Stock Watch: 6 players trending up, down in fantasy

by Greg Warren 1h ago

Gregory J. Fisher / USA TODAY Sports

We'll identify three players each week whose fantasy stocks are rising, and three others whose stocks are falling.

Trending Up

Jarrod Dyson: Fantasy owners seeking a boost in the stolen base department can turn to the speedy Kansas City Royals outfielder. Alex Gordon suffered a groin injury Wednesday and could be out of the lineup for months, thrusting Dyson into the everyday role. Dyson has the potential to lead the American League in second-half thefts, and his respectable .273 average won't hamper the rest of your squad. Don't expect him to have much impact in the home runs, RBIs, or runs department, however.
Erasmo Ramirez: The Tampa Bay Rays have been in a free fall lately, but it has nothing to do with the performance of Ramirez. The right-hander was simply incredible in June, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.44 ERA. He built on that momentum in his lone July start, hurling six innings of one-run ball against the New York Yankees.
Gerardo Parra: Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell is going to stick with Parra in left field following Khris Davis's return from the disabled list, simply because the outfielder has been so hot. Parra is hitting a blistering .452 in July with three home runs, five RBIs, and 10 runs scored. He'll also steal the occasional base, further adding to his fantasy value.

Trending Down

Lucas Duda: The hulking first baseman is just one of the New York Mets currently in a funk. Duda's bat has gone ice-cold since June, a month in which he hit only .187 with one homer and eight RBIs. He's off to an even worse start in July, batting .069 while being held homerless. Fantasy owners had huge expectations for Duda coming off a 30-homer campaign, but it's looking like he'll be lucky to hit 20 this season.
Dellin Betances: The hard-throwing righty is off to his second All-Star Game, but the return of Andrew Miller from the disabled list will handcuff his save opportunities moving forward. Betances is no doubt one of the best high-leverage relievers in the game, however, and still holds value as the setup man. His five wins as a reliever are impressive, and his 1.61 ERA and 73 strikeouts in just under 43 innings pitched won't hurt any fantasy lineup.
Chris Carter: It's no secret Carter is a boom-or-bust hitter, but now he's splitting reps with Jon Singleton at first base in Houston. Carter's average has dipped to .190, and although his 15 homers are valuable, he's now a headache for fantasy players wondering if he's going to play on a daily basis. The homers can't be ignored, and he's a better play at Minute Maid Park, where he's belted 11 of his 15 blasts this season.