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	Gary Sheffield adds even more pop to a loaded Tigers lineup. Chuck Solomon/SI
	Projected Lineup (2006 stats) Pos. Player Avg. HR RBI SB CF Curtis Granderson .260 19 68 8 2B Placido Polanco .295 4 52 1 DH Gary Sheffield .298 6 25 5 RF Magglio Ordoez .298 24 104 1 SS Carlos Guillen .320 19 85 20 C Pudge Rodriguez .300 13 69 8 LF Craig Monroe .255 28 92 2 1B Sean Casey .272 8 59 0 3B Brandon Inge .253 27 83 7
	Projected Rotation (2006 stats) Starters W-L WHIP ERA K Kenny Rogers 17-8 1.26 3.84 99 Jeremy Bonderman 14-8 1.30 4.08 202 Justin Verlander 17-8 1.33 3.63 124 Nate Robertson 13-13 1.31 3.84 137 Mike Maroth 5-2 1.49 4.19 24
	Projected Closer Player W-L WHIP ERA Saves K Todd Jones 2-6 1.27 3.94 37 28
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What a difference three years make. The surprise 2006 AL champions boast one of the finest rotations in the majors along with an offense given a shot in the arm by new DH Gary Sheffield, who's ready to unleash his wicked line drives at the fans and personnel down the third base line at Comerica Park. There's really no going wrong drafting any and all Tigers this year. Don't be surprised to see 18 to 20 in your league at any point during the season.

Irreplaceable

The beauty of the Tigers on the field is that there's really no single standout, however that's not so ideal for fantasy. While the team is solid from top to bottom, the most spectacular player with plenty of upside is starter Justin Verlander, who had a dream season in 2006, winning 17 of 26 decisions with a sub-4.00 ERA, earning him the nod as the AL's top rookie. The Tigers were careful with their prized possession last year, too, limiting the then-23-year-old to 6.2 innings per start and relying on a very strong bullpen in the late innings. A sophomore slump is possible but very unlikely for the polished righty.

The Next Big Thing

With very few exceptions, manager Jim Leyland has a veteran club that he's been through the battles with before, even having managed Sheffield in Florida. One newcomer with an outside chance to have an impact sometime during the year is prospect Cameron Maybin, a lightning-fast center fielder who draws comparisons to a young Mike Cameron as a hitter, baserunner and fielder. With Curtis Granderson patrolling center, it's unlikely that Maybin will have much of an impact, but he is someone to seriously consider in minor league drafts or as soon as you see that he's been called up, especially if you play in a keeper league.

Danger!

The name Pudge Rodriguez carries some cache when it comes to catchers, but since arriving in Detroit, Rodriguez's fantasy value has been more based on reputation than on performance. Don't get me wrong, I'm not questioning his worthiness for the Hall of Fame or the fact that he's one of the better defensive catchers in the AL. However, you're going to overpay for him when there are five or six other catchers who can be snagged 5-10 rounds later or at half the price in auction leagues.

Do You Feel Lucky?

First baseman Chris Shelton was a world beater early in 2006, with nine home runs in his first 13 games. However, he slumped badly in the heat of the summer and was eventually sent to the minors, replaced by Sean Casey. Shelton has always projected to be a quality hitter and showed what he can do early last year. It's probably worth a corner or bench spot early in the year to see if he gets a chance to prove himself again, most likely as a platoon mate for Casey.

Steals Come From...

Shortstop Carlos Guillen was a serious MVP candidate for the champs, scoring 100 runs and driving in 85 more. He also stole a career-high 20 bases, after only two in 2005. As for others, Detroit's second and third best base stealers are the catcher Rodriguez and the 38-year-old DH, Sheffield. Need I say more?

If Something Should Happen To Todd Jones

Keeper league owners of Joel Zumaya are licking their chops at the prospect of their fireballer taking over for Jones. With 97 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings, Zumaya would fit the role perfectly. But then so would Fernando Rodney, who earned seven saves when Jones was disabled in April, and had nine more in 2005.

You Need Them Too

Jeremy Bonderman, Brandon Inge, Craig Monroe, Magglio Ordoņez, Kenny Rogers

Better Left as Someone Else's Problem

Sean Casey, Wilfredo Ledezma, Neifi Perez, Placido Polanco