👉 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE SPRING
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


Digging Deeper: Week 2 AL Waiver Wire Targets

Welcome to our very first edition of Digging Deeper, our weekly column where we will focus on league-specific options for those in NL and AL-Only leagues. My counterpart Max Petrie will be handling the National League, while I focus on the American League.

For those that have played in limited size leagues, you are well aware that at-bats and innings are the precious commodities. You are not going to find a top-50 player on the wire at any point this season. In fact, top-100 is a stretch.

We may be able to uncover some options that help you fill the gaps and get you the counting stats necessary to compete. Let's get going!

Featured Promo: Save 50% the regular price with discount code SPRING, for a limited time. Exclusive access to our Team Sync platform, DFS cheat sheets, Lineup Optimizers, betting/prop picks, and exclusive content from Nick Mariano and Eric Cross! GAIN ACCESS NOW

 

Digging Deeper: Week 2 Picks - AL

Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - 8% owned in Yahoo! Leagues

This guy should really already be scooped up in your AL-only leagues, but just in case he's not, STOP READING THIS AND GO GET HIM NOW. Moreland is red hot in the middle of the Red Sox lineup. He now has a five-game hitting streak as of Tuesday night, and he has multiple hits in three of those contests. Moreland showed glimpses of potential in Texas, and he seems to be turning it on at the right time based on his 64% hard hit rate so far this year. Batting among great hitters like Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez, Andrew Benintendi, and Xander Bogaerts, this production is beyond serviceable for AL-only leagues.

JaCoby Jones (OF, DET) - 2% owned in Yahoo! Leagues

Jones has started six of the Tigers' first seven games this season. While he is typically batting in the bottom of the order, and the production hasn't been stellar, the potential is there. Jones homered and stole a base on the Tigers' Opening Day, but he's been relatively quiet since then. Even still, he's only hit 10% of his balls softly in those six games, and from my experiences following my DFS lineups via the MLB app, I can personally tell you he's lined out multiple times. There isn't massive upside here for Jones, but he can be a mini five-tool guy to tack on to a depleted outfield or stash on your bench just in case.

Craig Gentry (OF, BAL) - 0% owned in Yahoo! Leagues

Not a whole lot to be excited about here. However, with Joey Rickard heading to the disabled list, Gentry has batted leadoff the past two games. He hasn't produced yet, but if you're in a deep AL-only league a leadoff man can't go unowned. Gentry's game is speed, so you may luck into a few stolen bases if you force him into your lineup. You can do worse than Gentry in the short term if you desperately need outfield help.

Hector Santiago (SP, MIN) - 5% owned in Yahoo! Leagues

Santiago hasn't exactly wowed us with awesome stuff through his first two starts (only five strikeouts in 11.1 innings), but he hasn't gotten pounded either. He let up just one run in his first start against the Royals and two runs recently against the Tigers in Detroit. We can count each of these as negative matchups, as the Royals don't strikeout much at all, and the Tigers are full of lefty mashers. Again, the upside here isn't immense, but we've seen Santiago go on hot streaks before. If he can be a 6-7 K/9 guy while limiting runs to three or less each start he will have value in these deep formats.

Matt Boyd (SP, DET) - 4% owned in Yahoo! Leagues

This is a young pitcher that the Tigers seem more excited about than everyone else on the planet. After getting blown up in his first start, he showed his upside against Santiago and the Twins on Tuesday, going six strong, giving up just two walks and a hit, and striking out six. The curve/slider/change offspeed stuff is where Boyd makes his money, and if he can continue improving on his strikeout rate like we saw on Tuesday there's no doubt he has upside.

Justin Wilson (RP, DET) - 8% owned in Yahoo! Leagues

I guess I like these Tigers. Here's your speculative, anything-can-happen, saves handcuff of the day. I get this feeling that K-Rod could fall apart at any time, just as Joe Nathan did for this Detroit team a few years ago. If that were to come to fruition, Wilson would be the guy. He earned his first save of the season on Wednesday and should be able to hold off prospect Joe Jimenez for the early part of the season. I've loved his stuff ever since he pitched for the Pirates, and he's showing how dominate he can be in the early goings from the set-up role. With no true closer controversies to speak of yet (I guess you could make an argument for Oakland or Texas, but those guys are probably already owned), I like Wilson as a speculative add who can give you nice peripherals in the mean time.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds




REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

CFB

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Looking to Take Sophomore Leap
CFB

Jadan Baugh Primed to Lead Florida Offense in 2026
CFB

LSU Hires Ed Orgeron As Special Assistant
NFL

Evan Stewart Pushing Oregon Receiving Corps
CFB

North Carolina and South Carolina Cancel Home-And-Home Series
CFB

Confidence High in Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor
MLB

Reds-Cardinals Game Postponed on Friday
New York Giants

Giants, GM Joe Schoen Agree on a Multi-Year Extension
Andrew Thomas

Giants Managing Multiple Injuries for Andrew Thomas
Cam Ward

Loses 10 Pounds in the Offseason
Trevor Story

has Hernia Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-10 Weeks
Roman Anthony

Dealing With Sprained Ligament in his Finger
Tucker Kraft

a Top Trade Target in Dynasty Leagues?
Cedric Tillman

Falling Out of Favor in Cleveland
Emmett Johnson

the Handcuff to Roster in Kansas City?
Devaughn Vele

Could Dynasty Managers Sell High on Devaughn Vele Early in the Season?
Brenen Thompson

a Perfect Fit for Chargers, Rising in Dynasty Leagues?
Jonathan Taylor

Is Jonathan Taylor Still a High-End Dynasty Option?
Malik Nabers

' Recovery Timeline Still Unclear
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Comfortably Into His Dynasty Prime
Saquon Barkley

Still a Capable League-Winner at a Sunken Dynasty Cost
Jack Campbell

Signs Four-Year Extension with Lions
Matthew Stafford

Signs One-Year Extension with Rams
Evan Mobley

Fills the Box Score in Game 2 Loss
James Harden

Held to Two Assists Thursday
Donovan Mitchell

Leads Cavaliers in Scoring in Game 2 Defeat
Karl-Anthony Towns

Records Double-Double in Game 2 Win
Sebastian Aho

Picks Up an Assist in Series-Opening Loss
Mikal Bridges

Adds 19 Points as Knicks Grab 2-0 Lead
Jalen Brunson

Hands Out 14 Assists in Game 2 Win
Seth Jarvis

Needs 33 Seconds to Score in Game 1 Loss
Josh Hart

Erupts for Playoff Career-High 26 Points in Game 2
Jaccob Slavin

Struggles in Game 1 Against Canadiens
Jakub Dobes

Sharp in Game 1 Victory
Cole Caufield

Bags Two Points in Impressive Road Win
Juraj Slafkovsky

Opens Conference Finals With Three-Point Performance
Nick Suzuki

Notches Three Assists in Game 1 Win Over Hurricanes
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Exits Early, X-Rays Come Back Negative
Jrue Holiday

Wants to Stay in Portland
Ayo Dosunmu

Timberwolves Hope to Bring Back Ayo Dosunmu
Dylan Harper

Considered Questionable for Friday Night
De'Aaron Fox

Listed as Questionable for Game 3
Jalen Williams

Questionable for Game 3 Against Spurs
Alex Tuch

Hopes to Remain in Buffalo
Sidney Crosby

Wants to Play for "as Many Years as Possible"
Troy Terry

Could Miss Start of Next Season Due to Hip Surgery
Arber Xhekaj

Scratched for Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals
Jakub Dobes

Seeks More Success Against Hurricanes
Frederik Andersen

Looks to Stay Undefeated Thursday
Calvin Ridley

Not Taking Part in OTAs as Value Continues to Plummet
Carnell Tate

Receiving Early Buzz at OTAs
Ashton Jeanty

Bigger Role Could be Coming for Ashton Jeanty in Year 2
Robby Snelling

Will Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Malik Nabers

' Goal is to be Ready for Start of the Season
De'Von Achane

Dealing With Injury at OTAs?
Dalton Kincaid

Says he Feels "Really Good"
Devin Vassell

Contributes 22 Points in Wednesday's Loss
Stephon Castle

Tallies Team-High 25 Points in Game 2 Loss
Victor Wembanyama

Records Eighth Postseason Double-Double
Isaiah Hartenstein

Bounces Back With Double-Double
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads Thunder to Game 2 Victory WIth 30 Points
Dylan Harper

Exits Game 2 Early Due to Right-Leg Injury
Jalen Williams

Suffers Another Hamstring Injury
Valeri Nichushkin

Ends Scoring Slump in Game 1 Loss
Nathan MacKinnon

Extends Point Streak With an Assist
Brett Howden

Pots Another Goal in Game 1 Win Against Avalanche
Tomas Hertl

Extends Point Streak to Four Games
Pavel Dorofeyev

Scores in Fourth Straight Outing
Carter Hart

Records Third Consecutive Win
Timothy Liljegren

Capitals Re-Sign Timothy Liljegren to Two-Year Extension
Jackson Merrill

Tweaks his Back on Wednesday, Pulled Early
Chicago Bulls

Jerry Stackhouse Emerges as Bulls Head-Coach Candidate
Cooper Flagg

Kon Knueppel Headline All-Rookie Team
Jiri Kulich

Aims to Return Next Season
CFB

Lincoln Riley Believes USC is Ready for Playoff Run
CFB

Notre Dame-Stanford Rivalry Renewed Through 2028
CFB

Ahmad Hardy Says He's "Back to the Road to Success"
CFB

Texas Tech Graduate Judge Recuses Himself from Brendan Sorsby Case
CFB

UCLA Tackle Jordan Davis Officially Eligible for 2026 Season
CFB

Bret Bielema Supports Significant College Football Playoff Expansion
Michael Thorbjornsen

Brings High Upside to CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Luke List

Carrying Poor Form Into CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Tom Kim

Hoping to Build on Strong Myrtle Beach Finish
PGA

Sungjae Im Brings Upside to TPC Craig Ranch
Billy Horschel

Looking for Turnaround at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Adam Hadwin

Difficult to Trust at TPC Craig Ranch
Tony Finau

Looking for Consistency at TPC Craig Ranch
Luke Clanton

Searching for Form at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Aaron Rai

Withdraws From CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Wyndham Clark

Can Wyndham Clark Find Form at CJ Cup?
Si Woo Kim

Looks To Stay Hot at CJ Cup
Scottie Scheffler

to Defend CJ Cup Byron Nelson Title This Week
Jordan Spieth

Looking For Victory at TPC Craig Ranch
PGA

Matti Schmid Looks to Keep Recent Momentum Going at TPC Craig Ranch
Brooks Koepka

a High-Upside Play at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Yandy Díaz

Yandy Diaz Exits Early on Tuesday After Being Hit By Pitch
Chris Kirk

Continues Search For Putting Form at TPC Craig Ranch
Rasmus Hojgaard

Looking to Shake Off Poor Major Showing at TPC Craig Ranch
Joel Dahmen

is of No DFS Consideration This Week in Dallas
Pierceson Coody

is Not The Fun DFS Play He Used to Be
Gerrit Cole

to Make Season Debut on Friday Against Rays
Drake Baldwin

Braves Place Drake Baldwin on Injured List With Oblique Strain
CFB

Ezavier Crowell has Immediate Opportunity at Alabama
CFB

Mark Bowman a Day 1 Impact Player for USC?
CFB

Bill Belichick Says Relationship with First North Carolina Team "Wasn't Great"
CFB

Kemario Taylor a Breakout Candidate at Quarterback
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss the Undisputed Top SEC Quarterback Entering 2026?
CFB

Rocco Becht The "Unifier" of Penn State's Roster
Jackson Holliday

Orioles Reinstate Jackson Holliday From Injured List on Monday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Braves Reinstate Ronald Acuna Jr. From Injured List on Monday
Jose Altuve

Astros Put Jose Altuve on Injured List With Oblique Strain
Corey Seager

Going on Injured List With Back Injury
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Reinstated and Starting on Monday Against Twins
Melquizael Costa

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 117
Arnold Allen

Bounces Back
Daniel Santos

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
MMA

Dohoo Choi Wins His Third Consecutive Fight
Malcolm Wellmaker

Suffers His Second Loss In A Row
Juan Diaz

Scores Second-Round Submission
Christian Edwards

Defeated At UFC Vegas 117
CFB

Transfer Running Back Arnold Barnes Visiting Iowa State on Monday
Modestas Bukauskas

Gets Split-Decision Win
Jhostynxon Garcia

Expected to Join the Pirates on Tuesday
Colt Emerson

Mariners Promoting Top Prospect Colt Emerson to Major Leagues
Munetaka Murakami

Fantastic First Season Continues With Two More Homers
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Dazzles With 13-Strikeout Complete Game on Saturday
Blake Snell

to Undergo Elbow Surgery on Tuesday
Clay Holmes

Could Miss Around Three Months
Jose Altuve

Exits After Swing
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF