Nick Markakis (OF, ATL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 23% of Fleaflicker leagues

ANALYSIS: The Atlanta Braves' fantasy options are pretty slim these days. With their top bat, Freddie Freeman, struggling to get going, the choices are at a minimum. Nick Markakis is one of the few Braves who has thrown his name into waiver wire conversation.

In his second year in an Atlanta uniform, Markakis has begun the year displaying shades of the player he was on the Baltimore Orioles earlier in his tenured MLB stint. He owns a .415 OBP thanks in part to his 12 base on balls, and has already seen a boost in production from last season, collecting 14 RBI with a little less than a week to go in April. Although, his fantasy value is often handcuffed to the rest of the aforementioned struggling Braves offense. Leading off, Markakis can add runs scored to his repertoire as long as Freeman starts hitting and Adonis Garcia tops his home run total of 10 from last season. Turner Field is certainly a hitters' ball park, already responsible for the seventh most home runs allowed per game. Markakis is a risk, but has some upside for 12-14+ team leagues.