We have made it through a week of action, and there continue to be endless injuries we need to account for on our rosters. There have also been a lot of strong and slow starts from players that leave us wondering what to do with those roster spots.
Each week I will highlight a few players to target in your weekly FAAB process, but know there are many others available and, more importantly, others that may be better fitting for your teams. If you have any questions, please ask me on Twitter (@bdentrek).
Remember that we’ll be using Yahoo for player percentages, and we’ll keep our suggestion to players rostered in no more than 60% of leagues.
- Weekly Waiver Wire Advice
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
- Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Trade Value Chart
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire FAAB Report: Week 2
Hitters
Rostered: 58%
Suggested bid: 4-5%
Anderson has come out of the gates raking for the Brewers. In Spring Training, there were questions about playing time for Anderson, but with injuries to Tyrone Taylor and now, more importantly, to Luis Urias, playing time is no longer an issue for Anderson. He will be locked into third base nearly every day.
Anderson has hit safely in the first seven games, good for a .500 batting average. He has three home runs with eight runs scored and ten RBI. Anderson is even walking 22.2% of the time with a 1.593 OPS. His quality of contact is ridiculous, with a 40% barrel rate and a 53.5% hard-hit rate.
Many of these statistics are unsustainable but could still be good. Good enough for a starting fantasy role on your team. Anderson adds depth to a shallow third base position as well.
Rostered: 50%
Suggested Bid: 8%
Outman had an outstanding Spring Training, so good that the Dodgers gave him a spot on the opening day roster. So far, Outman has not disappointed. He is hitting .350 through his first eight games with two home runs and two RBI.
It has been tricky rostering Outman if you aren’t playing in a daily moves league, as he was platooning with Trayce Thompson. Outman started versus an LHP, Madison Bumgarner, on Friday night and took Bumgarner deep. If he can start playing regularly versus LHP, then Outman may be one of the best adds of the week.
Lastly, it would be wrong not to mention Outman is striking out over 33% of the time, so improved plate discipline is definitely needed. If that can improve with his great quality of contact metrics, the sky could be the limit for the young Dodgers’ outfielder.
Rostered: 50%
Suggested Bid: 7%
After going hitless in his first two games of the season, Mitchell has hit safely in five straight games. Mitchell has hit three home runs over that stretch, with five runs and six RBI. The funny thing is Mitchell is known for his speed and does not have a steal yet in this crazy steals atmosphere.
Mitchell should be the regular center fielder for now, making him a strong addition to your team. He should continue to hit for average, supply some power, and hopefully, the speed will come.
Pitchers
Rostered: 46%
Suggested Bid: 15%
It was only one start, but Maeda looked outstanding versus the Marlins, And yes, I know it’s the Marlins too. Maeda threw five innings, allowed one run without walking a batter, and struck out nine. That was good for an insane 50% K-BB. Maeda induced a 40.4% O-swing with a 21.3% SwStr.
Maeda was great, and it will be hard to sustain that type of success all season long, but he could still be quite good. He left the start early, which was part of the plan, as Maeda is returning from Tommy John surgery.
Maeda has two starts in the upcoming week (vs. CWS, @ NYY), which makes him a bit more appealing, but still a tough two-step. I like Maeda for the rest of the season but do not overpay for the two starts this week.
Rostered: 19%
Suggested Bid: 5%
Brito was electric in his first career start, throwing five shutout innings and striking out six. As he stymied the Giants, he induced a 43.6% O-swing with a 19.7% SwStr. Brito was sent down to Triple-A after that start but was recalled and will make the start on Saturday for the Yankees.
Due to injuries in the Yankees rotation, Brito may have a few more starts before more moves are needed. If he continues to pitch well, Clarke Schmidt, with his struggles, may be sent down before Brito. Brito is definitely worth an add as he faces Minnesota next week, with the following week still in question.
Rostered: 26%
Suggested Bid: 20%
Megill looked solid in his first two starts of the season but could not have had a much better start as he faced the Marlins in both. He has thrown 11 innings while allowing two runs, walking four, and striking out ten. Only had three strikeouts in the second start, but still got the job done as he picked up the win and now has wins in each start.
Megill has electric stuff when on, but he also tends to walk too many. With the Mets’ injuries and David Peterson‘s struggles, he should be locked into the rotation for some time.
Megill should be rostered in way more than 26% of leagues. He has a nice two-step in two weeks, so get ahead of the crazy bidding now.
Closers
Rostered: 36%
Suggested Bid: 15%
Heading into the season, a committee or at least a two-headed monster was discussed as a closer for the Cubs. Those two heads were Brad Boxberger and Michael Fulmer. Fulmer appears to have the upper hand through the first week of games, as he has been great.
On Friday, Fulmer collected a two-inning save where he did not allow a run and struck out four. Fulmer has not allowed a run in his three appearances, 3.1 IP, and seven strikeouts. Boxberger will still get his chances, but Fulmer appears to be a high-leverage choice in the Cubs bullpen, and that is worth a roster spot.
Rostered: 28%
Suggested Bid: 7%
I am not one to usually chase saves in Colorado, but I will admit that I am a bit interested in Johnson. He has collected two saves in his first three appearances. Johnson has seven strikeouts over three innings while allowing only one run.
Johnson appears to be locked into the closing role for now, which makes him worthy of an ad. Just be a bit careful, as Daniel Bard is throwing bullpens and getting ready to return as the potential closer for the Rockies.
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