It’s almost the end of Week 6 in the fantasy baseball season and as we close it out let’s take a look at the top added players of the past seven days and see how they can help your team for the coming weeks.

Catchers

Wilson Ramos, WAS – Ramos continues to mash for the Nationals, hitting .429 with an OPS of 1.079 over the last seven days.  His ownership levels sit around 65 percent in most standard leagues and seeing as he is considered a top five fantasy catcher at this point in the season that number should continue to be on the rise. Overall this year Ramos is hitting an impressive .364 with eight runs, three home runs and 13 RBI.  We know from past years that Ramos has plenty of power but his batting average is fueled by a .397 BABIP that is 110 points higher than his career average so a regression is more than likely to come at some point.

J.T. Realmuto, MIA - Realmuto cooled off a bit last week and is hitting .278 with three RBI and one stolen base over the last seven days but his ownership continues to be on the rise and now sits around 60 percent in standard leagues.  On the year Realmuto is hitting .306 with 12 runs, two home runs, 11 RBI and two stolen bases which has him ranked among the top 10 fantasy catchers.  2015 was a solid rookie season for Realmuto as he reached double-digit home run totals while chipping in with eight steals which is not something you particularly will get from a catcher so that adds to some of his fantasy appeal but he did hit .259 and currently owns a .340 BABIP so his .306 average to this point in the season will likely regress.

Chris Herrmann, ARI - Herrmann became a popular add over the last week thanks to his two home run game against Atlanta.  He plays sparingly for the Diamondbacks but they also just recently gave him a start in the outfield so it’s possible he may begin to see more at-bats.  Over the last week he is hitting .333 with four runs, two home runs and seven RBI which also makes up of half his seasonal production which where he is hitting .250 with eight runs, four home runs and 14 RBI.  The left-handed hitting Herrmann is hitting .289 with an OPS of 1.030 against righties so there’s a potential platoon opportunity there if he continues to hit when given the chance to play.

First Base

Mike Napoli, CLE – Napoli is seeing everyday playing time for the Indians which has certainly helped his fantasy value as he offers solid home run potential for fantasy owners.  Over the last seven days he has seen his ownership jump 10 percent but that still makes him available in nearly 80 percent of fantasy leagues.  On the year he is hitting .241 with 20 runs, seven home runs and 22 RBI which are right in line with what fantasy owners should be expecting from a player of his caliber and there is little sign of regression here with Napoli which makes him a safe add for any owner looking for a power boost.

C.J. Cron, LAA - Cron is really hammering the ball over the last seven days, hitting .417 with four runs, two home runs and six RBI while owning an OPS of 1.212.   The Angels offense on a whole is struggling and Cron has typically only fared well against southpaws in the past so fantasy owners should pay attention to his matchups.  On the season Cron is hitting .279 with 11 runs, three home runs and 14 RBI and while the batting average may be a bit higher than he should finish out the season with it is certainly encouraging that the power is starting to show up.

Marwin Gonzalez, HOU – Gonzalez is an interesting fantasy player given the fact that he is eligible to play multiple positions while adding double-digit home run pop.  In 2015 Gonzalez hit .279 with 44 runs, 12 home runs and 34 RBI over 344 at-bats.  He is now seeing regular playing time and is taking full advantage of the opportunity, hitting .256 with 10 runs, three home runs, 11 RBI and four stolen bases. Given that he finds himself on pace for both double-digit steal and home run totals he is certainly worth a look in your fantasy league.

Second Base

Chase Utley, LAD - Utley’s ownership is still sitting just below 20 percent in most standard leagues which is a bit surprising given the solid season he is having at the plate.  Over the last seven days he is hitting .300 with five runs, one home run and one RBI as the Dodgers primary leadoff hitter.  At 37 years old and coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, many figured that Utley was done for but he has bounced back nicely in 2016 and is certainly worth owning if you need help at the shallow second base position.

Derek Dietrich, MIA - Dietrich has been the primary benefactor from the Dee Gordon suspension as he finds himself playing nearly every day thanks to his ability to mash right-handed pitching.  On the season, Dietrich is hitting .315 with six runs, two home runs and 13 RBI over the first 29 games.  The Marlins have been batting him leadoff recently which should only help his run scoring totals given the power hitters that are in the lineup behind him.  Dietrich’s batting average will likely regress but he does have some real power in his bat so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him hit a few more home runs in the coming weeks.

Aaron Hill, MIL - Hill’s ownership saw a sharp increase thanks to his three home run game against the Reds last week and he really hasn’t done much since, but nonetheless he was one of the top-added second basemen in fantasy.  Hill is a solid hitter against left-handed pitching so having him as a matchup play is not terrible but he hits towards the bottom half of a Brewers lineup that doesn’t have much outside of Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy now that Chris Carter is starting to fall back to earth.  Overall on the season, he is hitting .250 with 11 runs, four home runs, 17 RBI and two stolen bases so if you are in a deep league and need help at corner or middle infield he should be available in your league.

Shortstop

Jonathan Villar, MIL - The fact that Villar is still available in just under 40 percent of leagues is a bit perplexing as the Brewers shortstop is having one of the better seasons at the position and is ranked among the top five in fantasy to this point.  Overall on the year he is hitting .283 with 16 runs, one home run, 12 RBI and 11 stolen bases which has him leading the National League.  He is hitting at the top of the Brewers lineup which gives him plenty of chances to be driven in by Ryan Braun or Jonathan Lucroy who are the two of the better hitters in the league.  Villar has always been known for his speed which may actually help stabilize his batting average which only adds to his value.  Given how shallow the shortstop position is there’s little reason Villar is not owned in more leagues.

Ketel Marte, SEA - Marte’s early season struggles are over as he has upped his batting average to .290 with 18 runs, one home run, 13 RBI and three stolen bases.  After being demoted to the bottom of the batting order he is now back at the top of the lineup and hitting in front of Robinson Cano which is likely been one of the biggest factors for his recent success. Marte was a popular sleeper candidate coming into the season and with his ownership sitting at just under 40 percent those who cut bait on him or are in need of help at the position should grab him now.

Eduardo Nunez, MIN – Nunez is hitting .300 with two runs, one home run, two RBI and one RBI over the last seven days which has helped see his ownership increase to just under 20 percent in standard leagues. He finds himself eligible at both shortstop and third base which will only add to his value given that they are two of the more shallow positions in fantasy.  On the year Nunez is hitting a ridiculous .356 with 14 runs, two home runs, 12 RBI and six stolen bases and seeing as he are nearly six weeks into the year it may be time to start believing in his abilities even if his batting average is driven by a highly unsustainable .417 BABIP.

Third Base

Nick Castellanos, DET – The ownership on Castellanos is finally indicative of his early season production which has seen him hit .358 with 15 runs, seven home runs, 28 RBI and one stolen base.  Castellanos was once one of the better hitting prospects in baseball and at 24 years old with a few seasons under his belt it looks as if he is finally meeting those expectations even if his batting average is thanks in part to a .414 BABIP.  While some regression is certainly to come in the average department, Castellanos does own a career BABIP of .333 so he should have little trouble hitting around .280 or so on the season with 20-plus home run potential.

Travis Shaw, BOS – Shaw has been nicknamed “The Mayor of Ding Dong City” around Boston thanks to his timely home runs and impressive start to his major league career. He is currently hitting .328 with 22 runs, five home runs, 25 RBI and three stolen bases on the season and over the last seven days he has been even more impressive, hitting .385 with nine runs, two home runs, eight RBI and one stolen base.  Shaw loves to hit at Fenway Park where he owns a .389 batting average and an OPS of 1.165 so fantasy owners should definitely have him in their lineups during Red Sox home stands. 

Brandon Drury, ARI – Drury has finally picked up outfield eligibility which adds to his fantasy value in standard leagues.  His ownership levels have increased nearly 20 percent over the last seven days but he still finds himself floating around the waiver wire in nearly 60 percent of leagues.  On the year Drury is hitting .298 with 13 runs, six home runs and 13 RBI but the Diamondbacks offense has slumped a bit of late so his recent production has slipped.

Outfield

Jackie Bradley Jr., BOS – Bradley Jr. has been the best player in baseball over the past seven days and no that is not hyperbole as the Red Sox outfielder hit .571 with seven runs, four home runs and 16 RBI during that stretch.  On the season JBJ is hitting .341 with 20 runs, six home runs, 30 RBI and two stolen bases which has him ranked among the top five outfielders in all of fantasy baseball.  JBJ was once a top 30 prospect in baseball and during his minor league career he was a near .300 hitter with an OPS of around .850 so the power numbers are not so unfounded however it’s understandable to be skeptical of somebody playing at such a high level.  For now though fantasy owners need to jump on board as his ownership levels sit at 75 percent.

Marcell Ozuna, MIA – Ozuna is hammering the baseball over the last seven days, hitting .476 with five runs, one home run, three RBI and an IPS of 1.236.  The power is real with Ozuna as he displayed during his rookie season in 2014 when he hit 23 home runs.  He was a major disappointment in 2015 but he has seemingly righted the ship and hits in the middle of the Marlins lineup which should provide plenty of RBI chances.  Ozuna is owned in just 45 percent of leagues which is something that should continue to be on the rise.

Odubel Herrera, Phi –Herrera lands on this list as his ownership level is just under 70 percent in standard leagues despite the fact that he hit .333 with an OPS of .866 over the last week.  Herrera is hitting at the top of the Phillies lineup and his ability to hit for some power as well as steal some bases make him a prime candidate for a breakout season.  During his rookie season in 2015 Herrera hit .297 with 64 runs, eight home runs, 41 RBI and 16 stolen bases and is currently hitting .331 with 22 runs, three home runs, 11 RBI and six stolen bases.

Pitchers

Chris Tillman, BAL – Tillman is pitching some of the best baseball of his career right now, going 5-1 with a 2.58 ERA with 47 strikeouts over 45.1 innings.  Over that seven days he has allowed just three earned runs over two starts.  He finds himself owned in just under 60 percent of fantasy leagues but has a somewhat tough matchup against the Mariners in his next start whose offense is starting to come around.  If Tillman can get through this start it might be time to start taking him more seriously.

J.A. Happ, TOR – Happ tossed 8.2 shutout innings in his last start and on the year he is a perfect 5-0 with a 2.05 ERA.  His next start will come on Monday against the Rays who is has already faced twice this season, allowing five earned runs over 12.2 inning while striking out 11.  The Rays do have some guys that hammer lefties and given his other starts Happ has struggled the most against Tampa so it will be interesting to see how well he fairs the third time around.

Drew Pomeranz, SD – Pomeranz struck out 10 over his last start against the power hitting Cubs and has now tossed consecutive shutouts while striking out 15 over his last 11 innings. On the season he is 4-3 with a 1.80 ERA while striking out 51 over 40 innings of work.  His next start will come on Wednesday against a tough Giants lineup that has fared well against southpaws this season.

Fernando Rodney, SD – Rodney so far this season he has converted 10 saves without allowing an earned run and owns a WHIP of 0.93.  He just closed out both games of a doubleheader against a tough Cubs lineup which should have fantasy owners believing in him a bit more.  During his prime Rodney was one of the league’s top closers and before last year’s meltdown in Seattle he had been among the league leaders in saves.  Though the Padres may not put him in many positions to close out games he is sitting at just 53.5 percent ownership and has performed better than some of the guys who are sitting on a fantasy roster.  If you need saves help Rodney is certainly somebody worth taking a chance on.