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
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Week 4 Outfield Waiver Wire Targets

Sean Scampton recommends outfielders (OF) who are valuable waiver wire targets or adds for Week 4 of the 2018 fantasy baseball season.

May is nearly upon us, Rotoballers, and your chance to pick up the best waiver wire targets is becoming thinner by the day. Outfield continues to be the most plentiful and still most competitive group to identify and grab the best available for the long haul. With so many spots to fill, finding the true asset among the chaff will put fantasy owners in a sweet spot as the season progresses.

As always, Rotoballer is looking for adds for both shallow and deep leagues, but don't let the deep targets pass you by if you're in a 10 or 12-teamer. A productive player is a productive player, regardless of their name, draft position, or, in one specific case, previous history. Names don't matter, only numbers.

With that said, here are the outfielders with numbers that made us double take over the last week. If you've got the roster space and good waiver position, any of these guys would make fine additions for your shallow or deep league. Don't get comfortable, don't stop adding, and always look for that baller move edge. Here are the week 4 outfield waiver wire targets.

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

 

Week 4 Outfield Waiver Wire Targets

Brandon Belt (OF/1B, SF) - 47% owned

Don't say we didn't warn you. After two straight weeks on this column, Belt blew up. Over the last week, the first baseman knocked 4 home runs, 6 runs batted in, 5 runs, and a .368 average on just 19 at-bats. For good measure, he even produced the longest at-bat in major league history of 21 pitches! While that epic plate appearance didn't actually yield a hit, it's actually more telling for his season-long performance than the pop produced over the last week.

Belt is seeing the ball extremely well, and making great contact when he's at the plate. And, as we've mentioned in the past, when he connects with the ball, it's coming off the bat harder than it has in his entire career. Belt has always been a wildly underrated player due to the lack of counting stats, but this may be the year that this is put to rest. Still available in more than half of fantasy leagues, if he's out there, don't wait.

 

Mallex Smith (OF, TB) - 32% owned

Mallex Smith, the diminutive Rays center fielder, is still raking. Over the last week, Smith has hit 7-for-21 with four more runs and another steal. He hits for almost zero power, but remains a solid three-category producer. His value will be capped as the season wears on due to the lack of pop in the Rays lineup, but he just keeps hitting. It's not a totally empty average, either, as Smith has true 80-grade speed and can steal 30 bags easily. He's this generation's Rajai Davis, and he's going to be getting all the run at center with Kevin Keirmaier on the mend and the Rays tanking like it's their job.

 

Jackie Bradley Jr. (OF, BOS) - 28% owned

Boston's jack-of-all-trades outfielder has had a sub par 2018 thus far, but over the last week has shown signs of putting it all together. While his season line of .224/.316/.373 leaves a lot to be desired, he hit .300 with five runs batted in and his first two home runs on the year. His batting average on balls in play sits at a minuscule .241, more than 60 points below his career average. His batting line is bound to recover as that BABIP normalizes.

Bradley is hitting for solid contact and, at this point, below average pop. He's seeing the ball well and has improved over 2017, as 73.2% of his cuts are coming against pitches inside the zone. He's also making better contact on those pitches, to the tune of a career-best 83.7%. No one is expecting a rebound to his 2016 All-Star campaign level, but there's potential that Bradley's luck turns around and he becomes a solid contributor across the board while not hurting your average or strikeout metrics.

 

David Dahl (OF, COL) - 26% owned

A preseason favorite of mine, Dahl has been recalled to get run in left field in Colorado. At one time, Dahl was mentioned among the most exciting prospects in baseball, but a run of bad luck on the injury front has reduced the shine on the talented outfielder. Now, he returns to the Rockies hoping to recapture the magic that led to a .315/.359/.500 line across 237 at-bats in 2016.

No one really knows what Dahl will be while taking his first major league cuts after a disastrous rib injury cost him most of 2017. There's a real chance that the rib issue, plus a nasty stomach bug that made him lose 10 pounds, keep him from getting any power on his swing early. Dahl has also had some swing-and-miss to his game, and has been fairly dependent on a strong BABIP for that shiny .315 average. But for all of the potential faults, Dahl represents one of the most physically talented young players in baseball, with a speed and power combo that fantasy owners drool over. A 20/20 season is very realistic, with a lot of room to go beyond if his pop returns sooner. This will be the last chance owners have to jump on him, especially if he plays well.

 

Jason Heyward (OF, CHC) - 5% owned

Ok, ok, ok, I realize this one is a little nauseating. Many of us, including numerous Rotoballer staffers, have been badly burned by the once highly regarded prospect. And on that note, does anyone remember the level of hype surrounding Heyward's promotion in 2010? He was the next great superstar, in the same vein as guys like Ken Griffey Jr. A dynamo who could field with the best ever while providing elite power, 20-steal speed, and average near .300. He was a wunderkind. Unfortunately, the middle-of-the-order power never fully developed, the hit tool didn't completely translate, and Heyward has actually been more valuable for his glove than his bat. And, after a disastrous 2017 that saw the 28-year-old rack up 11 home runs and just 4 steals with a line of .259/.326/.389 across 481 at-bats. Both fantasy owners and the Chicago Cubs have found Heyward disappointing, to say the least.

Now, fast forward to three weeks into 2018, and (deep breath) Heyward looks pretty good. Across 72 at-bats, the outfielder has produced a line of .262/.352/.410 with a pair of homers, no steals, thirteen runs scored, and fourteen runs batted in. These numbers may seem a tad pedestrian, but there's a surprising amount of positive signs. For one, Heyward is striking out and walking at the exact same rate, 11.1% of his at-bats. Secondly, and take this with a grain of salt as these numbers don't tend to normalize until about 100 to 120 at-bats, Heyward is actually connecting with the third-highest hard hit percentage of his career. Finally, and this is the most interesting metric, Heyward is hitting fly-balls on a whopping 48.1% of contact, more than 16% over his career rate. So, to summarize, the Cub is making harder contact, better contact, and putting those balls in the air at a rate we've never seen from him. Luckily for fantasy owners, it'll no longer take a middle round pick to wait and see.

 

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
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Brandin Podziemski23 mins ago

Picks Up Questionable Tag
Al Horford29 mins ago

Starts Game 2
Michael Porter Jr.37 mins ago

Practices On Wednesday
Jayson Tatum47 mins ago

Out On Wednesday
Isaiah Stewart51 mins ago

May Miss Another Game Thursday
NYI1 hour ago

Cal Clutterbuck Announces Retirement
Pavel Zacha1 hour ago

Recovering From Small Procedure
Will Smith1 hour ago

Out With Sore Wrist On Wednesday
Connor Wong1 hour ago

Likely To Go On Rehab Assignment This Weekend
Nikolaj Ehlers2 hours ago

To Miss At Least Two More Games
Lucas Giolito2 hours ago

Could Make Season Debut Next Thursday
Miro Heiskanen2 hours ago

Still Out On Wednesday
Blake Snell2 hours ago

To Be Shut Down From Throwing, Might Go For More Imaging
John Klingberg2 hours ago

Enters Oilers Lineup For Game 2
Grayson Rodriguez2 hours ago

Has Mild Lat Strain, To Resume Throwing In A Couple Weeks
Evander Kane2 hours ago

To Make Season Debut Wednesday Night
Edwin Díaz2 hours ago

Edwin Diaz Leaves With Left-Hip Cramping On Wednesday
Gabriel Landeskog2 hours ago

Likely To Play In Game 3
Cam Smith2 hours ago

Absent From Astros Lineup
Will Smith2 hours ago

Resting At Wrigley
Denver Broncos3 hours ago

Broncos Not Expected To Trade Up In Round 1
Nicky Lopez3 hours ago

Cubs Re-Signing Nicky Lopez
Houston Texans3 hours ago

Texans Trying To Move Up In Round 1 Of NFL Draft
Atlanta Falcons3 hours ago

James Pearce Jr., Mike Green Potential Top Targets For Falcons
Royce Lewis4 hours ago

Expected To Start Rehab Assignment This Week
Pablo López4 hours ago

Pablo Lopez Likely To Rejoin The Rotation This Weekend
Dallas Cowboys4 hours ago

Cowboys Could Add Wide Receiver Help With No. 12 Pick
Justin Martinez4 hours ago

Dealing With Shoulder Fatigue
New Orleans Saints4 hours ago

Saints Likely To Address Defense With No. 9 Pick?
Kristian Campbell4 hours ago

Sitting Against Mariners
4 hours ago

Rams Eyeing Trade Up For Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland?
Kyle Freeland4 hours ago

Next Outing To Be Determined
Ezequiel Tovar4 hours ago

Could Be Battling Hip Injury All Year
Patrick Mahomes4 hours ago

Itching To Get Explosive Passing Game Back
Kris Bryant4 hours ago

Not Ready To Return
Jacob Stallings4 hours ago

Kyle Farmer Sitting On Wednesday
Willi Castro5 hours ago

Not Playing On Wednesday
Zac Veen5 hours ago

Optioned to Triple-A
Brenton Doyle5 hours ago

Activated From Bereavement List
Lucas Erceg5 hours ago

Returns To Action On Tuesday
Chris Olave5 hours ago

Saints Picking Up Chris Olave's Fifth-Year Option
Derek Carr6 hours ago

Saints Hope To Have Clarity On Derek Carr Soon
6 hours ago

Chiefs Talk With TreVeyon Henderson
Los Angeles Rams6 hours ago

Rams Not Ruling Out Acquiring Jalen Ramsey
Dallas Cowboys6 hours ago

Micah Parsons Taking Part In Offseason Program
Anthony Richardson6 hours ago

Working On His Footwork
Kayshon Boutte6 hours ago

A Trade Candidate?
Kirk Cousins6 hours ago

Browns, Steelers, Vikings Could Target A Trade For Kirk Cousins
Jaren Jackson Jr.9 hours ago

Posts Team-High 26 Points In Tuesday's Loss
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander9 hours ago

Notches 27 Points Despite Poor Shooting
Max Greyserman9 hours ago

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Pascal Siakam10 hours ago

Scores Team-High 24 Points In Game 2 Win
Giannis Antetokounmpo10 hours ago

Posts Big Double-Double In Game 2 Loss
Lee Hodges10 hours ago

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA10 hours ago

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Julius Randle10 hours ago

Leads Timberwolves In Scoring In Game 2
Gary Woodland10 hours ago

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Luka Dončić10 hours ago

Luka Doncic Nets 31 Points In Lakers Win
Max McGreevy10 hours ago

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard10 hours ago

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Jock Landale10 hours ago

Unavailable For Game 2
Sam Stevens10 hours ago

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Jae'Sean Tate10 hours ago

Remains Out Wednesday
Nicolai Hojgaard10 hours ago

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
John Tavares10 hours ago

Collects Two Points In Overtime Win
Christiaan Bezuidenhout10 hours ago

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Frederik Andersen10 hours ago

Posts 40th Postseason Win
Akshay Bhatia10 hours ago

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young10 hours ago

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Kirill Kaprizov11 hours ago

Leads Wild To Valuable Road Win
Matthew Tkachuk11 hours ago

Returns With Three-Point Performance
Erik Van Rooyen11 hours ago

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Anthony Cirelli11 hours ago

Suffers Undisclosed Injury Tuesday
Gabriel Vilardi11 hours ago

May Return To Jets Lineup Thursday
John Klingberg11 hours ago

Ready To Return To Action
Evander Kane11 hours ago

Could Be An Option For Game 2
Michael Pittman Jr.19 hours ago

Back Injury Is In The Past
George Pickens19 hours ago

Steelers Appear Unlikely To Trade George Pickens
Jaylen Warren19 hours ago

Steelers Believe Jaylen Warren Can Be Their RB1
Andrew Novak20 hours ago

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin21 hours ago

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore22 hours ago

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark22 hours ago

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama22 hours ago

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa23 hours ago

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Jaylen Warren23 hours ago

Signs One-Year Deal With Steelers
Will Levis1 day ago

Unlikely To Be Traded
Houston Texans1 day ago

Texans Considering Trading Up
Thomas Detry1 day ago

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
Terry Rozier1 day ago

Ruled Out For Wednesday
Damian Lillard1 day ago

Will Have His Minutes Monitored Tuesday
Jayson Tatum1 day ago

Listed As Doubtful For Game 2
Robert MacIntyre1 day ago

Returns To Zurich Classic With High Hopes
Derek Forbort1 day ago

Recovering From Surgery
Martin Fehérváry1 day ago

Martin Fehervary To Miss Postseason Following Knee Surgery
Shane Lowry1 day ago

Returning To Zurich Classic With Red-Hot Teammate
Luke Glendening1 day ago

Available For Start Of Playoffs
Mitchell Chaffee1 day ago

Available Tuesday
Cody Glass1 day ago

Good To Go Tuesday
Brenden Dillon1 day ago

Won't Play In Game 2
Damian Lillard1 day ago

Cleared To Play Tuesday
Nikola Jokić1 day ago

Nikola Jokic Posts 19th Postseason Triple-Double
Kawhi Leonard1 day ago

Leads Clippers To Game 2 Victory
Jalen Brunson1 day ago

Leads All Scorers With 37 Points In Monday's Loss
Tobias Harris1 day ago

Notches Double-Double In Game 2 Win
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF