Well-Known Fantasy Baseball Players - Drop, Hold, or Sell Low for Week 11? (2025)

Joey discusses five well-known fantasy baseball hitters and pitchers who have not performed well heading into Week 11 of the 2025 season. Is it time to drop, sell, or hold?

Welcome, RotoBallers, to our weekly article about well-known fantasy baseball players. Every week of the fantasy baseball season, we will look at which players might be struggling the most. It could be a hitter in the middle of a week-long slump or a pitcher coming off multiple rough outings in a row. 

We will then determine whether we should drop, hold, or sell these players heading into the next week. All five players featured on this week's list have been a strong fantasy option at some point this season, but they haven't been able to contribute much for fantasy managers over the past week. 

So, what should fantasy managers do with these five well-known players? Should they drop, hold, or sell these five players? Let's dive in and find out. 

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Ryan Yarbrough, SP/RP, New York Yankees

New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Yarbrough started the season out of the bullpen. He made eight appearances in relief before transitioning to a starter role in early May. The results were good for Yarbrough in his first five starts. He had a 2.08 ERA and 24 strikeouts in five outings from May 3 to June 1. 

However, Yarbrough was rocked in his most recent start on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox. He allowed eight runs on nine hits with two walks across four innings. Following that implosion, some fantasy managers have decided to drop the southpaw. 

Ryan Yarbrough speaks about his outing vs the Red Sox on Saturday. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/zBaoirvVIR

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 8, 2025

Yarbrough, though, is a nice hold heading into Week 11 of the fantasy baseball season. We shouldn't overreact to one rough start from the left-hander, considering he gave up just one run in each of his three starts prior. Therefore, it's best to hold the veteran for at least another week. 

He isn't allowing a lot of hard contact this season, as his average exit velocity (85.5 mph), hard-hit rate (31.3%), and barrel rate (3.9%) all rank in the 92nd percentile or better. Yarbrough is also striking out batters at a career-high pace (23.1% strikeout rate). That all makes him a hold in most formats.

Look for him to be better in a rematch against the Red Sox on Friday. 

Verdict: Hold in most formats 

Taj Bradley, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

Everyone expected Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Taj Bradley to dominate against the Miami Marlins on Saturday. Instead, he had his worst start of the season. The right-hander allowed seven runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts across four innings. That rough outing resulted in  Bradley being dropped by over 7,000 fantasy managers in Yahoo! leagues on Sunday morning. 

However, let's pump the brakes on dropping the Rays pitcher. Bradley was on an absolute roll before that bad start, delivering a quality start in three straight outings from May 21 to June 1. In that three-game span, he allowed just four earned runs across 20 innings (1.80 ERA) to go with 23 strikeouts and five walks. 

Therefore, Bradley should be held in all leagues entering Week 11. His expected ERA (3.32) is much lower than his actual ERA (4.58), which means he has gotten a little bit unlucky on the mound to start the year. Fantasy managers should expect more consistency from the right-hander moving forward, especially since his hard-hit rate (37%) ranks in the top half of the league. 

Verdict: Hold in all formats 

Raisel Iglesias, RP, Atlanta Braves 

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias entered the year as one of the best closers in baseball. He saved over 30 games in back-to-back campaigns (2023 and 2024) and was set to be a strong fantasy option again on what was supposed to be a really good Braves team. Unfortunately, Iglesias has lost Atlanta's closer job amid his struggles. 

It's not a surprise to see Iglesias removed from that closer role after the veteran allowed at least one run in eight of his last 11 appearances. During this 11-game span, he has a 9.90 ERA and two blown saves. The tipping point for Braves manager Brian Snitker was when the right-hander gave up three runs in a blown loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. 

#Braves bullpen was compromised coming into the season. One of the worst-case scenarios was Raisel Iglesias imploding. Well, it's happened in a time where the runs aren't there, the club finds itself in more close games than anybody and the depth chart cannot absorb that blow.

— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) June 7, 2025

Given that the 35-year-old has lost the closer job, he is a fine drop in most leagues heading into Week 11. He hasn't looked great in that closer role this season, and his 22.9% strikeout rate is the worst of his career. So, it's time to cut bait with Iglesias and pick up another closer instead.

Fantasy managers should see if Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Daniel Palencia or Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jordan Romano are currently available. Both are better options than Iglesias moving forward. 

Verdict: Drop in all formats 

Wilyer Abreu, OF, Boston Red Sox

It has been frustrating to roster Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu in recent weeks. He is batting just .161 with two home runs, five RBI, and 21 strikeouts over his last 22 games. Abreu has also only had one multi-hit game since May 14. As a result, it has been quite some time since the 25-year-old has been a solid fantasy option for managers. 

The most frustrating part about rostering Abreu in fantasy is the fact that he rarely starts against left-handed pitching. He sat on the bench in all four games with a lefty on the mound this past week. Although he came in as a pinch hitter in all four contests, it's hard to rely on a platoon player in fantasy. That's a big reason why it has been tough to hold the Red Sox outfielder in recent weeks.

Nevertheless, his metrics suggest that fantasy managers should be holding him entering Week 11. He has a .538 expected slugging, a 14.3% barrel rate, and a .369 wxOBA through the first few months. With a 25-home run season in sight, Abreu remains a hold in most formats.

Verdict: Hold in 12-plus team leagues 

Jesus Luzardo, SP, Philadelphia Phillies 

No pitcher has allowed more runs over the last two starts than Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo. The left-hander gave up 12 runs on 12 hits across 3 1/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 31 and then allowed eight runs on nine hits across 2 1/3 innings in his most recent start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.

That's 20 runs allowed over his last 5 2/3 innings. 

It feels almost impossible that Luzardo has given up that many runs over his last two starts, considering how dominant he was to start the year. The southpaw had an impressive 2.15 ERA and 77 strikeouts in his first 11 games this season. However, his ERA has skyrocketed to 4.46 following those two brutal outings. 

Jesús Luzardo has cornrows now. “This is what happens when you give up 12 runs,” he said. Switching the mojo. pic.twitter.com/LiMVEMnBh6

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) June 3, 2025

There's no doubt it will be tough to trust Luzardo moving forward, but no fantasy manager should be dropping him at this point in the season. This is simply just a rough stretch for the left-hander, and he should return to that early-season dominance once again. It is a great sign that his strikeout rate (26.4%) and barrel rate (6.3%) both rank extremely well. 

As a result, Luzardo is a strong hold in every format heading into Week 11. He won't be a must-start in his next matchup against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, but he should remain on rosters. The 27-year-old will surely get back into a groove on the mound. 

Verdict: Hold in all formats

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