The Brewers and all of fantasy are hoping Ryan Braun picks up where he left off last season.

Newcomers Kendall came over to be the starter, but his value has eroded over the years. Once a good No. 2 hitter with the ability to hit for a decent average and steal some bases, he has been reduced to a experienced backstop who calls a good game. He should bat between .260 and .270 and drive in 30-40 runs. Consider yourself lucky if you get more than three home runs or steals out of him.   Munson is the more efficient fantasy player, but he only gets the nod if Kendall is hurt. Rivera is strictly a backup at this point.

First Base – Prince Fielder, Joe Dillon

Fielder will be taken in the late first round of most drafts. Some may even take him as high as the fifth pick, and this move is justifiable, considering Prince hit 50 home runs and drove in 119 runs in 2007.  Expect an average of .290-.300 with 40-50 home runs, 120-130 runs batted in, 100-110 runs, and even a few steals for the big man.  Dillon could surprise if he is given the chance to play, but clearly he is blocked here. He has some decent power that will only be showcased in a reserve role.

Middle Infielders – Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, Craig Counsell, Vinny Rottino, Alcides Escobar, Brad Nelson

Weeks is the starter at second base, and will try to prove that he can stay healthy for an entire season, something he has yet to do in his young career. He could be a 25 home run, 25 stolen base player, if he plays 150 games. Do not assume that, but 15-20 home runs and 30-35 steals is possible. His batting average may be in the .250-.260 range, but if he bats leadoff he could score 90-100 runs, making him a fine four-category player.  Hardy thrived when he batted eighth last year, but the number two spot seems his likely destination this season. If so, he will see plenty of fastballs, and score plenty of runs. He should bat between .270 and .280, hit 20-25 home runs, score 80-90 runs, and drive in 70-80 more. He is not a threat to steal bases.  Counsell can play three infield positions, and his primary value is as a fill-in. He always seems to get a couple hundred at-bats per season, and scatters below-average numbers across the board. He is clearly more valuable in real life than fantasy.  Rottino, Escobar, and Nelson are on the 40-man roster at this point, but will likely spend the season in the minors.

Third Base – Bill Hall, Craig Counsell

Hall moves from center field to the hot corner this year to give the team its best defensive lineup. The change will give him a little more lineup versatility. His numbers slipped last season after his breakout 2006 campaign, so maybe a return to the infield will help him get back to form. He will bat in the bottom third of the order, so predictions in the neighborhood of a .250-.260 batting average with 20-25 home runs and 70-80 runs batted in seems likely. He should also steal 5-10 bases and score around 70-80 runs.

Outfielders – Ryan Braun, Mike Cameron, Corey Hart, Tony Gwynn Jr. Gabe Kapler, Gabe Gross, Joe Dillon

Braun, the young slugger who hit 34 home runs in his Rookie of the Year season last year, moves from third base to left field. He is a consensus late first/early second round pick this year. He should continue to mash this season to the tune of a .300-.310 batting average with 30-40 home runs and 105-115 runs batted in. He should score about 100 runs, and he will steal 15-20 bases to boot. Clearly, this guy is a stud with an incredible upside.  Cameron is a new arrival who will sit out the first 25 games of the season due to a substance abuse suspension. When he finally gets in the lineup he should collect 15-25 each of home runs and stolen bases, knock in 60-70 runs, and score 65-75 more. But, buyers beware, because he strikes out on the order of once a game on his way to posting a .240-.250 batting average.  Hart is the starter in right field; he produced extremely well when he was slotted into the leadoff spot last season. Even though his numbers were solid across the board, he is still considered a sleeper of sorts this year. He might hit .280-.290, knock 20-25 home runs, drive in 80-90 runs, score 80-90 runs, and steal upwards of 30 bases.  Gwynn, Kapler, and Gross will compete for the backup jobs. Only Gwynn could see over 200 at-bats, though his only fantasy value appears to be in the stolen bases department.

Starting Rotation – Ben Sheets, Jeff Suppan, Yovani Gallardo, Dave Bush, Carlos Villanueva, Chris Capuano, Claudio Vargas, Manny Parra

Sheets has not stayed healthy the past three seasons, but when is okay he is one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League. He can strike out a batter per inning, and he always has one of the lowest walks per nine innings totals in the majors. That being said, do not expect him to throw over 175 innings; a conservative and realistic outlook would be to project him as a 3.50-3.70 earned run average, 1.20-1.30 WHIP, 10-12 win pitcher. With 175 innings he could strike out 165-175 batters. Anything he gives you over those numbers is gravy, but do not be too optimistic because he will break your heart.  Gallardo is an up-and-coming pitcher who finished strong last year. He has to prove he can stay strong for at least 30 starts, and if he does he could hit 14-16 wins to go with a 3.40-3.60 earned run average and 180-190 strikeouts. But temper those expectations until he convinces you he can go injury free.  Suppan is the only other pitcher guaranteed a spot in the rotation. He is an innings eater who will give you solid yet unimpressive numbers across the board. The final two spots are up for grabs, with Bush, Villanueva, and Capuano vying to earn their keep.

Bullpen – Eric Gagne, Derrick Turnbow, Salomon Torres, David Riske, Brian Shouse, Seth McClung, Guillermo Mota, Carlos Villanueva, Manny Parra

Gagne is the closer after he signed a one-year deal this offseason. He looks to return to his Cy Young form, but health is still a major issue with him. Something in the range of 15-25 saves is likely. He will strike out about a batter per inning; his earned run average could be 3.50-3.75 to go with a WHIP around 1.25-1.35. Clearly he has something to prove this year, so those numbers could be significantly better.   Turnbow, Torres, Mota, and Riske are middle-to-late innings eaters who are capable of pitching the eighth inning. All three should post earned run averages around 3.75-4.50 with tolerable strikeout rates.  Shouse is the lefthanded specialist who will not strike out many hitters, but he could make his way into 70 games.

Projected Lineup

Rickie Weeks 2B

J.J. Hardy SS

Ryan Braun LF

Prince Fielder 1B

Corey Hart RF

Mike Cameron CF

Bill Hall 3B

Jason Kendall C

Projected Rotation

Ben Sheets

Jeff Suppan

Yovani Gallardo

Carlos Villanueva

Dave Bush

Closer

Eric Gagne

Next in Line

Derrick Turnbow/David Riske