Well, here we are with many leagues' trade deadlines approaching and just a few weeks from the start of the fantasy playoffs. In some formats the waiver wire is where you might be able to find that one guy who can help get your team over the edge.  With that said let’s take a look at who is still floating around the waiver wires in the majority of leagues that can give you the biggest boost.

Catcher

10-Team League

J.T. Realmuto, MIA – Realmuto is working his way through a dry spell at the moment as he’s hitting just .190 over the last seven games, but he still ranks among the top five catchers in fantasy thanks to the fact that he is hitting .307 with 37 runs, five home runs, 26 RBI and 10 stolen bases on the year.  He is owned in less than 70 percent of standard leagues and the pending return of Dee Gordon should help the Marlins' offense generate a few more run scoring opportunities which is good for Realmuto as well.

12-Team League

Evan Gattis, HOU – Gattis has put on a home run display of late, hitting four homers over the past four games while adding six RBI and four runs scored.  Owners will have to deal with the sub .230 average but know that Gattis offers what is probably the most home run potential of anybody at the catcher position.  Overall on the year he is hitting .221 with 31 runs, 17 home runs and 42 RBI yet is owned in just over 50 percent of standard leagues so if you need some home run power I would suggest picking him up while he is still hot.

15-Team League

Yasmani Grandal, LAD - Grandal has done little to remove himself from the Waiver Flavor as he has collected hits in three of his last four starts which includes launching his 14^th home run of the season on Tuesday.  He ranks just outside the top 12 catchers, which makes him a perfect fit for 15-team leagues.  He is currently owned in just 20 percent of standard leagues so if you need help at catcher I would look no further than Grandal.

First Base

10-Team League

Mike Napoli, CLE - Napoli still finds his ownership levels below 70 percent despite the fact that he ranks among the top 10 first basemen in fantasty this season thanks to his 22 home runs, 61 runs and 68 RBI. He hits in the middle of an Indians lineup that has little trouble producing runs which helps stabilize his production.  Napoli is not going to win you a batting title any time soon but his power and run production should have him owned in more leagues than he already is.

12-Team League

Hanley Ramirez, BOS - HanRam had started to see his ownership levels dip a bit but then last week he went and hit .269 with six runs, five home runs and 12 RBI which helped vault his ownership levels back up over 90 percent.  Ramirez is a very streaky player but offers up dual position eligibility and hits fifth for the best offense in baseball.  Everybody knows the talent that Ramirez possess and when focused he has the ability to win you a week by himself so check your waiver wire and see if he is floating around. 

15-Team League

Marwin Gonzalez, HOU – Gonzalez is a unique fantasy player to own thanks to the fact that he qualifies at three positions and offers both double-digit home run and stolen base ability.  Currently owned in just under 7 percent of standard leagues Gonzalez is hitting .256 with 40 runs, 10 home runs, 28 RBI and nine stolen bases on the season.  He has a 10-game hitting streak currently going which he has hit .283 with 10 runs, four home runs, four RBI and one stolen base during it.  While he won’t wow you in any one category given his versatility in deeper leagues he is worth a look.

Second Base

10-Team League

Dee Gordon, MIA - Gordon is expected to return from his suspension on July 28 and while the Marlins are expected to ease him back into a full-time role there is no doubt that he becomes a must add in all formats.  Gordon is currently owned in just 70 percent of standard leagues but his elite stolen base ability along with his ability to score runs and hit for average should put him among the tops at the position for the remainder of the year.  Even if you aren’t a Gordon believer he is very much worth a stash and could be trade bait come your leagues deadline.

12-Team League

Ryan Schimpf, SD - Schimpf is putting on a real power display for the Padres right now, hitting .324 with 10 runs, five home runs and 11 RBI over the last 15 days.  While the batting average is likely unsustainable the power with Schimpf is real and fantasy owners should be looking to take advantage of it while he is this hot.  Currently, Schimpf is owned in just under 15 percent of standard leagues so if you need a power boost at second base you should take him into consideration.

15-Team League

Trea Turner, WSH – Turner’s batting average leaves a bit to be desired but his stolen base ability in just a short time in the league cannot be ignored.  Turner has swiped five bags over his last eight games and had stolen 25 at the Triple-A level before being called up.  The Nationals are playing him in center field in order to get him in their lineup as much as possible which is only going to help his overall value.  Turner is currently owned in just under 25 percent of standard leagues but as one of the top prospects in baseball he is worth a stash in case he shows his full potential over the final months of the baseball season.

Shortstop

10-Team League

Jonathan Villar, MIL - I am not really sure why Villar’s ownership levels have dipped below 80 percent given the fact that he ranks among the top five shortstops in fantasy this season.  He has stolen a league leading 36 bases to go with a .295 average, 51 runs, eight home runs and 38 RBI.  Production like that should be closer to 100 percent owned than 80 percent owned yet here we are.  Do yourself a favor and check the wire because Villar will provide an immediate boost to nearly all rosters.

12 Team League

Marcus Semien, Oak– Semien’s 21 home runs is second behind Trevor Story among shortstops this season and with his power he has also stolen nine bases to this point in the season after stealing 15 last year which makes him a dual threat.  He is currently ranked just outside the top 12 fantasy shortstops but his power and speed combination make him a valuable commodity.  Semien is not going to hit much better than .250 which is what detracts some fantasy players but in deeper mixed leagues he is certainly a guy worth owning given his counting stats.

15 Team League

Javier Baez, ChC– Baez has shown up on this list a few times this season as the former top prospect flashes the ability to be one of the league’s best hitters.  Over the last two weeks Baez is hitting .387 with three runs, one home run, five RBI, three stolen bases and an OPS of .935.  On the year he is hitting .287 with 31 runs, 10 home runs, 35 RBI and nine stolen bases. Currently owned in just over 40 percent of standard leagues the upside that Baez possess makes him a smart grab for those looking to improve their middle or corner infield positions.

Third Base

10-Team League

Justin Turner, LAD - So since last week’s edition of Waiver Flavor Justin Turner has not slowed down one bit. In fact he might be even hotter having hit .370 with five runs, three home runs, nine RBI and an OPS of 1.192 over the last seven days.  He has vaulted himself into the top 10 at the third base position in most formats, yet is owned in just under 80 percent of standard leagues.  Turner is proving his breakout 2015 season was no fluke and though it took him awhile to heat up this year he is an absolute must own in all formats right now.

12-Team League

Anthony Rendon, WSH - Rendon has gotten himself on a little bit of a hot streak of late, hitting .292 with four runs, two home runs, three RBI and one stolen base over the last week.  He is currently owned in 80 percent of standard leagues while owning dual position eligibility as well as double-digit home runs (12) and stolen bases (10) which makes him an attractive add should you find him floating around your waiver wire.

15-Team League

Jedd Gyorko, STL – The power with Gyorko has never been the question but it was whether or not he was going to hit enough for teams to give him consistent playing time.  In this case, however, Gyroko’s power is what is forcing the Cardinals to give him consistent playing time as he has launched six home runs and driven in 10 RBI over the last seven days.  While obviously this pace is unsustainable the Cardinals are going to keep putting him in the lineup until he cools off so now is the time to grab him before somebody else does.

Outfield

10-Team League

Carlos Beltran, NYY – Beltran continues to rake for the Yankees, hitting .407 with four runs, two home runs and four RBI over the last seven days.  On the year he is hitting .309 with 49 runs, 21 home runs and 62 RBI.  The Yankees could find themselves trading Beltran by the deadline which could hurt some of his value depending on where he goes as the short right field is very favorable to his power stroke from the left side of the plate. Regardless, Beltran needs to be owned in all formats yet is available in nearly 15 percent of standard leagues so check the wire and pick up this future Hall of Famer.

12-Team League

Billy Hamilton, CIN – The Cincinnati speedster is really making an impact of the past few weeks, having stolen 12 bases while hitting .354 at the top of the Reds lineup.  Getting on base was always the only thing holding Hamilton back from really being a top fantasy option given his incredible speed.  He is owned in under 70 percent of standard leagues but if he keeps playing at this level he should rank among the league leaders in stolen bases and runs scored for the remainder of the season so now is the time to act.

15-Team League

Tyler Naquin, CLE – Naquin is showing no signs of slowing down as the Indians rookie is hitting .438 with three runs, two home runs and eight RBI over the last seven days.  He has solidified an everyday job in the Indians outfield which only helps his fantasy value.  Overall on the year he is hitting .324 with 33 runs, 12 home runs, 31 RBI and three stolen bases.  The Indians are currently hitting him towards the bottom of the lineup but given his production they should be more inclined to move him up sooner rather than later.

Starting Pitchers

10-Team League

Jeremy Hellickson, PHI –You may scoff at the name Jeremy Hellickson but over the last month he has owned a 1.97 ERA with a 0.81 WHIP while striking out 23 over 32 innings.  During this stretch he has notched four quality starts and has quality starts in six of his last seven outings.  He will next pitch on Saturday against the hapless Atlanta Braves who he held to one run over six innings during his start earlier this month.  Hellickson is owned in just under 40 percent of leagues which makes it very likely he is floating around your waiver wire.

12-Team League

James Shields, CWS – Shields certainly had his struggles earlier on this season but it doesn’t appear many have noticed just how dominating he has been of late, notching six straight quality starts while owning an ERA of 1.71 over his last 42 innings pitched.  He is coming off a three-start stretch where he allowed three total runs over 21.2 inning to the Cubs, Tigers and Angels who boast some of the league’s top offenses.  His next start will come on Sunday against the Twins who he held to one run over 6.2 innings back on June 29.

15-Team League

Jake Odorizzi, TB – Odorizzi has tossed two straight quality starts, allowing just two runs over 14 innings while striking out 12 and walking just one.  His next start will come on Friday against the Yankees who are very strikeout prone.  Odorizzi will also have the favorable setting of his home ballpark where he owns a 2.89 ERA over the last three seasons compared to a 4.75 ERA on the road.  He has not yet faced the Yankees this season but he held them to a .211 team batting average over five starts last season.