by Mike Harmon

Updated: February 10, 2008, 9:13 PM EST 2 comments

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An examination of the final numbers for 2007 reveals that 40 outfielders slammed 20 or more home runs. Fourteen outfielders drove in 100 runs. Interestingly, only two of those 14 outfielders reached the hallowed mark with fewer than 20 home runs (Jeff Francouer and Bobby Abreu). Of the 20 outfielders with 90 or more RBI, only new Minnesota outfielder Delmon Young joins the short list of those not doing so with the long ball.

The outfield position has also long been a place to find speed. While it's understood that stolen bases are down across the league, it is interesting to note that only 24 outfielders stole 20 or more bases in 2007. Taken further, only 34 players amassed 15 or more steals.

To provide some food for thought as you put your draft rankings together, let's do a quick cross-reference. Four of those 34 players with 15 or more stolen bases appear on the previously mentioned list of 90-RBI outfielders (Abreu, Carlos Beltran, Nick Markakis and Torii Hunter).

Let's continue our countdown of the top outfielders with a review of the top 20. I'll begin with a budding star in Arizona who offers power and speed and has plenty of room for growth.

20. Chris Young, Arizona Diamondbacks

Young helped many fantasy owners to titles in 2007 by contributing strong marks in four of the standard fantasy categories. Although he was overmatched at times during his rookie season, Young slammed 64 extra-base hits with 68 RBI. He narrowly missed joining the hallowed 30-30 club, falling just three steals short of the mark (32 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 33 attempts).

The largest area for concern with the selection of Young for fantasy owners clearly rests in the drain that he puts on the batting average category. Young struck out once in every 4.04 at-bats and fanned 3.28 times for every walk he drew. If he can improve on those marks in his sophomore season, the sky is the limit for Young. The former 16th-round pick of the White Sox won't turn 25 until the final month of the 2008 season.

19. Adam Dunn, Cincinnati Reds

The high stolen-base totals Dunn once projected for himself never materialized (He's swiped 20 in the past three years). However, he continues to rank among the league's top power brokers, having produced four consecutive 40-home run campaigns during which he drove in 92 or more runs in each season.

The hard-swinging Dunn remains a drain on batting average, as he's never topped .266 and owns a career .248 mark. In fact, the .264 batting average achieved by Dunn in 2007 marked the second-best effort of his career. He and Ken Griffey, Jr. form one of the top power duos in the game, and there's no reason to believe that Dunn won't continue his huge production in 2008. Dunn has averaged one home run per 11.75 at-bats in the Great American Ballpark.

18. Bobby Abreu, New York Yankees

The Joe Torre era has ended in the Bronx, but that doesn't mean that the Yankees won't continue to torment opposing pitchers and register ridiculous run totals under Joe Girardi. In fact, the installation of Girardi as manager may improve Abreu's value, as history suggests that he may run more to pressure opponents.

Abreu owns a current streak of five consecutive 100-RBI seasons and has topped the mark in six of his past seven campaigns. He's also stolen 20 or more bases in nine of the past 10 years and has scored 98 or more runs in nine consecutive years. Abreu owns a lifetime .300 batting average and a huge .408 on-base percentage. Fantasy owners can expect more of the same from Abreu in 2008. The huge power numbers and stolen base totals from the early part of the decade are gone, but his placement in the potent Yankees lineup keeps him among the position's top options.

17. Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels

It will be strange to see Hunter in an Angels cap when camp begins, as he's been the face of the Twins for the past decade. Hunter eclipsed 100 RBI for the second time in his career in 2007 and has hit 23 or more home runs in six of the past seven years. His .287 batting average was also his best mark since 2002, and the veteran outfielder also played in a career-high 160 games.

Hunter will team with Gary Matthews, Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero to form one of the game's most potent outfields. With Chone Figgins setting the table, Hunter will have ample RBI opportunities, and the protection afforded by Guerrero will allow Hunter to maintain his yearly power production. Lest we forget, Hunter also provides fantasy owners will an average of 14 stolen bases per year as a full-time player and 18.5 per season in the past four years.

16. Eric Byrnes, Arizona Diamondbacks

He's entertaining. He's engaging. And, he leaves everything he has on the field. Byrnes has also regained his status in the fantasy world with two stupendous five-category seasons since joining the Diamondbacks.

Byrnes stole a career-high 50 bases in the energetic and youthful Arizona lineup, doubling his previous mark of 25 set in 2006. He also established new career marks in runs scored (103), RBI (83) and batting average (.286) and has produced back-to-back 20-home run seasons (He's averaged 23.5 home runs in his two years in Arizona). There's always some concern about injury because of his aggressive defensive play, but it's hard to ignore his recent production. I suspect that his stolen-base total regresses this year. However, Byrnes could easily exceed his other numbers as the other members of this lineup come of age.

15. Gary Sheffield, Detroit Tigers

Depending on your league's settings, it's possible that Sheffield lost outfield eligibility after appearing in the outfield only 14 times last season (seven games in left field and seven in right field). For the purposes of this piece, we'll assume that he holds eligibility for one more season before becoming a full-time DH.

The well-traveled veteran joined the Tigers ahead of the 2007 season, and produced tremendous numbers in four categories. However, Sheffield once again missed significant time because of injuries (29 games in 2007 after missing 123 games in 2006). Sheffield hit 25 home runs, his 14th season with at least 20 home runs. He also scored 100 runs for the seventh time in his career (107). Sheffield drove in 75 runs in the heart of the Tigers' loaded lineup and stole 22 bases, his top effort since 1998.

Detroit's addition of Miguel Cabrera to this already-potent lineup makes Sheffield a threat to recapture the brilliance of his three-year run in New York from 2003-2005. He averaged 36 home runs and 125 RBI during that period.

14. Nick Markakis, Baltimore Orioles

The national media has had no reason to focus on Baltimore since the retirement of Cal Ripken, Jr. save the links of Brian Roberts, Rafael Palmeiro and Miguel Tejada to the Mitchell Report and the trade rumors concerning Roberts and hurler Erik Bedard. As a result, the mention of an emerging talent such as Markakis usually results in a blank stare and a shrug of the shoulders.

Fantasy owners are well aware of his abilities, having watched Markakis become a strong five-category performer in his two years in Baltimore. Markakis batted .291 in 147 games as a rookie and demonstrate solid pop with 43 extra-base hits (including 16 homers). He improved his game in every regard as an everyday player in 2007 with 26 more extra-base hits (including seven more home runs for 23), 40 more RBI (112) and 16 more stolen bases (18). Most importantly, further exposure to big league pitching did not impact his batting average at all (.300 in 2007). Markakis's 43 doubles portend to even higher power numbers in the future as this former first-round pick matures. He'll perform in 2008, even if the rest of the Baltimore lineup remains a huge question mark.

13. Curtis Granderson, Detroit Tigers

While Granderson's low walk-to-strikeout rate still leaves something to be desired, he did cut his strikeout rate immensely in 2007, thereby improving his batting average 42 points from his 2006 total. Granderson turned in a phenomenal sophomore campaign, achieving a rare final stat line with 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 home runs and 26 stolen bases. He scored 122 runs in the league's third-highest scoring offense.

The Tigers have re-tooled their lineup to ramp up production even higher this year. Granderson is entering the power prime of his career alongside noted sluggers Gary Sheffield, Magglio Ordoñez and off-season acquisition Cabrera. While he likely won't come close to repeating his ridiculous 23 triples of 2007, he'll undoubtedly rack up a high number of doubles and perhaps translate several of those gap drives into home runs.

12. Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox

Injuries have taken their toll on the powerful Boston outfielder. Ramirez has missed a total of 61 games in the past two years, but that hasn't stopped him from amassing huge numbers when in the lineup. Ramirez has averaged 27.5 home runs, 95 RBI and a strong .308 batting average in these injury-shortened campaigns.

The defending champions are loaded for another run, and there's no reason to suspect that this longtime slugger will experience a significant drop-off in performance. Naturally, Ramirez won't fly off of the draft board as he did ahead of the 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons because of his recent injuries, but there's no denying his four-category dominance when available. He's driven in 102 or more runs in 11 of his 13 full seasons (88 or more in each of them) while averaging 36.2 home runs. Ramirez's injury-shortened 2007 season marked his first season with fewer than 26 home runs since 1997. Look for a bounce-back year and a possible bargain on draft day.

11. B.J. Upton, Tampa Bay Rays

The 23-year-old former No. 2 overall pick broke camp with the Rays (I just can't get used to dropping "Devil" from the moniker) and shone brightly from the outset. Upton batted .365 (27-for-74) with five home runs, 20 RBI, five stolen bases and a monstrous 1.102 OPS in April. It was just the beginning of a phenomenal first full season in the major leagues for Upton. He amassed 24 home runs, 82 RBI, 22 stolen bases and scored 86 runs despite the fact that he appeared in only 129 games. There's no more appropriate word to describe his performance than "dominant."

The lone hole in Upton's game was the aggressiveness that led to 154 strikeouts in 474 at-bats (one per three at-bats). The fact that Upton batted .444 when he put the ball in play boggles the mind. He's primed for another huge season and can be used both at second base and in the outfield.

10. Alexis Rios, Toronto Blue Jays

I'll clear up the confusion before breaking down his game. His given name is "Alexis," but he goes by the name "Alex" in the box score. I will undoubtedly receive notes from several fantasy owners urging me to refer to "Chipper Jones" by his given name of Larry. But, I digress.

Rios has established himself as a strong five-tool performer in the Toronto lineup, thereby eclipsing teammate Vernon Wells in the fantasy world. Rios worked past previous injury issues to appear in a career-high 161 games in 2007. As such, he established new career marks in runs scored (114), home runs (24), RBI (85) and stolen bases (17). Additionally, he batted .297 in a solid follow-up to his .302 mark of 2006. Rios's power numbers dropped markedly in the second half (10 fewer home runs and 21 fewer RBI), but this former No. 1 pick (19th overall) is just hitting his stride.

9. Carlos Lee, Houston Astros

Lee is often criticized for his defensive lapses, but there's no denying his ability to mash. He owns a streak of five consecutive seasons with at least 31 home runs and 99 RBI. In fact, Lee has slammed 24 or more home runs in eight consecutive seasons and has averaged 100 RBI since joining the White Sox in 1999. The lumbering slugger also quietly adds double-digit steals each year (seven of eight seasons) and owns a strong .288 career batting average.

I'm anticipating another monster season from Lee in Houston, particularly if Tejada brings any semblance of his former self to the lineup. A quick look into his split stats from 2007 reveals that Lee enjoyed the hitting backdrop of Minute Maid Park. Lee batted a dominant .345 with 17 home runs and 68 RBI at the home park. He batted .262 on the road.

8. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners

Fantasy owners can rely on few things in an ever-changing game clouded by suspicion and fraught with controversy. Ichiro has become the gold standard of consistency in three categories. Suzuki has scored 101 or more runs in each of his seven major league seasons while averaging 38.9 stolen bases and a robust .333 batting average. His batting average leads all current players who have tallied 3,000 plate appearances and ranks 25th all-time.

While teammates come and go in Seattle and their production varies greatly (just look at Richie Sexson), Ichiro continues to produce brilliant totals for fantasy owners.

7. Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rans

Crawford remains one of the league's top speed merchants, having averaged 53.6 stolen bases per year. He's led the led the American League in steals in four of the past five years and finished third in 2005 when he registered a career-low 46 thefts. Crawford offers tremendous production in three categories including the aforementioned stolen bases, runs scored (93.4 per season) and batting average (.296 lifetime mark).

Fantasy owners anticipate a bounce-back season in the power department, and his high doubles total would suggest a surge this year. Crawford hit 37 doubles in 2007, but saw his home run total dip from 18 to 11 last year as he missed 19 games. He remains a top-tier fantasy option for owners this year, as he continues to dominate the basepaths in an improving Tampa Bay offense.

6. Magglio Ordoñez, Detroit Tigers

Ordoñez removed the specter of his past injuries by following a stellar 2006 season with an MVP-quality campaign in the potent Detroit lineup in 2007. He established new career marks in runs scored (117) and RBI (139), and topped his previous career-best batting average by 43 points. In fact, Ordoñez has averaged 26 home runs, 43 doubles (54 in 2007), 121.5 RBI and a robust .331 batting average in two full seasons with the Tigers.

The Tigers tweaked an offense that already ranked among baseball's best with the addition of Cabrera, and I have no doubt Ordoñez will once again dominate the AL Central. Ordoñez averages an extra-base hit in every 10.1 at-bats at Comerica Park with an RBI in every 5.65 at-bats. He's a .322 career hitter at his home park and will have RBI opportunities galore.

5. Alfonso Soriano, Chicago Cubs

Soriano's arrival in Chicago revitalized the long-suffering fan base as the team made an improbable run toward the playoffs. He batted .299 (his second-best major league total) with 97 runs scored, 80 extra-base hits including 33 home runs and 19 stolen bases. Unfortunately, his 19 stolen bases marked only the second time in seven major league seasons that he finished with fewer than 30 thefts and his 70 RBI was his lowest total ever. Soriano missed 27 games in 2007. He'd never appeared in fewer than 145 games in a season.

His production with the Cubs proved that Soriano can produce no matter where he plays. He's been extremely productive in New York, Texas, Washington and now in Chicago. Interestingly, Soriano batted 51 points higher on the road than he did in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field and actually hit seven more home runs on the road. A full season with Aramis Ramirez in the lineup and the addition of Kosuke Fukudome will keep the Cubs competitive in the NL Central and Soriano among the game's elite players. He's averaged 36.7 home runs, 92 RBI and 32.4 stolen bases in his seven major-league seasons.

4. Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians

The former Montreal Expos draft pick (What a team it could have been!) has become one of the most consistent outfield options for fantasy owners. Sizemore offers stellar production in four categories with a solid batting average. He has averaged 24.6 home runs, 78 RBI, 121 runs scored and 25.6 stolen bases in his three full major-league seasons with the Indians.

The fact that Sizemore continues to strike out at a huge pace (4.37 at-bats) will weigh down his batting average. However, he does off-set it with a high walk total, and he improved his on-base percentage each season. I expect Sizemore to eclipse his averages as Travis Hafner rebounds from a subpar campaign.

3. Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles Angels

Guerrero has been one of the game's most productive stars for a decade, generating tremendous four-category production and an occasional boost in the stolen base category. He has averaged 35.3 home runs, 113.6 RBI and 99.5 runs scored with a brilliant .327 batting average during the past 10 years. Most importantly, Guerrero has appeared in at least 141 games in nine of those 10 years (112 games played in 2003).

The Angels retain the services of sparkplug Figgins (barring a last-minute deal ahead of spring training) and Howie Kendrick has the makings of a future batting title contender. The addition of Hunter gives the Angels a potent outfield (alongside Matthews, Jr.) and protection in the heart of the lineup.

2. Carlos Beltran, New York Mets

Following a rough first season in New York in 2005, Beltran has reclaimed his place among the league's top five-tool performers. Beltran has averaged 37 home runs, 116 RBI, 110 RBI and 20.5 stolen bases in the past two seasons.

Taken further, Beltran has topped 20 home runs and 100 RBI in seven of his nine full major league seasons while averaging 27.4 stolen bases. The Mets remain one of the league's most potent offensive units with Jose Reyes and David Wright leading the charge. There's no reason to expect a downturn in production.

1. Matt Holliday, Colorado Rockies

Holliday established himself as a top-tier fantasy option following a tremendous 2006 season. The Colorado superstar joined the elite level with another phenomenal campaign in 2007. Holliday established new highs in every standard fantasy category with 36 home runs, 137 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 120 runs scored and a phenomenal .340 batting average. He ranked inside the top six in all of Major League Baseball in three categories.

The Rockies are loaded in the heart of the order with Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe and rising star Troy Tulowitzki. Veteran Todd Helton and speedster Wily Taveras will help keep the line moving. Of course, Holliday continues to dominate at Coors Field. He owns a stellar .364 batting average with one home run per every 15.46 at-bats and an RBI per every 4.3 at-bats. Holliday's road splits are markedly different from the home numbers (.273 batting average with a home run every 30.9 at-bats and an RBI every 7.1 at-bats), but the total package makes him the top option in the outfield this season.

Next: Starting Pitchers 40-21