Certain features have become an annual tradition for me in my examinations of the fantasy baseball landscape.  In preparing my draft board, I also compile an “experts’ consensus rating,” taking the average of some top fantasy magazines and websites.  This ranking helps me to identify players I believe will be undervalued and overvalued by fantasy players based on what the experts are saying.

This article differs in the sense that it features players whose rankings in my poll are fairly close to those in the experts’ poll.  As such, they should not be drafted excessively high – but they have the chance to exceed their value greatly by the end of the year.  For example, I had a championship team in a very competitive league last year, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the breakout seasons of Miguel Cabrera, Jason Bay, David Wright and Chad Cordero.  They all approached “franchise player” status last year, and all were exquisite values on draft day.  They epitomize the type of breakout player each of us needs every year to succeed.

Frankly, I do not see many potential breakout candidates on the horizon for 2006, but some have materialized:

• Vernon Wells (Ranked 24^th on my board among outfielders, ranked 19^th on the experts’ board): Wells has tasted the rarified air of franchise superstardom before, but fell back from his super 2003 season.  But at the “magic” age 27, and surrounded by what might be the best protection of his career, he may yet rebound to the ’03 levels.
• Matt Holliday (Ranked 34^th on my board among outfielders, ranked 29^th on the experts’ board): Coors Field and developing power potential are a potent mix.  Holliday looks to become a perennial All-Star within a year or two and could become a serious candidate this year.
• Jeff Francoeur (Ranked 35^th on my board among outfielders, ranked 35^th on the experts’ board): He has been compared to Vladimir Guerrero because of his prodigious skills.  That’s good.  He’s also been compared to Mad Vlad because he’ll swing at anything.  That’s potentially dangerous.  His risky approach at the plate makes him a candidate to fall back somewhat, but his upside is almost unparalleled among players his age.  If you get him at the right price, he could well become the value pick of the draft.
• Bobby Crosby (Ranked 13^th on my board at shortstop, not ranked in the top 20 shortstops on the experts’ board): This former Rookie of the Year is not considered a top-tier offensive option at shortstop, and apparently many of the experts don’t even consider him a viable backup option.  While injuries have prevented him from reaching his full potential, don’t forget his upside when you are drafting, especially if you get shut out of your top-tier shortstops.
• Josh Beckett (Ranked 15^th on my board at starting pitcher, ranked 17^th on the experts’ board): Last season was by no means the dominant statistical effort that many have forecast for him, but he managed to finish in the top 30 for every starting pitcher 5X5 category.  He should continue to improve, and thrive in the Boston atmosphere, having shown his big-game mettle in the fall of 2003.
• Matt Cain (Ranked 39^th on my board at starting pitcher, ranked 33^rd on the experts’ board): Sooner rather than later, this young man will usurp Jason Schmidt and Matt Morris at the Giants’ undisputed ace.  His fine numbers in the limited opportunities he received in 2005 give a window into his upside.
• Daniel Cabrera (Ranked 49^th on my board at starting pitcher, not ranked in the Top 50 starting pitchers on the experts’ board): Cabrera almost fits the tag of “overrated sleeper” that a friend of mine once coined – a description of a player who too many people are touting for a breakthrough.  But, in this case, the conventional wisdom about Leo Mazzone being able to harness this stallion’s skills is likely to be true.  And as long as you can get him in the mid-to-later rounds, the value could potentially be outstanding.
• Joe Blanton (Ranked 50^th on my board at starting pitcher, ranked 42^nd on the experts’ board): His strong finish in 2005 indicates that he is ready to push Rich Harden and Barry Zito for the label of As ace – and that he could push his team, and yours, deep into the playoffs.