RADIO
Daniel Marcus recommends Chris Owings as a fantasy baseball waiver wire pickup and add for 2017 due to his on base skills and speed.
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
OWNED IN: 10% of Yahoo! Leagues
ANALYSIS: It was unclear how much playing time Owings would get heading into 2017, but Ketel Marte’s Spring Training struggles and Nick Ahmed’s defense-only profile have cleared regular playing time for Owings. He will still be out of the lineup from time to time (see Friday night for example), but the Diamondbacks seem to want him in the lineup most nights.
Owings has also helped his case for playing time with a hot start to the season, as he has at least one hit and an RBI in four of five games and two multi-hit games. This will need to continue for him to stay towards the top of the order, where he will continue to steal plenty of bases. He has been batting seventh in the order, and if he settles in there his value will take a big hit. For now, Owings hot start makes him worth adding in deeper leagues of at least 12 teams.
If he stays towards the top of the lineup, he has the potential to break the 60-run plateau for the first time in his career, while stealing at least 20 bases. His stolen base upside alone makes him worth an early season add in leagues with deeper rosters.
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