This week's batch of centerfielders really performed well. Along with the resurgence of Mark Kotsay was the terrific week of young Carlos Gomez. It seems to be a kind of passing of the torch, ushering in a new era of hard-nosed players. Kotsay was always one of the players that would sacrifice his body in order to win. Carlos Gomez and Jacoby Ellsbury are cut from the same cloth. The only difference is that, even though they'll all do what it takes defensively, they don't have as much pop as Kotsay. However, this week is an example of how they find ways to get on base and then use their speed to cause havoc. Each player listed below deserves recognition for their great play for the week. Mark Kotsay may never get many more opportunities to be a fantasy star, so he deserves the spotlight, especially after the bad luck he's had over the last few years.

Gold

1.) Mark Kotsay (CF - Atlanta Braves) - Talk about a resurgence. Last year Kotsay had a balky back, he's been iffy against lefties this season and then all of a sudden he goes on a tear. He has been quite productive and his play has earned him the title of best fantasy centerfielder for the week. His stat line is as follows: 8/22, 7 runs, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB, and .364 AVG. He has flashed power, contact, and a little speed so far. On top of that he also has displayed some solid defense. Kotsay has never exactly been a fantasy stud, but he is an overall solid player.

Silver

2.) Carlos Gomez (LF/CF/RF - Minnesota Twins) - When Johan Santana was traded everyone was saying that the Mets stole him. That doesn't seem to ring true anymore. This week Carlos Gomez, the centerpiece for the Johan Santana trade, batted for the cycle in an impressive week. It was really special because his average still remains a bit weak, but he makes up for it in other areas. For instance, he has all of a sudden flashed some power, he has walked a few times, and he's very fast. Gomez is an all around complete player and is very valuable. His numbers for the week are as follows: 7/26, 5 runs, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 SB, and .269 AVG. He is an exciting player, plus his versatility makes him all the more valuable in the fantasy world.

Bronze

3.) Jacoby Ellsbury (LF/CF/RF - Boston Red Sox) - Ellsbury is the quintessential example of how you could have a bad week, but still have a good one at the same time. He didn't compile many hits or have very good offensive stats. However, he racked up several steals this week. Stolen bases are a somewhat rare commodity in fantasy baseball, so power numbers and average could be had elsewhere. His numbers for the week are as follows: 6/26, 5 runs, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5 SB, and .231 AVG. The fact that his hits, power, and RBI numbers aren't there is a bit concerning for fantasy owners, but the five stolen bases is quite valuable in a week's time. The reason Ellsbury is so valuable is because of his versatility and his ability to get on base. Speed kills in fantasy baseball.

Other Top Performances:

C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | RP | SP