Identifying risers and fallers in head-to-head points leagues for Week 3, including Tigers OF Rajai Davis and Atheltics OF Josh Reddick.
Risers
Rajai Davis, OF, Tigers
Davis is mostly a one-category player, but, man, he performs in that one category extraordinarily well. The speedster has averaged 43 steals since 2009, including three campaigns with 40-plus steals -- and one with 50 (2010). No longer in Toronto, the 33-year-old outfielder is up to his old tricks in Detroit, stealing five bags with semi regular-playing time. Single-contribution players like Davis can be more valuable in points leagues, as their deficiencies in the other categories can be lessened to a degree. Davis has only struck out in two plate appearances thus far and sports a .412 OBP through eight contests. Historically, Davis doesn't put up great on-base percentages, but he doesn't strike out a ton, either (career 16.0 percent strikeout rate). He's still available in nearly 70 percent of ESPN and Yahoo! leagues, which is surprising considering the latter's ownership rates reflect 12-teamers. I don't see why Davis can't reach 35-40 thefts again, on top of 60-65 runs. He's a high-end No. 4 outfielder going forward.
Gerardo Parra, OF, Diamondbacks
Like Davis, Parra's skillset is under appreciated. The versatile outfielder can play all three spots in the outfield, which makes it easy for manager Kirk Gibson to play him on an almost regular basis. Few owners have taken advantage of the veteran's hot start, which includes a team-high 10 runs, and he's still available in more than 80 percent of Yahoo! leagues and in more than 90 percent of ESPN leagues. Parra is a candidate for 10 home runs and 15 steals; what he lacks in runs batted in, he makes up for in runs scored (he's averaged 68 tallies since 2012). Parra owns a career strikeout rate of 17.2 percent, but it's been even lower in recent years (15.1 percent in 2012), and his .329 OBP is playable in points leagues. There's somewhat of a logjam in the outfield with Mark Trumbo, A.J. Pollock, and Cody Ross coming back from injury, but Gibson said the team would go with Parra in center field (over Pollock) when Ross returns. Owning Parra requires some daily roster management, but he's worth owning as a No. 4 outfielder.
Fallers
Josh Reddick, OF, Athletics
Since breaking out with 32 home runs, 85 runs, 85 RBI and 11 steals in 2012, Reddick has a slash line of .216/.296/.356 across 480 plate appearances with the Athletics. He's looked lost at the plate this year and enters Monday with a batting average and slugging percentage of .111, including 13 strikeouts in nine games -- all of his hits (four) have been singles. There are whispers that the Athletics could send the struggling outfielder to Triple-A. At this point, you can safely cut Reddick in 12-team leagues, and probably even 14-teamers -- anything outside of AL-only or very deep leagues, really. There's no reason to believe that he'll recapture any of his glory from 2012 anytime soon.
Jedd Gyorko, 2B, Padres
I was somewhat high on Gyorko entering the season, but that didn't really apply to points leagues. I ranked the Padres second baseman 10th at the position in the consensus rankings we published back in February, but he was my 17th keystone in a points format. It's been a very slow start for the 25-year-old, who is currently slashing .163/.229/.302 with one home run and seven RBI. He's traditionally a slow starter, and he'll likely undergo rough patches throughout the season, making him tough to own in head-to-head leagues. He's already struck out 16 times in 12 games, and the power that produced 23 home runs a year ago has yet to show itself. I'm not buying low if I play in a points leagues.