Deeper Hitter Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - NFBC Waiver Wire Report for Week 22

September 4, 2022

Deeper fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for hitters focused on deeper NFBC leagues with 12+ teams. Consider adding these free-agent hitters for Week 22.

We have completed another week of MLB action, making it time to make more waiver wire moves heading into Week 21. However, things will be slightly different for our weekly look into the high-stakes NFBC landscape. For those who do not know, in the NFBC, there are no IL spots and trades, making waiver moves a bit different. Also, offensive roster moves are made bi-weekly, so some waiver claims are made for the player in a great matchup early or later in the week. This weekly article will outline the upcoming schedule, two-start pitchers, and a few waiver targets that are rostered in less than 50% of leagues according to the 12-team online championships.

As the season continues and we are churning and burning on the waiver wire, sometimes a hot bat is worth a pickup. Besides "hot bats," we can also look at upcoming schedules to try and maximize at-bats. With all of the injuries, we are also looking into players that may be receiving more playing time. Some of the lower-rostered players, or some not mentioned here, are on the solid side of platoons, so make sure you are not adding them if they have a negative schedule. Lastly, the names in the article are in order of percentage rostered, not so much in my preference of adding to your roster. This article will discuss NFBC fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 22, September 5th through September 11th.

In the first few weeks, rostered percentages can change quickly. So be quick to check your leagues for their availability. Also, when you want to chat about outfielders, prospects, or dynasty leagues, please message me directly on Twitter at @bdentrek. Key points - this list will focus on rostered players in less than 50% of NFBC OC leagues.

Fantasy Baseball Schedule Outlook

This week has some great schedules

• 8 Games- MIL, SF
• 7 Games- BAL, CWS, MIN, NYY, STL, TOR, WAS
• 6 Games- ARI, BOS, CHC, CIN, CLE, COL, DET, HOU, KC, LAA, LAD, MIA, NYM, OAK, PHI, PIT, SD, SEA, TB, TEX
• 5 Games- ATL

Fantasy Baseball Two-Start Pitchers

• Tommy Henry (@ SD, @ COL)
• Jordan Lyles (vs. TOR, vs. BOS)
• Michael Wacha (@ TB, @ BAL)
• Justin Steele (vs. CIN, vs. SF)
• Justin Dunn (@ CHC, @ MIL)
• Triston McKenzie (@ KC, @ MIN)
• Ryan Feltner (vs. MIL, vs. ARI)
• Lance Lynn (@ SEA, @ OAK)
• Johnny Cueto (@ SEA, @ OAK)
• Tyler Alexander (@ LAA, @ KC)
• Framber Valdez (vs. TEX, vs. LAA)
• Kris Bubic (vs. CLE, vs. DET)
• Jesus Luzardo (@ PHI, vs. NYM)
• Freddy Peralta (@ COL, vs. CIN)
• Brandon Woodruff (@ COL, vs. CIN)
• Chris Archer (@ NYY, vs. CLE)
• Joe Ryan (@ NYY, vs. CLE)
• Taijuan Walker (@ PIT, @ MIA)
• Jameson Taillon (vs. MIN, vs. TB)
• Gerrit Cole (vs. MIN, vs. TB)
• Zack Wheeler (vs. MIA, vs. WAS)
• Blake Snell (vs. ARI, vs. LAD)
• Marco Gonzales (vs. CWS, vs. ATL)
• Logan Webb (@ LAD, @ CHC)
• Alex Wood (@ LAD, @ CHC)
• Jack Flaherty (vs. WAS, @ PIT)
• Jose Quintana (vs. WAS, @ PIT)
• Luis Patino (vs. BOS, @ NYY)
• Martin Perez (@ HOU, vs. TOR)
• Kevin Gausman (@ BAL, @ TEX)
• Cory Abbott (@ STL, @ PHI)

Infield Waiver Wire Pickups

Christian Arroyo (2B/SS/OF), Boston Red Sox

46% Rostered

Arroyo has been a steady contributor over the last month or so. Since August 1, Arroyo has been hitting .330 with a home run and two stolen bases. He has also scored 11 runs and driven in 14. Arroyo has played all over the diamond with injuries to Enrique Hernandez and others. Even since they have returned, the Red Sox cannot afford to keep Arroyo's bat out of the lineup. He has become a super utility player and even started to play a bit more at first base for the struggling Bobby Dalbec. Arroyo will provide a substantial batting average boost as well as runs and RBI. He also has excellent positional eligibility, which could also add 1B soon.

Emmanuel Rivera (3B), Arizona Diamondbacks

26% Rostered

Rivera has been a welcomed addition to the DBacks since the trade deadline. Since August 3, Rivera has been hitting .293 with five home runs. Rivera has even scored 18 runs while driving in 13. His power has been solid with a .293 ISO and has been paired with a .984 OPS and 172 wRC+. Rivera plays every day for the DBacks, usually hitting second or fifth. He provides value across many ROTO categories and should be rostered in more than 26% of 12-team leagues.

Evan Longoria (3B), San Francisco Giants

13% Rostered

First, I will preface with the caveat that Longo is often injured and can be a headache for fantasy managers. I will also say that, when healthy, Longoria is a fantasy asset, especially in deeper leagues. Since he returned from injury on August 3, Longoria has been hitting .296 with three home runs and a .278 ISO. He is making excellent contact at the plate with a 15.4% barrel rate and 53.8% hard-hit rate, proving he can still mash when healthy. The Giants play eight games this week, which is already outstanding, and they face five LHP, albeit a couple of tough ones. Longoria could be in store for a monster week.

Gunnar Henderson (SS), Baltimore Orioles

0% Rostered

We've been waiting for the arrival of Henderson for quite some time, and he has not been disappointed in his first three games. Henderson has collected five hits, including two doubles and a home run. Henderson has also showcased his speed with a stolen base. In the minors this season, Henderson hit .297 with 19 home runs, 22 stolen bases, and even scored 101 runs. He showcases a great set of power and speed that is quickly translating to the big leagues and will make for one of the top pickups of the week.,

Outfield Waiver Wire Pickups

Jose Siri  (OF), Tampa Bay Rays  

11% Rostered

Siri has been a welcomed addition to the Rays since the trade deadline. Most saw the trade as a defensive move for the Rays, but Siri has been supplying some solid offense. Over the last nine games, Siri is hitting .370 with five extra-base hits, including two home runs. Even more impressively, Siri has scored 13 runs over that nine-game stretch. In addition, Siri has an impressive .333 ISO, 1.117 OPS, and 224 wRC+. If he can improve on the 31% strikeout rate, he could be in business. For now, Siri remains a deeper league play but does have plenty of 12-team upsides when running hot.

Corey Dickerson (OF), St. Louis Cardinals

7% Rostered

Dickerson has been on quite the tear over his last 11 games. Dickerson is hitting .488 with five extra-base hits. He is only striking out 14.6% of the time with a 46% hard-hit rate as Dickerson appears to be locked in at the plate. Dickerson is hitting all over the lineup, but he usually hits sixth or seventh most days and still producing. Dickerson may sit versus the occasional LHP, but for the most part, he is locked into one of the hotter lineups in baseball. He is a must roster in deep leagues with some 12-team viability right now.

Drew Waters (OF), Kansas City Royals

3% Rostered

Waters was swinging it well in the minors before his recent call-up. He had a .269 batting average with 13 home runs and 18 stolen bases. Since being called up, Waters is only hitting .233 but has scored a couple of doubles and five runs. Waters walks over 12% of the time but is also striking out 29%. Waters has more improvement but is playing every day for the Royals and has some slight, deeper league viability.

Corbin Carroll (OF), Arizona Diamondbacks

0% Rostered

Here's the other significant call-up addition of the week. Carroll finally got the call from Triple-A, where he was hitting .307 with 24 home runs and 31 stolen bases. He was destroying the minors, and the DBacks finally made the call once playing time control was still locked in. Carroll has four hits, four runs, and five RBI in his four games since being called up. He has showcased his fantastic speed on a few occasions as well. Carroll's sky is the limit, and he is an excellent addition to the week.

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers