Juju Smith-Schuster (WR, PIT) - NFL Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12- and 14-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 6% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Five weeks into his rookie season, Juju Smith-Schuster has totaled 12 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns. He’s tied with Antonio Brown for the team lead in red zone targets, and has outperformed Martavis Bryant in each of the last three […]

Marlon Mack (RB, IND) - NFL Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10- and 12-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 10% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: With Frank Gore aging and no longer able to maintain a full workload, Marlon Mack appears to have secured a good chunk of the touches in Indianapolis’ backfield, and he makes for one of the more appealing waiver wire pickups this week. […]

Tyrod Taylor (QB, BUF) - NFL Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10 and 12-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 51% of Yahoo! Leagues ANALYSIS: Tyrod Taylor took a mild step backwards in his second year as the Bills’ starting quarterback last year, but still managed to eclipse 3,600 total yards and 23 touchdowns between the air and the ground. Even if the 28-year-old doesn’t […]

Victor Robles (OF, WAS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10- and 12-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 8% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Nationals top farmhand Victor Robles is reportedly heading to the nation’s capital to join the big league club, making the jump straight from Double-A. The No. 4 overall prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline will not be eligible to compete in the […]

Robby Anderson (WR, NYJ) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12 and 14-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 39% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Buccaneers and Dolphins aren’t playing Week 1, so if you’re a Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Jarvis Landry or DeVante Parker owner, you may be looking for a short-term replacement. Who better to turn to for potential production than a No. 1 […]

Latavius Murray (RB, MIN) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12 and 14-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 39% of leagues ANALYSIS: Latavius Murray saw a slight drop in playing time in his third NFL season, but still managed a respectable 788 yards on 195 touches (4.0 yards per carry). Now in Minnesota, his playing time is expected to be further limited, but […]

Mid-Round Draft Targets for 2017 Fantasy Football

While fantasy owners make look for upside and risk/reward options in the later rounds, it's important to hit on those mid-round picks. This piece analyzes five reliable options likely to come off the board in rounds 6-10. All five have a history of solid production, and remain in encouraging situations that should allow for continued […]

Ryan McMahon (3B, COL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed Leagues, AL-Only Leagues OWNED IN: 3% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: The Rockies called up Ryan McMahon, their No. 3 prospect, in advance of Friday’s game against the Marlins. While he hasn't drawn the start in either of his first two contests, Bud Black will be sure to find ways to stick […]

Rhys Hoskins (1B, PHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12- and 14-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: A trip to the disabled list for Aaron Altherr opened up a roster spot for Rhys Hoskins, the Phillies’ No. 6 prospect according to MLB.com. The 24-year-old was seemingly blocked at first base by Tommy Joseph, but he recently began working in […]

Dominic Smith (1B, NYM) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12- and 14-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 14% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: The Mets shipped slugger Jay Bruce off to Cleveland Wednesday, paving the way for Dominic Smith, the club’s No. 2 prospect, to make the jump to the big leagues. Smith will debut on Friday against the Phillies, and figures to be a […]

Evaluating Rafael Devers' Fantasy Impact

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 29% of Yahoo! leagues ANALYSIS: On Aug. 9, 2013, Rafael Devers signed on with the Red Sox as a highly-regarded, 16-year-old international phenom. Less than four years later, at just 20 years old, Boston’s top prospect — and the No. 6 overall prospect in baseball according to Baseball America’s midseason Top […]

Players to Avoid in the Second Half

Like any other season, 2017 has seen its fair share of players who have failed to meet preseason expectations. Many proven players find themselves able to break out of slumps, but even talented athletes can endure extended struggles, whether it be just a down season or a sign of things to come. These six players […]

Franklin Barreto (SS, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12- and 14-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 10% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Franklin Barreto made his Major League debut Saturday against the White Sox, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run in what turned out to be a historic afternoon for the Athletics— three different players notched their first career long ball. Barreto will be […]

Five Potential Quick Risers from 2017 MLB Amateur Draft

With the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft in the books, it’s time to begin to look at the players who could make a fantasy impact sooner rather than later. Since 2010, only Chris Sale and Brandon Finnegan debuted in the same year in which they were drafted, but plenty of players have made the jump the […]

Pat Neshek (RP, PHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10- and 12-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 21% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Pat Neshek locked down his first save of the season — and eighth of his career — on June 6 against the Braves. He has spun two scoreless innings since, and now owns a 0.75 ERA on the year to go a […]

Mallex Smith (OF, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in AL-only, Deep Mixed Leagues OWNED IN: 12% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: After spending the better part of the last two months in Triple-A Durham, Mallex Smith rejoined the Rays on Friday, going 2-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored, two runs batted in and three stolen bases against the Athletics. The 24-year-old […]

Chase Anderson (SP, MIL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10- and 12-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 53% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Chase Anderson has spun three consecutive gems, tossing 21.2 scoreless innings with 22 strikeouts over that span. He is inducing weaker contact than ever before, and has posted a 21.8 percent strikeout rate and a 6.4 HR/FB— both career highs. The 29-year-old […]

The Case for Punting Saves Midseason

Over the first eight weeks of the 2017 season, 14 teams underwent a change in the closer’s role, whether as a result of injury or ineffectiveness. Two of those teams, the Nationals and the Phillies, are on their third arm. Some of these clubs have since turned back to their original ninth-inning man, but the […]

Jarrod Dyson (OF, SEA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12- and 14-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Finally an everyday player, Jarrod Dyson has yet to take his offensive game to the next level. The 32-year-old speedster is slashing just .206/.308/.301 through his first 43 games played, with two homers, 24 runs scored and 11 RBI. However, his .228 […]

Zack Wheeler (SP, NYM) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12- and 14-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 36% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Zack Wheeler took a two-season hiatus following 2015 Tommy John surgery, but is finally back on the mound for the Mets, and has actually been one of their more reliable starters. Through eight starts, the 26-year-old righty owns a 3.74 ERA, a […]

David Peralta (OF, ARI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10- and 12-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 43% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: After an injury-riddled 2016 campaign, David Peralta has returned to form in the early stages of 2017. Through 36 games played, the 29-year-old has slashed .319/.367/.489 with four homers and four steals. He is cemented into the two-hole of a Diamondbacks lineup […]

Tony Zych/Steve Cishek/Nick Vincent (RP, SEA) - Speculating the Mariners' Closer

Edwin Diaz looked like the best young closer in baseball down the stretch last season, mowing down opposing hitters to the tune of a 2.79 ERA and 5.87 K/BB. However, he has struggled to command his pitches in 2017, leading to a 5.28 ERA and just 2.00 K/BB. The Mariners finally made a change on […]

Now is the Time to Sell High on Eric Thames

Eric Thames has been, undeniably, the hottest hitter on the planet over the first month of the season. Fresh off a three-year stint in the Korean Baseball Organization, the 30-year-old has shown off his new swing and approach, smashing 11 homers to go along with 27 runs, 19 runs batted in and a remarkable .370 […]

Cody Bellinger Could Impact Fantasy Teams Immediately

Dodgers top prospect Cody Bellinger has finally gotten the call, and will suit up for his new club Tuesday night against Ty Blach and the Giants. Don Mattingly’s outfielders— Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Andrew Toles, Scott Van Slyke, Kike Hernandez, Brett Eibner, Franklin Gutierrez and Trayce Thompson — are a combined 56-for-253 (.221) with 10 […]

Chris Devenski (SP/RP, HOU) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10- and 12-Team Leagues OWNED IN: 60% Yahoo! ANALYSIS: Chris Devenski burst onto the scene last season as a 26-year-old right-hander split between the starting rotation and the bullpen. He posted a 2.16 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP and a 5.20 K/BB rate that was fourth in all of baseball (min. 100 […]

Five Fast Starters Who Could Fade Out Over Time

As mentioned here, it can be quite easy to overreact to a player’s early season production— or lack thereof. While some players take time to adjust to the new season, others explode out of the starting gate, only to fade away as time passes. These five players often play their best baseball in April, and […]

Six Notoriously Slow Starters Likely to Pick Up the Pace

It’s easy to pass judgment on a player based on his production in April, but it’s important not to overreact to a small sample size in the season’s opening month— especially when that player has a tendency to crawl out of gate as if he had been napping all offseason. These six players all have […]

Kendall Graveman (SP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed and AL-only Leagues OWNED IN: 51% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Kendall Graveman enjoyed a solid sophomore season in 2016, posting a 4.11 ERA across 186 innings, but he has made some offseason adjustments. The 26-year-old has essentially eliminated all off-speed pitches from his repertoire — 99 percent of his pitches this year […]

Cameron Maybin (OF, LAA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed, AL-only Leagues OWNED IN: 8% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Cameron Maybin enjoyed some of his best baseball in 2016, slashing .315/.383/.418 with four homers and 15 steals across 391 plate appearances. His walk rate (9.2 percent) was the highest of his career, while his strikeout rate (17.6 percent) was the lowest. […]

Joey Gallo (3B, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Mixed, AL-only Leagues OWNED IN: 9% Fleaflicker ANALYSIS: Joey Gallo— the one true king of the three true outcomes. The 23-year-old has homered, walked or struck out in 113 of his 165 career plate appearances (68.5 percent) to date. So far this year, he is 2-for-10 with one long ball […]