Whitestone’s Waiver Watch: NFBC Main Event (4/7)

Batting Down the Hatches

2025 MLB Counter: 5.9% of games played

Ladies and gentlemen, we’re now past the Opening Day jitters and are moving into the grind of the season. Sure, the standings don’t mean much yet, but all fantasy managers are trying to maximize plate appearances, innings pitched and trying to please, please find some hits amid the storm of 0-for-4s!

Where Did the Batting Average Go?

So I figured batting average would bounce back somewhat when the defensive shift rules were limited at the beginning of 2024 — so leaguewide batting averages and runs scored would prove to be in a healthier place. But lo, in 2024 runs scored dropped to 4.39 (see chart below) from 4.62, and batting average sank to .243 from .248. The good news for offense, as I saw it, was that it at least wouldn’t get any worse than that, right? I mean, I’m an optimistic guy, and while I love a good pitching performance, it’s nice to see runs on the board. However, in the very early returns from 2025, runs scored per game has dropped further to 4.35 and batting average is now — get this — .236. Home runs are up a little to 1.16 per game or else the lower batting average’s effect on runs scored would be even greater. So remember when we all said during draft season to avoid .240-.250 hitters so that you wouldn’t hurt your fantasy team’s batting average? Well, those guys are actually helping you in that category!

MLB Batting Stats 2017-2025 YTD

Most Common FAAB Pickups in the Main Event

Remember “My Sharona?” It was the debut single by the band The Knack. The song was released in 1979 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Well, the top-10 acquisitions for Sunday are in the chart below, and fantasy managers were apparently drawing inspiration from 1979, since Landon Knack of LAD was added in the most leagues (53) in response to the fact that he should replace Blake Snell in the Dodger rotation for at least a couple of turns (with matchups at WAS and vs. COL). The No. 2 most-added player, the Angels’ Kyren Paris, has been playing more and more, and even with Luis Rengifo and Yoán Moncada seemingly available this week, Paris drew interest based on his potential for steals and playing time. Jake Mangum of TB and Tim Tawa of AZ were both added in 51 leagues, as it looks like they will have regular run in the Rays outfield and Diamondbacks infield to replace Josh Lowe and Ketel Marte, respectively, over the next few weeks. The only other player to be added in at least 40 leagues was Michael Lorenzen, who has an attractive two-step next week that fantasy managers wanted to utilize.

NFBC Main Event Most Added Olayers 4/6: A Knack for FAAB

The Wow Bid of the Week

So, who attracted the highest single bids of Week Three FAAB? It turns out that someone was Dennis Santana of the Pittsburgh Pirates at $411 (runner up $187). Santana was available in 16 Main Event leagues and the prices ranged from this top bid to the $200-299 range (4); $100-199 range (8); and $84-99 (3). The average winning bid for Santana — who is expected to be the closer for the Pirates — was $181.

In addition to Dennis Santana, there were seven other players attracting average winning bids over $30 that were added in 10 or more leagues (outside of the 10 most common pickups listed above). These players were: Zac Veen (average winning bid $199; 19 bids); Anthony Bender ($124; 15); Tommy Kahnle ($118; 13); Heston Kjerstad ($99; 20); Geraldo Perdomo ($69; 14); Mitchell Parker ($44; 17) and Andrew Heaney ($44; 13).

FAAB Summary

In the first three FAAB weeks, Main Event managers have scored 3,951 winning bids (13% more than the 3,498 in the first three weeks of last year) and spent about $112 of their $1,000 allocation. Last year, only about $100 was spent in the first three weeks. The average Main Event winning bid was $25 in the most recent period, which was higher than the $20 in the third week last season. 

The Colosseum

Each week during the season, I’ll review the four most common Main Event pickups from three weeks ago and evaluate whether it was a good addition based on the early stats (thumbs up); a bad idea (thumbs down); or simply a push. In 2024, these pickups were rated as 30 thumbs up (38%), 39 down (49%) and 11 pushes (14%) — a little worse than in 2023 (44% up, 41% down, and 15% pushes). For reference, the good pickups were 39% in 2022 and 24% in 2021. So you can see that these top four widest acquisitions generally result in helpful additions to our fantasy squads 40% of the time. Keep that in mind when you’re preparing your bids this season! Obviously, we don’t have any results yet this season, but starting next week we can grade the March 23 additions.

Overall Leaderboard: The Kid Ben Tidd

It’s important to get off to a good start, and famous podcaster Ben Tidd has done just that! You can see his reaction to his fantasy team’s hot start above, but Ben isn’t taking anything for granted. Even though we can see his early celebration dance above, Ben keeps telling all the reporters huddled outside his house “I’m just happy to be here” and “We’re just gonna take it one day at a time” Sounds good. Ben, don’t get ahead of yourself! In any case, the top 34 Main Event entrants will earn a prize from the overall pool this year in addition to any league prizes awarded, and there are some tough customers chasing Ben. Daniel Semsel, former overall champ, has not just one but two top teams — in fourth and 11th overall! And Daniel DaSilva has three teams in the top 34 — in 14th, 15th and 28th place — outstanding! Kyle Brinkmann is also up in the stratosphere with teams in third and 30th place overall.

You can see the rest of the early top 34 below — and we’ll follow the chase for the Main Event overall crown all season to see who can come out on top.

NFBC Main Event Overall Standings

2025 Final Table Champions League Standings

I’m showing here the first annual CLQ Championship League standings — these are the 15 fantasy managers who qualified last season by finishing with the best combined score in an across-the-board competition and therefore were invited to compete in an auction league in March. If you’re unaware, the CLQ requires fantasy managers to enter one specified team in the Online Championship, the Draft Champions, and the Main Event. These top 15 in the 2024 CLQ qualified for this first-ever auction league with significant prize money at stake built from entry fees from all CLQ entrants (201 fantasy managers entered this competition in 2024). It’s the best of the best in a no-holds-barred 15-team league, so we’ll track it to see who can become the initial Champions League Champ (the Champs Champ?) — and right now Brody John is holding down first place with Michael Brophy and Tim Sansome in hot pursuit: 

Champions League Qualifier Standings

Finally, I’m showing here the race for the NFBC CLQ — the Champions League Qualifier for next March. The top 14 in the CLQ qualify for the 2026 Champions auction league (the champion of the 2025 Champions Auction league automatically is invited back to defend their title). Right now, here are the 14 leading contenders to make the auction table in 2026 out of the 155 intrepid souls who entered this year.