Top 3 Sleepers to Keep Your Eye On Rest of Season

The fantasy season is still young. So, you have plenty of time to make improvements to your team. Here are three sleepers to add while you still can.

As the fantasy season progresses week by week, many fantasy owners struggle to decide who may be of value and who could be a bust. As we all know, everyone believes they have found a stud on the waiver wire or in the draft that can solidify a team in many instances. That one pickup can greatly affect your team and your season to gear up for a playoff run.

In this article, I will list the top 3 sleepers you should keep your eye on as the season moves forward. These players can help lead your team to a championship here in 2016. These guys may be slightly off the radar for some leaving you to still snag them from the competition.

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1. Lance McCullers (SP) Astros

If you can get a chance to still grab McCullers in your league, this may be the biggest steal of the season hands down. This young stud really showed what he was made of in 2015, his rookie campaign. Last season he threw for 125.2 innings where he recorded a very impressive 129 strikeouts. That’s more than a strikeout per inning which ranks up there with the likes Clayton Kershaw and Jake Arrieta. He is only 22 years old and still has much room to get even better. Many pitchers are swallowed up when the first come up to the MLB, but not McCullers.

Playing on a young, powerhouse Astros team, he has a great chance to win many games with the amount of run support they will give him. More wins and less losses will accumulate great points. McCullers has yet to play this season as he has been on the DL from the start recovering from a shoulder injury.

In his May 7 rehab start, McCullers threw five shutout innings. He could rejoin the Astros rotation as early as this week. He may be helping the Astros to a second consecutive playoff berth, and perhaps help lead you to a fantasy title in 2016.

2. Travis d’Arnaud (C) Mets

One of my players to watch is the Mets young catcher. d’Arnaud found himself on the disabled list early on in 2016, with a shoulder injury, but he should not be forgotten. Unfortunately, in 2015, an elbow injury too cost d’Arnaud much of his season, but he still managed to put up quality numbers. He finished the season with a .268 batting average, as well as 12 home runs and 41 RBI. d’Arnaud was very much a big part in the Mets run to the World Series. Throughout the post season, he had clutch hits and accumulated three home runs and seven RBI off of 10 hits.

d’Arnaud is a threat to knock 20 or more homers this season and should be on your fantasy radar; especially if he can comeback from this injury with relative ease. d’Arnaud mans a position where few in the fantasy realm truly flourish at catcher. Guys like Buster Posey, Brian McCann, and Salvador Perez are the guys you hear about the most and put up the most points in fantasy.

d’Arnaud can be one of these players for you as well this season when he is able to return. Store him on your bench or your DL if you can for the time being.

3. Joe Ross (SP) Nationals

The younger brother of Tyson Ross (pitcher for the Padres) may not be as well-known as someone like McCullers, but he should be and will be soon. Ross got his opportunity last year due to injury to other Nationals pitchers and he proved his worth. In standard leagues, he can be a nice snag for you this season. He pitched for 76.2 innings last year giving up just 64 hits and recorded 69 K’s. Less than a hit per inning is impressive and certainly for a rookie trying to make a name for himself.

With Ross being relatively new to the MLB, he may go off the radar somewhat for other fantasy players leaving you to snag this young 22-year-old righty. If your pitching staff is lacking this season and are in need of a boost, don’t worry. Ross is waiting in the wings. He still has much opportunity for growth and even further improvement.

He has already shown this getting off to a nice start to the 2016 season for the Washington Nationals. Thus far, he has thrown for 29.1 innings, which has resulted in a 3-1 record with a dominant 1.23 ERA. He also has struck out 23 batters.

Next: Dodgers Promoting Julio Urias?

Other Options to Consider:

Luis Severino (SP) Yankees

Nick Castellanos (3B) Tigers

Stephen Piscotty (OF) Cardinals

All of these players can have a direct fantasy impact for your team this season. Some may already be tearing up the stat sheet for your team. Severino of the New York Yankees is still regarded as one of baseball’s next big things despite his lack of production to start the 2016 fantasy year. He is still worth a pick up if he is available. Guys like Castellanos and Piscotty have already begun a surge in their respective 2016 campaigns.

Look for these sleepers to start or in some cases continue making headlines as this season has only just begun.

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