury last season. ... Uggla has averaged 31 homers, 91 RBI and 100 runs in his five-year career, and his stats could improve in Atlanta. ... The D-Backs’ Johnson was awful in 2009, but set career highs in homers, RBI, runs, steals and OPS (.865) in 2010. ... Keep an eye on the Rockies’ Lopez, who had 25 homers and 96 RBI in 2009. If he beats out Eric Young Jr., he could be a late-round steal playing half of his games at Coors Field. ... Another possible late-round bargain is Uribe, who posted career bests in homers and RBI last season. ... A name outside the top 20 to remember: Sean Rodriguez of the Rays. He had nine homers, 40 RBI, 13 steals and 53 runs in 343 at-bats in 2010, his first full big-league season, and he should be more of a regular in 2011. ... Martin Prado is expected to be the Braves’ starting left fielder, but is much more valuable at second. If you are playing him at second, consider him among the top 10 on the above list. ... The Rays’ Ben Zobrist will be ranked on our list of the top outfielders and is eligible at second after playing 58 games there in 2010. He would be ranked 15th on the above list, ahead of Kendrick, but behind Prado and the players ranked 1 to 13.

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: Catchers, Sunday; first baseman, Tuesday; second baseman, today.

NEXT WEEK: Shortstops, third basemen and designated hitters.

The knock on Joe Mauer was always a lack of power.

We knew he'd hit well over .300, walk more times than he struck out, get on base twice as often as David Dellucci and drive in 70 or 80 runs.

This, we never could have guessed -- especially not after the Twins catcher missed the first month of the season because of a back injury.

I'm no hitting coach -- and I don't play one on the Internet -- but I would think recovering from a back injury wouldn't help a player's chances of hitting a home run. In Mauer's case, he's turned into the Albert Pujols of backstops.

In 224 at-bats, he's hit 15 home runs -- two more than his previous career high -- and his 1.118 OPS is almost 200 points better than his prior best.

Aside from Pujols, Mauer was the easiest selection on the list that follows. Without further adieu, our first-half fantasy all-stars. All stats are through Wednesday night's games.

Sorry, fellas, no incentive clauses included.

Catcher: Joe Mauer, Twins -- Did we mention he's batting .388 and has scored 48 runs in 60 games? Runner-up: Victor Martinez, Indians. What a difference a year makes.

First base: Albert Pujols, Cardinals -- Now that he's stealing bases (10 on the season), you couldn't ask for more. He's batting .331 with 67 runs, 31 homers, 82 RBI, 34 more walks than strikeouts (69-35) and a 1.184 OPS. Runner-up: Justin Morneau, Twins. With 21 homers, he is just two away from his 2008 total.

Second base: Chase Utley, Phillies -- So much for spring training injury concerns. Utley narrowly edges Ian Kinsler, thanks to his .306 batting average, 57 runs and .997 OPS. Runner-up: Ben Zobrist, Rays. Possibly fantasy's biggest surprise, Akinori Iwamura's replacement at second in Tampa has 17 homers and 50 RBI, along with a 1.017 OPS, in only 232 at-bats. More on Kinsler in a bit.

Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins -- We've had fun at his expense, but only because of many owners' draft-day decision of Ramirez over Pujols at No. 1 overall. He's currently bothered by a hip injury and his stolen-base total is way down (12, after averaging 46 the previous three years), but he's still been great. Ramirez is batting .346 with 14 homers and 60 RBI. Runner-up: Derek Jeter, Yankees. Even at 35, he's a fantasy standout, batting .315 with 10 homers, 35 RBI, 55 runs and 17 steals.

Third base: Mark Reynolds, Diamondbacks -- Before the season, I never would have guessed this would be the worst position at the top. Reynolds is batting only .262 and he strikes out even more often than an Indians regular (115 in 313 at-bats). But he hits for power (24 homers and 62 RBI), steals bases (14), has an .896 OPS and is on pace to reach triple figures in runs scored. Runner-up: David Wright, Mets. He's batting well and stealing bases, but what happened to his power (five homers, after totaling 63 the previous two years)?

Designated hitter: Ian Kinsler, Rangers -- Like Utley, he hits for power (20 homers and 54 RBI) and scores a lot of runs (60). He's better on the basepaths (17 steals), but will bring down your batting average (.252).

Outfielders: Carl Crawford, Rays; Jason Bay, Red Sox; and Ryan Braun, Brewers. Crawford is batting .314 with 43 steals, and Bay has done everything but hit for average (.263). Braun, however, is the best of the bunch -- .324, 59 runs, 16 homers, 58 RBI, seven stolen bases and a .962 OPS.

Runner-up: Torii Hunter, Angels. He sat out Wednesday's game with an abdominal injury, which is a concern after a fantastic first half (.305, 17 homers, 65 RBI, 56 runs, 13 steals).

Next up: The pitchers.