The Cubs will need Derrek Lee to stay healthy and have a monster season to make it to the playoffs and beyond.

Soto is a solid sleeper this year and quite possibly a Rookie of the Year candidate based solely on the fact that he is in a good lineup and he has already been named the starter. He ranks in the top half of National League catchers. Expect something in the neighborhood of a .275 batting average with 15 home runs and 65 runs batted in. Blanco is a non-factor, even if he is the starter.

First Base – Derrek Lee, Daryle Ward

Lee saw his power numbers dip down to 22 home runs and 82 runs batted in last year. Some would say his broken right wrist was not fully healthy, though he said it was 100 percent. Maybe his monster year in 2006 (46 home runs and 107 runs batted in) was just an aberration. I would tend to think he will finish somewhere in the middle – close to 30 home runs and 90 runs batted in. Ward is not anything more than a situational left-handed pinch hitter at this point in his career.

Middle Infielders – Ryan Theriot, Mark DeRosa, Ronny Cedeno, Mike Fontenot

Theriot and DeRosa are the starters and shortstop and second base, respectively. Theriot will likely hit second in the order, and he'll see plenty of fastballs hitting in front of Lee. He did rather well in the spot last year, and be sure to check your league rules as he may have eligibility at second and third as well.  Keep in mind that he has zero power, and his only current value appears to be in the stolen bases department. DeRosa can also play multiple positions, and his numbers will be average across the board. Expect a .290 batting average with about 10 bombs and 60 knocked in. He is a sub in most formats. Cedeno and Fontenot are not options this season.

Third Base – Aramis Ramirez, Mark DeRosa

Ramirez will once again hit 30-35 home runs and drive in about 110 runs. He ranks near the top of National League third basemen. There is no reason to think his numbers will slip in this lineup, especially if his knee and wrist problems are behind him. In terms of overall value, I would rank him in the league of Chipper Jones and Chone Figgins.

Outfielders – Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome, Felix Pie, Sam Fuld, Matt Murton

Soriano is a Top 10 outfielder in all formats, as he is likely to put up numbers somewhere near a .290 batting average with 35 home runs and 75 batted in, not to mention 100 runs. He could return to 40 stolen bases again if his hamstring proves to be healthy; if not, 20 still seems realistic. Fukudome, a Japanese import, is 30 years old and is the left-handed bat the lineup so desperately needs. He will likely hit sixth and see plenty of runners on base. He could hit .300 with 25 home runs and 100 runs batted in, but it would be more realistic to see him hit.275 with 15 bombs and 75 driven in. He is comparable to Nick Swisher/Chris Duncan types as far as fantasy production. Pie and Fuld are likely to compete for the centerfield job, with Pie presumably given the first crack at it. If he takes the spot, consider him a sleeper pick whom you should not play until he proves he can hit major league pitching. A stat line of .280, 12 home runs, 50 RBI, along with 20 stolen bases is not out of the question.

Starting Rotation – Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Rich Hill, Ryan Dempster, Sean Marshall, Jason Marquis, Jon Lieber

Manager Lou Piniella wants to move Dempster from the closer role into the rotation this season, so it appears that his spot is safe, barring an implosion this spring. Zambrano, Lilly, and Hill are assured the first three spots, with Zambrano carrying the load. He will win at least 15 games, with an earned run average of just under 4.00, and 200 strikeouts. His WHIP could reach 1.30 because he walks so many hitters. Lilly and Hill have established themselves as solid fantasy pitchers, with Hill having the potential to strike out 200 batters if he can stay strong for an entire season. Marshall, Marquis, and Lieber will compete for the last spot; Marquis may be given the spot based solely on the fact that the team has a decent chunk of money invested in him. In any case, all three are “wait and see” pitchers.

Bullpen – Bob Howry, Kerry Wood, Carlos Marmol, Scott Eyre, Michael Wuertz, Sean Gallagher, Jose Ascanio, Neal Cotts, Tim Lahey, Kevin Hart

The closer role has yet to be filled. Howry has closed when Dempster was hurt last year, so he may get the first crack at it. Wood would like to be the closer, especially since his new contract has so many incentives associated with closing games. Marmol, on the other hand, is the closer in waiting no matter who starts the year in that spot. He has the best stuff in the bullpen, and Piniella may want to keep him in the setup role where he dominated last year. If one of these three keeps the job all year, 35 saves is easily within reach; while the two losers should rack up plenty of holds. The other relievers are solid middle relief options, though they do not appear to have any fantasy value.

Projected Lineup

Alfonso Soriano LF

Ryan Theriot SS

Derrek Lee 1B

Aramis Ramirez 3B

Kosuke Fukudome RF

Mark DeRosa 2B

Geovany Soto C

Felix Pie CF

Projected Rotation

Carlos Zambrano

Ted Lilly

Rich Hill

Ryan Dempster

Jason Marquis

Closer

Bob Howry

Next in Line

Carlos Marmol/Kerry Wood