Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball for Week 16 (2024)

Welcome, RotoBallers, to the Week 16 edition of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters. These fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups are for the week of July 8 - July 14, looking at players below ~50% rostered on ESPN or Yahoo.

We'll be doing this points league roundup every week here at RotoBaller because we know points players get neglected and we're here to help. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform, so we'll make sure to highlight where players are the best and worst fits, with waiver-wire targets being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems on ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Fantrax, and NFBC.

Position eligibility is taken from Fantrax and players are grouped by their most valuable fantasy position, using a hierarchy of C > 2B > OF > 3B > 1B > SS. Stats and rankings are calculated using games through Saturday, July 6.

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Waiver Wire Caveats and APR Explanation

Roster% Thresholds

We use a combination of Roster% to assess who is in our target pool, relying mostly on Yahoo and ESPN. For some players, you'll notice a wide discrepancy between the two. This is because ESPN's Roster% is heavily weighted by points players, with guys who don't do well in their system (often because of an inflated K% but also sometimes, who really knows?) lagging behind the Yahoo Roster%.

For this reason, you'll sometimes see players (especially early) who might make you question my sanity in including them in a waiver-wire article but don't worry, it's just a necessary glitch for coverage purposes.

APR stands for "Average Platform Rank" and is the average hitter rank between the four major point platforms: ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, and Fantrax.

Fantasy Baseball First Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 24%) - Candelario has dropped back under our Roster% threshold but this would be a good time to capitalize on that mistake. The Reds will face an LHP in three of their seven games (vs COL, vs MIA), against whom Candelario has been far better at getting on base, posting a .244 AVG (.275 xBA) and .340 OBP (.366 xOBP) compared to a .238 AVG (.211 xBA) and .271 OBP (.247 xOBP) vs RHP.

Michael Busch, CHC, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 19%) - Busch is only borderline usable if your league has a strikeout penalty but his 32% K% hasn't kept him from being a top-100 hitter for much of the season in leagues without one. The left-hander has seven games in Week 16 (@BAL, @STL), all scheduled vs RHPs.

Donovan Solano, SD, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - With a 78 APR heading into Sunday, Solano is on the verge of his third top-100 week in the past four, as well as four of the last six. As long as he's playing every day (he's now started 14 games straight, and all but five games since the start of June), Solano's points-friendly profile (.291 AVG, .353 OBP, 19% K%) should continue to make him a solid compiler, who's eligible at three positions, to boot. Virtually available everywhere, Solano is, at minimum, a great addition to almost any bench.

Nolan Schanuel, LAA, 1B Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 3%) - Schanuel's lack of Roto-shine continues to hold down what has been a very solid points performance, as of late. He has a 97 APR heading into Sunday, his third top-100 outing in the past four periods, with well-round compiling and a 17% K% continuing to serve him well. The left-hander has seven games in Week 16 (vs TEX, vs SEA), with all coming against RHP.

Next Choices

Nathaniel Lowe, TEX, 1B (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 23%) - Lowe hit a rough patch last month but has turned things back around recently, posting a 56 APR in Week 15, after a 57 APR the week before. A 21% K% and 11% BB% tends to play really well when you rack as many PAs as Lowe does, and he's now compiled his way to a 137 APR for the season, even though he missed the first three weeks of the year. Lowe gets six games in Week 16 (@LAA, @HOU), with all scheduled to come vs RHPs.

Rowdy Tellez, PIT, 1B (Yahoo: 3%, ESPN: 2%) - You simply can't ignore a hand this hot; Tellez has four home runs in his last 10 games, slashing .387/.424/.871 with multiple four times, including a two-dong game on Friday. And while he's still not starting vs LHP (nor should he be), the Pirates have seven games in Week 16, with only one scheduled against a lefty.

Desperate Choices

Ben Rice, NYY, 1B/C (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 5%) - Rice has broken out for the first time in Week 15 with an 8 APR headed into Sunday after a three home-run game on Saturday. But putting those dongs aside, Rice's biggest upside is not just a points-friendly profile (.294/.383/.588 over his first 60 PA, with a 15% K% and 13% BB%) - it's that he's an everyday player at first base who has catcher eligibility, thereby giving him more PAs that many catchers. In your first base slot, though, he's far less valuable.

Andrew Vaughn, CHW, 1B (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 14%) - <insert broken record> There's always Andrew Vaughn, who might only occasionally turn in a top-50 week but will rarely be a total disaster. The White Sox have manageable pitching matchups at home against the Twins and Pirates, luckily missing both Paul Skenes and his mustache.

On the IL

• Anthony Rizzo, NYY, 1B (fractured forearm - no timetable)
• Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
• Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (rib contusion - no timetable)
• Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B/3B (knee tendinitis - no timetable)
• Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort - no timetable)
• Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Second Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Brandon Lowe, TB, 2B (Yahoo: 15%, ESPN: 5%) - Lowe is still banging but more importantly, is still healthy. he has a 52 APR in Week 15 and has a top-100ish APR in four of the past five periods.

Donovan Solano, SD, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - With a 78 APR heading into Sunday, Solano is on the verge of his third top-100 week in the past four, as well as four of the last six. As long as he's playing every day (he's now started 14 games straight, and all but five games since the start of June), Solano's points-friendly profile (.291 AVG, .353 OBP, 19% K%) should continue to make him a solid compiler, who's eligible at three positions, to boot. Virtually available everywhere, Solano is, at minimum, a great addition to almost any bench.

Next Choices

Spencer Horowitz, TOR, 2B (Yahoo: 14%, ESPN: 7%) - Horowitz has put up a very pointsy-profile since getting called up, slashing .311/.440/.473 over 93 PA, currently sporting a matching 14% K% and 14% BB%. He's also batted first or second in nearly every start and has now started seven games straight, including his first versus a left-handed starter - batting fifth,  Horwitz went 3-for-4, with two RBI. The Blue Jays are scheduled to face one LHP in their six games in Week 16.

Luis Garcia Jr., WSH, 2B (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 11%) - Garcia has been terrific lately, with top-75ish periods the last two weeks, and is the #6 hitter in Week 15 headed into Sunday. But while his profile is great, be wary in Week 16, as the Nationals will see LHP in three of their seven games, and Garcia continues to really struggle against them(.208/.250/.264, .231 wOBA).

Desperate Choices

Jeff McNeil, NYM, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 49%) - Mr. Compiler will get seven games in Week 16 and while two will come against the left-handed pitchers he struggles more against, one of those is against Patrick Corbin.

Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 2%) - We can't keep ignoring Sosa, who has a 40 APR in Week 15, and has three top-60 weeks in his last five. But it's still hard to bank on him considering how bad the lineup remains.

Zach Gelof, OAK, 2B (Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 12%) - Gelof and his 36% K% shouldn't be messed with if you have a strikeout penalty but he has been a top-150 hitter on platforms without one, and has an 84 APR over the past three periods.

On the IL

• Thairo Estrada, SF, 2B/SS (sprained wrist - no timetable)
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (sprained knee - no timetable)
• Joey Ortiz, MIL, 2B/3B (neck inflammation - no timetable)
• Abraham Toro, OAK, 2B/3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Brandon Drury, LAA, 1B/2B (strained hamstring - rehab assignment)
• Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - rehab assignment)
• Adam Frazier, KC, 2B/OF (sprained thumb - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Third Base Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Mark Vientos, NYM, 3B (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 26%) - I said last week that it would be the last time we'd see Vientos eligible to be here but Nickstrodamus has whiffed, as he still sneaks in under out threshold. tl;dr from previous menchies - Vientos has basically been crushing since the Mets gave up on Bret Baty and has been far more responsible for the Mets recent improvement than that poser, Grimace. Last call, last call - Vientos has seven games in Week 16, including two coming vs LHP; for the season he's slashing .344/.400/.672 vs LHP, with a .454 wOBA. Suck it, purple face.

Jose Miranda, MIN, 3B (Yahoo: 41%, ESPN: 21%) - Don't mind Miranda, who is the #7 hitter in Week 15, after putting up top-50 weeks in the previous two. Miranda plays a ton, gets on base a lot, and rarely strikes out...This is the way. If Miranda is still around, he won't be for long.

Jeimer Candelario, CIN, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 45%, ESPN: 24%) - Candelario has dropped back under our Roster% threshold but this would be a good time to capitalize on that mistake. The Reds will face an LHP in three of their seven games (vs COL, vs MIA), against whom Candelario has been far better at getting on base, posting a .244 AVG (.275 xBA) and .340 OBP (.366 xOBP) compared to a .238 AVG (.211 xBA) and .271 OBP (.247 xOBP) vs RHP.

Next Choices

Michael Busch, CHC, 1B/3B (Yahoo: 26%, ESPN: 19%) - Busch is only borderline usable if your league has a strikeout penalty but his 32% K% hasn't kept him from being a top-100 hitter for much of the season in leagues without one. The left-hander has seven games in Week 16 (@BAL, @STL), all scheduled vs RHPs.

Donovan Solano, SD, 1B/2B/3B (Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - With a 78 APR heading into Sunday, Solano is on the verge of his third top-100 week in the past four, as well as four of the last six. As long as he's playing every day (he's now started 14 games straight, and all but five games since the start of June), Solano's points-friendly profile (.291 AVG, .353 OBP, 19% K%) should continue to make him a solid compiler, who's eligible at three positions, to boot. Virtually available everywhere, Solano is, at minimum, a great addition to almost any bench.

Desperate Choices

Lenyn Sosa, CHW, 2B/3B (Yahoo: 5%, ESPN: 2%) - We can't keep ignoring Sosa, who has a 40 APR in Week 15, and has three top-60 weeks in his last five. But it's still hard to bank on him considering how bad the lineup remains.

On the IL

• Joey Ortiz, MIL, 2B/3B (neck inflammation - no timetable)
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (sprained knee - no timetable)
• Abraham Toro, OAK, 2B/3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Wilmer Flores, SF, 1B/3B (knee tendinitis - no timetable)
• Anthony Rendon, LAA, 3B (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Yoan Moncada, CHW, 3B (strained groin - rehab assignment)
• Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Masyn Winn, STL, SS (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 13%) - It's looking like another top-50 week for Winn, making it two of the last three and five of the past eight. The Cardinals will face left-handers in three of their seven games this week (@ WSH, vs KC, vs CHC) but Winn has been markedly better against his fellow righties.

Next Choices

Ceddanne Rafaela, BOS, SS/OF (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 16%) - Rafela has remained hot, currently running a 25 APR headed into Sunday, with five top-100 performances in his last seven periods.

Zach Neto, LAA, SS (Yahoo: 21%, ESPN: 9%) - It's been pretty trash for Neto in Week 15 but he has still averaged a top-100 APR over the past 11 periods, with only two of the 11 coming in higher than a 131 APR (#207, #183).

Desperate Choices

Paul DeJong, CHW, SS (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 4%) - The choice is still binary - if your league doesn't have a strikeout penalty, DeJong might be worth a pickup but if it does, please don't bother.

On the IL

• Thairo Estrada, SF, 2B/SS (sprained wrist - no timetable)
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (sprained knee - no timetable)
• Vaughn Grissom, BOS, 2B/SS (strained hamstring - no timetable)
• Javier Baez, DET, SS (back sprain - rehab assignment)
• Jon Berti, NYY, 3B/SS (strained calf - no timetable)
• Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - rehab assignment)

Fantasy Baseball Outfielder Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Brenton Doyle, COL, OF (Yahoo: 49%, ESPN: 24%) - Staring down a home stretch, Doyle was one of our top picks last week and he definitely hasn't disappointed, currently the #2 hitter headed into Sunday. But he's also been a solid option away from Coors and is now up to an impressive 42 APR for the season. Just be aware, that solid does not mean great - it just means around the 125-150 range, which is where Doyle has mostly lived in non-Coors weeks.

Jesse Winker, WSH, OF (Yahoo: 34%, ESPN: 17%) - Winker remains criminally underrostered but that might finally change after his top-25 performance in Week 15. He's averaged a 67 APR over the last seven weeks, carried by his outrageous .379 OBP (.364 xOB). Get him while you still can.

Masataka Yoshida, BOS, OF (Yahoo: 43%, ESPN: 48%) - Yoshida has dipped below our Roster% threshold after a long injury followed by a really slow start back but has a 63 APR in Week 15 and still has a very points-friendly profile. Pounce on the mistake if it was made in your league but you might want to keep him holstered in Week 16, as Boston will face LHP in three of their six starts and Yoshida has really struggled against them in 2024.

Next Choices

Jarred Kelenic, ATL, OF (Yahoo: 36%, ESPN: 15%) - Kelenic has been terrible this period but Week 16 is a good bet for him to get back on track, as the Braves have seven games, all scheduled vs RHP. Kelenic has a .786 OP and .340 wOBA vs RHP, compared to a .656 OPS and .283 wOBA vs LHP.

Stuart Fairchild, CIN, OF(Yahoo: 2%, ESPN: 1%) - This is all about streaming the splits, as the Reds will face three LHP in their seven games and Fairchild has positively mashed them, slashing .308/.388/.473 over 103 PA, with a .378 wOBA and .861 OPS.

Ceddanne Rafaela, BOS, SS/OF (Yahoo: 38%, ESPN: 16%) - Rafela has remained hot, currently running a 25 APR headed into Sunday, with five top-100 performances in his last seven periods.

Desperate Choices

Jeff McNeil, NYM, 2B/OF (Yahoo: 31%, ESPN: 49%) - Mr. Compiler will get seven games in Week 16 and while two will come against the left-handed pitchers he struggles more against, one of those is against Patrick Corbin.

Miguel Andujar, OAK, OF (Yahoo: 9%, ESPN: 6%) - Andujar has a 60 APR in Week 15 and has been fairly usable since getting himself a job. But to think it will continue is to bet on a .341 BABIP in 2024 that was .271 in the previous four seasons (457 PA).

On the IL:

• • • Starling Marte, NYM, OF (bone bruise - expected to miss 4 weeks)
    • Kerry Carpenter, DET, OF (stress fracture - no timetable)
    • TJ Friedl, CIN, OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
    • Lars Nootbaar, STL, OF (strained oblique - rehab assignment)
    • Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TOR, 2B/3B/SS/OF (sprained knee - no timetable)
    • Esteury Ruiz, OAK, OF (strained wrist - no timetable)
    • Tommy Edman, STL, 2B/SS/OF (wrist surgery - rehab assignment)
    • Mike Tauchman, CHC, OF (strained groin - no timetable)
    • Kris Bryant, COL, 1B/OF (rib contusion - no timetable)
    • Henry Davis, PIT, C/OF (concussion - rehab assignment)
    • Alex Kirilloff, MIN, 1B/OF (back discomfort - no timetable)
    • Will Brennan, CLE, OF (rib cage strain - no timetable)
    • Joey Gallo, WSH, 1B/OF (strained hamstring - no timetable)
    • Adam Frazier, KC, 2B/OF (sprained thumb - no timetable)

Fantasy Baseball Catcher Waiver Wire Pickups

Best Choices

Ben Rice, NYY, 1B/C (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 5%) - Rice has broken out for the first time in Week 15 with an 8 APR headed into Sunday after a three home-run game on Saturday. But putting those dongs aside, Rice's biggest upside is not just a points-friendly profile (.294/.383/.588 over his first 60 PA, with a 15% K% and 13% BB%) - it's that he's an everyday player at first base who has catcher eligibility, thereby giving him more PAs that many catchers.

Elias Diaz, COL, C (Yahoo: 22%, ESPN: 11%) - A road trip is usually not the spot to stream Colorado hitters but Diaz averaged a 139 APR prior to his recent IL trip because he's managed to be solid even away from Coor. Diaz has slashed .305/.340/.443 with a .337 wOBA at home, and .302/.362/.417 with a .341 wOBA on the road. Plus, in Week 16 the Rockies are scheduled to face LHP in three of their seven games (@CIN, @NYM) - Diaz has just an 11% K% vs LHP, with a .313 AVG and .330 wOBA.

Next Choices

Tyler Stephenson, CIN, C (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 7%) - Given how bad he's been for a month, there are few reasons to strongly recommend Stephenson but a lefty-heavy week is one of them, and the Reds are scheduled to face an LHP in three of their seven games vs the Rockies and Marlins. For the season, Stephenson has a 49% Hard Hit% and 13.1% Brl% vs LHP, compared to a 44% HH% and 9.2% Brl% vs RHP.

Desperate Choices

Mitch Garver, SEA, C (Yahoo: 20%, ESPN: 11%) - He's not really usable if your league has a strikeout penalty (31% K%) but Garver still has top-100 upside if you're in a pinch.

Shea Langeliers, OAK, C (Yahoo: 30%, ESPN: 12%) - Langeliers is close to banking another top-50 period in Week 15 but his biggest value-add remains a high floor, not ceiling. And that floor might be sunk in a week that sees Oakland go on the road to face some really tough pitching matchups at Boston and Philadelphia.

On the IL

• • • Henry Davis, PIT, C/OF (concussion - rehab assignment)
    • Ivan Herrera, STL, C (back strain - no timetable)
    • Gary Sanchez, MIL, C (strained calf - no timetable)
    • Victor Caratini, HOU, C (strained hip - no timetable)
    • Tom Murphy, SF, C (sprained knee - no timetable)

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