BEST FANTASY HITTER: Carl Crawford, OF, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
.319 BA, 13 HR, 46 RBI, 55 R, 32 SB, .880 OPS
Is he the best hitter in the American League?  Certainly not, pitchers fear David Ortiz much more.  But for fantasy production, nobody puts up points in all five categories like Crawford.
Others considered: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox; Alex Rodriquez, New York Yankees; Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners; Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians

BEST FANTASY PITCHER: Johan Santana, SP, Minnesota Twins
131 IP, 9 W, 2.95 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 138 K
He is as close as you can get to a five category pitcher.  Too bad they can’t bring him in on off-days to close games.
Others considered: Jon Papelbon, Boston Red Sox; B.J. Ryan, Toronto Blue Jays; Bobby Jenks, Chicago White Sox; Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins

BEST FANTASY ROOKIE: Francisco Liriano, SP/RP, Minnesota Twins
88 IP, 10 W, 1.83 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 102 K
Tough call with Jon Papelbon converting 26 of 29 saves opportunities, while sporting a microscopic 0.59 ERA.  But Liriano’s complete dominance is too hard to ignore.
Others considered: Jon Papelbon, Boston Red Sox; Kenji Johjima, Seattle Mariners; Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers; Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels

BEST FANTASY COMEBACK: Jim Thome, DH/1B, Chicago White Sox
.298 BA, 30 HR, 77 RBI, 69 R, 0 SB, 1.065 OPS
Coming off an injury-riddled 2005 season, where he had just 7 HR in 59 games, Thome was expected to bounce back.  Still, to be second in the major leagues in Home Runs and third in RBI’s has far exceeded expectations.
Others considered: Carlos Guillen, Detroit Tigers; Orlando Cabrera, Anaheim Angels; Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox

BIGGEST FANTASY SURPRISE: Corey Patterson, OF, Baltimore Orioles
.278 BA, 10 HR, 35 RBI, 43 R, 31 SB, .741 OPS
Patterson was banished to the minors last season and was traded in the off-season for a pair of minor leaguers.  The switching of leagues must agree with him because he is tied for third in the major leagues in the hardest category to find top talent, stolen bases.
Others considered: Alex Rios, Toronto Blue Jays; J.J. Putz, Seattle Mariners; Gary Matthews Jr., Texas Rangers; Raul Ibanez, Seattle Mariners; Joe Crede, Chicago White Sox; Casey Blake, Cleveland Indians

BIGGEST FANTASY DEMISE: Randy Johnson, SP,  New York Yankees
114 IP, 10 W, 5.13 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 97 K
Well it had to eventually happen, though it was quite a run.  He is now just an ordinary starter.
Others considered: Richie Sexson, Seattle Mariners; Aaron Boone, Cleveland Indians; Garrett Anderson, Los Angeles Angels; Dmitri Young, Detroit Tigers; Rondell White, Minnesota Twins.

BEST BET TO BOUNCE BACK POST ALL-STAR BREAK: Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners
103 IP, 8 W, 4.95 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 98 K
If by some chance his owner in your league has soured on him then go get him.  The only difference between last year and this year is that he is allowing more home runs.  He is a groundball/strikeout pitcher in a spacious home park.  The longball problems should be correctable.
Others considered: Coco Crisp, Boston Red Sox; Aubrey Huff, Tampa Bay Devil Rays