Week 22 edges into a turbulent fantasy landscape with a mix of breakout performers and riskier veterans. Max Scherzer continues to punch above his weight in a four-start quality-streak stretch, posting sub-3.00 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP with efficient outings that keep him in strong two-step lineups when the matchup suits. Brenton Doyle has emerged as a late-season spark for Colorado, flipping a rough first half into a second-half run that looks sustainable thanks to improved attack metrics and a ball-in-play approach that should yield value in a seven-game slate next week.

The slate also highlights Julio Rodríguez and Vlad Jr., two power-plus talents who have rekindled fantasy relevance as the season closes. Rodríguez is showing the speed and swing decisions that fuel multi-category upside, while Vlad Jr. maintains power production with steady plate discipline and a favorable park mix. Taylor Ward’s ongoing production raises questions about multi-category constellations for rosters in deeper formats. Kyle Tucker remains a focal point of contention and opportunity, with rest-of-season upside tempered by recent cold stretches that necessitate cautious rostering rather than outright selling.

Injury notes and roster moves pepper the week, with slugging linesman energy across the outfield and infield alike. Managers should prioritize outfield depth in formats with four or five spots, leverage second-half recency for veterans who have shown true outcomes, and consider Doyle as a sleeper in 5-outfield leagues given Rockies’ seven-game week, four at Coors Field. A steady baseline from Scherzer and strategic buys around Rodríguez, Vlad Jr., and Ward can unlock strong roto gains while navigating a week with uneven scheduling.

Carlos Correa has been mashing since returning to Houston, elevating his fantasy value as he repeatedly posts multi-hit efforts and drives in runs in a strong Astros lineup. His overall batting average stays solid, and the counting stats are trending up, making him a must-consider in medium and deeper leagues as his spot in the order floats between top four spots. Drake Baldwin and Hurston Waldrep add to the Houston/Atlanta chatter, while Ezekiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle hot-streaks in Colorado highlight the Rockies’ breakout possibilities. Jurickson Profar’s leadoff value and Jacob Lopez’s improving Athletics baseline round out a streamable, upside-heavy week, with Michael Wacha providing a viable pitching pickup to balance the lineups.

Drake Baldwin’s breakout in Atlanta has him hovering around a useful power-speed mix for catchers, especially in deeper formats. Tovar’s Colorado surge keeps him in the two- to four-category mix, while Doyle’s cores-anchored performance offers daily upside in Colorado’s hitter-friendly environment. Profar’s speed and patience, Lopez’s recent 7.2-inning gem with 10 Ks, and Wacha’s steady control give fantasy managers several streaming and platoon opportunities as Week 21 looms. Waldrep’s early Braves success adds a high-upside arm to rosters, giving believers a reason to diversify pitching holds and manufactured wins.

Owners should chase hot hands but watch for Coors-induced volatility; Correa, Tovar, Profar, and Lopez present scalable value across standard and deeper formats, with Waldrep and Baldwin offering pedigree-driven upside. A balanced mix of proven veterans and breakout talent could tilt the week in fantasy favor, especially for managers who stay aggressive on adds with favorable matchups.

Edward Cabrera’s breakout performance over his last handful of starts has flipped the script on his fantasy fantasy value. Miami’s righty has delivered a late-season surge: 2.06 ERA, 0.78 WHIP across seven starts, and a crisp 9.3 strikeouts per nine with a deceptive fade on both the four-seamer and two-seamer. He’s now a near-automatic add in most formats, with the ceiling to push him into league-winner territory if the heater stays dominant. Brandon Woodruff also looks like a legitimate post-ARC comeback candidate, posting a string of quality starts and high strikeout totals after shoulder concerns, reinforcing that both innings and upside can be real again.

Beyond the obvious arms, several under-the-radar bats jumped into the mix for the weekend. Luke Kishel and Jacob Marcy built hot streaks, while Xavier Edwards produced a rare blend of on-base skills and speed, delivering multiple steals as a standout hot hand in deeper formats. Isaac Collins’ second-half surge added to the growing belief that, in the right matchup, you can ride these inexpensive, high-contact options. Brenton Doyle, Kyle Manzardo, and Matt Shaw joined the roster-shuffling chorus, offering varied paths to value in shallower and deeper leagues alike.

On the pitching side, a handful of waiver candidates flashed enough upside to warrant roster attention: Chase Burns, Mackenzie Gore, and Zebby Matthews each showed two-start upside, with Burns’ 10 strikeouts in a six-inning step-forward and Gore’s late-career resurgence hinting at upside if they stay healthy. The hitting landscape remained elevated thanks to the usual suspects turning it on in the second half—Altuve, Bogaerts, Ohtani, Soto, Lindor, and Rodriguez supplied multi-homer weekends and stolen-base bursts that can swing categories in games or weeks. The overall thread: the waiver wire still has life, and a patient, roster-tight approach can reap solid returns in the weeks ahead.

Warming Bernabel has made a significant impact since his call-up, boasting an impressive .438 batting average over his first eight games. Despite a notable performance over the weekend where he had four hits, including a home run and a triple, some concerns linger about his contact quality, as his exit velocity statistics suggest potential limitations. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins have turned heads with a remarkable performance, sweeping the New York Yankees and showcasing an impressive 30-4 record since mid-June, highlighting their strong offensive and pitching capabilities.

Blake Snell continues to be a player to watch, even after a start where he allowed three runs but struck out eight batters, demonstrating his potential for explosive outings. Trevor Rogers, on the other hand, has emerged as a must-roster player, boasting a 1.44 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP in his last nine starts, which solidifies his status in fantasy leagues. Lastly, the Yankees’ recent struggles raise questions about their roster management and performance under pressure as they fight for postseason positioning.