This week’s weekly deep league waiver wire targets theme is from the movie Back to the Future. Seemingly every one of the targets this week was once considered the future stars of their organizations at some point in their long careers, only to fizzle out and end up in new organizations late in their career. While their superstar status was never fully achieved, they all still have had meaningful careers with consistent production when healthy. That outcome is currently the case as these savvy veterans are providing a key boost to their teams and can likely do the same for deep fantasy baseball league teams as well.
Deep League Waiver Wire Targets for Week 15
15-Team Mixed League Targets
1. Randall Grichuk, OF, Diamondbacks
Throughout Randall Grichuk’s 10-year career, he has been a reliable source of power but a batting average liability in fantasy. Now entering his 11th season, he has suddenly taken the opposite approach — and it’s working. A new member of the Diamondbacks, Grichuk is batting .294 with an equally impressive .348 OBP. Both are well above his career averages of .251 and .298, respectively. His hot hitting has spanned over the last 30 games where he is batting .310. While we’re starting to see regression of the batting average in the last week, it’s still far above league average and his power is likely to increase moving forward as well.
💣Randall Grichuk gives the #DBacks a 4-2 lead with a 2-run HR (2) in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/ElxrtpA5oA
— PHX Fans (@PHXFansAZ) June 12, 2024
2. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 2B,3B, SS, OF, Blue Jays
Another mainstay on deep league rosters the last several years is Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Previously, he held starting roles in the infield for the Yankees and Rangers. However, heading into this season Kiner-Falefa had to work his way onto the Blue Jays roster. Historically his steal contributions and super-utility position eligibility have driven his fantasy value. However, so far this season, it’s been his batting average and RBI production, currently at .281 and 31 RBI in 242 at-bats. Many of those RBI have come from his many extra-base hits as he has six home runs, seven doubles, and two triples. Add in the three steals and Kiner-Falefa is starting to show a return to his peak form of a valuable deep-league fantasy baseball asset.
A single from Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Justin Turner scores to tie the game up! 😤 pic.twitter.com/fY21p1cRQi
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 5, 2024
AL-Only League Targets
1. Robbie Grossman, OF, Rangers
Fantasy managers who have rostered any of the Rangers up and coming young stars weren’t too happy to learn of his return to the team earlier this season. The reason is that he often fills a platoon role that spells these emerging stars, particularly Evan Carter, from an everyday role. At the same time, it’s hard to not recognize his value to the Rangers and, subsequently, for AL-only league fantasy managers. Last season Grossman was very productive with a .340 OBP, 10 home runs, and 49 RBI across 353 at-bats. So far this season he’s keeping up with that pace and has hit his stride in recent weeks where he has a .364 OBP with seven RBI in his last 15 games. With Carter still out of the lineup for the near future, it seems a safe bet that Grossman will continue to regularly produce.
Robbie Grossman has the Rangers back in front! ✅
@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/FHOFVowWV3— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) June 26, 2024
2. Dominic Smith, 1B, Red Sox
A true enigma in the fantasy baseball community, many fantasy analysts are still wondering why Dominic Smith never fully tapped into his potential. His season-by-season career stats definitely reflect the wide range of outcomes that Smith is capable of producing. In 2020 Smith hit .316 with 10 home runs in 50 games played. Yet, in 2022 he hit .194 with no home runs in 54 games played. Now with the Red Sox we’re starting to see what Smith would look like if he landed somewhere in closer to the middle of those outcome rages. In his first 45 games, he’s hitting only .215 but has an OBP over .100 points higher at .316 along with three home runs. While those aren’t spectacular numbers, what stands out is his 22 RBI in that short time period. It’s certain that Smith will be a batting average liability but his power and RBI production can provide a key boost for AL-only league fantasy managers.
NL-Only League Targets
1. Ramon Laureano, OF, Braves
For several years early in Ramon Laureano’s career he was viewed as a top 100 fantasy baseball asset given his appealing 20/20 season upside. In fact, in 2019 he reached 24 homeruns and 13 steals in just 434 at-bats during his full rookie season with the Athletics. Most impressive about his power and speed production was the great plate discipline that accompanied it as he had a .340 OBP that season as well. However, over time the lack of consistent playing time due to recurring injuries caused his strikeout rate to balloon, ultimately leading to his demotion in 2022. Now on his third team with the Braves, Laureano is seeing consistent playing time again and making contributions in key counting stats. On the season he has two home runs and three steals in just over 100 at-bats. Not quite the pace we’ve seen in the past but positive signs of more to come.
2. Brandon Crawford, SS, Cardinals
No one on this list has been as steady for as long as Brandon Crawford. In his long tenure with the Giants, he was a fixture on many championship teams and, consequently, a staple for contending fantasy managers in deep leagues. While time has started to catch up with him in the last couple of years, it’s clear he still has a bit more left in the tank. Now with the Cardinals and healthy again Crawford is starting to show a return to form lately with a .409 OBP over the last seven games. Never a big power or speed source, Crawford will surely add value in NL-only leagues as a safe middle infield option and likely more value in point-league formats where walks are rewarded.
We are living in a world where 37 year Brandon Crawford is getting insurance hits against the San Francisco Giants
— Kamaka (@k4maka) June 23, 2024
Got a few deep league waiver wire targets of your own? Don’t be greedy! Drop some names in the comments below.