April 17, 2017

Matthew Stamper recommends some waiver wire adds at each position for fantasy baseball owners in points leagues. These players could be sleepers for 2017.

Let's look for some Easter eggs this week! Week 3 is where we're beginning to get that point in the season where you can see who is poised for a breakout, and who is just a flash in the pan. Now, since we're looking at points leagues, we don't mind those flashes in the pan, as long as we ride them while they're hot, and drop them when they're, well, not. Each player will have a timeline attached to him, so that one guy you're waiting for on your roster to break out isn't sitting until week 10.

Here are a few guys who can contribute in points leagues, one at each position to consider for the next week. All of these guys have ownership numbers between 30% and 50% so if you're not picking them up, target them in a trade! These are your points leagues waiver wire pickups for Week 3. Let's get to it.

Note: All ownership percentages are courtesy of Yahoo! Fantasy Sports.

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Points League Waiver Wire Adds - Week 3

C - Travis d'Arnaud, New York Mets - 39% owned

Even though he's hitting eighth most nights in the lineup, d'Arnaud is currently providing power and stability in a position where getting both is quite difficult. d'Arnaud is finally providing some of the power that many thought he'd provide when he first entered the league. His downfall last year was left-handed pitching, as he didn't pick up any points for extra base hits against southpaws in 2016. This year it's the opposite, as both of his homers and all of his RBIs have come against lefties. Even if the Long Beach native slips with his consistency and his average, his power should be here to stay.

1B - Travis Shaw, Milwaukee Brewers - 39% owned

From one Travis, we move on to another one. Technically Shaw plays at third in Milwaukee, but he has first base eligibility in Yahoo! so we'll just go with that. Shaw has always had some pop, and his move to Milwaukee's Miller Park should help him with that too. Between 2011 and 2015, Miller Park had the best home run factor for left-handed hitters. Shaw has already hit two homers, but what's more important is his ability to smash doubles. With five on the year already, and a triple, Shaw has serious potential hitting in the cleanup spot in a hitter-friendly park. Pick up Shaw while you can and hold on for the ride.

2B - Starlin Castro, New York Yankees - 47% owned

The Yankees second baseman has been the definition of consistency this year. Aside from two games at the beginning of April, Castro has been reached base every single game. Every team needs a few of those guys who can just chip in with a few points each game to make your score look less ugly when all your other players are on cold streaks. He won't provide much in the way of power but with his spot in the order ranging anywhere from second to fifth, he'll get on base and get driven in. Now if he'd only start running like a few years ago, Castro would be a total package to hold onto. Until that time, grab him if you need a steady guy to go along with your boom-or-bust guys.

3B - Chase Headley, New York Yankees - 34% owned

The Yankees are just full of those steady guys and Headley is another one of them. He's far from the guy who once hit 31 homers and drove in 113, but like Castro, he's providing everywhere. There are a lot of elite third basemen, but Headley can slot in as a useful utility player. He's already stolen three bases, mashed a couple of homers and is walking just as much as he's striking out. He'll also benefit from Yankee Stadium's short porch in right field as a switch hitter, and he's slowly climbing in the batting order from a lower slot to a prime one with the consistency he provides. His runs scoring may go down if he moves up in the lineup, but he'll be able to drive in some runs of his own.

SS - Asdrubal Cabrera, New York Mets - 42% owned

The city of New York has a lot of guys on this list! Cabrera, although he's 31 years old, is showing he's still just as useful as he was five or six years ago. Hitting out of the two spot, Cabrera has put himself in position to score a ton of runs, and therefore a ton of points. It's also worth noting that Cabrera has hit two home runs already, something that took him until May 4 to do last year. He ended up with 23 last year, so hopefully he'll be able to top that this year with his quick start. He's picked up the pace in the last week especially, but unfortunately he's not walking a ton so he may not be worth holding onto if he continues to strike out. Hold him through the next week because he gets Philadelphia and Washington, and then we'll evaluate again.

OF - Howie Kendrick, Philadelphia Phillies - 42% owned

Howie Kendrick has hit at least 20 doubles every year since he's joined the league which is huge for points players, especially if he can hit the 30 mark, like he did in his time with the LA Angels. Kendrick also holds lots of eligibility in Yahoo! with the potential to be slotted in at first, second, third and in the outfield, which is where he's playing with the Phillies. The Phillies also have a pretty productive lineup this year, so his hitting at the top of it will provide lots of opportunity for runs scored if he's hitting as many doubles as he should. He's also hit a triple in the early going which also helps desperate owners, since the outfield depth isn't quite there as it has been in the past. Kendrick is a guy you should keep for the rest of the season.

SP - Amir Garrett, Cincinnati Reds, 44% owned

Let's take a look at two-start pitchers for Week 3. Two-start pitchers can be a huge advantage because you're guaranteeing yourself some extra points with one pickup, but who can we trust to hit the points jackpot? Amir Garrett's ownership numbers have jumped due to his first two strong starts, and I think he can deliver again this week with two starts at Camden and Wrigley. Baltimore really hasn't done any serious damage against lefties this year, and as for the Cubbies, well maybe they'll rest some guys next Sunday? In any case, Garrett looks like he's got good enough stuff to make guys swing and miss, and that's all we really want.

RP - Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies - 40% owned 

While he hasn't earned the closing role in Philadelphia yet, Neris is the most talented pitcher in the Phils' 'pen so he's bound to have the job soon enough. Neris is slowly piling up innings, and since points leagues aren't counting K/9, we'll take whatever strikeouts he has, and more importantly, we'll take those holds. Neris also hasn't taken any minuses to his totals this year either, as he's yet to give up a run. The 27-year-old is showing the Phillies and manager Pete Mackanin that he's ready to start getting handshakes in the ninth, however, if Neris gets a shot, there's a good chance the Phillies may have to cough up some cash in the offseason to keep him. Hold Neris if you've got the room because he'll still pick up solid points even without the closing role.

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