Throughout both the fantasy football and hockey seasons, I have been making posts each week to indicate the best players from last week. The metrics I use are based on the categories I list below, and their owned percentage. I only put down players owned in <50% of leagues (ESPN), and all positional eligibility is determined by that platform. I understand many use Yahoo and other places, but I use ESPN to determine these things. Also, these players are not necessarily the best going forward. This is just a list of those that did the best last week. Whether you want to add them outright or throw them on a watch list, I believe they are worthy of a second look at minimum.
Batters: R, HR, RBI, BB, SB, AVG, OPS
Pitchers: QS, W, BAA, ERA, WHIP, K/9, SV/HD
Batters
Catchers
Gary Sanchez/Twins (C/DH) - Seldom is there going to be a catcher on the list that makes me wonder if they are worth an add. The catcher slot is a cesspool like the TE slot in fantasy football. However, Sanchez is one of those players that may be worth the waiver claim. Gary hit two homers last week, totaling 9 RBIs on seven total hits. This boosted his season average above .220.
Brian Serven/Rockies - Another catcher who hit multiple home runs last week, Brian benefited from playing in a home stand with the Rockies. He hit two home runs against the Mets over the weekend as he went 3/10 at the plate. The 27-year-old was making his MLB debut after hitting .273 in 23 games in AAA this season.
First Base/Third Base
Darin Ruf/Giants (1B/LF/DH) - The injuries to the Giants are freeing up at bats for everybody across the lineup, and Ruf will not be forced out as a result. Darin was the second top hitter across fantasy baseball that fit the metric, regardless of position. He would draw 7 walks as he went 6/18 at the plate, hitting two home runs. Ruf has racked up 25 walks in total this season, but still has an average at .238.
Christian Walker/Diamondbacks (1B) - If you need home runs in a category league and AVG doesn’t matter to you, Walker is your guy. Last week he had five total hits, and four of them went beyond the fence. Christian drew six walks also along the way. What is unfortunate is that despite all these home runs, so many were solo homers. Arizona needs to get on base ahead of him.
Jonathan Villar/Cubs (3B/2B/SS) - One of the better adds you can make this week in a deep league; Villar does a bit of everything. Jonathan stole two bases and hit just as many home runs in 22 at bats last week. Villar also hit for contact, going at a .318 rate and pushing his average to .250.
Eugenio Suarez/Mariners (3B/SS) - The Mariners were solid this week in ensuring that Eugenio’s contact did not go to waste. He got on base nine times and was pushed across the plate on seven occasions. Two of those times were home runs hit by Suarez, giving him 8 on the season. His average is now at a subpar .225 after hitting above .300 over the last several days.
Seth Brown/Athletics (1B/RF/LF) - Another player with an awful average on the season, Brown was great last week to push his rate to .190. Over the last seven days Seth went 7/20 at the plate, hitting a home run and driving four home. Brown also showed a bit of speed by snagging his third base of the season.
Second Base/Short Stop
Jonathan Villar/Cubs (3B/2B/SS)
Eugenio Suarez/Mariners (3B/SS)
Isaac Paredes/Rays (2B/3B) - The middle infield slot is definitely not as strong as the corners this week, as indicated by Villar/Suarez being at the top in this section. Paredes will see more opportunities at the plate with Yandy Diaz injured at this time, so there is room for improvement. Isaac had three hits on 14 at bats, all of which were home runs last week. He’s only seen 33 at bats at the MLB level this season, going .242.
Luis Rengifo/Angels (SS/2B) - A very different week than Paredes, Rengifo is mainly about contact when he goes to the plate. Although Luis hit a home run, he did end up 6/18 at the plate and stole a base to his credit. Rengifo also drew four walks, giving him half as many walks as hits on the season. If given more looks at the plate, he may be worth an add if he can keep going above .300.
Jed Lowrie/Athletics (2B/DH) - Despite mustering only five hits last week, Lowrie was able to get on base a decent number of times. Jed drew four walks and hit a home run, pushing his average to .241 on the season. He has reached double digits in runs; RBIs ad walks this season.
Outfielders
Brett Phillips/Rays (LF/CF/RF) - After the injury to Manuel Margot, the utility slot in the outfield of Tampa was Philips for the taking. He pretty much doubled most of his counting stats this past week, stealing three bases and homering twice as he went .476 at the plate. This may be the week that will allow the former highly touted prospect to find his groove. Brett has stolen six bases and homered four times in total this season.
Darin Ruf/Giants (1B/LF/DH)
Kole Calhoun/Rangers (RF) - If those around Calhoun in the order would get on base, he probably would be higher on this list. Calhoun went 8/24 at the plate and hit three home runs last week. Unfortunately, he was only able to drive 5 runners' home because nobody was on base ahead of him. This doubled his season total in homers and has given him 14 RBIs on the season.
David Peralta/Diamondbacks (LF) - A similar stat line to Calhoun, Peralta also hit three home runs last week. However, those would be the only three occasions he crossed the plate. Despite Peralta going 7/23, those behind him could not push him home. David has 18 walks on the season and is struggling at a .223 clip.
Kevin Kiermaier/Rays (CF) - What a week for Kevin at the plate. Even though Kiermaier did not draw a single walk, he ended up on base 11 times in 23 at bats. Kevin brought his average to .245 on the season and hit two home runs with all this contact. That gives him five on the season to go with three stolen bases.
Harrison Bader/Cardinals (CF) - One of the quickest players on the basepaths this season, Bader has been given a long leash as it pertains to stealing bases. Harrison would snag three and bring his season total up to 11 last week. It probably helped his cause that he went 7/22 at the plate, getting his average up to near .250 on the season.
Designated Hitters
Darin Ruf/Giants (1B/LF/DH)
Gary Sanchez/Twins (C/DH)
Pitchers
Brady Singer/Royals (SP) - After returning to the rotation, Singer has been lights out for the Royals. He started two games last week, pitching seven scoreless innings in each outing. Brady would earn a win in one of the appearances and a quality start for both. He isn’t going to knock your doors off consistently with K’s, putting up 12 across the 14 innings but the other rates are fantastic.
Wade Miley/Cubs (SP) - The veteran pitcher threw two great starts last week for Chicago, going 13 innings and earning two QS’s for his efforts. Wade was credited with a win in one of the outings and gave up only 7 hits in total between the starts. Unfortunately, similar to Singer, Miley is not a strikeout artist. He struck out only 9 batters last week.
Nick Pivetta/Red Sox (SP) - After one start last week, Pivetta was able to extend his quality start streak to three outings with a complete game against the Astros. In that start he gave up only two hits and struck out eight along the way. His ERA isn’t great this season, but the WHIP and K/9 are respectable.
Zach Eflin/Phillies (SP) - The Phillies did not do Eflin justice this past week in either of his starts. In both outings Eflin was able to achieve a quality start designation, going 13 innings and allowing only three runs in total. Zach struck out a whopping 17 between the appearances and twelve came against the Dodgers. His rates are solid, actually better than Pivetta’s on the year.
Johnny Cueto/White Sox (SP) - The veteran hurler has returned to the majors for the ailing White Sox squad and did well last week. Johnny would throw two quality starts, not giving up a single run across his first 12 innings of MLB action in 2022. Cueto struck out twelve batters in total and was credited with putting just as many on base via hits and walks.