Today's Fantasy Rx

To select this roster for CDM Fantasy Baseball, we directly computed each player's projected points based on our projections, then divided the point total by each salary (and multiplied by 1000 to give us more workable numbers) for an expected Points Per Dollar(PPD).

Catchers: Josh Willingham(442 PPD/$1000) belongs on every roster. Brian McCann(277 PPD/$1000) and Kenji Johjima(260/$1100) tempted us, but we settled on the comparatively safer picks of Joe Mauer(256/$1710) and Victor Martinez(237/$1940).

First Base: Theoretically strong options like Mike Jacobs, Chris Shelton, and even Conor Jackson just don't look like solid quantitative options here due to questionable lineup slots and team support. Lance Berkman(253 PPD/$2860) instead earned an early spot, as did Ryan Howard(235/$1950) and Travis Hafner(218/$2680). As this contest forces us to select eight bench players, deploying a Coors platoon again appears quite logical, so Todd Helton(183/$3040) and Mark Teixiera(185/$3220) should combine for good production when we use them both only at home.

Second Base: Rickie Weeks(404 PPD/$1300) led our picks, however we again want established production here rather than pure value. Chase Utley(222/$2270) edges Marcus Giles(222/$2400) for our other starting slot, and although we nearly opted for Orlando Hudson(240/$1750), we saw no point in a backup here since we never intend to sit Weeks or Utley.

Third Base: Along with the obvious selections of David Wright(242 PPD/$2480) and Garrett Atkins(310/$1330), a hot spring and new lineup slot behind Griffey and Dunn prompted us to take Edwin Encarnacion(377/$1030) over Kevin Youkilis(336/1000) and Ryan Zimmerman(324/$1020).

Shortstop: Bobby Crosby(294 PPD/$1640) and Clint Barmes(286/$1610) should form a great platoon, although we just might deploy Crosby fairly regularly. After a long look at J.J. Hardy(342/$1200) based on his superb second half in 2005, we instead decided that Felipe Lopez(289/$1800) better fit our overall team structure.

Outfield: While we found few outfielders we liked in DC, an abundance of choices provided welcome latitude in picking these players. Both Matt Holliday(243 PPD/$2140) and Cory Sullivan(364/$1180) again formed our core, quickly supplemented by the extremely cap-friendly Jeremy Hermida(526/$1000) and Curtis Granderson($429/1000). Jason Bay(260/$2550) easily ranked as the best expensive outfielder.

Looking for additional depth again led us to Chad Tracy(250/$2100) and Ken Griffey(243/$2230), quickly supplemented by Coco Crisp(244/$2080) and Grady Sizemore(232/$2200). Selecting FB outfielders really comes down to personal preference and overall belief in player's upsides. Guys from Ryan Langerhans and David DeJesus through Jason Lane and Jonny Gomes to Jeff Francoeur and Joey Gathright all could contribute depending on the composition of the rest of your roster.

Designated Hitter: With only one position left for debate after selecting primary and backups everywhere but second base, we wanted a mildly expensive player with as much points upside as anyone on the board. After plenty of debate and an additional look at Orlando Hudson, we opted for Barry Bonds(225/$2720) in the hope that he'll provide plenty of points when not nursing a nagging injury.

Starting Pitcher: With the rules forcing us to choose exactly ten starters, we merely took our Diamond Challenge starter list and cut down. Yes, we know that the lack of consideration of ERA, WHIP, or any qualitative measure even could make a Rockies' starter viable here, but we strongly believe in running the best overall starters to minimize our general risk.

Johan Santana($3310), Chris Carpenter($3200), Pedro Martinez($3140), Randy Johnson($2910), Roy Halladay($2480), Rich Harden($2430), and Felix Hernandez($1650) were easy calls. Adding Dan Haren($1940) also appeared automatic due to his extremely reasonable salary.

Final cuts from our list included Doug Davis and even Jake Peavy due to the Padres' poor offense. Roy Oswalt($3200) and John Lackey($2760) then beat out Barry Zito to complete our rotation.

Relief Pitcher: We seriously considered Brian Fuentes before finally refusing to risk a Colorado pitcher. Huston Street($2320), our expected saves' leader, heads out bullpen, followed by our same pitchers from DC: Ryan Dempster($2150), Mike Gonzalez($1820), and Chris Ray($1580).

Roster for Rotohelp.com 
C	Victor Martinez		1940
C	Joe Mauer		1710
C	Josh Willingham		1000 
1B	Mark Teixeira		3220
1B	Todd Helton		3040
1B	Lance Berkman		2860
1B	Travis Hafner		2680
1B	Ryan Howard		1950
2B	Mark Ellis		1340
2B	Rickie Weeks		1300
3B	David Wright		2480
3B	Garrett Atkins		1330 
3B	Edwin Encarnacion	1030
SS	Felipe Lopez		1800 
SS	Bobby Crosby		1640
SS	Clint Barmes		1610 
OF	Barry Bonds		2720
OF	Jason Bay		2550
OF	Ken Griffey		2230 
OF	Grady Sizemore		2200
OF	Matt Holliday		2140
OF	Chad Tracy		2100 
OF	Coco Crisp		2080
OF	Cory Sullivan		1180
OF	Jeremy Hermida		1000 
OF	Curtis Granderson	1000

SP	Johan Santana		3310
SP	Roy Oswalt		3200
SP	Chris Carpenter		3140 
SP	Pedro Martinez		2970
SP	Randy Johnson		2910 
SP	John Lackey		2760
SP	Roy Halladay		2480
SP	Rich Harden		2430 
SP	Dan Haren		1940
SP	Felix Hernandez		1650
RP	Huston Street		2320
RP	Ryan Dempster		2150
RP	Mike Gonzalez		1820
RP	Chris Ray		1580

Today's Fantasy Rx: Winning in Points contests requires maximizing your total team points regardless of the source. While that concept seems quite simple, we regularly very useful players emerge here that you wouldn't expect to retain much value outside of traditional roto. Last year Chone Figgins ranked among the top 15 FB players by virtue of adding plenty of singles, extra-base hits, and even walks and RBI to his impressive total of steals and runs. Generally unheralded pitchers like Danys Baez and Chris Capuano finished with similarly strong totals, so don't be afraid to draft anyone that fits your roster structure and budget if you expect them to provide plenty of points for their cap space.