The second week of the baseball season has come and gone, taking casualties in the form of a blister epidemic and various other injuries. For everyone still standing, we’re on to week three, where sample sizes slowly become more meaningful and (hopefully) more extensive Statcast data becomes available.

However, week two was kinder to some than others, and it would be remiss to skip over the events of the previous week due to small sample size. I’m obligated to preface that it’s still very early in the season, though some players have been trending in positive directions while others have struggled.

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Rising in Value

• Eric Thames (OF – MIL)
  With a five-HR week, Thames has vaulted into a tie for the MLB home run title with six overall. After tearing up the KBO last season, projection systems were optimistic and Thames has rewarded those who bought in so far. He’s sixth in the league in hard contact rate at 55.6%, and though the high batting average might not stick around, Thames should be a strong option for power all year.

• James Paxton (SP – SEA)
  Three starts and 21 innings into the season, Paxton still has yet to allow a run. With a 29.3% strikeout rate and 4.3% walk rate, Paxton ranks 12th in the league in K-BB%, an indication that his hot start is no fluke. With an exciting mix of pitches and improved command, Paxton could compete for a Cy Young award if health permits.

• Mike Leake (SP – STL)
  If you’re looking for this year’s Rick Porcello, Leake may very well be that player. After signing a five-year, $80 million contract with the Cardinals prior to the 2016 season, Leake disappointed with a 4.69 ERA. However, a 3.83 FIP was right in line with his career numbers. Leake is off to a great start with 13 strikeouts and one walk over 15 shutout innings this season and looks like he’s returning to form.

• Elvis Andrus (SS – TEX)
  Andrus revamped his hitting mechanics last year, resulting in the best offensive season of his career. Those results have carried into this year, and that mid-career breakout is looking like less of a fluke. His hard contact rate so far is the best of his nine-year career, as is his strikeout rate. It’s certainly an abnormal developmental curve, but if your league members are slow to believe, Andrus could make for the rare savvy buy-high.

• Travis d’Arnaud (C – NYM)
  d’Arnaud has always had offensive potential, but injuries have held back a breakout season. For the first time in nearly two years, he finally seems healthy, and the early returns have been very good. He’s walked 11.1% of the time, striking out at a 13.9% rate, and slashing .333/.417/.645. Health is always a concern, but he’s worthy of starting in most leagues for now.

Falling in Value

• Rich Hill (SP – LAD)
  Hill returned from his first DL stint of the season and promptly exited in the fourth inning of his Sunday start after re-aggravating the blister on his finger. Injury risk was budgeted into Hill’s draft cost, but even 100 innings is looking like it might be a stretch. He hasn’t looked as dominant as he did last year either with a 21.2% strikeout rate and 15.2% walk rate in the early going.

• Brandon Finnegan (SP – CIN)
  A week ago, Finnegan made the opposite side of this list, though in two starts since then, he’s lasted three innings while walking eight batters and allowing five hits. He’s now facing a shoulder injury that could keep him sidelined for at least the next two-to-three weeks. Finnegan still has tantalizing strikeout potential, but his control deserted him last week. He’s still worth stashing in deep leagues, but this is a damper on the upside he flashed in week one.

• Ryon Healy (3B – OAK)
  A popular sleeper over the offseason, Healy has yet to deliver on the promise of his rookie year thus far. He’s slashing .170/.204/.340, and as a bat-only player, he needs to hit to keep his spot in the lineup. Also concerning is a 30.6% strikeout rate and 4.1% walk rate. Healy isn’t going to find much success unless he can reign in those plate discipline stats.

• Alex Gordon (OF – KC)
  Any hope of a Gordon bounce-back season is quickly dissipating. His hard contact rate of 18.9% is nearly 12 points below his career average and pitchers aren’t afraid to challenge him. Gordon’s 5.8% walk rate would also be the lowest rate of his career. At 33 years old, you shouldn’t be holding your breath waiting for him to turn it around offensively.

• Javier Baez (2B/3B/SS – CHC)
  After making some strides in the contact department last season, Baez is swinging and missing at a whopping 21.6% rate, fifth among hitters with at least 30 PAs. His strikeout rate has climbed to 28.6%, resulting in a .226 batting average. With a .333 BABIP, there isn’t much bad luck there either – just not enough contact. Baez is also still waiting on his first HR of the season.

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Alex Isherwood is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Alex, check out his archive.