It’s been a while for Los Angeles Angels outfielder Juan Rivera. A while since he’s been a full-time player. A while since he’s been this healthy. And a while since he’s had this kind of impact, on both the Angels’ and fantasy teams’ lineups.

Rivera burst onto the scene in 2006 with a .310 average, 23 home runs and 85 RBIs and, with a current hot streak, is on target for eerily similar numbers this season. His batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS are all within a few points of his 2006 marks. Season projections have Rivera surpassing those career-best totals in homers, RBIs and runs scored. Read more »

Most fantasy owners have been waiting all season for Colorado Rockies infielder Ian Stewart to turn the corner. He’s teased with his prodigious power, then fallen victim to strikeouts, position logjams and inconsistent playing time. The potential has been there all along, but his batting average was an eye sore and there were no guarantees for playing time.

But, since new manager Jim Tracy has taken the reins, Stewart is getting the regular at-bats he’s needed to find his rhythm and become a fantasy force. Given his recent National Player of the Week award, that may be an understatement. Stewart is getting on track in a big way, hitting .349 with 5 HRs and 13 RBIs in his last 11 games.

Batting average and inconsistency may be persistent problems, but even with a .250 average, Stewart’s explosive potential and projected 33 home runs are worth your time in fantasy. Read more »

Don’t sleep on Florida Marlins rookie outfielder Chris Coghlan. His numbers since being called up from Triple-A New Orleans haven’t exactly been stunning, but the potential is there and so is the opportunity. Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez has moved the 23-year-old in the leadoff position, and Coghlan has responded.

Whether Coghlan’s growth translates to fantasy remains to be seen. Sure, a respectable batting average and some runs scored are nice, but what is he doing for us in the hard-to-find categories? Coghlan is worth watching because he could, one day, contribute in either home runs or stolen bases.  Read more »

Minnesota Twins designated hitter Jason Kubel only looks like a 40-year-old seasoned veteran. Reality is, he is just 27 years old and in his fourth full season in the big leagues. Each of those four seasons has been better than the one before, by the way, including this season, in which he is on pace for career-highs in batting average, home runs and RBIs.

Kubel’s situation reminds us a little of Texas Rangers’ DH Hank Blalock - find a way to keep his fragile body healthy, get big results. Well, the Twins have given Kubel that chance this season, thanks in large part to a glut of talented outfielders in Denard Span, Carlos Gomez, Michael Cuddyer and Delmon Young. Kubel, who can play both corner outfield positions, has gotten the majority of his at-bats as a DH. Read more »

Colorado Rockies infielder Clint Barmes is enjoying this whole full-time player thing. Just like last season, the 30-year-old was platooned at both middle infield positions to start the year, never afforded the luxury of an everyday gig. His chances of finding a nice rhythm at the plate were all but shot.

But, lots has changed in Colorado since April. Manager Clint Hurdle has been fired; Barmes is red hot at the plate; and Ian Stewart has begun poaching at-bats from struggling third baseman Garrett Atkins instead. For the first time since 2005, Barmes is both healthy and able to perform. And for the first time since then, he is worth an extended look in mixed fantasy leagues. Read more »

Rookie pitchers are seldom good investments in fantasy.

Like a quarterback in the NFL, there’s just so much to learn, even for polished pitchers with years of minor league experience under their belts. Scouting reports are more detailed, there’s more scrutiny and pressure on them, and the hitters are world class. Youngsters aren’t typically trustworthy enough to make the right adjustments and be useful in fantasy. Read more »

Base stealers play a valuable role in all fantasy leagues. And the more bases your light-hitting, fleet-footed hitter can steal, the less concerned you are about the eye sores in his home run and RBI columns. Re-enter Chicago White Sox outfielder Scott Podsednik, a fantasy force in the early 21st century who is swinging a hot bat and tearing up the base paths in the twilight of his career.

Podsednik is benefitting from the absence of regular left fielder Carlos Quentin, who is eligible to come off the disabled list as soon as today. Podsednik figures to keep getting regular at-bats, seeing as manager Ozzie Guillen will do anything he can to get that stagnant offense going, but pay attention to exactly what Quentin’s return from the DL means. Read more »

This has been a good week for those in the market for free agent hitters. An influx of young talent has provided a much-needed dose of excitement in an otherwise stale season for rookies and prospects in fantasy.

Andrew McCutchen and Gordon Beckham are the freshest faces to make their Major League debuts, joining Matt Wieters, Gerardo Parra, Chris Coghlan and Colby Rasmus, among others, in a select group of rookies worthy of fantasy consideration.

McCutchen graces our list below after getting off to a hot start as the new Pirates’ leadoff hitter. Colorado Rockies teammates Ian Stewart and Clint Barmes are swinging hot bats to gain serious consideration as additions to fantasy owners’ middle infields.

These are hitters available in a majority of mixed rotisserie leagues. We use ESPN.com as a baseline, only listing players available in at least 50 percent of standard leagues. Read more »

Young pitchers and recovering veterans are the theme this week, since a handful of each offer the best potential value on the waiver wire. The must-know name is Atlanta Braves phenom Tommy Hanson, who will make his much-anticipated 2009 debut Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Another youngster, Detroit Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello, has been pitching effectively in the big leagues all season. He is not a perfect addition to a fantasy rotation — he faces an innings limit and has a low strikeout rate — but Porcello has a lot of talent and a knack for earning decisions in his starts.

Injured veterans John Smoltz and Kelvim Escobar are rehabbing right now, and we know exactly what both have to offer when healthy. Of course, there are questions about just when they’re healthy and how long they can stay that way, but those risks are what makes them so widely available in fantasy leagues. Take on the injury risk, and there are huge potential rewards. Read more »

We’ve got a little bit of everything in this week’s free agents profiles, from catchers to middle infielders to corner infielders to outfielders. After all, few owners have the luxury of hitting the waiver wire simply looking for the best hitter available. Most of our needs are specific.

A couple of red-hot bats are available, specifically Orioles outfielder Luke Scott, who has six home runs in his last five games, and Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, who is hitting .396 over his last 15 games.

Cincinnati Reds utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. and Minnesota Twins outfielder Denard Span are more solid, long-term choices. Tampa Bay Rays infielder Willy Aybar is flying well below the radar, but demands a good, hard look in deeper mixed leagues. Read more »