Fantasy Baseball Duds - Hitters

Through May, the fantasy baseball season has already offered up surprises and disappointments. As always, some players out perform their value, while others leave much to be desired by their fantasy owners. For the early part of the season, here are the top five players that have under performed and are now fantasy duds:

1. Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals.
After last season's performance in April, when he set the record for most homeruns ever in the month of April, naturally we expected Albert Pujols to have another great start. However, that just hasn't happened. Fantasy baseball owners have been extremely disappointed in Pujols' performance. The average and power numbers just have not been up to par. Most know that Pujols will likely rebound and still have a great season, but through the first two months, fantasy owners have nothing to show for the high draft picks they used on him.

2. Manny Ramirez, OF, Boston Red Sox.
While we've all heard the phrase "that's just Manny being Manny" more times that we have cared to, Manny has been anything but Manny so far this season. His power numbers have been average but his average and on-base percentage have been extremely sub-par for this annual All-star. Fantasy owners have been wary of Ramirez's streakiness this season. Manny has yet to establish any consistency this season and fantasy owners in leagues around the country are beginning to worry.

3. Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies.
If there were a single player that fantasy owners everywhere are deeming as a dud this season, Ryan Howard would win the distinction hands down. No one has struggled like Howard. He hasn't found the same magic that won him the NL MVP award last year. A pinch-hit grand slam in early May have owners hope that Howard would snap out of it, but a week later he landed on the disabled list. Once he returns from the DL, hopefully he'll snap out of the current funk he's in.

4. Andruw Jones, OF, Atlanta Braves.
Yet another season is underway and still Andruw Jones can't hit a breaking ball on the outer half of the plate. Jones is struggling to find consistency at the plate due to his problems with breaking pitches. The power numbers and RBI's seem to be coming as expected but Andruw's average has faltered thus far this season, leaving fantasy owners looking to deal him.

5. Bobby Abreu, OF, New York Yankees.
As the Yankees struggle, their star right fielder has as well. Fantasy owners are feeling Joe Torre's pain at this point. An abysmal start to the season in terms of power numbers as well as average has left owners feeling sour about picking Abreu who has typically been an outstanding fantasy player.