Ryan Zimmerman (1B, WSH) - Waiver Wire Pickup

BALLER MOVE: 12+ Team Leagues and NL-Only Leagues

OWNED IN: 31% of Flea Flicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: First baseman Ryan Zimmerman comes into 2016 at a weird place in his fantasy baseball career. Once a top-tier third baseman, injuries have taken much of his past two seasons away. When he has been on the field during that time, Zimmerman has been a shell of the player who averaged 22 home runs, 83 RBI and a .285 average from 2006-2013. Over 630 at-bats the past two seasons, he's hitting .261 with 21 home runs and 111 RBI.

With those stats better representing a catcher's hitting prowess than a first baseman's, how is Zimmerman already owned in 31% of leagues? Simple. After returning mid-2015 from a plantar fasciitis injury that was a direct contributor to his .209/.265/.346 first half slash, Zimmerman slashed .311/.372/.652 during the second half, including 11 home runs and 39 RBI. That Zimmerman magic is still in those arms, and fantasy owners didn't forget that.

So far in 2016, Zimmerman has hit .256 with a home run and four RBI in 43 at-bats. Those numbers may seem mediocre at the moment, but deep down, they provide hints of incoming awesomeness. After struggling mightily last year against right-handers, hitting .220 off them, Zimmerman's .281 average against them so far this season is much closer to his career mark of .274. With left-handers, he is hitting .182 off of them despite a career .310 average against them. As long as Zimmerman stays healthy, there should be no reason those trends won't revert back to his career norms, elevating his current game. Hop of this bandwagon before others know there's one to jump on.