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Five fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups, sleepers, and trade targets for Week 16 -- undervalued hitters outperforming their rostership and should be more widely owned.
Looking to gain an edge in your fantasy baseball league without burning through trade capital? Sometimes, the most valuable moves come from under-the-radar waiver wire additions.
We've identified five hitters who are quietly producing and deserve a closer look. Kyle Stowers is flashing legit power upside, Jurickson Profar continues to be a versatile contributor, Otto Lopez is heating up with everyday at-bats, Chandler Simpson brings game-changing speed, and Colt Keith is starting to show signs of a breakout.
Here’s why each of these undervalued bats could help give your lineup a boost.
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Kyle Stowers, OF, Miami Marlins
58% rostered
Stowers ended his great first half with a bang, as he launched three home runs against his former team, the Baltimore Orioles, in an 11-1 rout on July 13. His trio of homers brought his total on the year to 19, along with 13 doubles, three triples, 54 RBI, and a .911 OPS across 91 games this season. He's accrued 2.9 fWAR en route to his first All-Star selection.
THREE HOME RUNS FOR KYLE STOWERS! pic.twitter.com/Q1QUypjx7C
— MLB (@MLB) July 13, 2025
Although Stowers endured a 31-game homer drought, slashing a meager .228/.291/.297 with only five RBI, the 27-year-old has been mostly consistent for the Marlins. He has easily been their best hitter, producing a 149 OPS+, 151 wRC+, and .389 wOBA. His 91.7 average exit velocity ranks in the 83rd percentile, with his hard hit percentage and barrel rate placing in the 94th and 98th percentiles, respectively.
His underlying numbers support his breakout campaign. He boasts an expected batting average of .284 and an expected slugging percentage of .567. However, Stowers flounders with strikeouts, fanning 97 times in 346 plate appearances, with a 33.3% whiff rate and 28% K rate. He balances this out with a decent walk percentage (9.8%) and by limiting his chase rate (29.3%).
Jurickson Profar, OF, Atlanta Braves
51% rostered
In his last game before the All-Star break, Profar went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI in a 5-4 loss against the St. Louis Cardinals. This brought his season average to .270, albeit from a small sample size, as he was reinstated from an 80-game PED-related suspension on July 2. Overall, he has three homers, eight RBI, and a .757 OPS across 64 plate appearances.
Jurickson Profar ties the game with a 2-run blast! pic.twitter.com/eKhYerko0e
— MLB (@MLB) July 11, 2025
At this point, the Braves will take anything they can get, as they enter the second half in fourth place in the National League East at 42-53. Atlanta's .243 average ranks 21st in the league, its .703 OPS is 20th, and its 105 home runs are tied for 14th. It's a far cry from two seasons ago when they led the league in each of those categories. Now, Matt Olson's 17 home runs lead the team at the half.
With a playoff spot likely out of the picture, the Braves' focus in the second half should be to salvage their season the best they can, i.e., avoid finishing in last place (yes, that is an actual possibility!) or perhaps reach a .500 record. If that is to happen, Profar must have a second half similar to his All-Star season in 2024, when the switch-hitter hit a career-high 24 home runs and 85 RBI, and earned a Silver Slugger Award.
Otto Lopez, 2B/SS, Miami Marlins
39% rostered
Over his last seven games, Lopez has slashed .259/.310/.481 with a pair of home runs, four RBI, two walks, and a stolen base. His 11 homers, 48 RBI, and 29 walks have already eclipsed his 2024 totals in a little over 30 fewer games and plate appearances. Lopez is halfway to overtaking his stolen base total as well, with 10 at the All-Star break. Through 79 games this year, Lopez is batting .250 with a .712 OPS.
Despite making his MLB debut in August 2021, the 26-year-old didn't exceed rookie limits until last season, when he appeared in 117 games. He was initially signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016 and was designated by the club in February 2024. Lopez was then briefly with the San Francisco Giants before being picked up by the Marlins on waivers, where he's been since April 2024.
Otto López in 196 G since becoming a Marlin
- 17 HR
- 54 BB
- 30 SB
- 15 DRS
- 5.0 bWAR (and counting) pic.twitter.com/jNFvBRUHtk— Louis Addeo-Weiss (@addeo_louis00) July 13, 2025
It's been a long journey for Lopez, but he's still under 30 and only has 205 MLB games under his belt. He possesses the tools necessary for success in this league, including speed, power, and plate discipline. Lopez's 13.7% strikeout rate is in the 90th percentile, while his whiff percentage is in the 81st. While he isn't hitting the ball too hard, he has an xBA of .291 as well as an xwOBA of .361, which places in the 91st and 80th percentiles in MLB, respectively. Now that Lopez has stuck with a ball club for an extended time, he's been able to utilize those abilities fully.
Chandler Simpson, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
36% rostered
Simpson, a 2022 second-round draft pick of the Rays, has lived up to expectations since making his debut on April 19. The Georgia Tech product has quickly carved out a role for himself with his elite speed and disruptive presence on the basepaths. True to his scouting report, Simpson consistently finds his way on base and is a constant threat to steal. So far in the 2025 season, the rookie is batting an impressive .308 with a solid on-base percentage of .340. Even more notable is his performance on the bases -- he’s successfully stolen 26 bags in 32 attempts.
What makes Simpson especially valuable is how his speed not only impacts stolen base totals but also alters the rhythm and confidence of opposing defenses. Infielders often feel the pressure when he is at the plate, frequently rushing their throws on even routine grounders, which has resulted in a surprising number of infield singles for the young outfielder. His ability to beat out plays that most runners wouldn’t even challenge makes him a unique offensive weapon and a headache for pitchers and defenders.
Chandler Simpson causes defenders to make bad plays routinely, it’s incredible pic.twitter.com/9XG2GwpCi7
— Jake (@TBRaysCentral) July 10, 2025
While Simpson provides plenty of excitement with his legs and contact skills, he isn’t likely to offer much power. The 24-year-old has just one professional home run across more than 1,300 plate appearances spanning the minors and majors. Still, with his speed, on-base ability, and baseball IQ, Simpson is proving to be a valuable piece of the Rays’ lineup -- and someone who can impact the game in ways that don’t always show up in traditional statistics.
Colt Keith, 1B/2B/3B, Detroit Tigers
32% rostered
The Tigers demonstrated their confidence in Keith heading into the 2024 season, signing him to a six-year contract extension worth just over $28 million before he had even played a single game at the major league level. Ranked as Detroit’s No. 2 overall prospect at the time, Keith was immediately thrust into a key role, serving as the Tigers’ primary second baseman for most of his rookie campaign. Despite an uneven start at the plate, he managed to find his rhythm as the season progressed.
Now in his sophomore season, Keith has become a key contributor on a first-place Tigers squad that exceeded expectations. Through the All-Star break, he’s slashing .264/.346/.434, a clear sign of his continued development and growing confidence at the plate. Notably, he has already surpassed his total number of doubles from last season, recording 16 through mid-July, compared to 15 for the entire year last year.
Colt Keith clears the wall and we have a tie game in Detroit! 💪 pic.twitter.com/4kKANQf5nv
— MLB (@MLB) June 20, 2025
Although Keith endured a sluggish April, he’s turned things around in dramatic fashion. July has been the best month of his young career, batting .359 with an OPS of 1.047, showcasing his ability to drive the ball with authority while maintaining solid plate discipline. His hot streak has played a crucial role in keeping the Tigers at the top of the standings.
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