Fantasy Baseball sleepers for Week Two

5 of 6

A long opening week in fantasy baseball has now come to an end. As we prepare for Week Two, here are some sleepers that could help win your matchup this week.

It always feels as though the wait for the first games of the season takes far too long, and that holds true with fantasy baseball as well. There is excitement around the draft, and in the immediate aftermath, most owners feel that they have a roster that can contend. For most owners, that feeling is akin to the joy felt as a child during the holidays.

However, unless your league is one of those that draft right before the start of the regular season, there is a waiting period before the games start. That anticipation can become unbearable at times, but now, it is over. That first week has ended, and those matchups have finalized with a win or a loss.

Regardless of which side of the ledger your team wound up on, the key is to find those players that will help improve the roster for the coming season. Likewise, the more victories earned in the early going, the easier it gets to reach the playoffs. Sometimes, finding that sleeper option early in the year can make that difference.

So, let us take a look at some sleepers for the second week of the fantasy baseball season. These underowned players could make a difference, turning a loss into a potential win.

Jesse Winker – OF (owned in 6.2% of ESPN leagues)

It is always beneficial to know when a player is going to be in the lineup for weekly fantasy league games. In Jesse Winker’s case, playing time should not be a problem.

The Cincinnati Reds have had Winker leading off against right handed pitchers this season, which bodes well for his playing time for Week Two. Currently, the Reds are scheduled to face off against nothing but righties in the coming week, meaning that Winker will be spending the majority of his time atop the Cincinnati lineup.

Winker has gotten off to a solid start to the 2018 campaign, posting a .333/.538/.333 batting line entering Sunday’s action. Despite not possessing the speed of Billy Hamilton, he has taken to the leadoff role quite well. In his 26 plate appearances he has drawn seven walks, striking out only five times.

That ability to get on base makes Winker a candidate to help out in the runs department as well. Eventually, Joey Votto will become the player we have all come to know, helping Winker score more runs. The power should eventually come with Winker as well, helping him contribute in multiple areas.

Jesse Winker may be more attractive in a points league than a regular 5×5, but his ability to get on base makes him an intriguing option for Week Two of the fantasy baseball schedule. With a secure place in the lineup, and the platoon advantage, Winker is worth a look for a team in need of outfield help.

Kolten Wong – 2B (owned in 5.8% of ESPN leagues)

After years of waiting for Kolten Wong to break out, he finally did so last season, as he appeared to be turning into a viable fantasy baseball starter.

He had a solid year in 2017, posting a decent .285/.376/.412 batting line, hitting 27 doubles while contributing a bit in runs and steals. Wong had double digit homers before, and showed the ability to steal bases, earlier in his career. With his statement that he was looking to be more aggressive on the basepaths this season, the hope was that Wong would become a potential late round steal.

Instead, he has started of the season ice cold. Heading into Sunday, he has just one hit in his 19 plate appearances, drawing one walk and striking out five times. That aggression on the bases has not happened yet, mainly because Wong has not been on base to attempt to steal more often.

However, there is hope for a breakout in the coming week. The Cardinals are facing off against the Brewers and Reds, but avoid both teams top pitcher. The Brewers also have the added problem of figuring out their bullpen, with Corey Knebel having been placed on the disabled list. That uncertainty could lead to Wong finally breaking out.

Kolten Wong has been a disaster in the first part of the season. However, with a favorable schedule and plenty of playing time, he could be a help in the coming week.

Preston Tucker – OF (owned in 45.5% of ESPN leagues)

One of the hottest players in the game over the first week of the season, Preston Tucker has seen his ownership increase by 44.9% over the course of the first week in fantasy baseball.

It is easy to understand why. He has ten hits and two walks in his 29 plate appearances heading into Sunday, hitting two homers and two doubles. The Braves offense has been white hot in the early going, with Tucker’s stellar performance a key part of that surprising start to the season.

Of course, there are questions going forward. Chances are, Tucker will not continue to produce at this rate. And, he may lose playing time once the Braves eventually bring up Ronald Acuna, one of the top prospects in baseball. However, Tucker himself was once a top prospect, and may finally be turning into the player that he was expected to be.

Those questions and concerns will be answered in the future. For our purposes, as we look to get every win possible in our matchups, riding the hot hand is a great way to go. A player like Tucker, who is one of the hottest players and pickups in the game, could provide that difference for the coming week.

Preston Tucker may not be available in majority of fantasy baseball leagues for much longer. His hot start is certainly getting attention, making him more than worth a roster spot.

Carson Fulmer – SP (owned in 2.3% of ESPN leagues)

A two start pitcher can make a tremendous difference in head to head matchups, especially if they have the right matchups. Those matchups for the coming week make Carson Fulmer an attractive option for Week Two.

Fulmer showed his potential in his first outing of the season. Facing the Blue Jays, he pitched into the sixth, but came out of the game after allowing two hits to put runners on second and third. Those runners both scored, giving Fulmer three runs allowed on five hits in those five innings. However, he issued just one walk, and struck out five.

That strong performance from the first five innings may be replicated this week. Fulmer draws both the Rays and Twins in his two starts, both of which are excellent matchups. The Rays have been utterly putrid on offense, scoring only 20 runs and posting a .188/.254/.264 batting line with 76 strikeouts heading into Sunday.

While the Twins lead the American League Central, their offense has struggled as well. They are eighth in the league with 34 runs scored, and are in the middle of the pack in batting average and on base percentage. The risk is that the Twins do have solid power, but they have also struck out 66 times in their seven games. Fulmer’s swing and miss stuff makes this matchup worth the risk.

Sometimes, that extra two start pitcher can make all the difference in the world in a weekly matchup. Carson Fulmer can be that difference maker in the coming fantasy baseball week.

Josh Hader – RP (owned in 23.5% of ESPN leagues)

With the injury to Corey Knebel, the Brewers will need to figure out their closer situation for the next four to six weeks. In terms of raw stuff, Josh Hader should be the next man up.

More from Call to the Pen

A top prospect as a starter, Hader made his debut for the Brewers last year in the bullpen and was an immediate force. He posted a stellar 2.08 ERA and a 0.986 WHiP in his 47.2 innings, striking out an excellent 68 batters. That strong start continued this year, as Hader has allowed just three baserunners on a hit and two walks, along with one run in his five innings, with ten strikeouts.

The problem is that the Brewers have plenty of candidates to take over that ninth inning role. Jacob Barnes, Matt Albers, and Jeremy Jeffries could all get a look as well, which would make them potentially worth a pickup should they hold on to the closer role. However, none of them have the type of raw ability and swing and miss stuff that Hader possesses.

Even if Hader remains in his setup role, he is still a valuable arm. With his strikeout ability and the limited number of baserunners allowed, he can help in three categories. Should he take over the closer role in Milwaukee, those saves would be a bonus to the strong performance he can already provide.

Next: Under the radar minor leaguers

Josh Hader can already be an asset in fantasy baseball. If he takes over the closer role, he may not relinquish it, even with Corey Knebel returns.

Home / Fantasy Baseball