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Digging Deeper: Week 8 AL Waiver Wire Targets

Tom Bellucco brings you the best deep American League MLB sleepers and picks for Week 8 of the 2017 Fantasy Baseball Season.

Welcome back to Digging Deeper! I'll be taking a look at some deeper AL waiver wire options for Week 8 of the fantasy baseball season.

Not to toot my own horn, but if you've been following this series thus far, you should have found a diamond in the rough by now. Some of the names that I've mentioned at or below 20% in the past eight weeks include: Jose Berrios, Justin Smoak, Cameron Maybin, Eduardo Rodriguez, Didi Gregorius, Robbie Grossman, Alex Wood, and Justin Wilson. Sure, there have been a bunch that haven't worked out as well, but the key is to find the one every once in a while that can change your season.

As always, the pitching landscape in the wasteland of low percentages is tough to even think about. However, we still have some hitters who I feel are underowned. Yes, depth of league matters, but if you are still waiting for that difference-maker offensively, keep plugging away at these waiver wire pieces. Any feedback is welcomed, and you can find me on Twitter @BellRoto. Let's do it.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Digging Deeper: Week 8 Picks - AL

Wilson Ramos (C, TB) - 13% owned in Yahoo! Leagues

Ramos is still on the DL, and has just started to take batting practice. However, the good news is that he displayed impressive power with his first practice swings as a Ray. Yes, this is the catcher who took the league by storm last year, mashing baseballs left and right. If you have a DL spot available and you're catcher is holding you back (especially in two-catcher leagues), try to stash Ramos.

P.S. - If you need a catcher now, Yan Gomes is also under 20% owned, and he's started to show signs of life. Remember, upside is all that matters, especially at this position.

Adam Frazier (2B/OF, PIT) - 12% owned in Yahoo! Leagues

Frazier is a player I picked up wherever possible when the news of Starling Marte's suspension surfaced. This is a high-OBP guy who can hit for a little power and steal a few bases. If he's consistently at the top of the Pirates' lineup (even without good production behind him), he's valuable in most leagues.

Since returning from his recent injury that quickly quieted my optimism, Frazier has put up stellar numbers. He's batting .415 in the last 14 days, and he's collected seven runs, seven RBI, and a steal. He may not be the flashiest player on the wire, but Frazier is capable of hitting over .300 and staying atop the Pirates order for the forseeable future.

Matt Adams (1B, ATL) - 9% owned in Yahoo! Leagues

The perennial Cardinal was traded to the Braves last week, and he'll presumably be an everyday player until Freddie Freeman returns in a couple of months. Adams gets a massive park upgrade moving to Atlanta, and we've seen flashes of a great power-hitting lefty in the past. He's collected five hits and two home runs in his past two games, so throw him in your utility spot and hope this change is what Adams needed to jumpstart his career as a feared hitter.

 

Speculative Pitchers

Like I said, there's nothing I feel the need to talk about below 20% on the Yahoo! waiver wire this week. However, if you're really scraping for a quality arm on your team, there's a sneaky way to potentially find a top-50 starter or top-20 closer in this mess.

Archie Bradley of the Diamondbacks and David Phelps of the Marlins are two middle relievers who could see their roles change in the near future. It's far more likely that they become starters than closers, but both have good enough stuff to pitch in the late innings and are on teams with less-than-stellar closers.

Could you end up holding a reliever for a few weeks and not get a win or a save the entire time? Sure. However, if one of these guys does see a change in role, we could be looking at an instant difference-maker. Besides, you'll likely get solid ERA, WHIP, and strikeout numbers in the meantime.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds

 

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Lamar Jackson

Questionable to Return in Week 16 with Back Injury
Donovan Mitchell

Likely to Return on Monday Night
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Patrick Kane

to Miss Fifth Consecutive Game
Tyson Kozak

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Jakob Poeltl

Back in the Lineup on Sunday Night
Jack Roslovic

Ready to Return Sunday
Alexandre Sarr

Ruled Out Against San Antonio
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Arseni Gritsyuk Back in Devils Lineup Sunday
Marvin Bagley III

Ruled Out Against San Antonio
Timo Meier

Available Sunday
Davion Mitchell

Available on Sunday Night
Jack Hughes

Returns From 18-Game Absence Sunday
Andrew Wiggins

Cleared to Play on Sunday Night
J.T. Miller

Out Week-to-Week
Quinshon Judkins

Done for the Season with Broken Leg
Gardner Minshew

Likely Tore His ACL on Sunday
Nick Chubb

Officially Active Against Raiders in Week 16
Gardner Minshew

Won't Return in Week 16
Woody Marks

Officially Inactive for Week 16
Quinshon Judkins

Carted Off in Week 16, Ruled Out with Apparent Leg Injury
Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins Hope to Trade Tua Tagovailoa in the Offseason
Woody Marks

Not Expected to Play in Week 16
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Commanders to Retain Dan Quinn, Fire Joe Whitt?
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Marcus Freeman is a Top Candidate in Giants' Head Coaching Search
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Zac Taylor Expected to Return as Bengals' Head Coach in 2026
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Pete Carroll's Future with Las Vegas Raiders in Doubt
Mike Conley

Nears Return After Missing Four Games
Tee Higgins

Active for Week 16 Against Dolphins
Brandon Clarke

Exits After Brief Appearance Against Wizards
Derrick Jones Jr.

Nears Return From Sprained MCL
Herbert Jones

Head Injury Cuts Night Short
Ivica Zubac

Leaves Early After Suffering Left Ankle Injury
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Exits Early With Left Leg Contusion
Tage Thompson

Scores in Sixth Consecutive Game
Jacob Fowler

Posts First Career Shutout
Jonatan Berggren

Totals Three Points Saturday
Jake Evans

to Sit Out Sunday's Game
Zach Werenski

Injured in Saturday's Loss
Frank Nazar

Expected to Miss Four Weeks
Woody Marks

Plans to Play Against Raiders in Week 16
Tee Higgins

Likely to Play at Miami on Sunday
Drake London

Expected to Return in Week 16
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Play, Will Ease Back In
Romeo Doubs

Questionable to Return Against Bears in Week 16
Jordan Love

Ruled Out with Concussion, Replaced by Malik Willis
Jalen Smith

Expected to Remain in Lineup Sunday
Ayo Dosunmu

Probable for Meeting With Hawks
Jordan Love

Evaluated for Concussion, Questionable to Return
Coby White

Iffy for Sunday
Andrew Wiggins

May Remain Out Sunday
Davion Mitchell

Questionable for Sunday
Tyler Herro

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Sunday
Trae Young

Available for Sunday's Tilt
Doug McDermott

Active on Saturday
Rui Hachimura

Misses Battle of Los Angeles
Mike Matheson

Returns Against Former Team Saturday
Timothy Liljegren

Misses Saturday's Game
Mackie Samoskevich

Out on Saturday
Anthony Cirelli

Available Against Hurricanes
Brandon Hagel

Added to Injured Reserve
Nikita Kucherov

a Game-Time Call Saturday
J.T. Miller

Injured in Saturday's Win
Zach Bogosian

Unavailable Saturday
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
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Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
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Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
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Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
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Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic
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Will Muschamp Becoming Next Texas Defensive Coordinator
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Beau Pribula Set to Enter Transfer Portal
Bo Bichette

Willing to Make the Move to Second Base
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Jeremiyah Love Officially Heading to NFL Draft
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Jake Merklinger Leaving Tennessee for Transfer Portal
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Kansas State's Jayce Brown Intends to Transfer
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Nation's Leading Passer Drew Mestemaker to Enter Transfer Portal
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Phillies Planning to Start Justin Crawford in Center Field
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Jayden Maiava Signs New Deal to Return to USC
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Aidan Mizell Won't Return to Florida, Entering Transfer Portal
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East Carolina Targeting Jordan Davis as Next Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Michigan QB Jadyn Davis Set to Enter Transfer Portal
CFB

Travis Williams Joining Texas A&M Defensive Staff

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