Major League Baseball might have got off to a late start, but things are chugging along full steam ahead. There have been some big surprises in fantasy baseball this year, some of which have been great for managers. Others have been been dealt terrible news with injuries and players underperforming. With late April approaching, it's that time of year that fantasy baseball managers to make rash decisions like they always do, and bail on players they drafted too early. We also have a couple weeks' glimpse of some young players. The waiver wire is chock full of talent this early in the season, so it's time to delve into which players to target on your waiver wire heading into Week 3 of fantasy baseball.
Week 3 Waiver Wire Targets: Fantasy Baseball
1. Alec Bohm – Philadelphia Phillies 3B
Phillies manager Joe Girardi recently announced that Bohm is locked in as the team's starting third baseman. That's great news for both the Phillies and fantasy managers who have been following this rising stud. He looked incredible to start his big league career in 2020. He hit an incredible .338 that first season over 44 games. His performance garnered second place in Rookie of the Year voting.
That created a ton of hype heading into 2021. Sadly, Bohm disappointed last season, hitting just .247 striking out 111 times in 417 at-bats. Well, the Phillies third baseman has turned into the prototypical post-hype sleeper now. He is off to a scorching start this year. He is hitting .355 with a home run and nine RBI's already.
If he is available on your waiver wire, he needs to be your top target. I would probably spend at least 10-15% of my FAAB budged to get him too. The hype is real.
2. Jo Adell – Los Angeles Angels OF
Jo Adell is the perfect example of fantasy managers bailing on a player too early. The Angels prospect was a sought-after prize in fantasy drafts this spring. However, he was terrible to start the season. Adell began the season 5-for-30 at the plate, leaving him a popular drop in fantasy baseball leagues.
Other people's mistakes can work to your advantage. Adell was one of all of baseball's top prospects in 2017 when the Angels drafted him. He played sparingly over his first two seasons in the big leagues, but this year, he is expected to remain with the big league club all season. After the slow start, he is already turning things around.
He showed on Sunday that he has power to all fields, taking a fastball opposite field for a line grand slam.
JO ADELL GRAND SLAM!!! ANGELS UP 6-0 IN THE FIRST INNING
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) April 24, 2022
It was his third home run of the year already. Adell has also hit safely now in five straight games. If you are in need of some outfielder help, or have room on your bench for someone unproven with a high ceiling, Adell is your guy.
3. Nathaniel Lowe – Texas Rangers 1B
The Texas Rangers young first baseman, Nathaniel Lowe, is somehow, still available on a majority of waiver wires in fantasy baseball. I'm not exactly sure why that is. There was hype surrounding him coming into the season and he has done nothing to disappoint fantasy baseball managers.
Lowe is hitting .373 to start the year, with a home run and nine RBI thus far. His power is still a serious question mark, but he can easily overcome that inefficiency with his production in other categories. He had his 12-game hitting streak snapped on Saturday, but picked up another hit Sunday. Lowe has hit safely in all but three games this year.
Last year was his first full season in the majors. Despite only hitting .264, he showed excellent patience at the plate, walking 80 times. Lowe even swiped eight bases last year, so you could pick up a little added speed as well. The Rangers lineup is much better than it was last year, so expect his counting stats to improve in 2022 also.
4. Jorge Lopez – Baltimore Orioles RP
Every year, closers pop up like weeds. In just the second week of the season, one has emerged. Baltimore Orioles closer Jorge Lopez appears to suddenly have a strangle hold on the ninth inning duties. On Saturday, he picked up his fourth save of the season. He came on with a one-run lead against the Angels made easy work out of the meat of their order.
He now has a 13/4 K-to-BB ratio this season in nine innings of work. Obviously, closing for Baltimore means he's on a team that won't win many games. But the flip side of that is Baltimore's offense is so anemic, that in the games they do win, many of them will likely be a save situation.
For those in need of a closer, he's widely available and should be targeted on your waiver wire.
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