Ethan Hartley

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Preseason

The key to winning your fantasy basketball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent could replace those late-round selections 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, and also all players listed are rostered below 40 percent on ESPN. Learn to think like a NERD! Check out the NBA New Age Rankings for every player’s year-to-date performance valuation.

Guards

Jordan Poole, PG/SG, Golden State Warriors
Towards the end of last season, Jordan Poole showed major improvements in his overall game that made him a top waiver wire pick up last season. He improved massively in his shooting percentages across all three categories. And with Klay Thompson likely missing part of the season, Poole will form a still solid backcourt with Steph Curry once again. His preseason performance also makes him a perfect feature pick up on the waiver wire for at least the first half of the season,

Gary Trent Jr., SG/SF, Toronto Raptors
Since the trade involving Normal Powell that sent Gary Trent Jr. to We the North, his performance has been outstanding. Since his arrival, Trent averaged 16 points per game and even finished with 44 points in a game against the Cavaliers. His partnership with Fred VanVleet could be underrated amongst league backcourt. His only negative is newly acquired guard Goran Dragic from the Kyle Lowry trade. However, he’ll likely be traded based on the timeline of the franchise as a small rebuild.

Tyrese Maxey, SG, Philadelphia 76ers
The unfortunate circumstance for Tyrese Maxey is that his development lies on the shoulders of Ben Simmons and the 76ers Front Office. If Simmons does end up being traded and the return does not involve another point guard, Maxey’s sophomore season could be huge with a stacked supporting cast around him. His ability to score quick buckets with shifty and swift speed. His playmaking and passing could use improvement. But if everything works out, Maxey could be a solid steal off the waivers.

Forwards

DeAndre Hunter, SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks
After a strong sophomore season, DeAndre Hunter dealt with a lingering knee injury that limited him to only 23 games last season. However, he did average 15 points with a much better shooting percentage. And with no real development from Cam Reddish, it seems like Hunter is lined up again to be the starting small forward for the contending Atlanta Hawks. His only limitation is his health, especially with an off-season knee surgery. But the talent is there for another solid campaign.

Terance Mann, SF, Los Angeles Clippers
After an incredible playoff performance that helped the Los Angeles Clippers reach the Western Conference Finals without Kawhi Leonard, there should be little doubt that Terance Mann can carry that over to his third season in the pros. He made a major improvement on his outside shooting, knocking down 41% of deep balls. With Kawhi expected to be out for most if not all of this season, it’ll be Terance Mann handling his duties no doubt, making him an immediate sleeper pick in all formats.

Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
This is a fun pick but Aleksej Pokusevski is one of the most entertaining non-superstar players to watch. He is the forthcoming of the next “unicorn” and it shows in his game. Between the wild highlights and all-around play, he has all the tools to be the second star for the OKC Thunder. His thin frame and lack of an outside shot can cause problems for him. But the volume he’ll get makes him a hard player to pass up on waivers once the season is underway.

Centers

Mo Bamba, C, Orlando Magic
Despite the Orlando Magic committing $50 million over the next four years to Wendell Carter Jr., that doesn’t rule out Mo Bamba to still bring solid production. Carter has struggled to stay healthy and hasn’t played more than 55 games in a season. Carter also struggles defensively, something that Bamba is much better at with his insane wingspan. Expect to see some split time between the two to start the season until one eventually pulls away. Keep Bamba on radars until then because this is a critical year for his career.

Moses Brown, C, Dallas Mavericks
After moving around a few teams, Moses Brown now finds himself with the Dallas Mavericks who are still trying to make the next step forward. Moses Brown may certainly help with his dominance offensively and defensively in the paint. In only about 20 minutes a game, Brown was able to average 8 points, nine rebounds, and a block per game. With a much better supporting cast including superstar Luka Doncic, Brown should have much more effective plays set up for him.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 7

The key to winning your fantasy football league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent 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!

A.J. Green, WR, Arizona Cardinals
It is quite shocking to see that only a few seasons ago, A.J. Green was a top wide receiver in the NFL and now ending up on the top of a waiver wire column. Outside of last week’s dud against the 49ers, Green has still produced quality outings as a number two wide receiver for an MVP quarterback. Last game against the Browns, Green finished with five receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. Green is still showing all of us that his career has yet to conclude. He should be a top addition off the waiver wire with his consistent production week in and week out.

Zach Ertz, TE, Arizona Cardinals
Zach Ertz’s decline in numbers has always been mainly due to the offense and quarterback production. He’s only three years removed from a season where he finished with 116 receptions and 8 touchdowns. He followed up in 2019 with 88 receptions and 6 touchdowns. Then all the drama with Carson Wentz happened and the offense as a whole took a significant hit. At 30 years old, Ertz becomes a major addition to one of the best offenses in the NFL with Kyler Murray running the show. Murray also loved targeting Maxx Williams before his significant leg injury, so Ertz will immediately plug into that same role but with much better pass-catching ability.

T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts
After dealing with a neck injury over the off-season, T.Y. Hilton finally returned for the Colts. For years, Hilton has been one of the most reliable wide receivers in the NFL and continues to be an anchor even in 2021. Against the Texans, Hilton finished with four receptions for 80 yards. His partnership with Michael Pittman Jr. will be huge if the Colts want to be able to turn this disappointing around. Hilton is a perfect waiver wire pick-up for consistent production from the wide receiver option with occasional boom games because of Carson Wentz’s arm strength.

Devonta Freeman, RB, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have continued to shuffle around their running backs since Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins went down with season-ending injuries. First, it was Ty Son Williams who was only able to finish with one big game during Week 1. Then they sign a bunch of veterans like Le’Veon Bell, Latavius Murray, and Devonta Freeman. But as of late it has been Freeman and Murray splitting the carries. Freeman, who qualifies as a waiver wire pickup, finished with an incredible 5.9 yards per carry, totaling 53 yards and a touchdown. The only question is if he’ll continue to have this opportunity going forward. It seems like it is a week-by-week basis at the moment for the Ravens backfield.

Ricky Seals-Jones, TE, Washington Football Team
After Logan Thomas with a hamstring injury that put him on Injure Reserve, it has been Ricky Seals-Jones receiving the targets for the Washington Football Team. He’s also become a favorite target for Taylor Heinicke. Seals-Jones finished third in targets against the Kansas City Chiefs with six. In that game, he hauled in four receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown. His production will only go as far as Thomas is out for. But with a favorable matchup against the Green Bay Packers, Seals-Jones is a solid pick-up off waivers for the next few weeks.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 5

Sam Darnold, QB, Carolina Panthers
It is time to start taking Sam Darnold seriously as an NFL quarterback who can compete with most teams in the NFL. He’s on a hot streak thus far (#4 in our New Age Rankings) and as the weeks go by, he continues to make a case that he should be in the top half of starting QBs. This season, Sam Darnold has thrown three interceptions and five touchdowns. He also has five rushing touchdowns as well, which is already a career-high. He’s done his fair share at keeping the Panthers afloat in the playoff hunt so far. DJ Moore has been the beneficiary of Darnold’s production. If he’s able to keep this up, the Panthers may have just found their franchise quarterback.

Van Jefferson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
In a high-level offense, Van Jefferson has been the beneficiary of some highly productive games and has already shown to be a decent steal this early in the draft after being taken in the fourth round. Jefferson last week totaled 90 yards and a touchdown on six catches. He also had a boom game Week 1 where he had 80 yards and a touchdown on two catches. He needs to make major improvements on his production consistency. That will probably just have to come with time as he integrates with the rest of the offense. But Jefferson is a solid season-long investment.

Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants
It is quite ridiculous that it took four weeks and injured players for Jason Garrett to see Kadarius Toney’s full talent. He was lucky enough to slip to the Giants at 20th when he could have easily been taken higher. Nonetheless, he finally had his first game included in the offense and he performed well. Toney finished with six receptions for 78 yards on nine targets. It would be hopeful that he is continued to be utilized in the near future for the Giants as his production helped produce their first win of the season. Toney is another investment player as he continues to make strides in his young career.

Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
With Miles Sanders continuing to struggle in the Eagles’ offense, it has been Kenneth Gainwell who has slowly continued to build a case for more touches. Last week, Gainwell totaled two touchdowns with around 100 scrimmage yards. Sanders on the other hand only finished with around 40 yards and an ugly 1.9 yards per carry rushing. The fifth-round pick is also starting to slowly look more like a steal in the draft. It will be interesting to see which direction Nick Sirianni leans in on who is the lead back for the Eagles. He is another investment player as the Eagles continue to develop chemistry in their offense.

Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers
After an eight-season stint with the Packers between 2011 and 2018, Randall Cobb spent two seasons in Texas before reuniting with Aaron Rodgers. It wouldn’t take long either before the two could reconnect offensively like they did only a few seasons ago. Last week, Cobb finished with 69 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions. Cobb immediately entered this offense as a reliable second receiver for Aaron Rodgers and that’s already showing early. Cobb is a solid pick up because of his familiarity in a high-producing offense.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 4

Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
WIth Christian McCaffery going with another injury that will likely keep him out for a few weeks, Chuba Hubbard immediately enters as the new feature back for the Carolina Panthers. A fourth-round rookie, there’s little chance that Hubbard could fill the role as productive as McCaffery. But let’s not count him out, he was a Heisman Candidate at Oklahoma State and finished his final full season in 2019 with around 2300 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns. He will have plenty of opportunities to blow the doors open while CMC recovers. He should be an immediate pickup in fantasy.

Sammy Watkins, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Watching the Kansas City Chiefs now, Sammy Watkins’s absence is clearly hurting the team since he left in free agency. He’s a reliable clean route runner who can catch at all three levels of the field. His production has been very strong in Baltimore after signing there. He’s received 25 targets through three games and finished with an average of four catches in those games. He’s totalled 96, 44, and 68 yards in all three games so far. His numbers aren’t booming, but he’s consistent and reliable. It is only a matter of time before he has an explosive game. PLus with Hollywood Brown dropping two touchdowns, the offense could be calling on Watkins more.

Tim Patrick, WR, Denver Broncos
After Jerry Jeudy went down with a high ankle sprain, all Denver wide receivers were solid pickups because it was unclear who would be the new favorite in that offense. Well, it seems that question has been answered and it is Tim Patrick. Patrick has a big game last week, and that could be seen more commonly. Patrick finished with five catches for 98 yards. He’s continued to nearly match targets with Courtland Sutton proving his worth for a bigger role in the offense. Between him and Sutton, they’ll create a great duo for Teddy Bridgewater going forward. Patrick should be a favored pick-up this week and beyond.

Kendrick Bourne, WR, New England Patriots
With no true number one receiver in the New England Patriots offense, they’ve continued to share targets until one emerges. Kendrick Bourne led the team last week in targets, moving him up to third in targets and second in receiving yards in this offense. Bourne also finished with six catches, 98 yards, and a touchdown of offense last week. He was basically irrelevant the prior two weeks, so his consistency going forward could be shaky. For now, he’s looking like a more favorable target for Belichick and Mac Jones. Bourne is worth taking a flier with the possibility for a good season-long investment.

Tyler Conkin, TE, Minnesota Vikings
After Irv Smith Jr. went down with a season-long injury, Tyler Conklin was next on the depth to fill a key tight end role in the Minnesota Vikings offense. Not much came from him in the first two weeks as they integrated him more into the first-team offense and pass-catching role. But Week 3 was big for Conklin, he finished number one out of all tight ends producing 70 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions. Will Conklin always receive this many targets with Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook, and Justin Jefferson? That’s yet to be seen. But this big game and playing in a high-tempo offense are positive signs for Tyler Conkin going forward as a productive fantasy tight end.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Best of the Season

As fantasy baseball comes to a close after yet another phenomenal season, we look at some of the best pick-ups of the 2021 season.

Hitters

Cedric Mullins, OF, Baltimore Orioles
There is no doubt that Cedric Mullins was easily the best pick-up from the waiver wire this season. He finished as a top 15 fantasy performer this season. Mullins finished the season hitting .300 with 30 homers, 59 RBIs, and 89 runs scored. He also added 30 stolen bases to his credit. But Mullins also reached some amazing marks as well. He became the first player in franchise history to finish with 30 homers and 30 stolen bases. There is no question Mullins will be a top 25 next season for fantasy and anyone who had him this season had the absolute treat of getting a major boost in their hitting production all season long.

Jake Cronenworth, 2B/1B/SS, San Diego Padres
After a strong rookie season in the shortened season, Jake Cronenworth met the expectations set for him in his first full season in the majors. Cronenworth finished with 20 homers, 66 RBIs, and 92 runs scored while hitting .266 on the season. His position flexibility also made him a very likable player to have on rosters. And despite the disappointing season from the Padres as a team, he was a bright spot as another productive that the Padres can have in their everyday hitting rotation. Cronneworth will likely be a top 50 player drafted next season as he is expected to have another impactful season.

Brandon Crawford, SS, San Fransisco Giants
The Giants as an entire roster were a major surprise to have the kind of season they did this year. But a major part of that was the resurgence of Brandon Crawford. At 34, most could realistically say that his best days were behind him. But he completely revolutionized his hitting standards and finished as a top 30 hitter this season. Crawford finished with 23 homers, 88 RBIs, 75 runs scored, all while hitting .302. He also added 10 steals to his name. All of his numbers were career highs for Crawford. Will he have another season like this? It is hard to predict, but those who had him rostered should be very happy with his production this season.

Hunter Renfroe, OF, Boston Red Sox
After Hunter Renfroe was cheaply traded to the Boston Red Sox from the Tampa Bay Rays, many thought this would be his last opportunity as an everyday starting catcher for any team. However, Renfroe completely turned around his MLB career and finished with an incredible second half to the season, finishing as a top 50 hitter in the entire league. Renfroe finished with 28 home runs, 91 RBIs, and 86 runs scored while hitting .262 on the season. Now with a team that values him, Renfroe could be in for another productive year next season as the Red Sox continue to build a franchise that can compete in the post-season.

Pitchers

Robbie Ray, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
After a shaky and inconsistent career with other franchises including six years with the Diamondbacks, everything changed for Robbie Ray with the Blue Jays. Ray finished with a 2.62 ERA and a 14-6 record, both are two of the best in the American League. He also finished with an elite 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings and a league-leading 163 ERA+. A free agent this season, Ray should be looking for a major payday whether it be from the Blue Jays or another franchise looking to upgrade their starting pitching. He’ll likely finish this season as a top-three CY Young pitcher once the winners are announced.

Adam Wainwright, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
Being 40 years old has not stopped Adam Wainwright from being one of the consistent pitchers in recent memory. Already with a 3.35 career ERA, Wainwright rose the bar and finished this season with a 3.05, his best since 2014. He also added three more complete games to his name, totaling 27 for a career. And to top it all off, Wainwright was very successful with a 16-7 as well. Whether he chooses to retire or not, Wainwright will be remembered as one of the few pitchers to age like fine wine and never run out of gas when needed to step in and produce high-end outings for the Cardinals.

Carlos Rodon, SP, Chicago White Sox
After signing a one-year prove it deal, Carlos Rodon has done more than prove that he deserves to be a quality starting pitcher in the MLB. In 2021, Rodon finished with a 2.47 ERA and a 12-5 record. He also finished with an incredible 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings while only managing 2.4 walks per nine innings. He also threw a no-hitter in April. He dealt with injuries throughout the second half of the season but still pitched productive outings when healthy. Rodon will also be in line for a major payday this winter as he hopes to carry that production for multiple more seasons.

Anthony DeSclafani, SP, San Fransisco Giants
After multiple mediocre seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Anthony DeSclafani’s production took a major jump once joining the San Fransisco Giants. His ERA dipped to a career-low 3.26 while also finishing with a 12-7. He also managed to improve his walks per nine innings to a solid 2.3 after an ugly 4.3 in 2020. Alex Wood and Kevin Gausman also finished with very surprising and great seasons, but it was DeSclafani who stayed the most consistent between the three. He will be a free agent this season and it will be intriguing to see where he brings productive pitching to next, if he chooses to leave.

UFC 266 Predictions

After almost a seven-week layoff of pay-per-view events, the UFC has finally returned with another jam-packed card with long-anticipated title fights and legends and other popular veterans returning. Dan Hooker, Marlon Moraes, Chris Daukaus, and Shamil Abdurakhimov are just some of the more well-known names featured on the prelims. While Nasrat Haqparast, Taila Santos, and Merab Dvalishvili are up and comers facing big names with the opportunity to put their name on the map in their respective divisions. Nonetheless, this main card is even more stacked with two important title fights. Let’s dive right into the predictions.

Previous Record: 13-8

Jessica Andrade vs. Cynthia Calvillo

Submission specialist Cynthia Calvillo faces her biggest challenge against former flyweight champion, Jessica Andrade. But coming off a loss to Kaitlyn Chookagian, her competition only gets strong as Andrade just recently fought for the title. But in hindsight, Andrade has lost three out of her last four against some of the top contenders in multiple weight classes. Neither woman technically comes into this fight with a real edge in terms of their previous fights. But what could ultimately decide this fight is the offensive ground game. While Andrade is known more for ground and pound compared to Calvillo’s, I believe that alongside her dynamic ability to fight standing up will cause trouble for Calvillo. This will give another win to Andrade’s record and keeping her a top contender in women’s MMA, whichever weight class she chooses to fight in.

Prediction: Andrade by KO/TKO

Curtis Blaydes vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

After a devastating knockout by Derrick Lewis, Curtis Blaydes returns to the octagon against another rising contender in Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Rozenstruik has had his chances against now champions in the UFC like Francis Ngannou and Ciryil Gane, of both which were dominant losses, including a one-punch knockout against Ngannou. So what’s different with Curtis Blaydes? Well, other than his wrestling background, I don’t think there’s much. Blaydes has his fair share of absolutely dominant wins. Plus after Lewis, I would likely imagine he’s worked on becoming a more active fighter, pushing the pace standing up and on the ground. With an unproven ground game, I think this could cause major problems for Rozenstruik.

Prediction: Blaydes by Unanimous Decision

Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler 2

This is about as fun as a fight can get in this promotion. Nick Diaz, the older brother of Nate Diaz who beat Conor McGregor, is returning after six years. He fights in a rematch against former Welterweight champion, Robbie Lawler. The first fight between these two happened about 17 years ago! And while Nick won that fight, there is little influence from that today. Ruthless Robbie Lawler hasn’t fought in almost a year and is on a four-fight losing streak. Lawler is a pressure striker while Diaz likes to pick his opponents apart with his length and submission ability. This fight being moved up to 185 does give Lawler the advantage as he’s packed with more muscle and strength. Both of these men are entering new stages of their MMA career without much activity left in their recent runs. But I ultimately see Nick winning in what will be a very close and fun fight for the entire MMA community.

Prediction: Diaz by Submission

Valentina Shevchenko vs. Lauren Murphy

Is there really much to say about this fight? No disrespect to Lauren Murphy as she is one of the toughest in the division, but Valentina Shevchenko is unquestionably out of this world in terms of ability in all aspects of MMA. The oddsmakers would agree, having Valentina as a -1500 favorite. It’s been four years since she lost and has earned seven victories since. Her flawless and powerful striking mixed with the threatening ground game has been no match for anyone other than Amanda Nunes. Lauren Murphy’s best bet is to be perfect on submission and takedown defense while also beating Shevchenko’s constant forward movement with incredible counter striking, something I just don’t think she can pull off. It might be time for the promotion to start looking at a trilogy fight between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko.

Prediction: Shevchenko by KO/TKO

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega

After a COVID-19 cancelation in March and the summer spent filming The Ultimate Fighter 29, Brian Ortega and Alexander Volkanovski will finally fight for the Featherweight Title. This is the first time the belt has been put on the line since July 2020, where Volkanovski defended his title in a controversial win. Most fans believed Max Holloway won the fight 3-2 but Volkanovski did what he needed to get done to defend his title. Nonetheless, he now faces his second title defense against T-City Ortega, a submission specialist with dynamic striking ability as well. This is Ortega’s second title opportunity after a loss to Holloway in 2018. Volkanovski’s reckless wrestling style could easily open up opportunities for Ortega to catch him. It’ll require a perfect striking game from Volkanovski and I see Ortega being too slick and mobile to allow that to happen. I believe we will have a “and new” in the Featherweight division priming for a great rematch with Max Holloway assuming he can win his fight in November against Yair Rodriguez.

Prediction: Ortega by Submission

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 3

Derek Carr, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders have been one of the biggest surprises this season. They are currently 2-0 with upset wins over the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. And who else to top this list off with the man at the helm who has been leading them to these wins, Derek Carr. He’s thrown for an average of 400 yards and two touchdowns each game and despite a downgrade in weapons, he’s still able to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. He’ll be facing fairly favorable defenses in his next three games in Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago. He’s a must-add in fantasy this instant with the hot start.

Rondale Moore, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Second-round pick, Rondale Moore, has been one of the hottest receivers to start the season despite many popular names picked in front of him such as Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith. Moore torched the Vikings’ defense last week, earning eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. He’s already seemed to beat out Christian Kirk for the second wide receiver spot and he’s not far behind AJ Green either. His long-term impact with Kyler Murray could be huge to push them to the postseason in later games. Rondale Moore is also an immediate waiver wire pick-up.

Carolina Panthers Defense
A surprise to most, the Carolina Panthers’ defense was able to completely shut down the New Orleans Saints who absolutely torched the Green Bay Packers only one week prior. But there’s not a reason to sleep on his defense as they have some quality stars on their roster. Brian Burns is one of the most underrated defensive ends in the league. Hasson Reddick, Donte Jackson, Jermey Chinn, Shaq Thompson, Derrick Brown, and rookie Jaycee Horn are also quality players on this defense. They’ll have the opportunity to feast on the Houston Texans offense who just lost their starting quarterback. But they also have solid long-term value and should be added immediately to fantasy rosters.

K.J. Osborn, WR, Minnesota Vikings
With Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen in Minnesota, K.J Osborn has earned his targets and has converted them into big plays for a Vikings offense already loaded with weapons. Last week, Osborn finished with five receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. He also had 76 receiving yards against the week prior. His season-long value is hard to read because he still plays behind two elite receivers in the NFL. Nonetheless, Kirk Cousins likes him as a favorable target, making him a solid addition off the waiver wire.

Maxx Williams, TE, Arizona Cardinals
Maxx Williams played an important role in Arizona’s win over the Minnesota Vikings that was filled with offense. He was a popular target for Murray throughout the entire game, earning seven receptions for 94 yards. With Kyler Murray looking like an MVP quarterback, everyone in the entire offense is going to benefit from elite passing and open opportunities, including Williams. His long-term consistency is unknown because Arizona has been known to shuffle through its tight ends. But a good game from Williams still makes a player at least to keep on radars for the time being.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 25

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

Lane Thomas, OF, Washington Nationals
After being mentioned a few weeks ago as a prospect who could thrive in a new environment, Lane Thomas has thrived since joining the Nationals. In the 31 games he’s played for the team, Thomas has hit .308 with five homers and 22 RBs. But his production as of late has been even better. In his last 10 games, Thomas has hit .324/.432/.622 with two homers, 11 RBIs, and nine runs scored. He’s also done a solid job at drawing walks, holding a 7:9 walk-to-strikeout ratio. With a full season, Thomas could be a future franchise player for the new-era Nationals. He’s a great pick-up for dynasty leagues.

Jarred Kelenic, OF, Seattle Mariners
At the beginning of the season, Jarred Kelenic was expected to be a game-changing prospect once his call-up happened. He’s been anything but that. Kelenic has only hit .170 and a .250 OBP this season. However, his last stretch of games has given him a more positive outlook. IN his last 10 games, Kelenic has hit .257/.333/.657 and a .990 OPS. With that, he’s hit four homers, nine RBIs, and eight runs scored. He still has a long way to go before he lives up to his expectations earlier in the season. But for now, he’s a great pick-up in dynasty and deeper formatted leagues.

Bryan De La Cruz, OF, Miami Marlins
After being traded at the deadline from the Houston Astros, Bryan De La Cruz has been quite productive since his call-up. In 44 games, De La Cruz has hit .327 with five homers and 17 RBIs. But in his last 10 games, he’s hit .316/.395/.553 with two homers, five RBIs, and six runs scored. Any prospect in the Marlins organization has the potential to break out. But with limited games left, that likely won’t happen until next season. He’s a solid pick-up to end the fantasy playoffs with above-average hitting.

Alcides Escobar, SS/2B, Washington Nationals
After being out of the league for three years, Alcides Escobar returned to the majors and has played his best season since 2015 when he was an all-star. In his last 10 games, Escobar has hit .261/.271/.326 with five RBIs. While those aren’t the best numbers, he’s had 12 hits in those same 10 games. His next goal is to start getting more hits with runners in scoring positions. For now, he’s a decent pick-up in deeper formatted leagues with his position flexibility and consistent hitting.

Pitchers

Jordan Lyles, SP, Texas Rangers
After a quality 2019 run with the Brewers, Jordan Lyles has failed to show any positive signs of productive pitching since then. However, as of late, he slowly put on more consistent and quality outings for the Rangers. In his last five starts, Lyles has managed a 3.73 ERA. This includes an outlier where he allowed eight runs in a start against the Indians. He could improve limiting walks as well. Lyles is set to be a free agent so a new team could affect his production going forward. But he’s a reliable pitcher for fantasy playoffs.

Dietrich Enns, SP/RP, Tampa Bay Rays
With injuries to the Rays rotation, Dietrich Enns has been a reliable starter to fill early innings while they still try to compete for a postseason spot. Enns has been out of the league for four years but seems to have improved from pitching in the minors. In his last two starts, Enns has 1.13 ERA with a 2-0 record. Even before moving into the rotation, Enns was utilized as a multi-inning reliever, giving him nice fantasy value even if he doesn’t stay in the rotation. Nonetheless, he’s a quality pickup for all leagues.

Joe Ryan, SP, Minnesota Twins
After being part of the trade that sent Nelson Cruz to the Tampa Bay Rays, Joe Ryan has had a solid start to his career in the majors. Through three starts, Ryan has managed a 2.12 ERA with a 1-1 record. He also has an excellent 7:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He could be a future ace with the Twins shuffling around their entire rotation. His upside not only makes him a good pick-up for the rest of the season but also a solid sleeper in drafts next season. He may be worth a dynasty spot as well.

Dylan Floro, RP, Miami Marlins
After pitching for the Dodgers last season, Dylan Floro has now worked his way up to becoming the new closer for the Marlins. He’s been the consistent closer since the middle of August and he’s managed a 1.74 ERA since the change. He’s earned seven saves since the new position as well. He doesn’t fit into the Marlins plans since he’s only on a one-year contract. But his outlook this season is high as the closer and could have another great season depending on where he signs next.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 24

Hitters

J.P. Crawford, SS, Seattle Mariners
A former top prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies, J.P. Crawford’s move to Seattle has allowed him to reset his career. With winning in Seattle’s sights as well, he’s been playing a meaningful role for the franchise. As of late, he’s picked up the power-hitting, his weakest tool. In his last 10 games, Crawford has hit .341/.426/.537 along with two homers, seven RBIs, and 11 runs scored. He’s had a massive 14 hits in those same games. He’s a must-add player with still high upside.

Brandon Belt, 1B, San Fransisco Giants
The “captain” of the San Fransisco Giants has been defying father time at 33 years old. He still continues to hit homers and win games for the Giants. In his last 10 games, Belt has hit .317/.429/.683 and a high 1.111 OPS. He’s also hit four homers, eight RBIs, and 11 runs scored. Belt has also done a great job at earning walks, having seven in those same games. But he does need to cut the strikeouts, having 13. Nonetheless, Belt is a perfect pickup while his bat stays hot for the red hot Giants.

Nathaniel Lowe, 1B, Texas Rangers
After a hot start at the beginning of the season, Nathaniel Lowe has cooled off his production. With occasional hot streaks, he has failed to show true and elite consistency throughout the season. Though in his last 10 games, Lowe has hit .314/.415/.514 and a .929 OPS. He’s also hit a homer, five RBIs, and nine runs scored. He’s also done a great job keeping a 1:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He’s a quality pickup in dynasty leagues with a potential breakout year next season as Lowe continues to make advances.

DJ Peters, OF, Texas Rangers
After being claimed by the Rangers, DJ Peters has found new life with power hitting down south. His results as of late have actually given the Rangers a winning record over the last10 games. But in those games, he’s hit .233/.250/.465. While those numbers aren’t crazy appealing, he’s still hit three homers and eight RBIs in those games. Peters does need to seriously work on drawing walks, as he only has one and 13 strikeouts in those same games. For now, he’s worth keeping on radars.

Pitchers

Carlos Hernandez, RP/SP, Kansas City Royals
As Mentioned a few weeks ago, Carlos Hernandez has been pitching well consistently over his last handful of starts. Over his last eight games, Hernandez has pitched a 1.68 ERA. Not only that but he’s earned five wins and no losses in those games. He is showing elite upside for next season and could be a gamechanger in fantasy playoffs this season. His only improvement could be limiting walks as he gave up 13 to only 32 strikeouts during those games. For now, he’s a must-add off the waiver wire.

Adrian Houser, SP, Milwaukee Bucks
After a disappointing 2020 season, the team success of the brewers has given a major boost to Houser’s stock. His more recent starts have shown great production from the back end of an elite rotation. In his last two starts, Houser has managed to give up no runs and earn two wins against the Cardinals and Indians. His production will be important for a potential World Series run. But for now, he a quality pitcher to add for fantasy baseball playoff implications.

Jose Suarez, RP/SP, Los Angeles Angels
Outside of Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels have struggled to find consistent high end pitching for years now in order to build a solid rotation. Jose Suarez as of later has looked like a pitcher that could stick around for awhile. In his last two starts, he’s maintained a 1.23 ERA and winning both starts. His numbers are amazing compared to his 2020 season where he finished with a 38 ERA. He could be a steal for the playoffs based on his next starts and a sleeper for drafts next season.

Giovanny Gallegos, RP, St. Louis Cardinals
At the beginning of the season, the St. Louis Cardinals started the season with a committee of closers. But as the regular season starts to wind down, they’ve relayed on Giovanny Gallegos for more closing opportunities. He’s earned saves in his last three appearneces while surrendering no runs to the opposing team. With the Cardinals barely having a chance to make the postseason, this could be a discouragement for his opportunities going forward. But his pitching still gives hope for the Cardinals, making him a decent pickup for playoffs.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 2

Jameis Winston, QB, New Orleans Saints
Jaboo is back! That may be too early to say but he had a lot of encouraging signs after the Saints obliterated the Packers on Sunday. Jameis Winston finished with five touchdowns on a 70 percent completion percentage. Not to mention he achieved all this without throwing any interceptions against what many thought was a top defense in the league. Between the major upgrade in weapons including a top-five offensive line and the laser eye surgery, Wintson’s decision to sit for most of last year is already paying off early Winston should be an immediate pickup in all league formats as the Saints could turn many heads if their success continues.

Mark Ingram, RB, Houston Texans
At 31 years old, Mark Ingram continues to give significant production to any team, even if it’s the Houston Texans who many believed was the undisputed worst team in the NFL. Well not only did they get their first win of the season, but Ingram played a great game. He totaled 86 yards and a touchdown on 26 touches, yes 26 touches. David Culley has put all his trust in Ingram to lead the backfield and Sunday showed just that. Ingram might not get 26 touches in future games, but it’s clear he’s the number one back for the Texans. Owned at only 11 percent in ESPN, he could be a steal of a pickup in a thin runningback market.

Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants
Despite the ugly loss against the Denver Broncos, many questions were answered about the Giant’s offense and how it could look the rest of the season. At least based on Sunday’s game, it looks like Sterling Shepard is the number one receiver for the team, and he performed like one. Shepard finished with 113 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions. While Darius Slayton and Kenny Golladay still have realistic opportunities for big games, Shepard in the past has proved to be the most consistent out of the three. This makes him a reliable and quality wide receiver to pick up off of the waiver wire.

Eric Mitchell, RB, San Fransisco 49ers
The San Fransisco 49er’s game plan for Detroit on Sunday was a shocker to everyone. Trey Sermon was named inactive before the game and Brandon Aiyuk, a popular pick for a breakout year, had zero targets. This is where Eric Mitchell comes in, who handled most of the backfield work. Mitchell finished with 104 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. The injury to Raheem Mostert should also lead to higher production for Mitchell. However, what becomes a red flag were Shanahan’s comments about there being “no hierarchy” in the 49er’s backfield. This could lead to concerns about getting consistent production from either Sermon or Mitchell in the future. But he is worth taking a flier on in the meantime.

Denver Broncos’ Wide Receivers
With the injury to Jerry Jeudy, touches are expected to be given all around to the receivers for the Denver Broncos. Teddy Bridgewater may not throw many touchdowns with only 15 as a career-high in a single season, but he is off to a strong start in his short time with the Broncos. Bridgewater finished with two touchdowns and 264 yards on a 77 percent completion rate against a quality defense in the Giants. The offensive line deserves much credit for giving Teddy plenty of time to make accurate passes. It’ll be intriguing to see how productive they can keep this offense moving forward. Some of the names to target on waivers are KJ Hamler and Tim Patrick.