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.
Last week, we recommended points league players pick up Josh Naylor, who finally broke out of a month-long slump with a 9-for-19 performance at the plate, including a home run and four stolen bases this week. Not every suggestion was a good one, though – Dillon Dingler went just 1-for-21 from the plate last week. I do my best to provide insightful pickups, but – like they say in just about any medicine commercial – results may vary.
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.
Samuel Basallo, C, BAL
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (C): 16th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (C): 18th
18.2% rostered (ESPN)
One of the most touted prospects of the past two seasons, Basallo seems to have make a mini-breakthrough at the plate, batting 9-for-15 this past week with a pair of home runs. Even with Adley Rutschman returning from injury, Basallo still played five of six games and was the more productive offensive catcher for most of the week. Even more encouraging was that Basallo walked more than he struck out in those five games, showing an improved eye and some better plate discipline at the dish, which will certainly help him moving forward. If he can keep his walk rate around 10% and his strikeout rate at a palatable 25% or less, he ought to be a nice streaming catcher in most points leagues.
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, DET
2026 Projected Positional Ranking: 13th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking: 26th
26.9% rostered (ESPN)
Holy hot streaks, Marty! Torkelson mashed five home runs over the past seven days and is as hot as we’ve ever seen him. It’s time to ride the lightning before he goes back to slumping. He’s still got a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, with eight strikeouts to go with those five home runs over the past week, but Torkelson can more than make up for that with his power. A clear example of a streaking slugger, it makes sense to grab him while he is running good and be prepared to dump him as soon as the slump returns.
JJ Wetherholt, 2B/SS, STL
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (SS): 27th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (SS): 4th
56.1% rostered (ESPN)
Somehow, Wetherholt is still available in almost half of ESPN points leagues despite leading off for the Cardinals nearly every game of the year thus far. Those extra three to four at-bats every week add up to become super valuable as the year drags on, and Wetherholt is doing work in the leadoff spot to boot. The power and speed mixed with solid plate discipline and contact skills make for an excellent player at a shallow second base position, and keep him viable even as a shortstop. It feels like a no-brainer for points leagues and one of those moves where you just don’t overthink it.
Carlos Cortes, OF, ATH
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (OF): N/A
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (OF): 29th
9.5% rostered (ESPN)
With Brent Rooker returning from an early-season injury, it was unclear whether Cortes would remain in the Athletics‘ lineup or if he would be bumped out. Well, it appears that he’s mashed his way into playing time in Sacramento because both he and Rooker were in the lineup on Sunday, Rooker’s first game back. Cortes played in six of the Athletics‘ last seven, only sitting against a left-handed starter. If he remains the strong side of a platoon with one of the A’s righties, he stands to see nearly 500 plate appearances, which will be plenty for fantasy managers to take interest. Cortes has never hit more than 20 home runs in a full professional season at any level (or any combination of levels), but he’s always had an outstanding approach at the plate, which translates well to points leagues.
Landen Roupp, SP, SFG
2026 Projected Positional Ranking: 132nd
2026 YTD Positional Ranking: 8th
59.7% rostered (ESPN)
At some point, we have to start believing that the production is legit because he’s now posted four straight quality starts and four straight wins. Roupp has leaned heavily on a plus-plus curveball that’s generated 20 whiffs and a 31.1% CSW in five starts so far this year. Command has always been a question mark, and continues to be with his walk rate hovering near 4.00 BB/9, but a massive jump in K/9, moving from approximately 8.50 to over 10.0 so far this season, has propelled his fantasy value. With his next two anticipated starts coming against Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, Roupp is an arm that I’m strongly considering as a streamer and one that might hang around for the long haul if he keeps this up.
Louis Varland, RP, TOR
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (RP): 103rd*
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (RP): 6th*
21.9% rostered (ESPN)
Get in early on this one – the Hoffman news broke earlier this weekend, and Varland has stepped into the ninth-inning role (or at least a large share of the closer committee) in Toronto. Varland has converted save opportunities in each of his last three outings, including back-to-back saves on Saturday and Sunday against the Guardians. With 23 strikeouts to just four walks across 15.0 innings of relief, Varland has been an excellent addition to the Blue Jays’ pen, and it seems like he’s who they’ll lean on moving forward. With Hoffman more or less out of closer contention for the time being, there isn’t much competition for Varland in the ninth. Tyler Rogers has been rock solid in the middle innings, and it seems like the Jays like him in that role. Scoop Varland and start him as your RP2 with confidence in all points leagues.
