The season is only a few weeks old, but so far there's been a handful of players who's offensive production has been a pleasant surprise. On the other hand, David Ortiz, Ryan Howard, and Miguel Cabrera are all hitting under .200, and Prince Fielder had zero home runs. If your fantasy team is off to a rough start, here's a few players you should consider picking up if they're available.
Mark Reynolds (3B, ARI): The second year player is currently leading the league in home runs with five. He has 27 total bases, and a .306 batting average. He does strikeout a lot, but he's been one of the league's top producers through nine games. Make sure you pick him up ASAP, because he won't be available for long.
Nate McLouth (OF, PIT): McLough was expected to have to compete for an everyday job, but after his hot start I'd say he'll have no problem keeping full time work. Through 9 games, he has seven doubles, two steals, and a .391 batting average. He's currently riding a seven game hit streak, and won't last longer as a free agent in any fantasy league.
Corey Patterson (OF, Cin): Patterson has been a hitting machine so far this year with four homers, four doubles, and eight RBI's. If your outfield is thin, give Patterson a shot. Given his hot start, I'd say he's at least worthy of a spot on any teams bench.
Joe Crede (3B, CWS): Crede's .406 batting average won't last forever, but even if he cools off a little bit, he'll be a great option. He went pretty much unnoticed in drafts this year due to missing most of last season, but so far this season he's been so hot that people are blamming him for global warming.
Jeff Keppinger (SS,3B, CIN): Keppinger is an obvious pick-up for two reasons. He's eligible at more than one position, and he's hitting .342 with 22 total bases in 10 games. With Brandon Phillips and Ken Griffey Jr. hitting behind him he'll see lots of great pitches and have lots of opportunities to score runs.
Although the season is young, chances are you have a scrub or two on your team that you can risk dumping for one of the above mentioned players. If your All-Star players aren't producing yet, don't panic. One mistake fantasy players make too often is dropping proven producers too early in the season because they're off to a slow start. Be patient, but make sure you cover your ass by making smart pick-ups throughout the season. Make sure to check back throughout the season for more fantasy baseball advice.
-Joe Osborne
