Fowler & Weeks: Waiver Wire

The fantasy season is coming down to the wire, so let’s focus on two waiver guys that will help boost your stolen base total down the stretch…

Dexter Fowler | OF | Rockies | Ownership: 24% Yahoo!, 24.7% ESPN

It’s always a fun story when a talented player comes back from a trip to the minors and lights the world on fire. The Rockies sent Fowler down to Triple-A for about a month earlier this year, and he’s hit a gaudy .293/.389/.463 in 194 plate appearances since returning immediately after the All-Star break. He’s also stolen seven bases in ten attempts during that time, which really isn’t a great success rate but it is a useful pace. Fowler has grabbed hold of Colorado’s leadoff spot and now plays every day, so ten steals in September isn’t completely out of the question. ZiPS forecasts a serviceable .267/.364/.407 batting line the rest of the way as well.

Jemile Weeks | 2B | Athletics | Ownership: 21% Yahoo!, 60.5% ESPN

Rickie’s little brother came up in early-June and has exceeded expectations, at least according to ZiPS. Jemile is hitting .295/.330/.408 compared to the .218/.278/.311 that Dan Szymborski’s system forecast, but it’s the 19 steals that are of interest to us. His success rate isn’t great (19-for-26, or 73.1%), but he has been safe in 11 of his last 14 attempts, so he’s at least showing some improvement. Like Fowler, Weeks has established himself in the leadoff spot and plays every single day, and I think he’ll easily clear his rest of season projection of just two steals. Double digits is in play during the season’s final month too, but it’ll probably take a big game (like three steals in one game).