Fantasy Baseball 2012 Rankings - Top 10 Catchers

As the 2011 season unfolded it became clear that the catcher position was going to have a very unusual season. Owners saw two the the top options at the position, Buster Posey and Joe Mauer go down with injuries. We also saw the raise of a superstar in Mike Napoli. The 2012 season has started off no different with one of the top option at catcher, Victor Martinez already out for the season with a torn ACL. Who will raise to the pressure and who will disappear into the night in 2012, lets hope I can shed some light on what we have coming in 2012.

Catcher is one of those positions that is very unpredictable because its such a demanding position physically and mentally. Its the rare player that stays elite at this position fantasy wise for a long stretch. There are a couple different ways to draft catchers, you can take the approach of risk/reward or go the path of knowing what you will get. If you take the concept of drafting a catcher that will give you the most games but maybe not the huge stats these catchers will do that, Yadier Molina, Brian McCann, Matt Wieters, Kurt Suzuki and A.J. Pierzynki. They have played the most games since 2012. Yes, McCann can can put up great numbers and of those five he is the best offensive catcher.

I feel because the position is so shallow you need to grab those guys that can execute the best numbers and not play the most games. You can always draft a mid-level guy late in the draft to give you some insurance. So with that being said here are my top 10 catchers for the 2012 season.

1. Buster Posey - A nasty injury early in the season took him out for the year in 2011 and he also started off slow. When he got hurt things were turning around for him and his production was getting back to his 2010 numbers. He has got the best upside of any catcher this season and he will show that 2010 was no joke. Look for high average and 30 Hr's this season.

2. Mike Napoli - Finally got a chance to play everyday and his number soared but I also feel he reached his max production in 2011. Yes he may see another 100 at bats this year but the only change I see is a batting average dip.

3. Brian McCann - He is Atlanta's best weapon at the plate but will need the supporting cast of Uggla and Heyward to rebound from a below average 2011 season. Expect typical McCann numbers this year.

4. Alex Avila - Burst onto the scene in a big way in 2011. Got a chance to play everyday and he took full advantage. He broke down towards the end of last season so expect to see more time off behind the plate. With V-mart gone for the season he may fill that DH spot to help him rest as well. I think his average soared high last year and will come back to earth a little. His RBI total could jump close to 90 in 2012.

5. Matt Wieters - Finally grew into that catcher many believe he should be, showed better plate presence in 2011 and that will only get better. I see a 30 Hr season in store for Wieters this year and also can see him get his batting average up to .280.

6. Joe Mauer - He was the top rated catcher in 2010 but has been slowed by injuries the past couple season but looks primed for a great comeback. The new ball park has brought his power numbers back to earth but he is one of the top players at the plate for the Twins and should produce top 10 numbers in 2012.

7. Miguel Montero - This actually may be a little low for him especially if he can play in another 140 games in 2012. This is a great young team in Arizona with a lot of weapons and they will on get better as a team. I can see Montero flirting with 27 Hr's and close to 100 RBI's this season.

8. Carlos Santana - After a rough start in 2011 he turned it on and turn the corner from average player to top 10 considerations. He has raw power on a team that needs him to be in the middle of the lineup. Look for great things this season. The one knock is he needs to raise his average and with that more Hr's could follow.

9. Russell Martin - I can hear you now, "Martin top 10 your crazy" but I think he reinvented his career in pinstripes. Its a ball park that is small and plays to his advantage. His average was very low for him last year and I do not see him repeating a .235 batting average. I can see him repaeating last years numbers but with a better average and pushing more runs across the plate. A return to 75 plus RBi's is not out of the realm of possibility.

10. Jesus Montero - This kid is a stud in the making, the move from a small park to a bigger park could hurt his potential power numbers. He will be hot and cold all season but a 20 plus Hr season is in reach and he will be in the center of that lineup all season. It was a team that had a hard time driving in runs and Montero showed he can do that, even if its a small sample size of production.

So there are my top 10 catchers for 2012, keep in mind this is a position that its better to take a risk than play it safe. If you take a shot and it does not work you can always fall back on old reliable catchers or find that diamond in the rough like Napoli and Avila were in 2011. Also be patient with your catcher do not overact if they do not produce early in the season, I have find most catchers do not start getting solid numbers till mid May when they have gotten the picthing staff moving in the right direction. Good luck and be on the look out for the Top 10 First Baseman of the 2012 season next week.