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.
Hot bats cooled slightly as the players in this column last week like Samuel Basallo and Spencer Torkelson didn’t quite reach the lofty heights they had the previous week. At least Louis Varland stepped up, striking out the side for a save in his first performance after being featured. This week, we’ll do our best to suggest players that are poised to pop off.
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.
Dalton Rushing, C, LAD
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (C): 41st
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (C): 10th
21.0% rostered (ESPN)
It would be really cool if Rushing could work his way to a more regular role in the Dodgers’ lineup, but so far, he’s still playing only around two or three games per week. He’s an outstanding addition to a daily-lineup points league roster, but doesn’t make nearly as much sense for weekly-lineup leagues. Rushing has managed incredible hard contact and ideal contact rates, leading to seven home runs in just 16 games played. A massive improvement to his zone-contact rate indicates that the walk and strikeout rate improvements are likely legit, but an unsustainable 58.3% HR/FB shows that there’s no way he can keep up this power surge. Either way, he’s still a good add in daily-lineup leagues for those streaming catchers.
Miguel Vargas, 1B/3B, CWS
2026 Projected Positional Ranking: 14th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking: 4th
53.1% rostered (ESPN)
Vargas is a points league cheat code, pairing an elite walk rate with a low strikeout rate and solid contact metrics. Batting in the top third of the White Sox lineup on an everyday basis, Vargas has batted .293 over his last 11 games to raise his season average up to .216 after an extremely slow start. His season numbers still don’t look great, which explains why he’s still on the waiver wire in nearly half of ESPN leagues. But with an everyday role and the numbers that he’s posting, Vargas should be much more heavily rostered than that moving forward.
Dansby Swanson, SS, CHC
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (SS): 19th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (SS): 6th
45.0% rostered (ESPN)
Probably one of the most boring recommendations – but certainly one of the most rock-solid from a consistency standpoint – of the season, Swanson has been outstanding over the first month of the season in points league formats. Despite just a .219 batting average, Swanson ranks within the top 20 in MLB in runs scored and RBI, and has been a top-12 shortstop so far this season as well. In most scoring formats, he has outperformed big names such as Gunnar Henderson, Francisco Lindor, and even Bobby Witt Jr., but remains available in over half of ESPN leagues.
Mickey Moniak, OF, COL
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (OF): 83rd
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (OF): 19th
47.0% rostered (ESPN)
It feels icky, but Moniak is a points league dynamo, ranking as a top-10 outfielder in fantasy points per game in standard ESPN points league formats. Moniak has recorded at least one hit in every game since April 18, raising his season batting average to .319 with nine home runs, 18 RBI, and a 1.033 OPS to go with it. The Rockies haven’t been the most explosive lineup in the MLB, but Moniak has certainly earned his keep in points league formats and is still available in about 50% of leagues.
Will Warren, SP, NYY
2026 Projected Positional Ranking: 166th
2026 YTD Positional Ranking: 8th
71.4% rostered (ESPN)
Warren has earned a look as a streaming starting pitcher in points leagues, with the possibility of keeping him well beyond just one streaming start. With 26 strikeouts and just two walks over his last 20 innings pitched, Warren has earned a rotation spot for the Yankees and doesn’t appear like he’s going to be giving it up any time soon, even with Carlos Rodón returning soon. Warren has made a huge jump in strikeout rate, bumping up to 30% in 2026, while cutting the walk rate nearly in half. His improved control and command have led to lower WHIP and ERA numbers, making him viable in all formats. He’s gone at least six innings in each of his last three starts.
Robert Suarez, RP, ATL
2026 Projected Positional Ranking (RP): 26th*
2026 YTD Positional Ranking (RP): 4th*
61.8% rostered (ESPN)
If your league mates have been sleeping under a rock, they might not realize that Suarez has taken over at closer for the Atlanta Braves after a Raisel Iglesias injury. And it doesn’t look like Suarez will be relinquishing the role any time soon. With a 0.66 ERA and converted saves in each of his last four opportunities, it’s amazing to me that Suarez is still un-rostered in nearly 40% of ESPN leagues. This is a no-brainer addition for any team in need of a closer.
