Omar Narvaez (C, MIL) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups

3 years ago by Andrew Ericksen

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BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 40% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Milwaukee Brewers catcher Omar Narvaez was activated from the injured list on Thursday after missing about two weeks with a hamstring injury. Prior to the injury, he was off to a hot start to the year, slashing .352/.434/.507 with three home runs, two doubles, 11 RBI and seven runs over 23 games.

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Narvaez was a must-roster catcher back in 2019 during his only year with the Seattle Mariners. He hit 22 home runs while slashing .278/.353/.460 over 132 games. Then, in 2020, he struggled in his first year with the Brewers, batting just .176 with two home runs over 40 games.

Narvaez's hot start to the 2021 season is mostly backed up by his peripherals. He has a .302 xBA and a .394 xwOBA. His 9.8% barrel rate is far superior to prior seasons. It was just 5.3% in his 22 home run campaign in 2019. Narvaez has also had fantastic plate discipline this year, with a 13.3% strikeout rate and a 10.8% walk rate.

Any fantasy managers in need for catcher help should prioritize adding Narvaez. He's a must-roster player in just about all leagues of 12 teams or deeper and he's roster-worthy in many shallower leagues as well.