Brad Miller (2B/SS, SEA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ team leagues

OWNED IN: 14% of Fleaflicker leagues

ANALYSIS: Miller made quite an impression on fantasy owners as a rookie in 2013. In 76 games, he posted a .265-8-36-41-5 line. The only question heading into last season was whether or not he’d beat out Nick Franklin for the starting job at short. Once he did, he shot up many owners’ draft boards. Unfortunately, he stumbled badly out of the gate with a putrid .602 OPS in the first half, thanks almost entirely to a big spike in his strikeout rate. Though Franklin was shipped to Tampa Bay, Chris Taylor got the lion’s share of the playing time down the stretch.

Taylor broke his wrist in spring training, giving Miller a clear opportunity to take back his starting gig. So far, he’s running with it. Through his first six games, Miller has an .800 OPS with a homer, a stolen base, a pair of runs scored, and three RBI. Taylor doesn’t have anywhere near the pedigree or track record that Miller does. As long as Miller avoids another extended slump, he’s an excellent bet to post double digits in both homers and steals.