Streaming Wars: Waiver Wire Targets for June 23

Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. This article, which began last season, runs seven days a week. We are always ready to stream. For those who are newcomers to this feature - use this column on a daily basis to improve upon your neediest categories, and target players who may be... Read More

Streaming Wars - Waiver Wire Targets for June 21

Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire all season long. This article, now in its second year, runs seven days a week. We're coming up on the halfway point of the season, but there's still plenty of options on the waiver wire to aid your championship quest. For those who are... Read More

Fantasy Reflections: Requiem for a Miggy

I’ve never been a fan of either franchise whose uniform he’s worn – in fact, I disliked him as a rookie for being a key cog for a team that beat out my preferred squad for a wild-card spot and then won it all – but over a decade-plus as one of the game’s elite... Read More

Streaming Wars - Waiver Wire Targets for June 14

Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire all season long. This article, now in its second year, runs seven days a week. Even at this relatively early juncture, there's plenty of value in streaming. For those who are newcomers to this feature - use this column on a daily basis to... Read More

Dustin Fowler (OF, OAK) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 5% of leagues ANALYSIS: Since being promoted to the major leagues a month ago, Dustin Fowler has hit a respectable .247/.300/.452 with four home runs and four stolen bases in only 80 plate appearances. The category juice would be enough to make him interesting, but Statcast data suggests... Read More

Joakim Soria (RP, CHW) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 41% of leagues ANALYSIS: After allowing runs in four of five appearances during a rough patch in mid-May, it looked like Joakim Soria had lost his position as the preferred option for saves on the South Side. The veteran hasn't allowed a run in nine appearances since that iffy... Read More

Joey Lucchesi (SP, SDP) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 31% of leagues ANALYSIS: One of April's trendiest waiver wire adds, Joey Lucchesi appears to have been the victim of injury-related roster crunches for many fantasy owners. The Padres' left-hander, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Wednesday, recently faced live hitters for the first time since landing on... Read More

Jeimer Candelario (3B, DET) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 35% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: It's difficult to understand why fantasy owners seem so reluctant to embrace Jeimer Candelario. The Tigers' third baseman just hit his tenth home run of the year on Saturday night, pushing his overall line to .263/.352/.512. He's occupied a spot in the top half... Read More

Jurickson Profar (SS/OF, TEX) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS: While it may seem like Texas Rangers infielder Jurickson Profar has been around forever, the former top prospect is still just 25 years old and may finally have reached useful fantasy asset status. He while he is hitting a modest .241/.318/.448, he... Read More

Jason Kipnis (2B/OF, CLE) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of leagues ANALYSIS: Cleveland Indians infielder Jason Kipnis is a veteran showing signs of a turnaround after an abjectly awful start. Over the last two weeks, Kipnis has hit .313/.353/.563 with three homers and a pair of stolen bases. Over the last month, Kipnis has a... Read More

Jonathan Villar (2B/OF, MIL) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 44% of leagues ANALYSIS: Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/second baseman Jonathan Villar, of course, was one of the 2017 season’s biggest disappointments. A year after hitting 19 home runs and pacing the league with 62 stolen bases, his totals in those categories dropped to 11 and 23, respectively.... Read More

Week 11 Waiver Wire - Second Base (2B) and Shortstop (SS)

Lately, it seems like every day another fantasy-relevant player suffers an injury. In terms of middle-infield eligible players, Andrelton Simmons hit the disabled list this week with a sprained ankle. Carlos Correa may avoid a trip to the DL, but he still missed half the week with soreness in his side. Given the general deluge... Read More

Streaming Wars - Waiver Wire Targets for June 10

Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire all season long. This article, now in its second year, runs seven days a week. For those who are newcomers to this feature - use this column on a daily basis to improve upon your neediest categories, and target players who may be available on... Read More

Fantasy Reflections: Evaluating Young Talent

One of the biggest keys to sustained success in a keeper or dynasty league is the ability to identify young players who will develop into long-term assets. Even in redraft formats, correctly evaluating a player with a limited track record - and doing so just a bit faster and better than your opponents - can... Read More

Streaming Wars - Waiver Wire Targets for June 7

Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire all season long. This article, now in its second year, runs seven days a week. Even at this relatively early juncture, there's plenty of value in streaming. For those who are newcomers to this feature - use this column on a daily basis to... Read More

Nick Williams (OF, PHI) - Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 3% of leagues ANALYSIS: Nick Williams is hitting just .236/.304/.415 on the season and has largely functioned as the Phillies' fourth outfielder this season. Why recommend him? Well, with Rhys Hoskins on the disabled list and Aaron Altherr, Williams has a golden opportunity to play his way back... Read More

Harrison Bader (OF, STL) - Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS: At this point in the season, everyday players are progressing rapidly toward the point where a single game doesn't cause wild swings in their overall numbers. Harrison Bader has yet to reach this point, as an 0-for-4 performance on Sunday dropped his OPS to... Read More

Vince Velasquez (SP, PHI) - Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 40% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Phillies have hit a rough patch of late, but the team's larger performance doesn't reflect the individual effort of Vince Velasquez.  After a middling April that added more fuel to the fire for the argument that Velasquez belongs in the bullpen, the hard-throwing righty... Read More

Kyle Barraclough (RP, MIA) - Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 45% of leagues ANALYSIS: Brad Ziegler held the closer's role in Miami for two months despite horrendous ratios because his clunkers had mostly been confined to non-save situations. Those splits probably don't mean anything, but he was so terrible that it stood to reason he'd blow a save eventually.... Read More

Week 10 Waiver Wire - Second Base (2B) and Shortstop (SS)

Being a fantasy writer, like being a fantasy owner, means being wrong on something of a regular basis. So when you nail one, it’s important to acknowledge (read: gloat about) it. If you heeded last week’s advice and picked up the heretofore scuffling Ian Kinsler, you were rewarded with a week in which he collected... Read More

Jose Iglesias (SS, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 5% of leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias does not have impressive numbers overall this season, but he has turned it on of late. Iglesias has hit .303/.367/.449 with a pair of homers and five steals over the past 30 days. Even looking at the... Read More

Ottoneu Waiver Wire Report - RotoBaller Staff League

Ottoneu leagues, available on Fangraphs, are a different beast, and for good reason. Most of the scoring formats are more advanced, there are intense roster requirements and it’s a year-round commitment. The RotoBaller staff's lack of experience with the format was borne out by how poorly many of us drafted, making in-season improvements via the... Read More

Streaming Wars - Waiver Wire Targets for June 3

Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire all season long. This article, now in its second year, runs seven days a week. For those who are newcomers to this feature - use this column on a daily basis to improve upon your neediest categories, and target players who may be available on... Read More

Fantasy Reflections: Salvaging Your Season

We're now roughly a third of the way through the season. While there remains plenty of baseball to be played (and praise to your deity of choice on that count), it's a good time to make a frank appraisal of where you stand. Patience may be a virtue - one that I emphasized time and... Read More

Streaming Wars - Waiver Wire Targets for May 31

Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire all season long. This article, now in its second year, runs seven days a week. Even at this relatively early juncture, there's plenty of value in streaming. For those who are newcomers to this feature - use this column on a daily basis to... Read More

Week 9 Waiver Wire - Second Base (2B) and Shortstop (SS)

A programming note: This column will be published on Sunday rather than Monday moving forward. We’re making this change because some of you, for reasons which escape my understanding, play in weekly leagues where waivers process on Sunday night. My snobbery aside, this column is more useful to more people when it runs on Sundays,... Read More

Streaming Wars - Waiver Wire Targets for May 27

Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire all season long. This article, now in its second year, runs seven days a week. For those who are newcomers to this feature - use this column on a daily basis to improve upon your neediest categories, and target players who may be available on... Read More

Brandon Nimmo (OF, NYM) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 11% of leagues ANALYSIS: With Yoenis Cespedes currently on the disabled list and both Jay Bruce and Michael Conforto scuffling, the Mets have gotten a much needed boost in their outfield from Brandon Nimmo. The 25-year-old is hitting .294/.450/.541 on the season, with three home runs and three... Read More

Nate Jones (RP, CHW) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 44% of leagues ANALYSIS: If Nate Jones is still available in your league, you'll want to move quickly to pick him up. His ownership rate has nearly doubled in the last 24 hours and only figures to continue rising. The veteran reliever has received the last three save opportunities... Read More

Ross Stripling (SP/RP, LAD) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 35% of leagues ANALYSIS: After being used as a swingman in 2016, Ross Stripling was employed almost exclusively as a reliever by the Dodgers last year. Like many pitchers, Stripling enjoyed a velocity bump and a corresponding surge in strikeouts upon transitioning to a relief role. Those gains have... Read More