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By Kevin Kleps, Fantasy Correspondent

Outfielders

Ryan Braun, 24, Brewers: The move from third base slightly lowered his fantasy value, but any player who's compiled a combined 69 home runs and 194 RBI in his first two big-league seasons is a top keeper. Braun has stolen 14 and 15 bases, respectively, the last two seasons, and he's a .305 hitter in his young career.

Nick Markakis, 24, Orioles: He might only be known to Orioles fans and serious fantasy players, but this third-year outfielder actually has scored more runs (104 to 81) and batted better (.302 to .290) than Braun this season.


In points-based leagues, Markakis rivals Braun in value. In category leagues, he's a notch below because of his power numbers, which are still respectable (23 homers and 112 RBI last season; 20 and 85 in 2008).

Jay Bruce, 21, Reds: If Jay Bilas plays fantasy baseball, he would tell you Bruce has the biggest upside of any outfielder in the 25-and-under club. The Reds' future star has 18 homers and 48 RBI in 373 at-bats as a rookie, and there's no reason to believe he won't live up to his huge minor-league billing. Bruce batted .364 with 10 homers, 37 RBI and eight steals in 184 at-bats at Triple-A Louisville before Cincinnati promoted him in 2008.

The runners-up: The Rays' B.J. Upton, 24, the Dodgers' Matt Kemp, 24 on Sept. 23, and the Nationals' Lastings Milledge comprise our second team of outfielders. Upton's power numbers have dropped big-time in his second season (from 24 homers and 82 RBI to 8 and 64, respectively, in 2008), but his steals have nearly doubled (22 to 42), and he's a threat to hit .290 or better with 90 to 100 runs scored.

Kemp is a .297 hitter in three seasons who has hit 16 homers and stolen 33 bases this season, and Milledge is a future 25-25 player who has 14 homers and 23 steals in his first full season.

Others of note: From the Dimming Stars Department, Jeff Francoeur, 24, after back-to-back 100-RBI seasons in Atlanta, has batted only .233 with 11 homers in a miserable 2008. He could rebound, but I wouldn't count on him as anything more than a No. 4 or 5 outfielder next season. ... The Diamondbacks' Chris Young, 25, could be a future star if he improves upon his batting average; Arizona has another young stud in Justin Upton, 21; the Twins' Delmon Young will be a fantasy regular in the near future; and the Astros' Hunter Pence, 25, is already there after tallying 22 homers, 75 RBI and 10 steals thus far in 2008. ... The 26-year-old all-star team includes the Indians' Grady Sizemore, 2008 fantasy surprise Carlos Quentin (even though he left us high and dry for the fantasy postseason after breaking his wrist in a fit of frustration) of the White Sox, the Brewers' Corey Hart and the Dodgers' Andre Ethier.

Designated Hitter

Jose Reyes: We had to find a way to get him on this team somehow. Don't be surprised if he's the No. 1 overall pick in some leagues next season.