We are not even one full week into regular-season games, so it is a bit early to overreact not only when it comes to adding players, but in dropping them as well. That hardly means a fantasy manager should show loyalty or devotion to someone they drafted or traded for, but that we could use a bit more time before making decisions, too. Yes, it is a short season. Still, you liked J.D. Davis, Willie Calhoun and Sean Manaea on draft day and you want to move on ... already?
So, in this first in-season installment of the free-agent report we shall go position by position, but add a few caveats as well.
Catcher
I would add (all options in this category available in more than 50 of ESPN standard leagues):
Keep an eye on (most options in this section are readily available): It is so early but the Giants' Tyler Heineman hit and showed plate discipline in the minors, and he can run a little. The Rangers believe Isiah Kiner-Falefa will hit at third base, but he is a catcher in fantasy.
... But I would not drop (these options are rostered in most leagues, still): The Twins' Mitch Garver, Dodgers' Will Smith and Mets' Wilson Ramos are on the most-dropped list. Come on! Did you see what Garver did in 2019? I could see Murphy providing more value than the latter two, but that is also a bit premature to make the switch.
Corner infield
I would add: Perhaps Tampa's Ji-Man Choi will not see a huge uptick in plate appearances now that he can switch hit, but I like the fact he leads off. Seattle's Kyle Seager hits in the middle of the lineup -- not a strong one -- but should accrue RBIs. Milwaukee's Justin Smoak is what he is and it might be good enough for your large-league team.
Keep an eye on: Atlanta seems intent on giving Matt Adams regular playing time at DH, and right behind Marcell Ozuna in a strong lineup. Toronto's Rowdy Tellez offers similar numbers. Jesus Aguilar has a couple of home runs already, and if Miami keeps hitting him second in the lineup, it could work. Good for Darin Ruf, but only in NL-only formats.
... But I would not drop: Scott Kingery and Miguel Sano hitting eighth regularly is definitely a problem, but they should hit. Give Christian Walker, Luke Voit and definitely J.D. Davis more time.
Middle infield
I would add: There are myriad options here worth adding, led by Atlanta's Dansby Swanson, and including scrappy Angel David Fletcher and underrated Marlin Miguel Rojas. Not much power for the latter two, but they can hit and steal a few. Washington's Asdrubal Cabrera always hits better than people realize, and regardless of what Carter Kieboom does, Cabrera gets at-bats. Cesar Hernandez leads off for a good Cleveland lineup and he will score runs. Freddy Galvis hit 23 home runs last season, so he is always a reasonable add.
Keep an eye on: Jose Peraza is not a special player, but he is going to play regularly and should steal a few bases. He led off Sunday. Wilmer Flores likely is not a regular for the Giants, but he can hit the lefties. Chris Taylor is playing because Gavin Lux is not, but at some point soon Lux will be back, so he makes sense as a stash. Maikel Franco has burned us all previously, but I cannot help but watch.
... But I would not drop: Elvis Andrus and Jean Segura are veteran players with a baseline of performance. Adalberto Mondesi has so much upside. Ryan McMahon has Coors Field. If you want to give up on Garrett Hampson, because he does not play enough, sure, but these other fellows are regulars.
Outfield
I would add: Start with Seattle rookie Kyle Lewis. Nobody doubts the power, and if he can make enough contact, he can sustain some of this. It is a bit similar with the Cubs' Ian Happ. He has pop and can draw a walk, but his career K rate is 32% and that is too high. San Diego's Trent Grisham is also off to a nice start. The Giants' Mike Yastrzemski and Diamondbacks' Kole Calhoun, as well as Miami's Corey Dickerson, are left-handed hitters with enough pop for those weeks when they will not face left-handed pitching. I think both the Rays' Yoshitomo Tsutsugo and Reds' Shogo Akiyama will play enough to matter, even in standard formats.
Keep an eye on: The Twins' Jake Cave and Giants' Jaylin Davis intrigue me a bit, if they play enough. Certainly more than Leury Garcia does.
... But I would not drop: Keep Willie Calhoun, Aaron Hicks and Ryan Braun around. Each should end up a top-50 fantasy outfielder. Houston's Kyle Tucker might have to platoon for a while, but because he can steal a base, one should be patient. If you drafted Mallex Smith, why give up so soon? He will steal bases.
Starting pitcher
I would add: Well, I know you lost Justin Verlander, Corey Kluber and Eduardo Rodriguez, but I still do not see much to add. Tyler Chatwood could be OK, but we need more than one outing. I still think Toronto prospect Nate Pearson will be an instant star. Philly's Spencer Howard is right with him. Of the pitchers on the most-added list, I can make a case for the Cubs' Chatwood, the Giants' Johnny Cueto and Cleveland's Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale, but I liked them each weeks ago, too. One outing tells us little. You do not want Jon Lester, Adam Wainwright, Steven Matz or Alex Cobb.
Keep an eye on: I also mentioned a few weeks my interest in Colorado's Kyle Freeland for road games. He looked good in his first one. Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller is another one that people dismissed too easily.
... But I would not drop: As mentioned in Monday's column, keep Verlander and Shohei Ohtani around. Also, Detroit lefty Matthew Boyd struck out 238 hitters in 2019, and a rough outing against a solid Reds lineup is hardly enough to give up on that. Silly.
Relief pitcher
I would add: More later in the week in the Closer Report, but Cardinals right-hander Kwang-Hyun Kim, the Giants' Trevor Gott, Miami's Brandon Kintzler, and Colorado's Wade Davis appear to be save options, for now. I would add them in that order. I also think Toronto's Anthony Bass keeps the role and the injured Ken Giles misses a while.
Keep an eye on: I do not assume Greg Holland is the Royals' closer, but it might be Trevor Rosenthal over Ian Kennedy. I am ignoring the Baltimore and Seattle situations. Nick Burdi should be Pittsburgh's closer, but he was absent Monday. That is some nice strikeout upside.
... But I would not drop: Somehow, both Mark Melancon and Will Smith are on the dropped list. Melancon will get saves, I believe. I would keep Rays right-hander Nick Anderson, too, even if he shares saves.