Champ or Chump: Luke Weaver & Byron Buxton

I frequently say that the minors are the only place to find impact players on the waiver wire this time of year. That's not entirely true, as a gifted player another owner gave up on may become available to you if he starts looking better. Luke Weaver is a perfect example of the first group: […]

Week 22 Cut List: Players on the Chopping Block

Welcome back to the Cut List. Each weekend from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep drawing a nonexistent salary on your fake baseball teams. Now that we’re beyond most league’s trade deadlines, the only way to improve your team is via the […]

Champ or Chump: Mark Trumbo & Xander Bogaerts

Conventional wisdom says to stick with struggling stars early on in the season. This is sound advice, as most of them live up to the back of their baseball cards eventually. At this point in the season, however, you have to be willing to pull the plug, cut your losses, and accept that you are […]

Champ or Chump: Nick Delmonico & Lucas Giolito

It's easy to stop paying attention to the weaker teams this time of year, as the small portion of media coverage baseball gets with football starting up is devoted exclusively to the pennant races. The weakest teams are arguably the most interesting from a fantasy perspective, however, because they are trying to unearth the gems […]

Week 21 Cut List: Players on the Chopping Block

Welcome back to the Cut List. Each weekend from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep drawing a nonexistent salary on your fake baseball teams. As we go deeper into the season, expect this list to become more ruthless, but also note the […]

Champ or Chump: Andrelton Simmons & Tim Beckham

The transactions fantasy owners make this time of year can appear odd in a vacuum, as significantly better players are sometimes dumped in favor of players who only contribute in a category or two. The roster moves make sense when you look at the standings and notice that the team in question only cares about […]

Buy or Sell - Underowned and Overowned Players for Week 21

Trade deadlines have already passed in many fantasy leagues, so I'll focus more on lesser-owned players to assess their value, rather than potential buy-low or sell-high candidates. If your league doesn't cut off trading in August, remember that it's never too late to take advantage of a desperate owner trying to stay out of the […]

Champ or Chump: Neil Walker & Jonathan Villar

Neil Walker's recent relocation to Milwaukee proves that fantasy relevant names can still be moved after the Trade Deadline. He debuted for his new team as a cleanup hitter playing third base, suggesting that the Brewers intend to shuffle their pieces around on a nightly basis to give their Cinderella season a fairy tale ending. […]

Champ or Chump: Dominic Smith & Rhys Hoskins

Owners looking for first base help were in luck this past week, as both the Mets and the Phillies called up highly regarded prospects. Dominic Smith, age 22, has generated a significant amount of buzz with his Triple-A performance. Rhys Hoskins is a little older (24), but his minor league stat lines would play in […]

Week 20 Cut List: Players on the Chopping Block

Welcome back to the Cut List. Each weekend from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep drawing a nonexistent salary on your fake baseball teams. As we go deeper into the season, expect this list to become more ruthless, but also note the […]

Buy or Sell - Underowned and Overowned Players for Week 20

Football season? What's that? While many of us start to get engrossed in training camp reports and exhibition game snap counts, the true die-hard baseball fans are still working the waiver wire to find late-season gems. Trade deadlines have already passed in many fantasy leagues, so I'll focus more on lesser-owned players to assess their […]

Champ or Chump: Lucas Sims & Reynaldo Lopez

If looking for hitters on the waiver wire is a dicey proposition this time of year, finding a worthwhile starting pitcher is a verifiable minefield. Everyone has been looking for pitching all season, and there just hasn't been enough of it to go around. Owners in need of arms should still look to recent call-ups […]

Week 19 Cut List: Players on the Chopping Block

Welcome back to the Cut List. Each weekend from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep drawing a nonexistent salary on your fake baseball teams. As we go deeper into the season, expect this list to become more ruthless, but also note the […]

Champ or Chump: Amed Rosario & Ozzie Albies

Relying on the waiver wire can be a dicey proposition this time of year. All of the season's surprises have already been claimed, leaving you with your choice of the guys that nobody else wants. Outside of a closer switch, the only way for an impact player to be available on waivers now is a […]

Buy or Sell - Underowned and Overowned Players for Week 19

The deals are done and now we see who is in it to win and who is playing for next season. Playing time shifts make for some nice values in certain spots you wouldn't expect. Likewise, some big name players who made their way onto contenders could be in line for a rough second half, […]

Champ or Chump: Sonny Gray & Yu Darvish

The Trade Deadline dust has finally settled, leaving a brand new fantasy landscape in its wake. Jonathan Lucroy will try to rebuild his fantasy value at altitude, so he should be a Champ over the rest of the season despite his struggles. Alex Avila becomes a Chump with the Cubs, as he remains in the […]

Week 18 Cut List: Players on the Chopping Block

Welcome back to the Cut List. Each weekend from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep drawing a nonexistent salary on your fake baseball teams. As we go deeper into the season, expect this list to become more ruthless, but also note the […]

Champ or Chump: Lucas Duda and Jeremy Hellickson

If teams keep completing this many trades, the actual deadline will be boring. The Mets acquired Marlins closer A.J. Ramos, whose fantasy stock now depends on whether Addison Reed gets moved to open up the ninth inning. The Rockies added Pat Neshek to their pen, a ballpark change that makes him a clear Chump. The Rays […]

Buy or Sell - Underowned and Overowned Players for Week 18

A couple days left for everything to devolve into total chaos and fantasy rosters to be turned upside down. Don't you love the trade deadline? Let's see whose stock is rising and falling this week before it all gets screwed up. Scouting players who may be undervalued and re-assessing players who may be overvalued is a […]

Champ or Chump: Rafael Devers & Eduardo Nunez

Deals have continued coming in, with the focus again on relievers. Anthony Swarzak becomes a Chump with his trade to Milwaukee after looking like a possible saves candidate when David Robertson was moved. Kansas City acquired three arms: Trevor Cahill remains a Champ with increased win potential, Brandon Maurer becomes a Chump after losing saves, […]

Week 17 Cut List: Players on the Chopping Block

Welcome back to the Cut List. Each weekend from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep drawing a nonexistent salary on your fake baseball teams. As we go deeper into the season, expect this list to become more ruthless, but also note the […]

Champ or Chump: Luis Castillo & Scooter Gennett

It can be tempting to focus exclusively on the trade market this time of year, but it may also be your last chance to add a significant piece via the waiver wire. Sellers are especially likely to give different players playing time over the next few weeks, creating one last wave of worthwhile waiver pickups […]

Buy or Sell - Underowned and Overowned Players for Week 17

Now things are getting interesting. There are plenty of moves left to be made, but the trade market is already active and the usual buyers and sellers are doing their thing. Let's see whose stock is rising and falling this week. Scouting players who may be undervalued and re-assessing players who may be overvalued is […]

Strikeout Rate Risers and Fallers for Week 16: Buy or Sell?

Missing bats is the #1 way a pitcher can control his own fate. If hitters make contact, the pitcher is largely at the mercy of the atmosphere, the weather, the ball park, the ability/work ethic of his fielders, and sometimes just sheer luck. This is ultimately why strikeouts are so important. By looking at pitchers […]

Champ or Chump: Yoan Moncada & J.D. Martinez

Deals have been coming in fast and furious, giving fantasy owners a lot of things to consider. A lot of the moves have centered on relievers thus far, with Sean Doolittle looking like a Champ after debuting for the Nationals in a save situation last Tuesday night. Ryan Madson appears to be his set-up guy, […]

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 […]

Week 16 Cut List: Players on the Chopping Block

Welcome back to the Cut List. Each weekend from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep drawing a nonexistent salary on your fake baseball teams. As we go deeper into the season, expect this list to become more ruthless, but also note the […]

Champ or Chump: Johnny Cueto & Jose Quintana

The All-Star break is behind us, meaning that we are in the middle of trade season. Some people want the Giants to sell Johnny Cueto, but they won't. His contract gives him an opt-out if he is traded this year, leaving any acquiring team stuck with an expensive has-been if he's bad and nothing if […]

Buy or Sell - Underowned and Overowned Players for Week 16

I've already given my take on players who are "buy high" candidates for the second half, if you will. Those players have already been covered in this space previously, so I'll dig a little deeper for buy candidates since not much has changed over the past week in player values. Scouting players who may be […]

Champ or Chump: Cody Bellinger & Carlos Martinez

It's All-Star Week, forcing weekly formats to get a little funky. Some leagues will have an extremely short three-day scoring period, in which case you should bench any starters not scheduled to pitch and platoon guys who may not see a lot of playing time. The alternative is to combine this week and the next […]