Atlanta Braves fantasy baseball preview

Projected lineup CF - Michael Bourn LF - Martin Prado 3B - Chipper Jones C - Brian McCann 2B - Dan Uggla RF - Jason Heyward 1B - Freddie Freeman SS - Tyler Pastornicky/Andrelton Simmons SP - Jair Jurrjens SP - Tommy Hanson SP - Brandon Beachy SP - Mike Minor SP - Randall Delgado/Julio Teheran CL - Craig Kimbrel Five things to think about: - Heyward is being drafted as a low-end OF3 in mixed leagues. He encountered a sophomore slump last year, but he's only 22 and still a potential superstar. Heyward offers TONS of upside in 2012. - Bourn has crazy speed, averaging 58 steals over the last three seasons. But with a current ADP in the 50s, he's being overrated. Get your speed elsewhere. - Jones will turn 40 in April, and has averaged 121 games over his last seven seasons. In mixed leagues, don't bother. - Want to gamble? Hanson is reportedly healthy after starting just 22 games in 2011 due to shoulder issues. He didn't have surgery, but he has altered his delivery a bit. Hanson has been going in the seventh or eighth rounds of early drafts; if healthy, he's a fantasy ace. - Beachy averaged 10.74 strikeouts per nine innings in his first full season as a starter. You know who had a better rate among starters with more than 100 innings pitched? Nobody. I think we're all underrating him as an SP3. Plus: - Odd man out: Delgado and Teheran are a pair of stud prospects in a battle for the Braves' fifth starter role, but they both might wind up in Triple A when Tim Hudson returns to action in May. Pastornicky appeared to have the shortstop job locked up entering spring training, but Simmons is making things interesting with some dazzling glovework. The winner of this job won't hit much, but might steal 20 bases. - Farm system: Teheran and Delgado are the stars, and should be owned in all dynasty leagues. Arodys Vizcaino's likely move to the bullpen hurts his potential fantasy value. Otherwise, most of the Braves' talented youngsters are already with the big club. - Backup closer: Lefty Jonny Venters is the Robin to Kimbrel's Batman in a terrific Atlanta bullpen.