The season is still young, so there will be a few players to track due to injuries, increased playing time, streaming starting pitchers and some new closers.
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Each week, I will highlight a few players to target in your weekly free agent acquisition budget FAAB process, but know there are many others available and, more importantly, others who may be better fits for your teams. If you have any questions, please ask me on Twitter.
Note: We use Yahoo for player percentages and recommend players rostered in no more than 60% of leagues.
Fantasy Baseball FAAB & Waiver Wire Targets: Week 2
Hitters
Ceddanne Rafaela (SS, OF – BOS)
Rostered: 48%
Suggested Bid: 18%
Ceddanne Rafaela is the primary centerfielder to start the season and brings a welcomed fantasy profile to most teams. Last season, Rafaela hit 22 home runs and stole 39 bases between Double-A, Triple-A and the bigs. Throughout the minors, he also had a solid batting average. Rafaela also had an excellent spring training as he hit .270 with three home runs and five stolen bases over 69 plate appearances. He may also get reps at second base, increasing his fantasy value. Rafaela can provide five-category production off your waiver wire, so add him where you can.
Rostered: 43%
Suggested Bid: 15%
Victor Scott will be one of the most popular FAAB targets this week because he can steal bases better than most in baseball. Last season, Scott stole 94 bases between High-A and Double-A, and he has already stolen a base this season. Scott is 0-7 in the first two games with five strikeouts, which is less than ideal. Hopefully he can break out of that funk. Scott will add little power, so his fantasy value primarily revolves around stealing bases. I will not be aggressive on Scott as Lars Nootbaar may be back sooner rather than later. If you need steals, though, Scott is a target.
Rostered: 24%
Suggested Bid: 14%
With TJ Friedl out for some time, Jake Fraley should see regular at-bats in the Reds lineup. On Opening Day, Fraley hit fifth for the Reds. He went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Fraley brings 20/20 upside to your fantasy team. If he continues to hit in the middle of the lineup he could be a significant factor in runs and RBI. If Fraley does not interest you, teammate Will Benson has a similar skill set and could also flourish without Friedl.
Pitchers
Rostered: 45%
Suggested Bid: 16%
Jack Flaherty was once an ace in fantasyland. Many believe a return to fantasy viability could be in store this season. Flaherty had a strong spring with a 2.95 ERA over 18.1 innings with 26 strikeouts. The strikeouts were a welcomed surprise this spring and a lot revolved around increased velocity. Velocity that resembled his golden days with the Cardinals. Flaherty faces the White Sox in a great matchup this Sunday, which could increase his FAAB price. He should be worth it as he faces the A’s next week in an equally great matchup.
Rostered: 20%
Suggested Bid: 16%
Jared Jones had a monster spring where he did not allow an earned run over 16.1 innings while striking out 15. Throughout Double-A and Triple-A last season, Jones had a strikeout rate of around 27%, which would be great in the bigs. He also threw 126.1 innings, which could put him in line for 140-to-150 innings this year. If he throws great against the Marlins on Sunday, you better prepare to open up the wallet to add this young stud.
Rostered: 20%
Suggested Bid: 11%
Luis Gil put together a great spring with a 2.57 ERA over 15.2 innings with 23 strikeouts. Gil has been hyped up in the past but could not stay healthy based on the four innings he threw last season. Gil may not throw more than 100 innings this year but the Yankees need him to pitch well until Gerrit Cole returns in late May. Gil has a two-step next week versus the Diamondbacks and the Blue Jays, which should get fantasy managers pretty excited in FAAB leagues this weekend.
Closers
Rostered: 26%
Suggested Bid: 22%
Heading into the season, many debated whether Trevor Megill, Joel Payamps or Abner Uribe would be the Brewers’ closer. In the first game of the year, we may have gotten our answer, as Megill pitched the seventh, Payamps pitched the eighth and Uribe got the save. If Uribe is the closer, it’s an excellent job for at least three months until Devin Williams returns.
Rostered: 12%
Suggested Bid: 13%
The Tigers surprised us on Opening Day by giving Jason Foley the save. Alex Lange did not even pitch in the game. Foley looked great; his velocity was up two miles per hour (MPH) from last season and he hit 100 MPH a few times. Foley appears to be the closer, which garners some FAAB attention.
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