X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

AL-Only Leagues: Deeper Waiver Wire Pickups For Week Seven

By SD Dirk on Flickr (Originally posted to Flickr as "Tim Lincecum") [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Tony Peters analyzes some American League players to target as fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups & adds in Week 7. These AL-only targets can be sleepers.

This past weekend, I experienced my first taste of the Uncharted video game series with the newly released Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. My favorite element so far has been not only how varied the gameplay is but how well it all meshes together. I went in thinking I would spend a lot of timing running and shooting, and I found the exact opposite. I snuck out of an orphanage, pick-pocketed a waiter at a fancy party and scaled a dilapidated prison among other non-mindlessly killing moments.

AL-only owners can relate with U4's ability to mix sometimes disparate items into a successful blend as that is exactly what we as fantasy owners do when constructing and managing our rosters. From having to stretch player pools thin, to juggling bench players and making personnel changes, only by properly utilizing all of those can consistent victory be found. Here are some players to consider if you have any rotten elements on your roster. All players are owned in less than 25% of Flea Flicker leagues.

Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily. Prefer using your phone? Our free waiver wire app is available for download in the Apple & Android Stores.

 

American League Targets - Hitters

Ketel Marte (SS, SEA) - 14% Owned

Considering what second-year shortstop Ketel Marte has done since debuting in the Majors last year, it is somewhat surprising to find him owned in well under 25% of leagues. Sure, the counting stats are lacking, but a .282 career average for a middle infielder is always a welcome find. He may never reach double digit home runs any time soon (if ever), but Marte does possess significant speed. Not only could he steal around 20 bases over a full season, but his wheels allow him to stretch base hits further. An uncharacteristically low walk rate is his only real blemish on his season so far, and is holding back him back from even greater fantasy potential.

Brandon Guyer (OF, TB) - 3% Owned

Despite having never once owned outfielder Brandon Guyer in my long-standing AL-only league, my time spent combing the waiver wire every year has familiarized me with him. He is a streaky chap who shows up big for a couple weeks before finding himself back on the bench or in the minors, mostly due to roster crunch. This current streak has come at a great time as Desmond Jennings' literal freefall has led to Guyer receiving full-time at-bats the past week. He has taken full advantage, pushing his May slash to .325/.417/.650 with three home runs and eight RBI. The longer he can keep this up, the longer he's likely to keep Jennings on the bench and reward fantasy owners with a mix of average and modest power.

Steven Moya (OF, DET) - 2% Owned

Outfielder Steven Moya is being given an on-the-spot audition this week, as the team elected to keep him as their fourth outfielder over Anthony Gose. The slugging prospect comes with serious pop in his bat, having hit 58 home runs in the minors the past two seasons combined. Contact was his big question mark, but after opening up 2016 with a slash of .310/.341/.627 with nine home runs in Triple-A, he may have made the necessary adjustments. This is a long-term play more than anything, but after a successful weekend, Moya needs to be on fantasy owners' radars.

Chase Headley (3B, NYY) - 9% Owned

As a current owner of third baseman Chase Headley, I think I speak for everyone when I say passionately, FINALLY. Existing as a lineup black hole all season long, he has finally showed some life, hitting .275 with two home runs and six RBI in the month of May. While he will never live up to even the modest hopes fantasy owners had for him following his move to New York, Headley still appears likely to come close to his 2015 numbers of a .259 average, 11 home runs and 62 RBI. He's a desperation play, even in AL-only leagues, but at the end of the day, he's better than a zero.

Jason Castro (C, HOU) - 9% Owned

Look at who has become a fantasy zombie, catcher Jason Castro. Once a fantasy relevant catcher, it has been two seasons since he has been usable in basically anything short of an AL-only league. 2016 had opened the same, as evidenced by his season stats of a .209 average, two home runs and seven RBI. But Castro has picked up things sin May, hitting .306 with two home runs, five RBI and 11 runs scored. Recent history says this will fade, but for now, catcher-desperate owners could do worse than trying to ride this streak.

Flashback: Danny Valencia (3B/OF, OAK) - 13% Owned

Just a reminder that one of my picks from back in Week Two, infielder/outfielder Danny Valencia, has recently returned from the disabled list and is on fire. Since being activated May 5th, he is hitting .435 with five home runs and eight RBI. What I said then still stands, as Valencia remains a must-own player in all AL-only leagues.

 

American League Targets - Pitchers

Matt Andriese (SP, TB) - 10% Owned

Starting pitcher Matt Andriese was a late cut fom last week's list, but he made it on this week thanks in part to his complete game victory over Oakland in his last start. He is now 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and eight strikeouts on the season, entrenching him in the Rays' starting rotation while Alex Cobb continues working back from Tommy John surgery. Andriese is performing well above his ceiling now, as the finesse pitcher doesn't get enough strikeouts to maintain such baserunner thriftiness. But with a career minor league ERA of 3.27, he does have enough of a track record of success to warrant AL-only attention.

Trevor Bauer (SP, CLE) - 17% Owned

Starting pitcher Trevor Bauer has, at a quick glance of his stats, successfully returned to the Indians' starting rotation after beginning the season in the bullpen. For the month of May, he has a 2-1 record with a 2.79 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in three starts. Dig a little deeper, and the view loses some of its luster as Bauer also continues to struggle with the two things that have been holding his MLB career back: home runs and walks allowed. Bauer is a must-own in AL-only leagues while the overall results are still positive, but just keep in mind he is succeeding despite his lingering limitations.

R.A. Dickey (SP, TOR) - 15% Owned

After a disasterous April that saw him open the season 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, starting pitcher R.A. Dickey has been the exact opposite in May. In three starts this month, he is 1-1 with a 1.27 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 12 strikeouts. As a knuckleball pitcher, Dickey will always be prone to slumps due to the unpredictable nature of the pitch. Coming off two straight seasons with an ERA under 4.00, he looks to be fully capable of pushing it to three, making him a great waiver wire addition if his previous owner bailed early.

Will Harris (RP, HOU) - 3% Owned

What a difference cutting down on home runs allowed did for the already fantastic reliever Will Harris. After winning five games with a 1.90 ERA and 68 strikeouts last season, he is currently sporting a phenomenal 0.51 ERA with 16 strikeouts. The drop can be attributed to the simple fact that after allowing eight home runs last season, he has yet to allow one in 2016. With a track record of excellence, don't let Harris' staticular fortitude disappear into the waiver wire darkness any longer.

Tim Lincecum (SP, LAA?) - 6% Owned

The hot rumor right now is that the Angels and free agent Tim Lincecum are closing in on a deal that would see him return to the Majors as a starter. The fantasy implications are, unfortunately, fairly limited, even in AL-only leagues. Since losing his groove in 2012, he is 39-42 with a 4.68 ERA and 577 strikeouts in 615.2 innings. Other than the strikeouts and the wins, that's a lot of fantasy baggage, especially outside of head-to-head leagues. So why bother? There is the chance that Lincecum could find early success in his first season in the AL simply thanks to limited or zero exposure to many of its hitters. He did, after all, go 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two interleague starts last season as a member of the Giants.

 

Live Expert Q&A Chats - Every Weekday @ 1 PM and 6 PM EST (DFS)

Fantasy Baseball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-55" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

 


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jrue Holiday

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Friday Night
Josh Jacobs

Officially Questionable to Play in Week 12
Darius Slayton

Cleared to Return From Hamstring Injury in Week 12
Daniel Jones

"Good to Go" for Week 12
Alvin Kamara

Officially Questionable to Play in Week 12
Xavier Worthy

"Trending in the Right Direction," Officially Questionable
Isiah Pacheco

Out Against Colts
Drake London

Officially Ruled Out for Week 12
CFB

Beau Pribula Expected to Start Against Oklahoma
Aaron Rodgers

Questionable to Play Against Bears
Grayson Allen

Sidelined Again on Friday
Jaden McDaniels

Could Miss Another Game on Friday
Cooper Flagg

Listed as Available on Friday
Rhamondre Stevenson

Expected to Return in Week 12
D'Angelo Russell

Questionable on Friday Vs. Pelicans
Jayden Reed

Packers Open Jayden Reed's Practice Window on Friday
Chris Godwin

Trending Toward Playing on Sunday
Joe Burrow

Officially Questionable for Week 12
Bucky Irving

Out for Week 12, Bucs Targeting a Week 13 Return
Sam LaPorta

Likely to Miss Remainder of 2025 Season
Josh Jacobs

"Feeling Pretty Good," Practicing Again on Friday
Trey Benson

Could Suit Up in Week 12
Jaxson Dart

Won't Play Vs. Detroit
Chris Godwin

Completes Another Week of Practice
Dan Hooker

An Underdog At UFC Qatar
Arman Tsarukyan

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Ian Machado Garry

A Favorite At UFC Qatar
Belal Muhammad

Looks To Bounce Back
Alonzo Menifield

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Collin Murray-Boyles

Ruled Out Friday Against Wizards
Volkan Oezdemir

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Jaylon Tyson

Tagged as Questionable on Friday
Sam Merrill

Won't Play on Friday Vs. Pacers
Myktybek Orolbai

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Jack Hermansson

Makes His Welterweight Debut
Kyoji Horiguchi

Returns To The UFC
Bucky Irving

May Be Out Longer Than Expected?
Tagir Ulanbekov

Set To Open Up UFC Qatar Main Card
Marvin Bagley III

Doubtful as Wizards Frontcourt Thins
Draymond Green

Set to Rejoin Lineup vs. Blazers
Jimmy Butler III

Probable for Friday's Home Game
Aaron Gordon

Expected Back in the Lineup on Friday
Coby White

Uncertain Against Heat
Tre Jones

Questionable Ahead of Heat Matchup
Sergei Bobrovsky

Frustrates Devils With Shutout
Adam Fantilli

Leads Blue Jackets to Victory in Toronto
Ilya Sorokin

Posts Second Shutout of the Season
Alex Ovechkin

Nets 33rd Career Hat Trick
Andre Burakovsky

Ruled Out for Friday
Gavin Brindley

Hurt Versus Rangers
Jake Evans

Exits With Injury Thursday
Khalil Shakir

Eclipses Century Mark in Loss to Texans
James Cook

Breaks Off Long Touchdown in Primetime Loss
Elly De La Cruz

Played Through Partially Torn Quad to End 2025
Darius Garland

Might Play on Friday Night
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Out Against Sacramento, Santi Aldama Starting
Tyrese Maxey

Available Versus Milwaukee
Zaccharie Risacher

Cleared to Face Spurs
Kristaps Porzingis

Back in Action on Thursday
Tarik Skubal

Tigers "Doubtful" to Trade Tarik Skubal
Jarrett Allen

Questionable for Friday
Simon Holmstrom

Ready for Action Thursday
Lars Eller

Available Thursday
Domantas Sabonis

Will Miss at Least 3-4 Weeks
Ridly Greig

Out Against Ducks
Jake Neighbours

Back for Blues Thursday
TB

Nicholas Paul Available Thursday
Victor Hedman

Out for "Couple of Weeks"
Tyler Bertuzzi

Set to Return Thursday
Rasmus Andersson

Bags Three Points Wednesday Night
Morgan Geekie

Nets Two Power-Play Goals Wednesday
Connor McMichael

Posts Three Assists in Wednesday's Win
Alexander Romanov

Islanders Place Alexander Romanov on Injured Reserve
Lars Eller

to Miss Thursday's Action
Nic Dowd

Out on Thursday
Adam Lowry

Inks Extension With Jets
Raisel Iglesias

Returning to the Braves on One-Year Deal
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Continue Fall Run at RSM Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Looking to Bounce Back at RSM Classic
Tom Hoge

Looking to Regain Form at RSM Classic
Joe Highsmith

Searching for Turnaround at RSM Classic
Adam Hadwin

Looking to Build on T11 Finish in Bermuda
Austin Eckroat

Searching for Momentum at RSM Classic
Joel Dahmen

Trying to Find Form at the RSM Classic
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful to Play Against Western Kentucky
Michael Thorbjornsen

Hopes to End 2025 Campaign With Another Solid Finish
Andrew Novak

Looks to End 2025 Season on High Note at RSM Classic
Harry Higgs

Teetering for PGA Tour Card in 2026
PGA

Nico Echavarria has the Potential to Contend at the RSM Classic
Sam Stevens

Finishing Out Year in Georgia
Seamus Power

Playing Better at the Right Time
Beau Hossler

Roller Coaster Comes to Saint Simons Island
Quade Cummins

The Time is Now for Quade Cummins in Georgia
Austin Cook

Needs a Win at the RSM Classic
Cameron Champ

on the PGA Tour Card Bubble
Grayson Rodriguez

Shipped to Angels
Taylor Ward

Orioles Acquire Taylor Ward From Angels
Shota Imanaga

Accepts Cubs Qualifying Offer
Brandon Woodruff

Returning to Milwaukee in 2026
Denny McCarthy

Looking For Another Solid Finish at RSM Classic
Si Woo Kim

Looking To Use Current Momentum to Flip Script at RSM Classic
Mackenzie Hughes

a Good Bounce-Back Candidate at RSM Classic
Harris English

Making 14th Start at This Week's RSM Classic
Konnor Griffin

Could Compete for Starting Shortstop Job in 2026
Gleyber Torres

Accepts Tigers Qualifying Offer
CFB

Sam Leavitt Set to Enter Transfer Portal?
Jose Altuve

Undergoes Foot Surgery
Alex Bregman

Red Sox Going for Either Alex Bregman or Pete Alonso?
CFB

James Franklin to be Virginia Tech's Next Head Coach
CFB

Fernando Mendoza the Clear Heisman Trophy Favorite?
CFB

Beau Pribula Has Chance to Face Oklahoma on Saturday
Jack Della Maddalena

Gets Dominated
Islam Makhachev

Claims UFC Welterweight Belt
Zhang Weili

Gets Outclassed
Valentina Shevchenko

Wins Unanimous Decision At UFC 322
Sean Brady

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Michael Morales

Remains Unbeaten
Leon Edwards

Suffers Second-Round Knockout Loss
Leon Edwards

Carlos Prates Becomes The First Man To Knock Out Leon Edwards
Beneil Dariush

Suffers Brutal First-Round Knockout Loss
Beneil Dariush

Benoit Saint Denis Knocks Out Beneil Dariush In 16 Seconds
Josh Naylor

Mariners Finalizing Five-Year Contract
CFB

Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate Not Dealing With Long-Term Injuries
CFB

Virginia Tech Close To Naming James Franklin As Head Coach

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP