A look at the top 120, also broken down into tiers:

And to think we called outfield a goldmine of buying opportunities! There is so much disparity between our rankings and average draft position that we could just about analyze every single pitcher as either overrated or underrated.

Utilizing tiers when drafting starting pitchers is extra important, because you want to make sure you don’t overload on aces with so many bargains available later, or way too long and miss out on some of the elite studs you’ll need to anchor your staff.

The first tier, though clearly headed by Felix Hernandez, Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum, is loaded with enough 200-strikeout, Cy Young contender types that you can afford to sit back and focus on hitters with your first three or four picks. The second tier has some more elite strikeout artists before you get into the extremely deep third tier filled with guys with a few more flaws and risks then those above. The fourth tier still has plenty of potential, but the ceilings are more limited before reaching a fifth tier loaded mostly with former aces recovering from surgeries (Johan Santana, Erik Bedard, Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Brandon Webb) and a few other enigmas. The sixth and seventh tiers are basically just bottom of the rotation options, with a few diamonds in the rough to be sure.

So let’s see if we can help you determine where to find the best values at the juggernaut that is starting pitchers. Since this list is so long, we’ll keep comments as short as possible.

The seventh in the RotoAce.com series of fantasy baseball position rankings is starting pitchers, so let’s look at how they all fit together and where you might find some potential bargains or pitfalls in your fantasy baseball draft or auction.

2011 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Rankings and Projections

TIER 1	AGE	IP	ERA	W	S	K	WHIP
1. Felix Hernandez, Mariners	24	231	2.63	15	0	216	1.12
2. Roy Halladay, Phillies	33	235	2.84	17	0	194	1.08
3. Tim Lincecum, Giants	26	209	2.83	15	0	228	1.17
4. Cliff Lee, Phillies	32	224	3.15	16	0	189	1.12
5. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers	23	209	3.09	14	0	224	1.19
6. Jered Weaver, Angels	28	213	3.22	14	0	211	1.15
7. Mat Latos, Padres	23	195	3.05	14	0	193	1.14
8. CC Sabathia, Yankees	30	231	3.29	17	0	196	1.19
9. Justin Verlander, Tigers	28	219	3.33	16	0	213	1.21
10. Josh Johnson, Marlins	27	199	3.08	15	0	196	1.19
11. Jon Lester, Red Sox	27	208	3.28	16	0	211	1.21
12. Dan Haren, Angels	30	213	3.26	15	0	201	1.19
13. Cole Hamels, Phillies	27	201	3.39	14	0	196	1.19
14. David Price, Rays	25	211	3.25	15	0	193	1.23
15. Francisco Liriano, Twins	27	192	3.54	14	0	202	1.25
TIER 2	AGE	IP	ERA	W	S	K	WHIP
16. Tommy Hanson, Braves	24	195	3.28	14	0	179	1.19
17. Matt Cain, Giants	26	213	3.29	14	0	171	1.19
18. Roy Oswalt, Phillies	33	206	3.41	14	0	176	1.17
19. Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies	27	209	3.43	15	0	201	1.25
20. Max Scherzer, Tigers	26	204	3.51	14	0	205	1.26
21. Zack Greinke, Brewers	27	185	3.34	14	0	180	1.21
22. Chris Carpenter, Cardinals	35	192	3.22	14	0	148	1.19
23. Yovani Gallardo, Brewers	25	191	3.58	14	0	204	1.29
24. Ricky Nolasco, Marlins	28	192	3.93	14	0	191	1.24
25. Chad Billingsley, Dodgers	26	198	3.52	13	0	180	1.24
26. Ted Lilly, Dodgers	35	187	3.63	12	0	155	1.18
TIER 3	AGE	IP	ERA	W	S	K	WHIP
27. Colby Lewis, Rangers	31	202	3.85	13	0	184	1.24
28. Phil Hughes, Yankees	24	190	3.89	15	0	169	1.24
29. Jeremy Hellickson, Rays	23	165	3.53	12	0	151	1.21
30. Wandy Rodriguez, Astros	32	195	3.71	12	0	175	1.27
31. Brett Anderson, A’s	23	187	3.48	12	0	151	1.24
32. Tim Hudson, Braves	35	208	3.37	14	0	129	1.24
33. Hiroki Kuroda, Dodgers	36	181	3.55	11	0	136	1.21
34. Shaun Marcum, Blue Jays	29	181	3.76	12	0	158	1.22
35. Josh Beckett, Red Sox	30	187	3.95	13	0	172	1.26
36. Clay Buchholz, Red Sox	26	186	3.51	15	0	148	1.28
37. Jonathan Sanchez, Giants	28	182	3.75	12	0	189	1.32
38. Javier Vazquez, Marlins	34	188	3.98	12	0	169	1.27
39. Ryan Dempster, Cubs	33	206	3.93	13	0	190	1.32
40. Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays	26	175	3.99	12	0	190	1.36
41. Gio Gonzalez, A’s	25	198	3.76	13	0	187	1.37
42. Daniel Hudson, Diamondbacks	24	180	3.68	12	0	165	1.25
43. John Danks, White Sox	25	211	3.84	14	0	167	1.27
44. C.J. Wilson, Rangers	30	198	3.72	14	0	172	1.34
45. James Shields, Rays	29	208	4.05	13	0	175	1.27
46. Brett Myers, Astros	30	201	3.92	12	0	165	1.29
47. Matt Garza, Cubs	27	194	3.97	13	0	158	1.29
48. Brian Matusz, Orioles	24	194	3.95	12	0	166	1.31
49. Madison Bumgarner, Giants	21	177	3.64	12	0	138	1.27
50. Ian Kennedy, Diamondbacks	26	193	3.87	11	0	164	1.29
51. Ricky Romero, Blue Jays	26	203	3.95	13	0	170	1.33
52. Jhoulys Chacin, Rockies	23	176	3.88	11	0	166	1.29
53. Edinson Volquez, Reds	27	165	3.95	11	0	171	1.37
54. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs	29	184	3.79	12	0	161	1.38
55. Jaime Garcia, Cardinals	24	176	3.79	12	0	142	1.34
56. Scott Baker, Twins	29	172	3.98	12	0	144	1.27
57. Jordan Zimmerman, Nationals	24	164	3.98	11	0	147	1.28
TIER 4	AGE	IP	ERA	W	S	K	WHIP
58. Trevor Cahill, A’s	23	204	3.69	13	0	128	1.28
59. Dallas Braden, A’s	27	190	3.73	12	0	122	1.27
60. Ervin Santana, Angels	28	198	3.96	13	0	157	1.31
61. Gavin Floyd, White Sox	28	198	4.03	12	0	158	1.31
62. John Lackey, Red Sox	32	201	4.03	14	0	154	1.32
63. Travis Wood, Reds	24	166	3.89	11	0	134	1.26
64. Edwin Jackson, White Sox	27	206	4.29	12	0	180	1.37
65. Wade Davis, Rays	25	182	4.01	12	0	142	1.34
66. Jeff Niemann, Rays	28	181	4.05	11	0	134	1.31
67. Jorge de la Rosa, Rockies	29	174	4.27	11	0	166	1.38
68. Jair Jurrjens, Braves	25	176	3.96	11	0	127	1.33
69. Derek Holland, Rangers	24	170	4.23	11	0	143	1.34
70. James McDonald, Pirates	26	177	4.11	11	0	158	1.32
71. Jonathon Niese, Mets	24	180	4.09	11	0	152	1.37
72. Anibal Sanchez, Marlins	27	181	3.97	12	0	149	1.37
73. Clayton Richard, Padres	27	196	3.98	12	0	143	1.39
74. Brandon Beachy, Braves	23	139	3.97	9	0	136	1.31
75. Joel Pineiro, Angels	32	175	3.82	11	0	102	1.25
76. Bronson Arroyo, Reds	34	205	4.27	13	0	117	1.28
77. Aroldis Chapman, Reds	23	104	3.16	6	4	129	1.19
78. Johnny Cueto, Reds	25	172	4.14	11	0	139	1.33
TIER 5	AGE	IP	ERA	W	S	K	WHIP
79. Johan Santana, Mets	32	106	3.14	8	0	84	1.19
80. Erik Bedard, Mariners	32	111	3.26	7	0	110	1.25
81. Jake Peavy, White Sox	29	127	3.73	9	0	117	1.23
82. Chris Young, Mets	31	111	3.68	8	0	90	1.27
83. Brandon Webb, Rangers	32	101	3.96	7	0	73	1.31
84. Justin Masterson, Indians	26	183	4.18	11	0	149	1.39
85. A.J. Burnett, Yankees	34	184	4.47	12	0	162	1.4
86. Michael Pineda, Mariners	22	135	3.49	10	0	113	1.27
87. Phil Coke, Tigers	28	147	3.91	10	0	115	1.33
88. Derek Lowe, Braves	37	196	4.08	13	0	132	1.37
TIER 6	AGE	IP	ERA	W	S	K	WHIP
89. Jason Vargas, Mariners	28	186	3.99	11	0	120	1.29
90. Carl Pavano, Twins	35	196	4.21	12	0	112	1.29
91. Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles	31	202	4.22	11	0	119	1.29
92. R.A. Dickey, Mets	36	189	3.88	12	0	111	1.31
93. Brett Cecil, Blue Jays	24	181	4.15	12	0	133	1.35
94. Aaron Harang, Padres	32	160	4.16	10	0	132	1.36
95. Jason Hammel, Rockies	28	181	4.44	10	0	145	1.37
96. Randy Wells, Cubs	28	185	4.28	10	0	138	1.37
97. Randy Wolf, Brewers	34	193	4.27	11	0	133	1.36
98. Bud Norris, Astros	26	177	4.49	10	0	172	1.44
99. Mike Pelfrey, Mets	27	203	3.98	13	0	112	1.39
100. Tim Stauffer, Padres	28	149	3.64	10	0	102	1.32
101. Justin Duchscherer, A’s	33	94	3.59	7	0	65	1.26
102. Rich Harden, A’s	29	105	3.84	7	0	105	1.32
TIER 7	AGE	IP	ERA	W	S	K	WHIP
103. Joe Blanton, Phillies	30	188	4.38	10	0	132	1.36
104. Mark Buehrle, White Sox	32	211	4.28	13	0	109	1.34
105. Rick Porcello, Tigers	22	186	4.19	11	0	105	1.33
106. Chris Capuano, Mets	32	122	4.11	9	0	89	1.33
107. Brian Duensing, Twins	28	160	4.09	10	0	98	1.31
108. Doug Fister, Mariners	27	169	4.24	10	0	98	1.31
109. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox	30	156	4.29	11	0	139	1.39
110. Homer Bailey, Reds	24	161	4.29	10	0	136	1.38
111. Barry Zito, Giants	32	185	4.24	10	0	134	1.38
112. J.A. Happ, Astros	28	158	4.06	10	0	127	1.38
113. Carlos Carrasco, Indians	24	162	4.45	9	0	131	1.39
114. Jake Westbrook, Cardinals	33	183	4.14	11	0	111	1.36
115. Kyle Drabek, Blue Jays	23	158	4.27	10	0	115	1.36
116. Jon Garland, Dodgers	31	180	4.27	11	0	116	1.37
117. Fausto Carmona, Indians	27	190	4.18	11	0	117	1.39
118. Mike Leake, Reds	23	135	4.12	8	0	94	1.37
119. Luke Hochevar, Royals	27	158	4.51	9	0	114	1.39
120. Ivan Nova, Yankees	24	135	4.37	9	0	83	1.39

Overrated

Ubaldo Jimenez (ADP #10, RotoAce #19) is being drafted high for his 15-1 first half last year, but don’t forget the second half where he went 4-7 with a 3.80 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.

Tommy Hanson (ADP #11, RotoAce #16) has a career 4.03 xFIP which belies his 3.16 ERA, so it may be a bit much to expect him to anchor a fantasy staff.

Chris Carpenter (ADP #12, RotoAce #22) is getting up there in years at 35 and has a checkered injury history, so he fits better as a No. 2 or 3 guy, especially without big strikeout totals.

Clay Buchholz (ADP #26, RotoAce #36) has red flags galore, with his 2.33 ERA last season being almost two full runs below his 4.20 xFIP as a result of relatively “lucky” .261 BABIP and 5.6 HR/FB numbers to go with a pedestrian 1.8 K/BB rate.

Johnny Cueto (ADP #47, RotoAce #78) has nasty stuff, but his strikeout rate has fallen in his second and third seasons, so the 4.26 xFIP last year seems more indicative of his mediocre fantasy impact.

Derek Lowe (ADP #55, RotoAce #88) returned from missing the first start of his career with a sore elbow and looked like a different pitcher (5-0 with 1.17 ERA and 9.1 K/9), and it appears fantasy owners are choosing to remember that more than a 37-year-old who had appeared to be in steep decline before that.

Jake Peavy (ADP #54, RotoAce #81) is a big question mark coming back from surgery to repair a detached muscle in his shoulder, not to mention that he was struggling in homer-friendly U.S. Cellular Field after years benefitting from pitching in Petco.

Ivan Nova (ADP #98, RotoAce #120) appears to have won a spot in the Yankees rotation, but Kevin Millwood and Freddy Garcia are waiting in the wings in case he trips up.

Trevor Cahill (ADP #43, RotoAce #58) benefitted greatly from a .236 BABIP last season and doesn’t get enough strikeouts to believe in a repeat of the 2.97 ERA with a 4.11 xFIP looming.

Matt Garza (ADP #29, RotoAce #47) has a chance for a breakout moving to the NL, but he’s being drafted as if that’s a foregone conclusion and the declining GB and K/9 rates are troubling.

Tim Wakefield (ADP #103, RotoAce NR) is just an insurance policy for the Red Sox, so the 44-year-old coming off a 5.34 ERA should go undrafted even in deep leagues.

Carl Pavano (ADP #65, RotoAce #90) is coming off just his second sub-4.00 ERA season in the past decade and had a paltry 4.8 K/9, so don’t overpay for the 17 wins.

Brad Penny (ADP #106, RotoAce NR) can’t stay healthy and is returning to the AL, where he had a 5.61 ERA with the Red Sox in 2009, so leave him for the waiver wire.

Fausto Carmona (ADP #92, RotoAce #117) just doesn’t get enough strikeouts and has been far too inconsistent to hope for a return to his 2007 form.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (ADP #88, RotoAce #109) flat out walks too many guys and hasn’t been healthy since his anomaly of a 2008 season, so the career 4.58 xFIP shows just how overrated he has been.

J.A. Happ (ADP #82, RotoAce #112) is beginning to look like one of the rare pitchers with a knack for forcing poor contact as his career .266 BABIP would indicate, but the career 4.61 xFIP can’t be ignored.

Randy Wolf (ADP #76, RotoAce #97) bailed out a disappointing season with a 1.47 ERA in September, but his declining strikeout rate doesn’t leave much of a ceiling.

Jon Garland (ADP #75, RotoAce #116) was already being overrated because of his Petco-influenced stats of last season (ERA was a full run higher on the road), but now he’s out with a strained oblique, so let him fall.

Rick Porcello (ADP #63, RotoAce #105) was an elite prospect who posted 14 wins as a 20-year-old, but a tiny 4.7 K/9 doesn’t leave much room for error and he’s coming off a 4.92 ERA.

A.J. Burnett (ADP #56, RotoAce #85) suffered through a miserable season (5.26 ERA) and saw his strikeout rate dive to 7.0 K/9 while his average velocity dipped to 93.2 mph, so there aren’t many good signs here, especially it not being a contract year.

Underrated

Mat Latos (ADP #15, RotoAce #7) should have built up enough of an innings load to be able to avoid the poor finishes (career 5.68 ERA in final month) that have plagued him, but the 2.21 ERA he had on Sept. 7 last season shows that he is a Cy Young candidate and worthy of being considered a No. 1 fantasy starter.

Jered Weaver (ADP #17, RotoAce #6) led the majors in strikeouts and had a sparkling 1.07 WHIP last season, so he deserves to be drafted as a staff anchor.

Josh Johnson (ADP #16, RotoAce #10) is a major health risk coming off shoulder and back problems that cut short his spectacular 2010 season, but the reward would be more than worth it if he can come close to repeating the 2.30 ERA and 1.11 WHIP of last season.

Francisco Liriano (ADP #22, RotoAce #15) got his fastball back last season (93.7 mph) and with it came his mojo in the form of sky-high strikeout (9.4 K/9) and GB (53.6%) rates that returned him to the status of fantasy ace.

Ricky Nolasco (ADP #42, RotoAce #24) is a sabermetric favorite who has been undone by high BABIPs and HR/FB rates the past two years, but the solid strikeout (8.4 K/9) and walk (1.9 BB/9) rates give you a chance to score a fantasy ace in the middle rounds.

Javier Vazquez (ADP #72, RotoAce #38) returns to the NL, where he finished fourth in the Cy Young voting just two years ago, so overlook another failure in pinstripes and hope he returns to being an inning-eating strikeout artist.

Gio Gonzalez (ADP #57, RotoAce #41) had a glittering second half (8-3, 2.59 ERA) and his strikeout (7.7 K/9) and GB (49.3%) rates remained high, so you can put up with the high walk rate (4.1 BB/9).

James Shields (ADP #53, RotoAce #45) suffered through a down season with a 5.18 ERA with a .341 BABIP as a major culprit, but his strikeout rate (8.3 K/9) and average fastball (91.5 mph) were career highs so a recovery is likely.

Carlos Zambrano (ADP #62, RotoAce #54) has still had a sub-4.00 ERA every year of his career after a 1.58 ERA after the break bailed out a season on the brink, so ignore the temper problems and draft the inning-eating strikeout artist with confidence.

Dallas Braden (ADP #85, RotoAce #59) had a sparkling 1.16 WHIP and a perfect game last season, so the control specialist should make a solid back-of-the-rotation option despite the lack of strikeouts.

Scott Baker (ADP #90, RotoAce #56) was undone by a .325 BABIP and elbow problems last season, but the 3.4 K/BB ratio remained intact for a third straight year, so should be able to provide a nice return on a small investment.

Jeff Niemann (ADP #105, RotoAce #66) is a major injury risk after battling shoulder and back problems last year that contributed to his post-break 7.69 ERA, but don’t forget the glittering first half (7-2, 2.77 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) and just hope the 6-foot-10 giant stays healthy.

Chris Young (ADP #107, RotoAce #82) is trying to put shoulder problems that have plagued him for two years behind him and his strikeout and fly-ball ways should play well in spacious Citi Field.

Clayton Richard (ADP #101, RotoAce #74) has solid strikeout (6.8 K/9) and GB (46.1%) rates and a forgiving ballpark in Petco Field to make him a solid back-of-the-rotation guy.

Jonathan Niese (ADP #101, RotoAce #73) is another pitcher with strong strikeout (7.7 K/9) and GB (47.7%) rates with a spacious ballpark in Citi Field to help him out.

Justin Masterson (ADP #145, RotoAce #84) recovered from a slow start last season to post a 2.91 ERA over the final two months and still has the strong strikeout (7.0 K/9) and GB (59.9%) rates that drew Brandon Webb comparisons a few years ago, so the long-anticipated breakout could be here.

Jason Hammel (ADP #125, RotoAce #95) has posted consecutive seasons with 3.81 xFIPs to go with solid K/9, BB/9 and GB rates, so the flame-thrower (averaged 93.1 mph last year) could be on the verge of a breakout.

Aaron Harang (ADP #114, RotoAce #94) is this year’s winner of the Petco sweepstakes (Jon Garland benefitted last season) and his fly-ball tendencies should play well moving from Cincinnati to San Diego.

Gavin Floyd (ADP #78, RotoAce #61) had a very up-and-down season that finished with a 4.08 ERA, but a .325 BABIP may have been partly responsible and his strikeout-groundball style should mean better results this year.