Sleeper of the Week

Kevin Millar is off to a hot start. Through the season’s first five games, Millar is hitting a torrid .438, along with two home runs and eight rbi, making him an extremely valuable asset, but for his fantasy owners as well.

Yes, it’s far too early to start putting faith in these numbers. Millar will neither hit .400 nor walk more than he strikes out this season. Yet going beyond mere statistics, the signs we’ve seen so far have been extremely encouraging. Millar seems very comfortable playing for the Red Sox, who in turn are making an effort to give Millar all the playing time he can handle.

Equally important to fantasy owners, Millar has been used at first base twice already, indicating that he should gain 1b-eligibility quite early in the season. First base and outfield are both deep positions, but in leagues with small rosters, any player who can cover more than one spot becomes a huge asset.

In the last two seasons, Millar quietly put up very respectable numbers for the Marlins, yet fantasy owners were slow to take note. Now that he has moved to friendly Fenway Park and Boston’s potent lineup, his stats should be even better. If you’re in a semi-deep league that left him undrafted, consider adding him to your roster.