Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Midseason’s Best

The key to winning your fantasy baseball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent and call-ups could replace those late-round selections, even mid-rounders, that aren’t having the best season. Here at NFS, we provide the best picks for players you should grab off waivers now before it is too late. As always, both opportunity and performance are taken into consideration for these players. All players listed are rostered below 40 percent on ESPN. Learn to think like a NERD!

Hitters

Cedric Mullins, OF, Baltimore Orioles
No doubt the biggest waiver wire surprise of them all comes from the Baltimore Orioles where Cedric Mullins is putting on an MVP-caliber season. After three below-average seasons, Mullins has now become one of the most entertaining players in the league. From consistent hitting to flashy catches, he can basically do it all. Mullins currently leads the league in hits with 105. But he also adds 16 home runs with 36 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Mullins is currently slashing .313/.380/.543 and a .923 OPS. Mullins now becomes a future franchise cornerpiece for the Baltimore Orioles as they continue to build a roster from their farm system that can compete in the postseason again. 

Jesse Winker, OF/DH, Cincinnati Reds
For the past three seasons, Jesse Winker has been on radars to be primed for a breakout season but hasn’t quite achieved that until 2021, when most were lucky if they picked him in the last round. His power is what’s most impressive, as he already has two games with three homers to total 19 in all with 50 RBIs. But he’s also slashing .303/.385/.585 and a .929 OPS which is just as impressive. Winker will be headed to Colorado for the All-Star game but he is also highly considered in the MVP conversation along with teammate Nick Castellanos. The two will have the tall task of helping the Reds go to the postseason for back-to-back seasons despite losing stars like Trevor Bauer and other key members. 

Brandon Crawford, SS, San Fransisco Giants
Another major surprise is the resurgence of Brandon Crawford for the San Fransisco Giants. At 34 years old, many thought that Crawford was on the backend of his prime days and wasn’t bringing much production as he used to. However, he’s had a complete turnaround that’s earned him an All-Star appearance in Colorado. Crawford has already 18 homers along with 58 RBIs. He’s having a career year in all percentages, currently maintaining a .282/.359/.553 and a .912 OPS. Crawford’s surprise play has helped the Giants be one of the biggest shockers team-wise in the entire MLB. 

Adolis Garcia, OF, Texas Rangers
After some serious struggles with the St. Louis Cardinals, Adolis Garcia went to the Dominican Winter League and Pacific Coast League to rework his game. When he came back to the Texas Rangers, he looked like a completely different player and that has resulted in Garcia becoming a major surprise in 2021. Garcia already has 22 homers along with 62 RBIs. He’s also currently slashing .273/.313/.532 and a .846 OPS. Garcia’s one struggle is the ability to draw walks, but he will have plenty of time to work on that. Along with being an all-star, Garcia is in the frontrunner position for AL ROTY on top of being a major piece for the Texas Rangers in the future. 

Pitchers

Carlos Rodon, SP, Chicago White Sox
After a 2020 season where he struggled greatly where he finished with an ERA over eight, Carlos Rodon has had a complete turnaround in his career. Through 15 starts, he’s earned a 7-3 record while maintaining a 2.31 ERA. He’s done a great job managing a 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio this season. Rodon has helped the White Sox round out an excellent trio along with Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn. Once the team gets healthy, they should be able to make a deep run in the postseason with the talent they have. Rodon is the likely frontrunner for AL Cy Young. If he can keep up a solid second half of the season, Rodon could be in for a major payday this offseason. 

Trevor Rogers, SP, Miami Marlins
After an excellent spring training in 2021, many saw a surprise season from Trevor Rogers, but no one expected him to be in the conversation for NL Cy Young and NL ROTY. Through 18 starts, Rogers has earned a 7-6 record while managing a 2.31 ERA. Rogers now joins a loaded rotation even without their best prospect in Sixto Sanchez after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. Rogers is already looking like a future ace for the Marlins at only 23 years old. His second-half production will be key if the Marlins want to punch their ticket to the postseason in a still wide open division in the NL East. 

Freddy Peralta, RP/SP, Milwaukee Brewers
Freddy Peralta has been on the radar for a breakout season for the Brewers but hasn’t taken that stride until 2021. Peralta in 2020 was mainly utilized as a bullpen piece but he did put up career numbers. He only improved once he moved back to the rotation. Peralta has earned a 7-3 record with a 2.39 ERA. His strikeout to walk ratio is also at a career-high in 2021. Peralta has not only helped the Brewers be a surprise team in 2021 but also round out an elite trio in the rotation. Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes, and Freddy Peralta will be the focal point in Milwaukee’s success the rest of the season. 

Anthony DeSclafani, SP, San Fransisco Giants
In his first season with the San Fransisco Giants after spending five with the Cincinnati Reds, Anthony DeSclafani has had a great ascension along with great team play. DeSclafani has earned a 10-3 record along with a 2.68 ERA. He also leads the National League with two complete-game shutouts after only having one in his career before 2021. His consistency could use some improvement as he has put up some poor outings. DeSclafani joins a rising rotation with Kevin Gausman and Alex Wood. DeSclafani’s role will be key in maintaining the Giants’ success through the second half of the season.

UFC 264 Predictions

UFC is back with one of their biggest cards of the year that features easily the biggest trilogy this sport has ever seen. The Notorious Conor McGregor returns to realign his career against The Diamond, Dustin Poirier, who also has aspirations of his own to win his first UFC gold. But this card is stacked outside of the main event. An intriguing co-main event between Wonderboy Thompson and Gilbert Burns. But the prelims features some very notable names such as Jennifer Maia, Ryan Hall, Brad Taraves, Max Griffin, Carlos Condit, Niko Price, and Michel Pereira. Before it all goes down in Las Vegas, Ethan Hartley and Frank Bartunek are here to give their main card predictions. 

Previous Records:
Ethan Hartley: 7-3
Frank Bartunek: 6-4

Sean O’Malley vs. Kris Moutinho

Frank Bartunek

This is a little unfortunate, as the always exciting O’Malley had a fight scheduled against Louis Smolka, who just recently had to pull out due to an infection. Because of this, O’Malley will take on Kris Moutinho. Moutinho is 9-4 in his MMA career, but this will be his first fight in the UFC. That, of course, is always a challenge to make the competition jump, and facing a guy like Sean O’Malley does not make it any easier. O’Malley tried to hype up this fight, saying that Moutinho is not a scrub, but this will be too much of an uphill battle for the newcomer.

Official Prediction: Sean O’Malley wins

Frank’s Best Bet: Sean O’Malley to win by KO/TKO

Ethan Hartley

With the opponent change for Sean O’Malley, I don’t blame him for the new opponent. It’s just the dice that have been rolled for him but he is putting much more on the line than people think. But O’Malley is right that it is a lose-lose situation for him against Kris Moutinho because there is very little known about Moutinho, who gains attention regardless, with him being featured on the main card of a major event. To fight fans, not much is known about Moutinho. However, with the little information known, it’s clear O’Malley will again have another massive height and reach advantage. O’Malley already brings his insane knockout power to this fight and I think that’s how it will finish. O’Malley should be in line for a ranked opponent after what will likely be another quick knockout. 

Official Prediction: O’Malley by KO/TKO

Irene Aldana vs. Yana Kunitskaya

Frank Bartunek

The last fight Irene Aldana was in back in October, she suffered a defeat at the hands of Holly Holm. This fight will end up determining a lot in the division, as Aldana sits at number 4 in the rankings, while Kunitskaya sits at number 5. This fight will be won on the ground. It may go to decision, or end in submission if one of the two can get some good positioning. The only way I see this fight ending via KO is if Kunitskaya can wear down Aldana. Kunitskaya is the overall better technical fighter when it comes to takedowns, and takedown defense, and that gives her the edge here. 

Official Prediction: Yana Kunitskaya wins

Frank’s Best Bet: Yana Kunitskaya moneyline

Ethan Hartley

Irene Aldana vs. Yana Kunitskaya might be the closest fight outside of the main event, and the odds would agree, giving Aldana only a -120 lead. There are also not a lot of advantages to going to their fighter. Both have the same reach, finish rate, and other underlying stats. However, Aldana is coming off a loss to Holly Holm back in October. Compared to Kunitskaya who has won two in a row by unanimous decision. I do think that Aldana is the more experienced fighter in this scenario. She’s already beaten Ketlen Vieira, who was Kunitskaya’s last win, back in 2019. But I think Kunitskaya’s ability to attack both standing and in the wrestling department will be a big problem for Aldana. Kunitskaya will come away with a close win and enter herself in the title contender picture in Women’s Bantamweight. 

Official Prediction: Kunitskaya by Split Decision

Tai Tuivasa vs. Greg Hardy

Frank Bartunek

As a big football fan, my eyes always widen when I see Greg Hardy’s name on the card. As a human being, I always cringe when I see his name on the card. Hardy has shown that he can hold his own in the octagon, as he is a true freak of nature. We last saw him 8 months ago in a losing effort to Marcin Tybura. To be honest, there’s not much to get excited about with this fight. Two big heavyweights always provide for some knockout potential, but these two guys are not even near the top of this division. Hurts as a human to do this, but I have to strive for the best record possible in these predictions. Greg Hardy has the reach advantage.

Official Prediction: Greg Hardy Wins

Frank’s Best Bet: Greg Hardy moneyline

Ethan Hartley

The matchup between Tai Tuivasa and Greg Hardy might not hold a lot for the division for its placement on the card, but this is still a hell of a fight to put together. These are two of the more well-known fighters part of the promotion. Hardy, a former NFL player, and Tuivasa, best known for drinking beers out of worn shoes after wins, are easily fan favorites. On paper, Hardy has a major height and reach advantage that could prove big in what will likely be a stand-up battle. But Tuivasa has had a career revitalization, now on a two-fight winning streak. This fight will no doubt end in a finish. But I think it is Tai Tuivasa who continues his ascension in the heavyweight division and will be chugging another beer at the end of the night. 

Official Prediction: Tuivasa by KO/TKO

Gilbert Burns vs. Stephen Thompson

Frank Bartunek

Burns is coming off a championship bout loss to Kmaru Usman, while Wonderboy fights in his 252nd UFC fight. Ok, maybe it’s only his 21st, but he’s been around forever. Gilbert Burns is a great fighter, and extremely well rounded. He can work very effectively on the ground, and he can hold his own on his feet. His best offense is working for takedowns. Unfortunately for him, Thompson is known for avoiding takedowns. Thompson’s fighting style makes it very difficult to get a grasp on him to actually takedown, combined with his nice boxing skills. It is strange to see a fighter like Burns lose two in a row, but that is something that could very well happen here if he cannot get in close range to Thompson for his takedown offense.

Official Prediction: Stephen Thompson wins

Frank’s Best Bet: Stephen Thompson to win by decision

Ethan Hartley

Kickboxing legend Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson faces off Gilbert Burns in what is a sneaky underrated co-main event. Burns, coming off the loss to Kamaru Usman in February, is looking to quickly turn around his loss but it comes at a tall task, literally. Wonderboy comes into this fight with a two-inch height advantage that translates to a four-inch reach advantage. But none of that helps if Wonderboy can’t stop the submission and takedown pressure coming from Burns, who has eight career submission wins. This is likely Wonderboy’s last run for a title run because of his age. If he is able to maintain the distant pressure and keep the fight standing, Wonderboy has a great chance at winning this fight. But I think without being able to keep the fight on his feet, he doesn’t stand a chance and I don’t think Wonderboy has shown us enough that he can do that. I think Burns earns another submission win on Saturday and could very likely face Leon Edwards for the number one contender after Colby Covington. 

Official Prediction: Burns by Submission

Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier

Frank Bartunek

“IIIIIIIIIITTTTSSSSSS TIMMMMMMMEEEEEE!!!” It REALLY is time with two of the absolute very best in this fight game today. These two titans of the lightweight division are tied up at one a piece, and this fight is as important as a non-title fight could be. Not only is it between two giants of the game, but it has developed into a real rivalry. Why could McGregor not donate to Poirier’s charity? What is Julie DMing Conor about?? McGregor has really ramped up the trash talk, back to his old ways, as he talks about dribbling heads for money. Poirier, meanwhile has even jumped in, saying Conor is being so unfriendly “because he got knocked the fu** out.” There is no possible scenario in which this fight can go to decision. It’s too big, too important, too much hatred, and too much fun. McGregor we already know will be hunting for Poirier’s head the second that fight starts, and Dustin HAS to know this. This, in my opinion, works in Poiriers advantage. He already knows Conor’s first move is to attack from the very beginning. Look out for an Irishman loss here.

Official Prediction: Dustin Poirier wins

Frank’s Best Bets: Dustin Poirier moneyline

      Total rounds under 2.5

Ethan Hartley

Despite no title being on the line, this is easily the biggest fight of 2021, and the hardest to predict. Every advantage Dustin had going into this fight that he was the more active and productive fighter is out the window. Neither of these men have fought since the rematch in February. McGregor’s questions about his commitment are also now out of the window as he seems to be back in his old days during his rise. However, I don’t think one can ever return to that true form in his sports, especially for him, who will always have concerns with all the money he has earned. But there are some other questions that still stick, especially for Conor. Commitment and team issues will always come at a risk even if he continues to say he is the old Conor. How much is Conor staying grounded in order to keep himself humble? He has all the money one could ever want so how does that all of a sudden change now? But he’s proven to be lethal after losses with Nick Diaz being the fight that immediately comes to mind. On the other hand, you have Dustin Poirier, who seems to be in the prime of his fighting career even after an interim title win against Max Holloway, which seemed to be the peak before this incredible run. Considering these factors, I believe that Conor is unable to return to that peak form he had during his title run and Dustin Poirier is in his true prime already. I think this fight will end quickly with some form of a knockout. But the bottom line is that this is a toss-up fight, and these factors should be taken lightly as either of these men have the ability for these to disappear once the cage door locks, for better or for worse. 

Official Prediction: Poirier by TKO

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 14

The key to winning your fantasy baseball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent and call-ups could replace those late-round selections, even mid-rounders, that aren’t having the best season. Here at NFS, we provide the best picks for players you should grab off waivers now before it is too late. As always, both opportunity and performance are taken into consideration for these players. All players listed are rostered below 40 percent on ESPN. Learn to think like a NERD!

Hitters

Myles Straw, OF, Houston Astros
After typically being used as a pinch-runner for the first three years of his career, Myles Straw has worked his way up to the starting center field job for the Houston Astros. With that, has come improved hitting, especially as of late. Over his last 10 games, Straw has hit .361/.489/.417. What’s changed in Straw’s most dramatically is his ability to draw walks. Over those same 10 games, Straw has managed a 9:5 walk to strikeout ratio. He’s also had four stolen bases as well. Straw should be a must-add candidate in all leagues who he continues to improve his game. 

Jace Peterson, OF/1B/2B, Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers have also been a major surprise to the entire MLB after an average 2020 season. With that, there have been a lot of red hot batters who didn’t produce nearly as much in seasons prior. The biggest name of them all has been Jace Peterson, who played for four previous franchises before moving up north. In his last 10 games, Peterson has hit .467/.564/.800 and an insane 1.364 OPS. He’s also hit a homer and 11 RBIs. Peterson is an immediate add in all formats while his bat stays extremely hot. 

Enrique Hernandez, 2B/OF, Boston Red Sox 
Enrique “Kike” Hernandez is a fan favorite, no matter what team you root for. But recently, he’s been hitting the ball at a career-high rate, which has helped the Red Sox maintain one of the best records in the entire league. Over the last 10 games, Hernandez has hit .278/.400/.639 with four homers, nine RBIs, and six runs scored. He’s also done a great job earning walks, managed a 1:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Hernandez should also be a must-add in most leagues while he and the Red Sox continue to stay hot. 

Akil Baddoo, OF, Detroit Tigers
Akil Baddoo is a quality prospect from the Detroit farm system with some raw hitting and incredible speed. He had a hot start to the season but couldn’t keep the consistent hitting. That’s picked up as of late. Baddoo in his last ten games has hit .316/.381/.421 with six runs scored, three RBIs, and four stolen bases. He still struggles with strikeout numbers but that will come with time. Baddoo is worth keeping on watch lists, for the time being, his production could pick up at any point. At that point, he’ll be a quality pickup. 

Pitchers

Cole Irvin, RP/SP, Oakland Athletics
Cole Irvin has consistently been an underrated starting pitcher for the Athletics since being traded from the Phillies. It is time to give him more credit especially with his recent starts. In his last three starts, Irvin has maintained a 2.25 ERA and a 2-0 record. He’s also struck out 17 batters over 20 innings pitched. He still needs to improve his walk numbers and his overall command throughout his starts. But Irvin is one of the most steady pitchers available right now. He should be picked up in all league formats as long as he maintains his regular outings. 

Merrill Kelly, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Merrill Kelly had a quality 2020 shortened season, but like most prospects, failed to carry that over into the 2021 season. Recently, he’s been showing flashes from his productive 2020 season. In his last three starts, Kelly has earned a 3-0 record while managing a 1.80 ERA. Kelly has also done an excellent job of preventing walks, only allowing one compared to 17 strikeouts in those same starts. Kelly should also be an immediate pickup off the waivers while he continues to rebuild after a poor 2021 start. 

Kyle Freeland, SP, Colorado Rockies
Kyle Freeland is one of the most inconsistent pitchers of recent years. He hasn’t been anywhere near form since 2017 when he finished with 17 wins and a 2.85 ERA. 2020 showed some good flashes, but that has to be taken with a grain of salt. Up until recently, his consistency has yet to come together. In his last three starts, Freeland has earned a 1-0 record with an amazing 0.53 ERA, accumulating to only one earned run. This also must be taken with a grain of salt, as Freeland has been known to blow away this consistency. But it’s a positive sign, making him worth a flier in deeper formatted leagues until he puts together more constant starts. 

Ranger Suarez, RP, Philadelphia Phillies 
The bullpen for the Philadelphia Phillies has been nothing but awful. At one point, the bullpen blew seven save opportunities in six games. There has only been one player who has managed above average numbers during these horrendous periods. That is Ranger Suarez, who surprisingly had a horrendous 2020 season. Suarez in 2021 has managed a 0.85 ERA with a 0.69 WHIP, both of which are great for a reliever. With Hector Neris struggling, Suarez could be in line to be the new closer in Philadelphia. While that hasn’t been made official yet, it could be coming soon. He’s already earned one save in yesterday’s game against the Padres.

Tyler, the Creator – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, Album Review

Tyler Gregory Okonma aka Tyler, the Creator is back again after a typical two-year layoff with his seventh full-length album, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. This album was highly anticipated after his last album IGOR, which earned him Rap Album of the Year at the Grammys in 2020. Many fans wondered what exactly Tyler’s approach would be to this new project and if it would be any different or the same as IGOR. IGOR brought a much more pop and R&B sound to that album that was out of the blue. With IGOR, he proved he is much more than an edgy alternative rapper that many considered him to be during his days with Odd Future. Many music critics questioned if IGOR could even be considered in the rap category for the Grammys because of how different the sound was compared to the rap spectrum. Nonetheless, his winning showed an ascension for Tyler, and CALL IF YOU GET LOST would answer a lot of questions of who Tyler, the Creator truly is an artist in his prime.

As Tyler typically does, not much was teased before the release of CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. LUMBERJACK came out only a week before the release, but even that raised many questions. LUMBERJACK featured production that was a  Flower Boy/Cherry Bomb mix. Tyler also teased on this single that he was going back to his rapping ways, something he completely faded away from on IGOR. Looking at this album and the tracklist. The list of features is the first thing that stands out. The diversity of artists from different genres, eras, and quality are an interesting move. the features on this album include DJ Drama, 42 Dugg, Ty Dolla $ign, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Wayne, Teezo Touchdown, Domo Genesis, Brent Fiayaz, DAISY WORLD, Lil Uzi Vert, and Pharrell Williams. These two aspects immediately became what I would pay attention to the most after seeing the snippets.

There is a lot to love and barely anything to dislike on this project. First off, there was not a bad feature on this album, despite some questionable names of people who could likely drop the ball. My favorites would have to be from NBA Youngboy, Lil Wayne, and Brent Fiayaz. The biggest surprise is easily coming from NBA YoungBoy on WUSYANAME. NBA Youngboy’s singing really stood out more than anyone could have expected. This is huge for his discography proving that he can be much more adaptable than the mainstream trap rap songs he often releases with some occasional singing that doesn’t sound good at all. The narration by DJ Drama throughout the album is perfect. It’s not overdone but also not making no contribution to the project. He knows how to bring the excitement right off the bat. LEMONHEAD was where this album really took off. It was also the point where it was very clear the theme of this album and that Tyler was returning to his rapping roots. I enjoyed the placement of MOMMA TALK. The conversation between Tyler and his Mom really opens up on the personality of Tyler and where some of his characteristics come from. SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE is another split track that Tyler has featured on his previous projects. I loved how it flowed from a mellow lo-fi sound to a banger without much disconnection. JUGGERNAUT was another banger as well. The mix of Uzi and Pharell was much smoother than expected despite their background from different genres. Tyler going back to his Odd Future roots was incredible to see, having Domo Genesis as a feature on MANIFESTO. The only track I had any issue with was WILSHIRE. While it’s a freestyle and a story about Tyler basically intervening in another relationship, I felt it was somewhat out of place on the album.

Overall, I would give this album 9.5/10 with some of my favorite tracks being LEMONHEAD, WUSYANAME, SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE, and JUGGERNAUT. I am honestly blown away by this album. It is insane how Tyler has only continued to grow more and more since Cherry Bomb in 2015. What’s even more impressive about this album is that there are elements of every single previous Tyler album shown on CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. Each track could literally be put into a category of what album it would fit with best if this was just a  bundle of assorted tracks. But it isn’t that either, there is still an overall theme to the album. It might not be as down-to-earth or emotional as IGOR and Flower Boy were. This is where Tyler’s ties from Cherry Bomb, Golbin, and Wolf show out. He brings in the much cleaner production from his more recent albums but goes old school with his lyricism style, rapping about topics you’d typically see on older projects. Boasting is filled throughout this entire album and Tyler’s ego really stands out as the overall theme. His confidence has grown immensely since the start of his music career. His gangster and swagger really reeks through this album as well, something that he can finally back up with with insane quality. What’s also impressive is the incorporation of different instruments throughout the album. Trumpets and flutes are the biggest ones but there’s plenty of brass scattered throughout the album. CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST should clearly be considered for Rap Album of the Year for the Grammys and could easily be seen as the front-runner for the winner. Only a release by Kendrick Lamar or another major name could create a closer race.

I truly believe that Tyler, the Creator does not get nearly as much credit as he should for the music he’s been publishing over the last couple of years. I personally hold that since 2017, when Flower Boy came out, that Tyler, the Creator has published some of the best music in the entire industry in terms of quality. Between Flower Boy, IGOR, and now CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, I fully believe that his recent run hasn’t been touched by anyone in the industry. Names like Westside Gunn, Vince Staples, Freddie Gibbs, and others can say they’ve come close. But there is still a significant difference between them and Tyler. What’s most upsetting is that many rap fans will still recognize a lot of the current mainstream artists to be better than Tyler but haven’t even given a listen to his music. Tyler, the Creator is one of the best artists on the planet, but fails to receive the same kind of attention from other artists even in his own industry. More credit needs to be given to Tyler, the Creator.

The Rise of Cyril Gane

There is a new legitimate title contender in the heavyweight division of the UFC. Despite only having nine professional fights under his belt, Ciryl Gane has dominated every opponent he’s faced. Not to mention he’s also beaten some very elite talent as well in his run to the top. Recently he had a dominant win against Alexander Volkov this past Saturday in Las Vegas, sweeping all but one round to one judge on the scorecards. Gane is already looking like he could be next in line for a title shot once Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis settle their business. But what has made Ciryl Gane so impressive in only nine fights thus far?

There are a lot of attributes that make Ciryl Gane as special as he is. But the biggest one so far has to be what most casual fans would consider his most boring, his conditioning. Gane’s last two fights have been commanding victories that have resulted in him sweeping the later rounds of the fight. This is key that he is experiencing this now rather than in his first title contender fight against a much more difficult opponent. He could have found himself in some deep water without that experience. 

Another attribute that has given Gane great success is his technical striking. Gane does an excellent job picking apart his opponents especially with his lead jab, which showed against Volkov. Gane is currently the active heavyweight leader in the striking differential. Gane is also second behind Volkov in significant striking accuracy amongst active heavyweights. Finally, Gane is also third in strikes landed per minute amongst active heavyweights. Without a doubt, Gane’s accuracy is some of the best in this division, and the numbers back that up. 

There are plenty of other attributes that make Gane look like a contender already. His versatility in finishes with three KO/TKO and three submission finishes can be a major advantage in a predominantly standup weight class. His wrestling defense has also been perfect, as he’s never been the victim of a takedown or bottom time. His athletic stance gives Gane the ability to give a lot of different looks. This allows Gane to switch back and forth between Orthodox and Southpaw. This showed during the Volkov fight as it gave him a difficult time to throw significant combinations because of his active switching and elite counter strike ability. The bottom line is that there is a lot that Gane can do and not a ton that he can’t do. 

So what’s next for Ciryl Gane after last Saturday? Well, the division is in a very interesting spot. It looked like the promotionwill be moving forward with Derrick Lewis as the fight title defense for Francis Ngannou. And while there wasn’t a date for that fight to happen, it is expected to happen before the end of this year. But it now sounds like the UFC will change directions and finalize a fight between Gane and Derrick Lewis for an interim title belt at heavyweight. A direction that has many confused considering interim titles are only handed out of the fighter can’t fight for a while. Khabib Nurmagomedov commonly experiences this because of Ramadan and fasting for the holiday. But giving one out after Ngannou has only held the belt for three months. 

Jon Jones still fits into the mix of contenders despite not having a single fight at heavyweight yet. Jones and Gane could potentially match up for a number one contender fight. Jones tends to be picky with who he chooses to fight even when he isn’t the champion. Not to mention he’s also been dealing with money and contract issues with the UFC as well. Stipe Miocic also still fits into this situation. But it iscompletely unclear when he will come back and who that fight will be against. He has yet to fight since losing the belt to Ngannou back in March. 

Nonetheless, Cyril Gane is one of the newer stars to follow in the UFC. He’s had about as perfect a start as possible, even without the finishes. He has still been able to move up the rankings with dominant performances. The Frenchman has turned a lot of heads over the last two years with his quick ascension to already the number three spot in a deep heavyweight division. He is already ranked above well-known fighters such as Curtis Blaydes, Alexander Volkov, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Two of those names he’s already beaten in superior fashion. Yet he doesn’t seem to be attracting as much buzz because of his lack of finishing in his last two fights. But it doesn’t matter, Gane is one of the fastest-rising fighters and it shouldn’t be long before he gets his chance at the belt. Remember the name, Ciryl Gane.

NBA Draft Profile- Jalen Suggs

NAME: Jalen Suggs
HEIGHT: 6’4″
WEIGHT: 205
AGE: 19
POSITION: Point Guard
COLLEGE/ORGANIZATION: Gonzaga
NBA COMPARISON: Deron Williams/Jason Kidd
POSITIVES: Offensively, Jalen Suggs has a great all-around game. Not only is he a excellent scorer off the dribble but his off-ball movement is superior and gets more opportunities on slashing plays than on average. His facilitation is his best skill by far. He is always looking for the open player while keeping his scoring options alive. His efficiency is underrated, shooting 50 percent from the field and an outstanding 58 percent on two-point attempts. He’s also great at rebounding for his position. His defensive play is outstanding. Suggs is the top-tier defensive point guard in all of college basketball, averaging 1.9 steals per game. His athleticism is through the roof from being a top recruit in both basketball and football. He is great in the clutch as well. Prime example when he hit one of the best game-winners in college basketball history.

NEGATIVES: Suggs is not entirely the best three-point shooter, only shooting 33.7 percent in his one year at Gonzaga. Not to mention he is also inconsistent from beyond the arc as well. He’s only an average free-throw shooter, but has shown signs of improvement throughout the season. He can be a bit careless with the ball at times, averaging slightly under three turnovers a game. While his playmaking is above average, he isn’t exactly an elite passer. His assist to turnover ratio is only 1.83, while most above passers are considered to have around two. His shot choice can also be a bit questionable sometimes. He can be prone to hoisting up highlight shots that aren’t good looks.

NBA OUTLOOK: Jalen Suggs will likely be a top-five selection in this upcoming draft with real potential to become a franchise player for whoever selects him. He also has the great opportunity to be seamlessly paired with any star he joins because of his great facilitation and playmaking ability. His introduction to the league might be a bit rough, but his potential is through the roof especially if he improves his three-point shot. We could possibly be looking at an All-NBA player once he enters his prime a few seasons down the line. His dual-athleticism in high school showed out in college and will likely continue into the league. Realistic teams that Suggs could fit with are the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and New Orleans Pelicans if they chose to trade up.

What’s Next for the Philadelphia 76ers?

Coming into the NBA playoffs as a 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, many thought this could be the year for the Philadelphia 76ers to win the NBA Finals. It was a general consensus to the Philadelphia fanbase that they would at least make the conference finals this season with ease considering there were only three powerhouses in the Eastern Conference coming into the playoffs. Instead, they absolutely dropped the ball and got eliminated in the second round to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games. As someone who’s been a season ticket holder for years and was in attendance of the game, this is one of the worst losses in the history of this city. Philadelphia will have multiple free agents this summer and plenty of decisions to make after another disappointing season. Let’s break down some of the decisions this team needs to make in order to reload for another championship run. 

Summary

Let’s look at the facts of what happened this postseason for the 76ers. The roster was much better compiled for Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons to succeed together after Al Horford and Josh Richardson created a clogged interior for Joel Embiid to operate. Danny Green and Seth Curry brought more than enough spacing for Joel Embiid to perform at his maximum level. He ended up earning runner-up MVP during the regular season. The bench assembled for this team was put together well. Shake Milton was the clear scoring option off the bench, something this team has lacked since having Lou Williams. They also bring great veteran experience with Dwight Howard and George Hill, while also having young players like Tyrese Maxey and Furkan Korkmaz. This was by far the best roster that the 76ers front office has put together in a very long time. 

Coming into the postseason, the production of Ben Simmons was extremely important for how well this team could succeed. Ben had a solid regular season campaign and was one of the best defenders in the entire league. He was one to always pick up the best player on the opposing team’s roster. He did a phenomenal job at it as well, earning himself a runner-up Defensive Player of the Year Award. His first against the Washington Wizards was a mixed bag. His numbers on the surface are stellar. Simmons averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He also shot an incredible 64 percent from the field and played some outstanding defense on Russell Westbrook. Westbrook was held to shooting only 33 percent from the field and 25 percent from three, a large result of that was from Simmons’s defense. 

Things really fell off in the Atlanta Hawks series. A lot can be mentioned from this series, obviously, the biggest being his disappearance of aggressiveness. The most shocking stat of them all is his numbers in the fourth quarter. Ben Simmons through seven fourth quarters only took three shots. And while he made them all, that absolutely doesn’t matter in this circumstance. The second-best player on a championship team can’t be taking that few shot attempts, let alone on any team if they want any shot at making an impact in the playoffs. His scoring in general against Atlanta just fell off, scoring less than 10 points a game in the series. But Ben’s free throw shooting is what likely cost Philadelphia the biggest trouble. After only shooting 35 percent against the Wizards, Simmons was only able to make 33 percent of his free throws against Atlanta. These numbers hit historic lows in playoff history, nothing any 76ers wanted to see. 

What’s Next

Deciding on what to do with Ben Simmons is the number one priority for this franchise; there is zero question about that. However, the issue gets much more complicated when you look at numbers and possible numbers. Right off the bat, options are limited considering Simmons is going to make $31 million in the 21′-22′ season. That is a huge financial commitment for any team to make on whatever level their status is on. Even the Oklahoma City Thunder would be a tough sell because he becomes a strain on their flexibility even if he turns his career around. Ideally, as a speaker for the Philadelphia fans, this team needs a new young guard to reset their franchise. De’Aaron Fox and Shai Gilgous-Alexander are two names that fans would love to have. That’s impossible at this point with the value of Simmons diminishing by the day.

Trade offers being thrown around currently involve players like CJ McCollum, D’Angelo Russell, and Buddy Hield. These aren’t offers that the 76ers would be drooling over considering the expectations Simmons has had since coming to the organization. If they chose to keep him, that obviously comes with a major risk. If Simmons never reaches his potential from the draft, he could live up to one of the biggest disappointments the league has ever seen, even with his defensive ability and all-star appearances. Trading him might be the best option for the franchise to get a return for his highest current value, even if it isn’t as high as the team wants it to be. In the four years that Simmons has been in Philadelphia, there has not been a lot of improvement in his game. He certainly hasn’t developed any form of a three-point shot, let alone a jump shot. His free throw shooting is still below par, especially in the playoffs. His only real improvement is his defensive versatility. 

But Ben Simmons isn’t the only issue the Philadelphia 76ers have on their hands. Their performance from the bench players in the series against the Hawks was eye-opening. Shake Milton was seen as the first scoring option off the bench, but he only averaged four points a game on 10 minutes of playing time in the playoffs. Milton’s only game where he brought flair was 14 points he had in Game 2 that helped them tie the series. Tyrese Maxey had a similar playoff performance. He saved the season with his incredible play in Game 6. But when he was needed for Game 7, his production wasn’t nearly the same. Furkan Korkmaz didn’t provide a ton once he was moved to the starting lineup for Danny Green. Green’s absence was huge as well, despite the opinions of others after his strange season with the Lakers. Without him, it created an environment where all the role players had to provide a bigger role that simply wasn’t capable of from them on a nightly basis. 

Free agency will be a very likely place for the 76ers to fill their holes of depth. Tyrese Maxey and Shake Milton will have another season to develop to be the backcourt off the bench. Dwight Howard could resign as the backup center if he would like. But other options could be in sight if he chooses to sign with another contender. Nerlens Noel, Daniel Theis, JaVale McGee, and Boban Marjanovic will all be options heavily considered by the front office to fill the backup center role if Howard leaves. Furkan Korkmaz is another likely target to sign elsewhere. His experience showed a ton in the playoffs and they’ll likely want a more experienced option to fill Korkmaz’s role. James Ennis, Doug McDermott, and Trevor Ariza could be some of the many options considered. An upgrade at the backup power forward is also needed. James Johnson, Nemanja Bjelica, and Trey Lyles aren’t bad options Lastly, a veteran point guard isn’t a bad idea if Maxey’s development isn’t as fast as hoped for. Ish Smith, Avery Bradley, and Elfrid Payton are all solid options. The bottom line is that this team needs to add more consistent scorers to their arsenal. 

The Philadelphia 76ers will have a lot on their plate to deal with this summer. They’ll have important draft selections to make as well. They’ll likely have a first-round pick in the mid-20s unless they choose to trade it to add more experienced players. They’ll have to also decide which contributing players they choose to re-sign or not, Danny Green especially. Ben Simmons will be their most important decision. There is no doubt it will be franchise-altering whether they chose to keep him. Daryl Moray will have his hands full rebuilding what he thought was a championship roster after a disappointing 2021 playoffs. 

Migos – Culture III, Album Review

The trio known as Migos featuring Quavo, Takeoff, and Offset, released their third edition of the Culture series, Culture III. Surprisingly, not much has been released from the Migos since Culture II in early 2018. The three did release each of their own individual albums throughout late 2018 and early 2019. However, none of them really popped out or brought anything special despite a different move by the trio to make individual albums. Even after those individual albums, only singles and some features have been released. This album was also delayed multiple times. After Culture II, Quavo announced that Culture III would be coming in 2019, about a year after Culture II, which fits the timeline since Culture I was released in late 2017. So expectations seem high for Culture III considering the extra time they took to completely finalize the album.

Culture I set the bar in a great spot for what fans could expect in future albums. Tracks like Call Casting, Bad and Boujee, Slippery, and Big on big are some of Migos’s best tracks to this day. Though, Culture II was an absolute disaster of an album. Their one-liners weren’t anywhere near as creative compared to Culture 1. Outside of tracks like Stir Fry, Walk It Talk It, and MotorSport — which all are average within themselves — this album is basically forgettable. But in theory, this should set up an opportunity for a major comeback with an outstanding project in Culture III considering we know what the three of them can create from previous albums that helped them rise to their fame today.

That is essentially the opposite of what Culture III was supposed to be. Upon first listen, I thought it was okay. I thought the first half had some half-decent songs, enough to put this album at the mid-level. Unfortunately after the second listen for me was when things went completely downhill. This is by far the most disconnected the trio has been throughout any of their previous albums. I was beyond shocked to see some of these one-liners that are not only being inaccurate factually, but also disgustingly strange. Picasso featured a line where Quavo said “These n***** sweeter than cinnamon”, where cinnamon isn’t sweet, it’s a spice. Another one-liner on Modern Day, Offset said “Making money eight ways, I’m a squid”. Someone should have told Offset to write in octopus instead because squids only have two tentacles. However, the worst one-liner of them all came on Time For Me, where Offset raps “Twinkle, twinkle, yellow diamonds like I urinated.” I honestly wish I could go back in time to skip this track in its entirety. Roadrunner is the only track on this album where I thought the trio actually brought some above-average lyricism to the project.

The production throughout the album is about as typical as it can get for a Culture Migos album. There was absolutely zero progression in their instrumental from Culture II to Culture III. I can only give credit to Picasso for at least trying to have a flute integrated with the common trap beat. I didn’t think any of the features were anything special. The Justin Bieber feature on What You See was easily the worst.  This was a combination that was never meant to come together from the start. Juice WRLD on Antisocial was okay at best, but nothing worth giving a ton of credit. I was most excited to hear what Drake could provide on Having Our Way. But that also was a complete disappointment. Drake rapping “Qua’ out here havin’ his way, and like the third Migo, I take” every ten seconds could not get any more annoying. The only I truly enjoyed was Clueless featuring Pop Smoke and Fivio Foreign. However, I cannot give a ton of credit to Migos for this considering it’s a carbon copy Pop Smoke track with a New York drill beat in the background. Polo G’s Hall of Fame featured the same kind of track that was released on the exact same day as Culture III. 

Overall, I would give this album a 3/10 with only my favorite songs being Roadrunner and Clueless. It is a tough choice to say whether this is worse than Culture II or not. Regardless, both are absolutely atrocious. What’s next for the trio? Who knows, but this group is far from their Yung Rich Nation and No Label albums that raised them to the top of the hip-hop/rap scenery. Migos has now become one of many groups to completely change their sound and rhythm to appeal to the mainstream audience but at the same time throw away all the elements that made their music constructively sound like a great rap album should. This easily goes up there as one of the worst albums of 2021 so far.

NBA Draft Profile- Davion Mitchell

NAME: Davion Mitchell
HEIGHT: 6’2″
WEIGHT: 205
AGE: 22
POSITION: Point Guard
COLLEGE/ORGANIZATION: Baylor
NBA COMPARISON: Marcus Smart/Patrick Beverley

POSITIVES: The number one thing that stands out for Davion Mitchell is his defensive ability. It was especially on display during his senior season, where Mitchell averaged 1.9 steals per game. He also finished his senior season with 1.9 defensive win shares, which ranks above average in a college season, while also having an above-average defensive plus/minus at 3.7. Mitchell’s great strength and athleticism obviously aids him on the defensive, especially in pick and roll scenarios  However, his most massive improvement through his college career has been his offensive efficiency and just simply improving his offensive game in general. His shooting splits from his freshman year to senior year are out of his world. He went from .429/.288/.677 to .511/.447/.641. And while his efficiency is most eye-opening, his volume has improved too, adding more than six points per game each season. Mitchell’s decision making and passing have also greatly improved over the years to match whit his a long lasting motor throughout games.

NEGATIVES: Big thing that stands out is revolving around free throws. Not only does he not go to the free-throw line enough (2.1 attempts per game his senior season) but his percentage is atrocious for a point guard (65 percent for his college career). He lacks a legitimate catch and shoot ability. His length is also below average and that could be a disadvantage defensively against bigger guards. Mitchell also isn’t out of this world when it comes to facilitating the pick and roll. Lackluster rebounding is also a concern, especially offensively. Finally, sometimes he can be extra aggressive gambling on steals and help defense. This leaves him out of position and often creates easy plays for opposing teams.

NBA OUTLOOK: Transferring out of Auburn was the best decision that Davion Mitchell could have chosen to do. While he gets a lot of hype for being “Number 45 with the last name Mitchell,” he actually has a completely different style of play compared to Donovan Mitchell. His defensive ability and strength will make him an excellent plug and play player early in his career. His three point shooting should carry over nicely. At 22, Davion is a bit “old” in the realm of NBA prospects, but that can certainly be seen as a positive as well due to maturity. Only time will tell to answer that aspect. But nonetheless, Mitchell’s outstanding senior year has helped his stock skyrocket in the past six months. Teams like the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, and Washington Wizards would all be solid fits for Davion Mitchell.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 12

The key to winning your fantasy baseball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent and call-ups could replace those late-round selections, even mid-rounders, that aren’t having the best season. Here at NFS, we provide the best picks for players you should grab off waivers now before it is too late. As always, both opportunity and performance are taken into consideration for these players. All players listed are rostered below 40 percent on ESPN. Learn to think like a NERD!

Hitters

Adam Duvall, OF, Miami Marlins
By the surprise of most, Adam Duvall is currently leading the National League in RBIs. That has mainly come from a recent explosion in hitting that has earned him as a top priority spot on the waiver wire. In his last 10 games, Duvall has hit .316/.357/.868 with seven homers and 19 RBIs. Four of those home runs and 10 RBIs have come in the last two games, but that should push out his consistent hitting in these last ten games. He’s also held onto an impressive 1.226 OPS in those same games. Duvall obviously won’t be hitting a homer every game but his power and consistency make him a top-tier pickup. 

Luis Urias, 3B/2B/SS, Milwaukee Brewers
Luis Urias has been having a mini breakout season of his own in 2021. Despite not many of the surface stats surpassing previous averages, Urias has had major improvements in slugging and OPS that make him a much more offensive threat. In his last 20 games, Urias has had 20 hits along with .294/.407/.529 splits and 10 RBIs. Urias is a perfect utility player with his position flexibility. He’s also only 24 years old and still has plenty of room for improvement. He has all the tools currently to make him another quality pick-up on the waiver wire. 

Brandon Belt, 1B, San Fransisco Giants
With the Giants surprising most with their incredible start to the season, many of their players have turned back the clock to their prime days. The latest of those players being Brandon Belt, a former all-star in 2016. In his last 10 games, Belt has hit .314/.415/.771 with three home runs and six RBIs. He’s also managed a solid 1.186 OPS in those same games. Belt’s potential isn’t nearly what it once was considering he is 33 but that shouldn’t stop his addition to fantasy rosters. He’s a solid power-hitting first baseman that’s showing he still has plenty left in the tank. Belt should be added in most league formats. 

Taylor Ward, OF, Los Angeles Angels
After a solid 2020 season, Taylor Ward’s expectations risen to play a key role in the ascension of the Angels. He’s improved in some underlying stats especially his slugging and OPS. But recently he’s been hitting great, enough to make him a quality waiver wire sleeper candidate. In his last 10 games, Ward has hit .333/.435/.538 with one home run, nine RBIs, and eight runs scored. Ward’s improvements will be worth tracking if he can finally break the threshold and become another key hitter for the Angels. For now, he is just worth watching on radars. 

Pitchers

Patrick Sandoval, SP, Los Angeles Angels
After a below-average 2020 season where he finished 1-5 and an ERA above five, Patrick Sandoval has been pitching the lights out and looks like a legitimate number two pitcher alongside Shohei Ohtani. In his last four starts, Sandoval has managed a 2.78 ERA with a 2-2 record. He’s also recorded 27 strikeouts to only seven walks over 22 innings pitched. Sandoval still has a lot to improve upon but what he’s producing now are very good signs he has what it takes to maintain big league production. Sandoval should be added in all league formats.

Lucas Sims, RP, Cincinnati Reds
New closer alert! With Amir Garrett and Sean Doolittle struggling to convert save opportunities, David Bell has now made the change to make Lucas Sims the new closer and he’s been great since then. Sims had a great 2020 season where he finished with a 2.45 ERA but zero saves. In his eight last appearances, Sims has maintained a 0.93 ERA with four saves. Sims is quickly being picked up off the water wire so grab him quickly as this will likely be a permanent change as long as he continues this high production. 

Chris Flexen, SP/RP, Seattle Mariners
After some rough seasons with the New York Mets, Chris Flexen took his talents to Korea in order to fix his pitching, especially his curveball. In the offseason, he signed with the Seattle Mariners in hopes to make his name an establishment in the league. His numbers have made dramatic improvements since his days in New York. In his last two starts, Flexen has earned a 1.93 ERA with a 2-0 record. He’s also done an excellent job maintaining an 11:1 strikeout to walk ratio. Flexen’s biggest concern is consistency, as he typically has a bad outing following a great one. But it’s good to see he is making improvements. Flexen is a quality candidate on the waivers to add right now. 

Bailey Ober, SP, Minnesota Twins
A rookie making his first stint in the big leagues, Bailey Ober has had some quality and underrated numbers in his first few starts. While he has yet to win or lose a decision, Ober has managed a 3.71 ERA with 21 strikeouts over 17 innings of work through four starts. In his last two starts, however, Ober has merited a 2.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts over nine innings pitched. Ober’s role will be huge for a Minnesota rotation that continues to struggle and deal with injuries after a much more productive 2020 season. For now, Ober is worth taking a flier on in deeper formatted leagues. But it won’t be long he will become a popular pickup if he maintains these numbers.