Ryan Howard (1B, PHI) - Waiver Wire Analysis

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues / Monitor in All Leagues

OWNED IN: 49% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: Let's face the facts. Ryan Howard will never be the fantasy star that he once was, or hit 40+ home runs again. But he is the quintessential power hitter, which means he'll do about 80% of his damage in 20% of his games. If you can catch those hot streaks in your lineup, you can boost your team's stats and sneak in a few extra points on your opponents.

Do I believe in Ryan Howard as a season-long contributor? Nope. But he has hit three home runs in his last five games played, and that means he's officially on my radar for a near-term power boost. The bottom line is he has the potential to hit home runs, and if he goes on tear (even if that seems unlikely these days), it's a low risk add to make off the waiver wire. If you have an extra roster spot, or an underperforming player on your team, it may be worth picking up Howard and seeing what he does over the next few games. There's nothing like catching lighting in a bottle.