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. Some leagues don’t even penalize for walks and hits allowed, moving high-WHIP, high-volume guys like Dylan Cease into S-tier territory. So 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.
Danny Jansen, C, TEX
2026 Projected Positional Ranking: 36th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking: 12th
0.6% rostered (ESPN)
Most fantasy managers who are looking for a streaming catcher option are flocking to Marlins backstop Liam Hicks after his incredible opening weekend, but I’m more interested in Jansen after seeing him play nearly twice as many games as fellow Ranger Kyle Higashioka to begin the season. The Texas lineup has looked potent, and Jansen has been an active part of it. Jansen has posted a .309 OBP or better in each of the last four seasons and chalked up a 12.0% or better walk rate each of the past two years, so even if he slump,s he can get on base and contribute some points. If he continues to see two-thirds of the playing time, there’s certainly potential for Jansen to finish as a top-15 catcher in points leagues, putting him firmly as a streaming option in most formats.
Sal Stewart, 1B/3B, CIN
2026 Projected Positional Ranking: 30th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking: 2nd
70.4% rostered (ESPN)
This one is a no-brainer. If he is available on the waiver wire, GO GET SAL STEWART! If you missed it, Nate Schwartz (@_NateSchwartz), Scott Chu (@IfTheChuFits), and I talked about how awesome Stewart is on the Hacks & Jacks podcast before the season began. A week into the season, and Stewart has looked the part in the Cincinnati offense, batting .391 through seven games with two home runs, three RBI and five runs scored. He’s somehow only 70% rostered and should be scooped immediately if he’s still on the waiver wire.
Colt Keith, 2B/3B, DET
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (2B): 28th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (2B): 16th
9.2% rostered (ESPN)
Tigers utility man Colt Keith looked as if he might be out of a job when Detroit announced that youngster Kevin McGonigle would be joining the Opening Day roster, but instead, Keith has started five of the first six and batted in the top three (including several games leading off) in each contest. Off to a hot start, Keith has eight hits, including four doubles and has scored four runs with two RBI. In points leagues formats, his 87.3% career zone-contact rate and 20.8% career K-rate make him an appealing contact-oriented bat. If the Tigers continue to bat him in the top third of a solid lineup, he’s a sneaky infield add with eligibility at two of the most shallow positions in the game.
Jake Bauers, 1B/OF, MLW
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (OF): 132nd
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (OF): 15th
6.8% rostered (ESPN)
With the Milwaukee Brewers already suffering from an injury-riddled first week of the season, Jake Bauers has seen everyday playing time (or nearly every day) at first base and in the heart of the order. Without Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn, the Brewers’ offense is far less potent, but Bauers is being relied upon to generate offense and has done it so far. With two home runs and two stolen bases through the Brewers’ first two series, Bauers has filled in nicely and made himself fantasy-relevant in all formats. Still only 6.8% rostered, he ought to be a target for all managers, even those in the deepest of leagues. With Vaughn out for at least a month, Bauers should be in the lineup for every right-handed starter and might even get chances against some lefties. With career-high zone contact (83.5%) and walk (14.7%) rates in 2025, managers will hope his excellent plate discipline continues into 2026.
José Soriano, SP, LAA
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (2B): 28th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (2B): 16th
9.2% rostered (ESPN)
Opening the season with 12.0 scoreless innings across two starts will put you on the fantasy radar of just about every manager, and that’s exactly what Soriano has done to begin the 2026 campaign. His last time out, Soriano pivoted from the four-seam to the sinker with great success, seeing a 48% CSW on the pitch while generating a ton of ground balls. The only concern is the lack of strikeouts, but if he continues to go deep into games and post quality starts, strikeouts aren’t quite as important in most points formats and won’t matter quite as much. He’s got a tough schedule coming, but should be in consideration regardless of the matchup.
Aaron Ashby, RP, MLW
2025 Positional Ranking (RP): 5th*
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (RP): 45th*
1.1% rostered (ESPN)
More of a deep-league consideration, Ashby has been an outstanding long reliever in Milwaukee so far, earning a pair of wins in relief for the Brew Crew. Half of his outings have been for more than three outs, and he’s generated nine strikeouts while allowing just one earned run. In the early season as starting pitchers are still working to build up their pitch counts and not going quite as deep into games, relievers like Ashby that can come in and piggy-back the starter in positive scenarios can garner good value off the waiver wire over the first few weeks of the season. Consider Ashby if you’re looking for a stopgap reliever in points formats.
Jordan Romano, RP, LAA
2025 Positional Ranking (RP): 5th*
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (RP): 45th*
1.1% rostered (ESPN)
Romano has filled in just fine as the Angels’ ninth-inning option, earning both saves that the Angels have accumulated entering the weekend. With a two-pitch mix, Romano is splitting batters between his slider and four-seam, seeing decent success with both so far, accumulating a 39.6% CSW while tallying six strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work. Though he’s started the season as the Angels’ closer, he’ll likely have to fend off Kirby Yates once the veteran returns from injury. However, if he continues his success in high-leverage situations, there’s no reason to think that the Angels would take him out of the ninth-inning role. At just 1.1% rostered, he’s worth a waiver add for teams looking for a closer.
