We are starting week 21 of the fantasy season, a crucial point where owners must make some tough decisions. As a fantasy owner, it’s your responsibility to scrutinize your roster and identify the weak links, even if they are your favorite players in the real world. Just so you know, no one will tell Bo Bichette if you drop him from your fantasy team, nor will he care. The key is to focus on the performance of your players in the fantasy world, not their real-world stardom. So, who are the five fantasy baseball offensive stars you must consider dropping right now?
Five Fantasy Stars To Drop Right Now
Luis Robert Jr. OF, Chicago White Sox – Fantasy owners of Robert Jr. were hoping he was traded at the deadline to a contender. The Outfielder had been showing signs of life after his return from injury, but being mired on the worst team in MLB has taken its toll on the All-Star. Robert Jr. is slashing just .234/.244/.338 with two home runs and eight RBI in August. Both home runs and four of those RBI came on the same day. The Cuban defector has never hit for average, but now he isn’t hitting for power either.
Xander Bogaerts, 2B/SS San Diego Padres- Bogaerts is currently owned in 89% of leagues but has only put up 527 points this season. The middle infielder did miss all of June with an injury this season, but compared to other players with comparable or even less time, he still falls short. Bogaerts is batting .274 and has been scoring some runs on a hot Padres team, but that’s it. Bogaerts ranks 47th out of all second basemen in fantasy points scored this season. Dylan Moore has scored 200 more fantasy points in fewer at-bats this season and is only 9% owned. I’m not necessarily advocating picking up Moore; I’m just saying that Xander has been that bad this season.
On a Padres team with Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts, their best two position players this season have been…
Jurickson Profar and Jackson Merrill. pic.twitter.com/IDqeUPoZ2D
— MLB Metrics (@MLBMetrics) August 25, 2024
Michael Harris II, OF, Atlanta Braves- Much like the rest of the Atlanta Braves roster, Harris has been battling injury off and on this season. He is currently day to day with a hand injury. Harris is owned in 90% of leagues but has only put up 79 fantasy points in the last 30 days, averaging just over six points on the season. 6.30 points per game is good enough to be 83rd out of all outfielders. He’s not hitting for power or contact, and he’s not stealing any bases right now. Hopefully, he can put this season behind him.
Julio Rodriguez, OF, Seattle Mariners- JRod has the highest ceiling of any player on this list. That high ceiling makes it tough to dump the guy with a month left. If you are in a keeper league, disregard this list and move on. Rodriguez was number seven on the Yahoo! pre-season draft list. He is currently sitting just inside number 400 on the list. JRod is batting below the Mendoza line this month with no home runs or stolen bases. The entire season has been like this, but he is owned by 97% of leagues. I know he was your first-round pick, but you have to let him go.
That Julio Rodriguez at bat, tho ☹️
Swinging for Bellevue when a single—or at a minimum, moving the runners up to 2nd and 3rd—is what they needed. looking at a 1-strike fastball center cut. Then chasing yet again low and away for another K.
Man..
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 24, 2024
Ryan McMahon, 2B/3B, Colorado Rockies- You may not consider McMahon a star, but he was an All-Star this season and was awesome in the first half. I was lucky enough to grab him early in the season and ride that hot first half. His second half has been a different story. McMahon is slashing an abysmal .147/.253/.191 in August with no home runs or stolen bases. Combine that with the terrible offense that surrounds him in Colorado, and you will leave a lot of points on the table.
Fantasy Players to Add Instead
Willi Castro 2B/3B/SS/OF, Minnesota Twins- Castro went into a brief slump during the summer but got hot again in August. Castro has slugged four home runs and knocked in 16 runs this month. Castro is owned in 76% of leagues in Yahoo! and is a solid option.
Wilyer Abreu, OF, Boston Red Sox- Rostered in only 37% of leagues, Abreu has been hot in August. Slashing .274/.357/.565 with five home runs and fifteen RBI, Abreu is outperforming the outfield stars mentioned above stars.
Kerry Carpenter, OF, Detroit Tigers—He’s not flashy, but Kerry Carpenter has been getting it done most of the season when healthy. Over the last month, Carpenter has averaged just over nine points per game. Carpenter is owned in just over 50% of leagues.
What a return for Kerry Carpenter! His second homer of the night! pic.twitter.com/DoxQFo5G0d
— MLB (@MLB) August 13, 2024
Main Photo Credits: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
