Waiver Wire Watch: Week 17’s Hottest Additions
The fantasy baseball community is buzzing as Week 17’s waiver wire reveals a slate of high‑impact additions that could reshape the NFBC Main Event, the NFBC Online Championship, and the Fantrax league landscape.
Power Surge Leaders
Two hitters have already made headlines by launching five home runs apiece in the latest scoring period: James Wood and Ben Rice. Their sudden power surge has turned them into coveted FAAB targets, especially in leagues that reward long‑ball production.
Beyond individual heroics, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals are locked in a race for the league’s best offense, each sitting atop the majors with 516 runs scored. The race adds an extra layer of intrigue to the players they rely on for run‑producing at‑bats.
Two‑Start Pitchers Making Waves
A handful of two‑start pitchers have also cemented their value by winning both of their scheduled outings: Zack Wheeler, Paul Skenes, Taj Bradley, Matthew Boyd, and Brandon Pfaadt. Their ability to deliver quality starts on a regular cadence makes them especially attractive in categories‑rich formats.
Popular Acquisitions and Injury Updates
Among the most frequently added names this week are Patrick Sandoval and Zach Thornton, both of whom have posted recent stretches of dominant pitching. Janson Junk’s control metrics and favorable matchup outlook have also earned him a wave of pickups, while Connelly Early’s elbow inflammation news has prompted a surge of adds from owners hoping to capitalize on his upside.
Prospect watchers are eyeing Luis Lara, though his role remains limited in the Brewers’ lineup, while Ryan Waldschmidt’s injury scare kept his average winning bids modest despite his return to the everyday roster. Kyle Karros has surged to 12th on the Player Rater over the past 30 days, making him a sleeper pick for power‑hitting categories.
Luis Robert Jr. is expected to be activated after the All‑Star break and may see increased designated‑hitter duties, while relievers Andrew Kittredge and Tyler Wells share closing duties for the Baltimore Orioles, with Wells projected to receive the bulk of save opportunities.
Tyler Tolbert’s recent tie of an MLB record for consecutive plate appearances with a hit — 12 in a row — has added a spark to his roster, and Heriberto Hernández’s 13 home runs in 228 plate appearances underscore his steady production. Meanwhile, Joshua Kuroda‑Grauer is carving out everyday playing time for the Athletics as injuries reshape the club’s outfield.
The Week’s Most Dropped Player
The most dropped player of the week, Mike Burrows, fell out of favor after a rough performance coupled with an injury, illustrating how quickly fortunes can reverse on the waiver wire.
Looking ahead, the buzz around the Home Run Derby and the upcoming All‑Star break adds another layer of excitement, as owners speculate on which emerging bats might ride the momentum into the second half of the season.