Top 5 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 16)

Alright, everybody, this is it. This is a moment I knew would happen one day but it still managed to sneak up on me. As you may have noticed, it’s been a few weeks since I’ve put out content. The yearly burnout hit early this year. I did what all of us creators do and tried taking a small break, so I could get back after it. The problem was, this time around, that fire never reignited in me. Typically, after a few days, I’m ready to run through that proverbial content wall and get after it. I no longer have that feeling.

It’s been an amazing run for me. I’ve spent the last 10+ years of my life working a full-time job while also writing hundreds of articles. Then add in the 169 podcast episodes I recorded and edited the last two years. Plus having three growing kids (I have one entering middle school this year. Where did the time go?) and those kids are starting to do a lot of cool stuff I was missing out on more and more.

I’ve been named an FSWA finalist for Baseball Writer of the Year, I’ve been invited to and flown out to Tout Wars in New York to compete against some of the top names in the industry, I’ve had incredibly big names agree to join me on my podcast and I had the opportunity to spend the last two seasons writing for FantasyPros. A place that always felt so out of reach for me.

I apologize for the big sappy opening to this article. I’ve been struggling a bit with how I was going to go about talking about my stepping away. I’ve been off social media and have debated posting there, but I’m not sure I will. So this may very well serve as my official goodbye to baseball content. Maybe forever. Maybe for a long while. Only time will tell.

With that in mind, let’s get into some of my favorite waiver wire options right now.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 16)

Jhonkensy Noel (1B, 3B, OF – CLE)

CBS: 37% | Yahoo: 15% | ESPN: 5%

Are there some worries over whether or not Jhonkensy Noel can keep up this powerful start to his major league career? Sure. But keep in mind he’s a youngster with 70-grade power and 35 XBH in just 65 Triple-A games to start this season. Not only that, he’s getting the added benefit of Progressive Field becoming a power-hitting fever dream. Just look at the sudden power numbers of Steven Kwan and you can see why Noel’s numbers are so exciting – 18.2% barrel rate, 92% zone contact rate and three bombs in his first eight games. The high strikeout rate and low xBA don’t help much in points leagues but I’m taking him in every category and roto league where I need power right now.

Jhonkensky Noel go-ahead homer off Cole Ragans!pic.twitter.com/JYfUkWfCuR

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) June 29, 2024

Brooks Lee (SS – MIN)

CBS: 48% | Yahoo: 28% | ESPN: 7%

Most of the highly-touted prospects that got playing time early in the season struggled. Now we have guys like James Wood and Brooks Lee showing up and showing out. Shortstop is traditionally a very deep position. This season, though, that hasn’t been the case. It’s very top-heavy but gets shallow quickly. That’s why guys like Lee become that much more valuable. He doesn’t have the same immense power as Noel has, instead Lee profiles as a great hit-tool guy with the ability to limit strikeouts and drive in runners. He had 125 RBI in his 186 minor league games and has now driven in six in his first four games in the big leagues. Brooks offers enough upside in everything — but speed — to be worthy of picking up and starting from here on out.

Ben Rice (C, 1B – NYY)

CBS: 48% | Yahoo: 21% | ESPN: 4%

Yes, I am aware Ben Rice has been so hot he may already be gone in your league. This is my obligatory “he just hit three home runs in a game while batting leadoff for the Yankees so you need to add him ASAP” section. Rice has always had upside. For the last few weeks, he has been a very intriguing waiver wire option. Especially in two-catcher leagues. Now that he’s put his name on the map it becomes a race against time to try and add him to your team before it’s too late. He has legitimate on-base percentage (OBP) upside, enough speed to keep it spicy on the bases if he wants to and can hit 20 home runs should he get 500+ at-bats this season. If the Yankees trust him this much already then I too trust him with my fantasy baseball life.

Here's Ben Rice hitting 1,202 feet of home runs against the Boston Red Sox: pic.twitter.com/AKDjMhZFqw

— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) July 6, 2024

Lenyn Sosa (2B, 3B – CWS)

CBS: 6% | Yahoo: 7% | ESPN: 1%

The first guy on this list to already have gotten recognition on a previous week’s waiver wire article, but it’s very well deserved. The White Sox may not be great, but Lenyn Sosa has been. In his last six games, he’s amassed 12 hits, struck out just 7.4% of the time and has gotten on base just about half his times up to bat. He’s hit a couple of home runs in that stretch, but count on him to continue to be more of a volume hitter and less of a power hitter. Sosa has been one of the league’s best hitters and makes a great addition to teams in need of a boost in the batting average category. He’s also playing like an absolute points league stud this last week as well.

Max Schuemann (2B, SS, OF – OAK)

CBS: 4% | Yahoo: 2% | ESPN: 1%

Raise your hand if you had “Max Schuemann will have a breakout season in 2024” on your bingo board. Don’t worry, I’ll wait. We all know damn well none of you saw this coming, but boy are we happy it’s happening. In his last eight games alone he’s put up two home runs, driven in nine runs, stolen three bases and been just an absolute menace on the baseball diamond. Much like the White Sox, the Athletics suck, which means Schuemann is going to get as much playing time as he can. I’d count on him continuing to capitalize on it. He’s got a respectable 84% zone contact rate, a swinging strikeout rate just above 10%, 30+ stolen base speed and some pop. He profiles as a Shea Langeliers-type with less pop and more speed. A good, not great option when in a pinch.