We have made it through another week of action and have more data to give us an idea of player production. At this point of the season, it is all about playing the hot hand and great matchups in the coming weeks. 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.
We have made it through another week of action and have more data to give us an idea of player production. At this point of the season, it is all about playing the hot hand and great matchups in the coming weeks. 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.
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 3
Hitters
Taylor Ward (OF – LAA)
Rostered: 57%
Suggested Bid: 18%
It’s been a great start to the season for Taylor Ward after a disastrous ending to 2023. Ward was hit in the face by an Alek Manoah fastball, and he was never the same. He seems confident again this season, hitting .320 with a five-game hitting streak and three home runs over the first six games. Ward will bring solid five-category contributions this season if he can stay healthy, so add him now while you still can.
Michael Conforto (OF – SF)
Rostered: 55%
Suggested Bid: 16%
Michael Conforto is off to a hot start to the season, hitting safely in six of seven games for a .370 batting average. He is flexing his muscle with two doubles and three home runs, a .407 ISO and a 1.192 OPS. Conforto has been locked in with a 22.2% barrel rate and a 50% hard-hit rate. When healthy, Conforto is a fantasy asset. Unfortunately, he will likely find an injured list (IL) trip or two but he is healthy for now. Conforto is doing well for the time being as he’s producing and is one of the few Giants outfielders not in a platoon.
Will Benson (OF – CIN)
Rostered: 32%
Suggested Bid: 16%
Will Benson is off to a scorching start to the season, hitting safely in four of six games with four doubles and a home run. Benson has even thrown in a stolen base. He is making solid contact with a 16.7% barrel rate and 75% hard-hit rate, which is bonkers. Benson has a couple of negatives — striking out 44% of the time and has a .455 batting average on balls in play (BABIP). Both could hinder Benson at some point, but for now, we roll. He was very fantasy-relevant when he had playing time last year, and right now, he plays every day with TJ Friedl on the IL.
Pitchers
Jared Jones (SP – PIT)
Rostered: 52%
Suggested Bid: 28%
Jared Jones was good at the start of his big league career. He threw 5.2 innings in Miami, allowing three earned runs but striking out 10. Jones had an outstanding spring in which he did not allow a run and struck out the farm, so expectations are high early in the season. Jones has a tougher matchup on Friday night versus the Orioles. The result of that start could increase or decrease the FAAB price come Sunday. Regardless, Jones should be an arm on the roster going forward.
Brady Singer (SP – KC)
Rostered: 53%
Suggested Bid: 11%
Brady Singer looked like a new man in his first start versus the Twins, where he threw seven shutout innings while striking out 10. In a roundabout way, Singer was a brand new man as he added a third pitch to his arsenal, albeit not often. Singer only threw the changeup 4.1% of the time but it still helped a bit. If Singer can keep mixing things up, he could be in store for a fantasy-relevant year.
Garrett Whitlock (SP -BOS)
Rostered: 40%
Suggested Bid: 11%
The Red Sox rotation has been solid to start the season, including Garrett Whitlock, who threw five strong innings while allowing one run and striking out eight versus the Mariners. Whitlock has shown the ability to be a good starter but injuries have derailed those hopes early in his career. The Red Sox need starters, so it’s Whitlock’s job as long as he stays healthy. Ride Whitlock, Tanner Houck and others while they are healthy.
Closers
David Robertson (RP – TEX)
Rostered: 36%
Suggested Bid: 9%
When David Robertson signed with the Rangers, I said he would lead the team in saves this season. I have never had confidence in Jose Leclerc, who is already off to a horrible start to the season. While Leclerc has struggled, Robertson has been solid with a win and three holds over 4.2 innings without allowing a run and striking out five. Robertson will take over closing duties sooner rather than later, so add him before the price tag skyrockets.
James McArthur (RP – KC)
Rostered: 13%
Suggested Bid: 3%
To no one’s surprise, Will Smith looked horrible at the start of the season. James McArthur has not been much better, allowing at least one run in his three appearances. McArthur was the next man in line entering the season. He’s still my target but I understand your concerns. If you do not like McArthur, target John Schreiber, who has looked solid to start the season.
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