**Jordan Walker**, the Cardinals’ electric outfielder, officially stands as the far and away leading roster member on top-500 fantasy teams this season. Think about that for a second: a guy drafted in a measly 6% of Yahoo leagues has absolutely exploded, catapulting himself to ninth overall on the Yahoo Player Rater by September. This isn’t just good; it’s a “how did we miss that?!” level of breakout that carried countless fantasy managers to championships. We’re talking about pure league-winning magic right there, and it’s changing how everyone looks at next year’s drafts.
The Waiver Wire Gold Mine That Blew Up The League
Walker’s rise is just insane! The 24-year-old still strikes out more than the average hitter, sitting at 25.9%, but who cares when his bat speed is in the 100th percentile? That’s not a typo, folks. He’s absolutely mashing, ranking in the top 15% of players for average exit velocity, barrel rate, *and* hard-hit rate. Plus, he’s got wheels, flashing 92nd-percentile sprint speed and swiping 20 bases. His power skills are totally sustainable, and there’s even room for more steals next year. Seriously, he’s already being projected as a second-round pick in 2027 drafts. How many times does a 6%-drafted player become a second-rounder in one season? Not often!
But Walker isn’t alone in this waiver wire heist. **Sal Stewart**, the Reds’ first, second, and third baseman, gave us a tiny preview last year with five homers in 18 games. But still, his ADP for this season was a laughable 193.7. Those who gambled on him late were rewarded with pure gold. By the end of April, the rookie had already blasted nine homers, driven in 29 runs, and swiped seven bases! Stewart keeps his strikeout rate in check and barrels the ball consistently, meaning that 30-homer power is absolutely legit. And if you checked his minor league stats, you knew 15-steal potential was there all along. Just like Walker, Stewart is a lock for the second round of 2027 drafts. These guys weren’t just contributors; they were the engines behind fantasy titles.
Bullpen Heroes Nobody Saw Coming
While Walker and Stewart were mashing, some relievers quietly became absolute studs, too. The Rays’ bullpen was an afterthought after a 77-win season and no established closer. People were grabbing Griffin Jax or Edwin Uceta instead of **Bryan Baker**. But Baker pitched the ninth inning of a four-run win on the second day of the season, picked up his first save a week later, and never looked back. He’ll be a fine option after the top 5-6 relievers are off the board next year, though his 62:21 K:BB ratio is good, not elite.
Then there’s **Louis Varland** from the Blue Jays, who finished tied for fifth in the majors with a whopping 34 saves! He was a workhorse in high-leverage situations during the Jays’ 2025 World Series run, making him the obvious choice to take over the ninth inning when Jeff Hoffman stumbled again. Varland strikes out batters in bunches and gets tons of grounders, which is a sustainable recipe for success. He’s a top-five closer for 2027, no question. These guys came out of nowhere to lock down games and rack up saves for fantasy squads.
So, while we’re all scrambling for those 2027 draft boards, keep these names in mind. They made September exciting for a lot of fantasy managers! And speaking of exciting, how about our own Mariners grinding out that 2-1 win against the Rockies? Every single game matters right now, and watching our guys fight for every run just hits different. You know what I mean? Gotta keep that momentum rolling and finish this season strong!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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