High Fives: Red-hot Reddick stands out on Week 5 wire
As we head into Week 5 of the fantasy baseball season, Brandon Funston, Scott Pianowski and Andy Behrens offer their top-5 takes on those players bucking for employment in fantasy leagues. Each week, we'll take a trip around the diamond to uncover the best help that your FAAB dollars can buy. Let's get to it ...
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Top 5 corner infield pickups among the under 50% owned crowd | ||
1. Brett Lawrie - Riding six-game hit streak - unlike Behrens, I haven't exhausted my patience with him yet | 1. Kelly Johnson - He qualifies at three positions and all of a sudden the Braves need him | 1. David Freese- Four homers so far, and a nice spot in a dangerous batting order |
2. David Freese - He's 4th among CIs in RBI, which is logical given the table setters ahead of him in LAA lineup | 2. Brett Lawrie - Oakland offense is a carnival and Lawrie has found his sea legs after slow start | 2. Justin Morneau - He's been an all-or-nothin' player to this point; has a homestand coming up at Coors |
3. Joe Mauer - Regular on my CI list, he's pretty much a BA-only play, but a trusty one at that - has three 3-hit games in past week | 3. Trevor Plouffe - Given power-depressed world we live in, 20-25 homer candidate is worth a look | 3. Yonder Alonso - Despite playing in Petco, looks like he can be a help in BA |
4. Mark Canha - Here we are more than a month into the season, and he's still sitting in the top 100 in the Y game | 4. Kyle Blanks - Out of Petco purgatory and he's come out smoking; always had an AL profile | 4. Kyle Blanks - Homers in back-to-back games and a clear path to at-bats |
5. Yonder Alonso - For fantasy purposes, he's a slightly lighter version on Joe Mauer | 5. Jimmy Paredes - Buck Showalter keeps believing so I will too; welcome to Jimmy Paradise | 5. Joe Mauer - No power here, but still plenty of non-outs. Hitting .327 over last two weeks |
Top 5 middle infield pickups among the under 50% owned crowd | ||
1. Zack Cozart - I'd go Lawrie here, too, but leaving off of MI list for variety's sake - Cozart is on top 50 cusp in Y game, numbers too good to be ignored | 1. Zack Cozart - Getting some time in catbird seat (in front of Votto), offers pop and speed | 1. Chris Owings - Bat has come alive, and he's regularly running. Three-game series at Coors Field upcoming |
2. Brandon Phillips - Nice to see him running (3 SB) and pushing .300 BA - track record makes it easier to buy in here | 2. Luis Valbuena - Gets on base, scores runs, hits a few out, slotted No. 2 on surprisingly-plucky Houston offense | 2. Brandon Phillips - Recent string of multi-hit games, offers modest pop |
3. Odubel Herrera - He's a speed play, the current near-.300 batting average being a nice added bonus | 3. Odubel Herrera - Cheap speed, average has been fine, carries OF tag as well | 3. Zack Cozart - He has a homer, steal and five hits over his last two games |
4. Andrelton Simmons - One of six MI-eligibles with at least 13 Runs and RBIs | 4. D.J. LeMahieu - Still at .400 and six Colorado games on the way | 4. Odubel Herrera - Hitting for a decent average (.297), and he has 20-steal speed |
5. Brock Holt - Song remains the same here - Little pop, but can hit for average, run a bit, and fill nearly any roster spot | 5. Brandon Phillips - Still worth owning during Ibanez All-Star days; he's running again, too | 5. D.J. LeMahieu - No, I don't totally believe. But I needed a fifth name, and he has a homestand upcoming |
Top 5 outfield pickups among the under 50% owned crowd | ||
1. Josh Reddick - If a a top 10 fantasy producer over the past two weeks interest you, then Reddick is your guy | 1. Josh Reddick - He's been a monster since his return; what are you waiting for? | 1. Josh Reddick - He's absolutely feasting at the plate these days, hitting .463 last two weeks |
2. Torii Hunter - Old Faithful's bat is starting to heat up - a very safe play, even at 39 years old | 2. Andre Ethier - Upcoming schedule is righty-heavy and L.A. lineup is scoring a ton | 2. Kevin Pillar - Pompey is out of the mix, and this guy just keeps piling up hits |
3. Josh Hamilton - About time to think about stashing him - only a couple seasons removed from a 43-HR campaign with TEX | 3. Josh Hamilton -Reasonable stash for your DL spot, heading to perfect city for a comeback | 3. Rajai Davis - Very close to the 50 percent line, but he qualifies. You know about the speed |
4. Chris Young - Now hitting .299 with 9 HRs in 45 career games with the Yankees | 4. Ender Inciarte - Contact skills legit and he's held onto gig even after cooling off some | 4. Andre Ethier - Injuries have led to opportunity, and he's raking |
5. Angel Pagan - Another of my High Five mainstays - a healhy Pagan will run and hit for average | 5. Ryan Raburn - A fun LHP matchup play if you have daily transactions | 5. Alex Guerrero - I don't like him the way others do, but can't argue with production so far |
Top 5 pitcher pickups among the under 50% owned crowd | ||
1. Yimi Garcia - His numbers play just fine for roto purposes even if he's only gets thrown an occasional save opportunity | 1. Will Harris - The newest no-name middle-relief hero, just three percent owned. No runs allowed, 17 Ks in 13 innings, 0.46 WHIP. | 1. Danny Duffy - Terrific in his last start, a win over Detroit. Nice source of Ks, too |
2. Brandon Morrow - Still mad M's drafted him over Lincecum, but certainly can't begrudge his current production | 2. Dan Haren - Favorable park hides some of the mistakes, and Marlins offense has woken up nicely | 2. Yimi Garcia - Lights-out so far, with a terrific K-rate. Helps you even when he's not closing |
3. Dan Haren - Never been a big fan, but given track record and current numbers, definitely deserves wire consideration | 3. Brandon Morrow - Shocked we have to keep mentioning him; stuff still there and Petco is gift from the gods | 3. Brandon Morrow - I mean ... c'mon. He's still 30 percent owned? Terrific YTD performance, great home park |
4. Will Harris - Like Yimi (above), mid-relief goodness - added him in F&F league last week | 4. J.A. Happ - There's a feeling I get when I look to the west | 4. Dan Harren - Early-season Haren is always the best Haren |
5. James Paxton - Getting a K per IP and, given his stuff, gotta believe his worst is behind him | 5. Yimi Garcia - I don't care if he's closing or not, I want him protecting my ratios | 5. J.A. Happ - I don't think the last two starts are the real Happ, but like the team context |
Top 5 baseball-only players (current or past) that would have made the best football players | ||
1. Dave Winfield - Would have been a combine crowd pleaser - I'm seeing him as a rush end or a TE in a Jimmy Graham mold | 1. Rickey Henderson - He was a football star as a kid, too; Rickey being Rickey | 1. Jonathan Broxton - If I'm building my team from scratch, I'm starting in the trenches. Broxton is my left tackle, the foundation of my offense |
2. Jim Rice - Looked like a bad-ass, and had a no-nonsense personailty that would have played well on the gridiron | 2. Reggie Jackson - They play football in October, too | 2. Dmitri Young - He's my zero tech, the D-line's anchor. (Please note I'm talking Dmitri in his playing days, not this newer, lighter version) |
3. Dmitri Young - Anyone with a nickname of "Meat Hook" deserves a football look | 3. Dave Winfield - Did it all at the University of Minnesota, drafted in three sports | 3. Rickey Henderson - Rickey is getting 20-25 touches per game for me, no question. Classic three-down back |
4. Pete Rose - Max effort style would play very well on special teams | 4. Pete Rose - He was always a football player in a baseball uniform | 4. Dave Winfield - The man was drafted by four teams in three sports. I'll find a spot for him |
5. Andre Dawson - Power, speed, size - I can see "The Hawk" as a chain-moving got-to wideout | 5. Dwight Evans - After watching him navigate Boston traffic and Fenway's RF, feel he could have found way in NFL | 5. Tim Raines - Uncoverable slot receiver with deadly speed |