Categories? Where we’re going, we don’t need categories.
Some people just prefer good old-fashioned points leagues where pitchers and hitters are rewarded more for their volume and discipline than the flashy stats and ratios. Well, obviously, they go hand-in-hand… but we’re digging for the players that roto leagues left behind. On the hitting side, points leagues tend to reward contact skills and plate discipline, giving points for walks and total bases while penalizing strikeouts (in most formats). Meanwhile, pitchers tend to accumulate points for innings pitched, strikeouts, quality starts, and wins. Fantasy managers are beginning to grow tired of poor hitting performances, and waiver wires are piling up with great bats off to cold starts.
The four hitters recommended in this column last week combined for five home runs, with Marlins catcher Joe Mack making me look really smart with a massive week at the plate. Connelly Early looked exceptional through four scoreless against the Nationals, but left with elbow inflammation – not good. Naturally, the first appearance for Tanner Scott after I write about him comes in the eighth because Dave Roberts is a fantasy menace, but Scott did record one save this week making him not a total flop. We move on to Week 15, the dog days of summer are upon us.
Strap in as we accelerate to 88 mph (and beyond), highlighting players that have been overlooked and under-rostered in most points leagues formats. Scoop up these guys to make your league mates think you got your hands on Biff’s Almanac.
NOTE: Every points league has slightly different scoring settings, so bear that in mind as you read through the suggestions.
Gabriel Moreno, C, ARZ
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (C): 12th
37.4% rostered (ESPN)
Moreno seems to be flying under the radar in points league formats because he missed so much of the early portion of the season. Maybe managers let him go when he got hurt and just haven’t added him back because catcher is so much deeper this year than usual. Well, he’s one of the highest scoring catchers in points leagues formats over the past two weeks and has posted outstanding contact and plate discipline numbers. With no real competition behind the plate in Arizona, Moreno should continue to see a large majority of at-bats and continue to rack up points for fantasy managers who grab him.
Jonathan Aranda, 1B, TBR
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (1B): 13th
46.9% rostered (ESPN)
It’s criminal for Aranda to not be rostered in half of ESPN leagues. Criminal! Posting a career-best in zone-contact rate (85.3%), walk rate (13.2%) and strikeout rate (22.3%), Aranda has managed to bat .280+ with a 22.0% HR/FB rate. His numbers have been outstanding and he’s putting up points at the rate of elite first basemen in the league. He can’t stay on waivers if he’s available in your league.
Kody Clemens, 1B/2B/OF, MIN
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (2B): 17th
22.4% rostered (ESPN)
It might be time to start paying attention to Clemens as he’s continuing to mash for the Twins’ surprisingly competent offense. Since June 1, Clemens has swatted 10 home runs and 24 RBI while hammering a .270 batting average. With second base eligibility on most platforms, Clemens makes a sneaky good plug-and-play utility option, especially at the weaker positions. The HR/FB rate may regress slightly, but the career-best 21.6% strikeout rate is encouraging, especially when you pair it with a career-best 12.9% barrel rate.
Jake McCarthy, OF, COL
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (OF): 57th
42.5% rostered (ESPN)
McCarthy has been a no-brainer outfield play in most rotisserie leagues since he joined the Rockies because of his speed and pop combination, but now he’s managed to become a major player on points league radars because of his position in the Rockies lineup. McCarthy is leading off for Colorado against right-handed pitching and batting in the middle third of the order against lefties (and not being platooned). These additional at-bats make him super-viable for points leagues and the fact that he’s making contact at a career-best clip – and doing it in Colorado, one of the MLB’s best BABIP parks, half of the time – keep him top of mind in all fantasy baseball formats. Points league managers should act fast and scoop the speedy leadoff man before he’s gone.
Jake Bennett, SP, BOS
2026 YTD Positional Ranking: 144th
17.5% rostered (ESPN)
A true SWATCH who has leaned heavily on high fastballs and low changeups to right-handed hitters, Bennett has posted three-consecutive quality starts for the Red Sox who will certainly need his services a while longer if Early does miss time with the elbow issues he experienced in his last start. With his next start coming against the White Sox, I look for Bennett to ratchet up the strikeouts and post another QS on Wednesday, enough to justify a streaming start (and perhaps keep him on rosters in most places as well).
Kevin Kelly, RP, TBR
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (RP): 39th
12.1% rostered (ESPN)
Don’t sleep on setup men, even in points formats. Kelly has been outstanding so far this season but just hasn’t been fantasy relevant in points leagues because he’s not a closer. But if there’s any manager in the MLB that I’m perfectly content rostering their setup man and looking for saves, Kevin Cash is definitely on my shortlist. The Rays have historically shuffled closers like new underwear and current ninth-inning man Bryan Baker doesn’t exactly have a decorated history beyond this season. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Kelly get some ninth-inning opportunities if he continues to succeed in high-leverage spots. And he’s available nearly everywhere.
