X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Week 17 Waiver Wire - Catcher

With the All-Star break now behind us, it's time to look ahead to the second half of the Fantasy Baseball season. While we already know who most of this year's breakouts are, looking at you Max Muncy, catcher remains one of the trickiest positions to figure out in fantasy circles.

Those who sacrificed early picks on players such as J.T. Realmuto and Willson Contreras are sitting pretty. Others who may have waited at catcher are now scrambling to find the next big thing. If you're in the second group, and I'm sure most of you are, this is the article for you.

The players listed below are the best options for fantasy success heading into Week 17. They've found themselves in situations where they'll receive regular playing time and have done well enough to warrant a pick up. While none will give you the production of a Realmuto or Contrearas, they're all good enough to help carry the load at the catcher position during Week 17 and potentially on ward.

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

All catchers listed are owned in less than 50% of leagues and readily available. If you're in need of a backstop, these six five players are cheap options who can help take your team to a Fantasy Baseball championship.

 

Tier One

If you're in need of a catcher, these players are the ones you want to own heading into Week 17. They offer the most season-long value and are the players you want to target if you're struggling at the catcher position in your Fantasy Baseball league.

Elias Diaz (C, PIT) - 16% owned

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz has been one of the most underrated catchers in fantasy circles during the 2018 season. Despite being the backup to Francisco Cervelli, he has been able to put up solid numbers. With Cervelli now on the disabled list with recurring concussion problems, Diaz will have an opportunity to run with the starting job, making him arguably the best catcher option off waiver wires heading into Week 17.

Diaz is hitting .283 with seven home runs, 23 RBI and 26 runs scored over 54 games in 2018. If he qualified, Diaz's .283 avergae would rank third in the MLB among catchers while his seven home runs and 26 runs scored ranks tied for 17th and 14th respectively.

Pittsburgh's new starting catcher has had a strong month of July, hitting .270 with two home runs, four RBI and a .514 slugging percentage, his highest since April. The Pirates have clearly noticed Diaz's rise in 2018 as he has batted cleanup in his last two starts. If he continues to bat fourth his run scoring chances will only increase.

This is Cervelli's second time on the DL for concussion systems, meaning there's a chance he spends more time than the minimum 10 days. Diaz will have an opportunity to shine as a starter in the middle of the Pirates lineup. He is having the best offensive season of his career in 2018, giving him the talent and opportunity to help your team to the fantasy championship.

Omar Narvaez (C, CWS) 2.8% owned / Welington Castillo (C, CWS) - 1.4% owned

The Chicago White Sox find themselves in an interesting position at catcher heading into Week 17. In the short term, Omar Narvaez has looked great and deserving of everyday starts. However, Welington Castillo is set to return from his 80-game PED suspension on August 24; the team didn't pay him $15 million over two years to sit on the bench.

Narvaez has been a pleasant surprise in 2018, despite splitting time with Kevan Smith, he has managed to hit .286 with three home runs 17 RBI and 12 runs scored over 52 games. He has been one of the best fantasy catchers during the month of July, hitting .458 with two home runs and seven RBI. His .458 average ranks first among all catchers during that span.

Narvaez has done nothing but hit over the past two months and is worthy of a pickup as long as he sees starts. Castillo still has a little over a month left on his suspension, making Narvaez worthy of a pickup during that time. Following Castillo's activation however it's anyone's guess as to how the White Sox use Narvaez.

Prior to being hit with his suspension, Castillo was hitting .267 with six home runs and 15 RBI. He's coming off of four straight double digit home run seasons, including a 20-homer campaign in 2017. Castillo has been one of the better fantasy catchers due to his underrated offensive firepower.

With Castillo expected to return in one month and just six days, he should be monitored closely and is worth a pickup in deeper leagues. However, Narvaez is still the primary waiver wire claim while Castillo is suspended as he'll see the majority of starts during that time. It'll be interesting to see how the White Sox divvy up their starts behind the plate, but Castillo should be 1a with Narvaez functioning as 1b.

 

Tier Two

These players offer high potential, but aren't as sound as the tier one options. If no tier one options are available in your league, tier two catchers work as solid streamers who could eventually turn into season-long options.

Austin Hedges (C, SD) - 6.1 % owned 

San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges has been featured on this list before and continues to see low ownership. Hedges has been on fire during the month of July and should see more opportunities as the Padres slip to the bottom of the standings. If he continues to hit the ball well, owners should be willing to add the Padres catcher during his surge.

Hedges is hitting just .232 on the season with four home runs, 17 RBI and nine run scored. However, after missing most of the month of June with an injury, Hedges has had an electric July, hitting .382 with two home runs and six RBI. His .382 average ranks fourth highest among catchers during the month of July.

The problems surrounding Hedges are that he hits at the bottom of the lineup and is in an offense that currently ranks 27th in runs scored. He won't have as many opportunities to produce or score runs as others on the list.

That being said, Hedges has been one of the hottest catchers in the MLB during the month of July. He's coming off of an 18 home run season and has the potential to match that number in 2018. As long as he is swinging a hot bat, Hedges is worth a pickup for catcher needy teams in 12-14 person leagues.

Jorge Alfaro (C, PHI) - 3.7% owned

Much like Hedges, Philadelphia Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro is also in the middle of a hot streak. While he's never been a great offensive threat, Philadelphia's lineup is vastly improved which should help Alfaro both score and produce runs.

On the season, Alfaro is hitting .254 with six home runs, 21 RBI and 22 runs scored. The home runs, RBI and runs scored are all career highs. Over the last seven days, Alfaro is hitting .455 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. During the month of July, Alfaro is hitting .276 with a home run, five RBI and four runs scored. He also holds an impressive .805 OPS which ranks 17th among all catchers.

Alfaro will continue to see starts as the Phillies see what they have in their young catcher. There's also a strong possibility that after missing out on Manny Machado, Philadelphia will add a big-hitting infielder prior to the trade deadline. Adding to a lineup that already features the likes of players such as Rhys Hoskins, Carlos Santana and Cesar Hernandez will only increase Alfaro's chances of both producing and scoring runs.

Alfaro may not be the most consistent or offensively inclined catchers in the league, but he has been hitting well on one of the hottest teams in the MLB. He's in the middle of the best offensive season of his career and is worth a pickup if he continues this stretch.

 

Waiver Wire Order

1) Elias Diaz
2) Omar Narvaez
3) Welington Castillo
4) Austin Hedges
5) Jorge Alfaro

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Noah Fant7 hours ago

Questionable For Week 12, Update Coming On Saturday
Brock Purdy9 hours ago

Week 13 Status Uncertain
Kyle Finnegan9 hours ago

Nationals Non-Tender Kyle Finnegan On Friday
Dylan Carlson9 hours ago

Rays Non-Tender Dylan Carlson
Brendan Rodgers10 hours ago

Rockies Non-Tender Brendan Rodgers, Cal Quantrill
Mike Yastrzemski10 hours ago

Avoids Arbitration With Giants
Jordan Romano10 hours ago

Blue Jays Non-Tender Closer Jordan Romano
Dustin May10 hours ago

Dodgers Sign Dustin May To One-Year Deal To Avoid Arbitration
Walker Kessler10 hours ago

Might Return To Action Saturday
Kyle Filipowski10 hours ago

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jordan Clarkson10 hours ago

Considered Questionable For Saturday
Miles McBride10 hours ago

Questionable To Face Jazz
Joel Embiid11 hours ago

To Remain Out On Sunday
Nikola Jokic11 hours ago

Returns To Action Friday
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope11 hours ago

No Longer On Injury Report
Wendell Carter Jr.11 hours ago

Considered Questionable For Saturday
Brady Singer11 hours ago

Shipped To Cincinnati
Jonathan India11 hours ago

Traded To Kansas City
Tre Mann11 hours ago

Listed As Out For Saturday
Torrey Craig11 hours ago

Available Versus Hawks
Nick Richards11 hours ago

Ruled Out For Saturday
Jarace Walker12 hours ago

Ready To Face Bucks
Ben Sheppard12 hours ago

Misses A Third Consecutive Game
Anfernee Simons12 hours ago

Returns To Action Friday
Ja Morant12 hours ago

Considered Doubtful For Saturday
Jerami Grant12 hours ago

Ready For Action Friday
Marcus Smart12 hours ago

Questionable For Saturday
Deandre Ayton12 hours ago

Remains Out On Friday
Yves Missi12 hours ago

Will Not Play On Friday
Stephen Curry12 hours ago

Available Versus Pelicans
Scoot Henderson12 hours ago

Absent On Friday
Rashod Bateman13 hours ago

Added To Week 12 Injury Report
Vince Dunn13 hours ago

Could Be An Option For Kraken Next Week
TOR13 hours ago

Alexander Nylander Joins Maple Leafs On One-Year Deal
George Kittle13 hours ago

Cleared For Week 12
Jason Dickinson13 hours ago

Expected To Play On Saturday
Cam York14 hours ago

Expected To Return Saturday
San Francisco 49ers14 hours ago

Nick Bosa Won't Play Against Packers
Mason McTavish14 hours ago

Remains Out On Friday
Brock Purdy14 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 12
Tage Thompson14 hours ago

Continues To Sit On Friday
Kevin Hayes14 hours ago

A Game-Time Call Friday
Kris Letang14 hours ago

Might Return On Friday
Ladd McConkey14 hours ago

Returns To Practice On Friday
CeeDee Lamb15 hours ago

Cleared To Play In Week 12
Sam LaPorta15 hours ago

Off The Injury Report, Cleared For Week 12
Jake Ferguson15 hours ago

Ruled Out With Concussion
DeVonta Smith15 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 12
Brock Purdy15 hours ago

Not Seen At Friday's Practice
T.J. Hockenson16 hours ago

Expects To Be More Involved In Week 12
Alexander Mattison16 hours ago

Zamir White Doubtful To Face Broncos
Nico Collins16 hours ago

Set For Increased Workload Against Titans
Mike Evans16 hours ago

Officially Listed As Questionable
Malik Nabers16 hours ago

Questionable For Week 12, Intends To Play
Sam Darnold16 hours ago

Cleared For Sunday
D'Andre Swift17 hours ago

Gets Questionable Tag For Week 12
Keenan Allen17 hours ago

Lands On Injury Report, Questionable For Week 12
Isiah Pacheco17 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 12
Shohei Ohtani19 hours ago

In Early Stages Of Recovery From Shoulder Surgery
Tabatha Ricci19 hours ago

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak
Yan Xiaonan19 hours ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Muslim Salikhov19 hours ago

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Chris Sale19 hours ago

To Have Normal Offseason
Garrett Crochet19 hours ago

Drawing Plenty Of Interest
Song Kenan19 hours ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Zhang Mingyang19 hours ago

Set For His Second UFC Fight
Ozzy Diaz20 hours ago

An Underdog At UFC Macau
MacKenzie Weegar22 hours ago

Notches Three Assists Against Rangers
Macklin Celebrini22 hours ago

Tallies Two Assists In Thursday's Loss
Nikita Kucherov23 hours ago

Comes Up With Three Assists Versus Blue Jackets
Sean Monahan23 hours ago

Finishes Thursday's Win With Four Points
Zach Werenski23 hours ago

Enjoys Career Night With Five Points Against Lightning
Jack Hughes23 hours ago

Posts Three Assists Versus Hurricanes
Joonas Korpisalo23 hours ago

Records 21-Save Shutout Versus Utah
Carlos Ulberg1 day ago

Looking To Cement Himself As A Title Contender At UFC Macau
Volkan Oezdemir1 day ago

Eyes Another Knockout At UFC Macau
Gabriella Fernandes1 day ago

A Big Underdog At UFC Macau
MMA1 day ago

Cong Wang Puts Undefeated Record On The Line At UFC Macau
Deiveson Figueiredo1 day ago

Looks To Extend Win Streak At UFC Macau
Petr Yan1 day ago

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Shohei Ohtani1 day ago

Named National League MVP In 2024
Aaron Judge1 day ago

Wins American League MVP Award
Alex Ovechkin2 days ago

To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Fractured Fibula
Zach Hyman2 days ago

Expected To Miss 4-7 Days
Kent Johnson2 days ago

Back For Blue Jackets Thursday
Yaroslav Askarov2 days ago

Makes Sharks Debut Thursday
Mikael Granlund2 days ago

Good To Go Thursday
Alexandar Georgiev2 days ago

Returns To Action Versus Capitals
Cody Bellinger2 days ago

Cubs Looking To Trade Cody Bellinger?
2 days ago

Blake Snell Has Met With Red Sox, Dodgers
Chris Sale2 days ago

Wins National League Cy Young Award
Tarik Skubal2 days ago

Wins 2024 American League Cy Young Award
Austin Eckroat2 days ago

Heads To The RSM Classic After Win
Harris English2 days ago

Finding Form Heading To The RSM Classic
Ben Griffin2 days ago

Continues Playing Well Heading To The RSM Classic
Denny McCarthy2 days ago

Returns to The RSM Classic
Ludvig Aberg3 days ago

Looks To Defend RSM Classic Title
Si Woo Kim3 days ago

An Intriguing Option At RSM Classic
Maverick McNealy3 days ago

In Solid Form Ahead Of RSM Classic
Eric Cole3 days ago

Chasing First Tour Victory At RSM Classic
3 days ago

Guardians' Stephen Vogt Named AL Manager Of The Year
Milwaukee Brewers3 days ago

Pat Murphy Named NL Manager Of The Year
4 days ago

Nick Pivetta Declines Boston's Qualifying Offer
Jose Siri4 days ago

Mets Acquire Jose Siri From The Rays
Charles Oliveira5 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Michael Chandler5 days ago

Gets Dominated At UFC 309
Karine Silva5 days ago

Suffers Her First UFC Loss
Viviane Araujo5 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Mauricio Ruffy5 days ago

Extends His Win Streak To Six
James Llontop6 days ago

Loses Clear-Cut Decision In Thrilling Fight At UFC 309
Paul Craig6 days ago

Loses Decision At UFC 309
Bo Nickal6 days ago

Remains Undefeated With Lackluster Performance At UFC 309
Stipe Miocic6 days ago

Retires After UFC 309 Loss

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Malik Nabers - Fantasy Football Rankings, WR, Waiver Wire, NFL DFS, Rookies

Buy Low, Sell High Week 12 Fantasy Trade Value Recommendations - Malik Nabers, Kyren Williams, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, more

Welcome to Week 12 of the NFL season, where the playoff race is heating up, and every decision counts more than ever. With the fantasy postseason just around the corner, this is the time to make strategic moves that can propel your team to a championship. Injuries, bye weeks, and fluctuating player performances are testing […]


Malik Nabers - Fantasy Football Rankings, WR, Waiver Wire, NFL DFS, Rookies

Fantasy Football Outlooks: Malik Nabers, Brandin Cooks, Noah Fant Injury Updates

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (groin), Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee), and Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (groin) are three fantasy-relevant players dealing with injuries that could threaten their availabilities for their games in Week 12. While they've had strikingly different seasons up to this point, it's getting close to […]


DK Metcalf - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS and Betting Picks

Wide Receiver Matchups to Target in Week 12 - DK Metcalf, Courtland Sutton, Jauan Jennings, Noah Brown, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Week 12 is here, and with it, another edition of WR Matchups to Target. Last week was one of our most successful of the season, with two home run DFS picks (3x multiplier on DraftKings salary) in Jauan Jennings and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to go along with two additional hits (2x multiplier). Week 12 brings a […]


Malik Nabers - Fantasy Football Rankings, WR, Waiver Wire, NFL DFS, Rookies

Fantasy Football WR Injury Reports: Week 12 Updates For Malik Nabers, Mike Evans, DeVonta Smith, Ladd McConkey

Six teams (Falcons, Bills, Bengals, Jaguars, Saints, Jets) take their bye week in Week 12. Injuries take away from the already depleted options fantasy managers have this week. To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NFL, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy football player news page. Also, download the […]


Matthew Stafford - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Landmines to Avoid for Week 12 - Matthew Stafford, D'Andre Swift, Mark Andrews, and more

Week 12 in the fantasy football season is a critical juncture. With six teams on bye, options are slim, and managers must make savvy lineup decisions as the playoffs loom.  One misstep—a "landmine" starter who underperforms—could cost you a victory and potentially a playoff berth. This week, we spotlight five players who may look tempting […]


Brock Purdy - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Fantasy Football Injury Reports: Week 12 Updates For Brock Purdy, CeeDee Lamb, Isiah Pacheco, George Kittle, Devonta Smith

We're down to the home stretch of the fantasy regular season, and with six teams (yes, six) on a bye this week, injuries are going to be an even bigger deal. Waiver wires and free-agent pickups are likely to be competitive with some lineup regulars on injury reports this week, including Brock Purdy, CeeDee Lamb, […]


Bucky Irving - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 12 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Include Bucky Irving, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DeVaughn Vele And More

Scott Engel’s Lineup Spotlights on RotoBaller.com feature key players to consider starting every week during the 2024 fantasy football season. “The King” highlights preferred starting options when you are dealing with challenging lineup decisions. The players included in this rundown are based on Scott’s Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available in the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter the […]


Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Are Mike Evans, D'Andre Swift, and Keenan Allen Playing in Week 12? Fantasy Football Injury Update

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring), Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (groin), and Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (ankle) are three key players listed on injury reports ahead of their Week 12 games. Well, Allen isn't exactly "key" to fantasy football this year, but he could be. Either way, it's always […]


Devaughn Vele - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

High-Upside Bench Stashes: Weekend Waiver Wire Adds for Week 12 Includes Blake Corum, Trey Benson, Keaton Mitchell, Jaylen Wright, Devaughn Vele, Theo Johnson, and more

Mastering the waiver wire is a crucial skill that can lead you to a fantasy football championship. It's not just about strategically placing your FAAB budget on specific players but also about knowing when to stash players. This dual strategy keeps you engaged and focused on your ultimate goal of winning a fantasy championship. As […]


George Kittle - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, Draft Targets

Fantasy Football Injury Reports for Tight Ends: Week 12 - Updates for Jake Ferguson, George Kittle, Sam LaPorta, Noah Fant

After watching the Browns hand the Steelers their third defeat of the year on Thursday night, Week 12 rolls on, with 12 games left on the schedule. Unlike previous weeks, there aren’t many tight ends carrying an injury designation heading into Sunday and Monday.   Being up-to-date on NFL injury news can give you an […]


Mike Evans - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Fantasy Football Injury Reports For Week 12 (Friday Updates): Mike Evans, Isiah Pacheco, Tyreek Hill, George Kittle, CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Hurts, Calvin Ridley, more

It's now Friday of Week 12, meaning the final injury reports for all teams have been released. We now have the official designations of each player dealing with injuries ahead of their Week 12 contests, meaning we have the best information we'll have until unofficial speculative reports and final active/inactive lists are released. There are […]


Ashton Jeanty - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch: Top College Fantasy Football Players Week 12 (2024)

Welcome back to another season of Fantasy Football Dynasty Watch, where I highlight the best and brightest performances from the college football week. The Big 12(16) took center stage this week and Tennessee fell to the ranks of most SEC contenders with two losses. Here are the players who showed out that you may have […]


Video: Week 12 Booms, Sleepers, and Streamers - 2024 Fantasy Football Start 'Em Analysis

And here...we...go... The YouTube team is dropping fresh fire content for the weekend ahead with our top Week 12 booms, sleepers, and streamers! NFL Network and RotoBaller contributor LaQuan Jones gives in-depth fantasy football advice, breaking down some of his high-upside, sleeper, and value plays as we head into Week 12 of the new fantasy […]