In the world of fantasy sports, the elite leagues are where the real action happens. With entry fees ranging from $2.5K to $15K, these leagues attract managers who are willing to take risks and make bold moves. One such move is the addition of players who are a week or two ahead of the curve. Let's take a closer look at some of the players who have been added in five or more leagues in the NFBC Elite leagues.
One player who has been added in nine leagues is Christian Encarnacion-Strand. With five straight starts at third base, he posted a 1.155 OPS with 3 HR. However, his sample size is not large enough to point to any breakout. The one stat to watch closely is his 81% Contact%, which is up from a 77% Contact% last season. Personally, I think Encarnacion-Strand has the potential to be a breakout player, but it's too early to tell.
Another player who has been added in eight leagues is Brady House. With Curtis Mead being traded away, House was promoted and immediately started at third base. In four games since being promoted, he started in two of four games with Jorbit Vivas starting in the other two. Vivas probably deserves some consideration with a .663 OPS on the season, while House is at a .707 OPS. They might form a platoon since House struggles against righties, while Vivas has no splits. In my opinion, House has the potential to be a solid fantasy option, but his playing time is uncertain.
Esteury Ruiz has been added in seven leagues. Before this past weekend, Ruiz was on the short side of a platoon. But then he started in three of four games and looked like he was taking over the Marlins centerfield job from Jakob Marsee. All three starts came against right-handed starters. He sat against the next two righties to start the week, then started against a lefty. It's tough to get a read on his volume. Fantasy managers want Ruiz to be a thing with his 24 SB in 138 PA. He's even got 5 HR to throw in this year. Prorating him to 600 PA, he's on pace for a 20 HR/100 SB season. Personally, I think Ruiz has the potential to be a steal, but his playing time is uncertain.
Luis Rengifo has been added in six leagues. Rengifo doubled his OPS from .534 with the Brewers to 1.066 with the Padres. Most of the gains are from his BABIP going from .233 to .458. All his power metrics are up with career-highs in Average Exit Velocity, Hard Hit%, and Bat Speed. While the production won't continue, it does buy him some playing time with seven starts in the last eight games, including four in the outfield. Ride the hot hand, but be aware that the production may not be sustainable.
Petey Halpin has been added in five leagues. The 24-year-old Halpin is starting (12 straight) and stealing bases (6 SB) and not much else (.200/.238/.316). One weird quirk is his strikeout rate dropping from 31% K% (73% Contact%) before the All-Star break to 5% (84% K%) after it. Personally, I think Halpin has the potential to be a steal, but his strikeout rate is a cause for concern.
Nick Fortes has been added in five leagues. With several catchers going to the IL, Fortes was the best available option. In 249 PA, he has 4 HR and a .280 AVG. Personally, I think Fortes has the potential to be a solid fantasy option, but his playing time is uncertain.
Paul Goldschmidt has been added in four leagues. Weekly projections loved Goldschmidt with four lefties on the schedule. Additionally, he's been starting against about half the righties, with the Yankees dealing with injuries. The platoon splits are real. This season he has a 1.052 OPS against lefties and just a .602 OPS against righties. On the season, he has been a solid source of home runs (16 HR) and not a batting average drain (.258 AVG). A solid option when playing. Personally, I think Goldschmidt is a safe bet for fantasy managers.
Victor Caratini has been added in four leagues. Again, another catcher being added with the waiver wire being bare. For comparison, here are the 'best' healthy catching options available in my 15-team auction league: Logan O'Hoppe, Nick Fortes, Miguel Amaya, Carlos Narvaez, and Brandon Valenzuela. It's slim pickings. Personally, I think Caratini is a solid option, but his playing time is uncertain.
In conclusion, the elite leagues are where the real action happens, and the players who have been added in five or more leagues are worth keeping an eye on. While some of these players have the potential to be breakout stars, others are just solid options. As a fantasy manager, it's important to stay on top of the latest news and make informed decisions based on the data and trends.
