Fantasy Baseball 2021: Ranking Sleepers to Track for MLB Week 6
The best fantasy baseball managers know it's never too early for waiver-wire research.
Do the right amount of homework, and this week's early targets could be next week's matchup winners.
Coming here was a smart place to start, as we're ranking our top three available sleepers—rostered in fewer than 60 percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros—to have on your radar ahead of Week 6.
3. Josh Rojas, 2B/SS/OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Josh Rojas is no stranger to fantasy sleeper lists.
A strong spring training rocketed him onto the radar of the collective fantasy world before a sluggish start pushed him right back off of it. But he's reheating right before our eyes, which creates a tremendous opportunity for fantasy managers in search of an offensive lift.
He had his sixth home run of the season on Tuesday, giving him four round-trippers in his last five games. He's now 13-for-34 (.382) over his last 10 games with 10 RBI and 10 runs scored.
"He's got an incredible nose for the baseball," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters. "He knows where the barrel is, great barrel awareness. He knows where that ball's going, and he's going to find a way to beat you. And he's got a tremendous attitude, and that's never wavered."
If Rojas carries his hot hitting through the weekend, he should be a priority target with Arizona set to play seven games next week.
2. Andrew Vaughn, 1B/OF, Chicago White Sox
No more excuses, Tony La Russa. It's time to let Andrew Vaughn loose.
Fast-tracked to the majors, 2019's No. 3 overall pick has been curiously kept on a short leash so far. The White Sox potentially cost themselves some service time by promoting him to the big leagues so quickly, so it's hard to tell the motivation for not giving him an everyday gig.
But La Russa might have no other options. Chicago, which already lost Eloy Jimenez to a ruptured pectoral tendon, now lost Luis Robert for multiple months with a strain of his right hip flexor. The numbers game alone might finally mean regular at-bats are imminent for Vaughn.
He could do a lot with them, too. He hasn't shown any power at this level yet, but he entered Tuesday with a .275 average and .373 on-base percentage through his first 17 games. He has the hit tool to start sending some over the fences, and if he's finally a lineup fixture for the Sox, he should be one for you too ahead of a seven-game week.
1. Brady Singer, SP, Kansas City Royals
Brady Singer is apparently having trouble standing out, though it's through no fault of his own.
Perhaps fantasy managers have just been sidetracked by examining Kansas City's other pitching options. Between Danny Duffy's absurd start—his 0.97 WHIP is actually higher than his 0.60 ERA—and the recent promotion of top pitching prospect Daniel Lynch, Singer must be getting lost in the shuffle.
Don't make that mistake. As long as he shows no ill effects from taking a comebacker off his heel in his last start, he could be headed toward a monster Week 6.
He's not only set up for a two-start week, his first outing comes against the light-hitting Detroit Tigers. He could post such a high point total in that start that he could afford some possible struggles when he lines up next against the Chicago White Sox, though their lineup isn't nearly as formidable with both Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert on the shelf.
Singer, who owns a 3.09 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, might have lasting power on your roster, too. His home park, Kauffman Stadium, suppresses power, and his division, the AL Central, doesn't have a ton of it, anyway.