Early Season Fantasy Baseball Drop Candidates to Consider

We have only checked out fantasy baseball waiver wire/streaming assets so far this week, but I thought it was time to go over some possible drop candidates.

More droppable player data can be located on the waiver wire trends most dropped tab, which can be found on any fantasy baseball page here at FantasySP. 

Explore the best in-season tool to manage lineup/start decisions including waiver pickups, projections, trade suggestions, trade value charts, rest of season rankings, power rankings, and tons more with Fantasy Assistant.

Dylan Crews - Washington Nationals

Crews is owned in about 41% of fantasy leagues right now, and that's just far too high. He's not in the big leagues right now, so the only leagues he's worth holding in are dynasty/keeper ones and really deep redraft leagues.

He's played 116 games over the past two MLB seasons. Crews has just a .211 average, while striking out 102 times over 412 at-bats.

Crews just hasn't lived up to the hype yet, so sending him to the minor leagues makes sense, especially so he can try to turn things around. That doesn't leave him with any fantasy value now though.

In time, Crews should get another crack at the big leagues, but until then, he's not worth rostering in most redraft leagues. That makes him droppable, but also be ready to add him back when he gets back in the big leagues.

Heliot Ramos - San Francisco Giants

Ramos is sitting at 67% owned right now. He was up around 70% earlier this week.

Ramos started in left field and hit sixth for San Fran in its first game on Wednesday. San Fran gets back on the field tonight, so we'll see if Ramos sticks in that role.

Ramos was one of the Giants who delivered a hit, singling across four at-bats. He also struck out twice.

He's been a pretty good fantasy asset over the past couple years, but strikeouts are an issue. In 157 games last year, he had 158 punchouts. Ramos had a solid .256 average and .328 OBP though, and with 24 doubles and 21 homers, there's fantasy value to take advantage of.

If he's starting daily, that's the most important thing, but if he's only hitting sixth, then his fantasy outlook is not as great. Ramos would be a better deep-league asset, but worth adding/streaming in standard leagues if he's hot at the plate.

Keep tabs on him, but if there's a must-add waiver wire option out there, consider dropping Ramos in standard leagues. I'd keep rostering him in deeper leagues.

Noelvi Marte - Cincinnati Reds

Marte is rostered in 73% of leagues right now. He was up over 80% earlier in the week.

Marte started in right field, but hit eighth for the Reds on Opening Day. That limits his fantasy outlook a good deal.

Marte only got two at-bats in the game, striking out both times. He was then pulled for a pinch hitter.

It wasn't a good start to the season for Marte, so he's another that could be droppable if there's waiver wire targets out there that you want. Keep rostering him in deeper leagues for now, but if he's not hitting, or even playing all games/every day, then he could be droppable there too.

Marte had some success in his rookie year in 2023, but has struggled to deliver as well in the two years since. He had a .263 average across 90 games last year.

He's not a player to write off for good, but at least for now, there's a number of other fantasy players I'd take over Marte. Consider dropping him today if you need to open a spot for someone else, but be ready to add him if his role improves or he starts excelling at the plate.

Adolis Garcia - Philadelphia Phillies

Garcia is rostered in about 60% of leagues right now. He was closer to 65% earlier in the week.

Garcia hit sixth and played right field in the Philly opener. He got four at-bats, failing to post a hit and striking out twice.

I like his new home and outlook, but I understand why fantasy owners are dropping him today. Garcia has had some big seasons in the past, but also is a big strikeout victim. 

In time, Garcia could emerge as a bigger fantasy asset in Philly, but again, dropping him for a hot-hitting rookie is a move I'd do too. Keep rostering him in deeper leagues, but consider dropping him in standard leagues, especially if there's a waiver wire target out there that you really like.