Five Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 11

Below are five outfielders that I believe are undervalued in fantasy baseball leagues. These outfielders can be considered as sleepers or pickups off the waiver wire, depending on your league size and depth, including NL-Only and AL-Only formats in some cases. For owners seeking short-term or long-term answers, power or speed, there is something for everyone here.

 

Josh Willingham - (OF, MIN) - 49% Owned

BALLER MOVE:  Add in All Formats

Last week, I mentioned that Josh Willingham was a player to watch on the waiver wire as he returned from the DL. Josh has certainly made his presence felt-- during his current eight-game hitting streak, Willingham has collected 6 R, 4 HR and 11 RBI.

At 35 years old, Josh is showing no signs of slowing down. Owners looking for some power off the waiver wire from the outfield position need not look any further-- Josh Willingham is your man. He has the track record from previous years, and can stay hot for extended stretches. In 2012 he racked up 35 HR and 110 RBI, and is now off to a sizzling start to his 2014 season.

 

Gregory Polanco  - (OF, PIT) - 60% Owned

BALLER MOVE:  Add in All Formats

After seeing prospects like George Springer, Jon Singleton and Oscar Taveras making an impact for their organizations, fans are eagerly awaiting Gregory Polanco's arrival in Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old outfielder is slashing .355/.412/.550 with 45 R, 6 HR, 48 RBI  and 14 SB through 58 games in Triple-A. It appears as though Polanco will be promoted to the big leagues sometime next week. He is an exciting young player that could produce results immediately. If he is still available, now is the time to add him.

 

Corey Dickerson - (OF, COL) - 11% Owned

BALLER MOVE:  Add in All Formats

With Rockies star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez on the disabled list, Corey Dickerson has been seeing plenty of playing time. The 25-year-old has made the most of his opportunities, hitting .348 on the season with 18 R, 7 HR, 16 RBI and 2 SB in 39 games. While his starting role may not be permanent, Dickerson has a lot of value over the next few weeks. Corey is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak and is worth adding in NL-only or deeper mixed leagues.

 

Michael Saunders - (OF, SEA) - 20% Owned

BALLER MOVE:  Add in Deeper Leagues

Michael Saunders is a highly skilled player who finds himself in a bit of a time-share in the Mariners outfield. As a left-handed batter, Saunders finds himself out of the lineup whenever Seattle faces a left-handed starter. However, Saunders is hitting a solid .284 on the season with 25 R, 4 HR, 25 RBI and 2 SB. Michael currently owns a five-game hitting streak, during which he's blasted 2 HR and 8 RBI. For owners with flexibility in the outfield or for those in daily leagues, Saunders can be a very productive fantasy player. Just keep an eye on any injury concerns, as he was forced from Friday's game with a sore shoulder.

 

Curtis Granderson - (OF, NYM) - 67% Owned

BALLER MOVE:  Add in All Formats

The New York Mets biggest offseason acquisition has struggled during his first year in the National League. Curtis Granderson is hitting just .217 on the season with 26 R, 6 HR, 27 RBI and 4 SB through 57 games. In spite of that, the three-time All-Star has shown some life as of late. After six straight games without a hit, Curtis has now hit in five straight contests, totaling 8 H, 2 R, 4 RBI and 2 SB over that span. The 33-year-old played in just 61 games last season after hitting 40+ home runs in 2011 and 2012 with the Yankees. The potential for power, runs and stolen bases is there, just don't bank on Granderson raising the team batting average.