Well-Known Fantasy Baseball Players - Drop, Hold, or Sell Low for Week 22? (2025)

Shaun discusses five well-known fantasy baseball hitters and pitchers who have not performed well heading into Week 22 of the 2025 season. Is it time to drop, sell, or hold?

Every roster decision carries more weight in late August than it did back in April. This is the point in the year when loyalty to name value can sink a contending team, and when a bold move on the waiver wire can spark a championship run. The difference between holding steady and cutting bait can decide entire seasons. At this point, managers can no longer afford to stash struggling veterans out of loyalty or name value. Every lineup spot must contribute, and players who aren’t producing could be the difference between advancing and heading home early.

Week 22 shines a spotlight on several big-name hitters whose recent slumps have left fantasy managers frustrated. Matt Chapman’s bat has gone ice cold in San Francisco, Ian Happ is failing to deliver despite the Cubs’ team success, and Nick Castellanos has hit a late-season skid in Philadelphia. Even Seiya Suzuki and Gleyber Torres, who have been steady contributors for much of the year, have stumbled into ill-timed valleys just as the playoffs arrive.

In this article, we’ll break down each of these players, weighing their full-season body of work against their recent struggles. Making the wrong call could mean watching your opponent get production from the very player you just dropped -- or worse, watching a struggling vet clog your lineup. Timing is everything now, and fantasy managers must be decisive. Let’s dive into Week 22’s toughest calls.

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Matt Chapman, 3B, San Francisco Giants 

San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman has been a steady fantasy option for nearly a decade, but the signs of decline are becoming harder to ignore. Over the last 15 days, Chapman has gone just 3-for-20 with two runs scored, while the Giants offense as a whole has sputtered and fallen out of contention.

On the surface, his season totals -- 16 home runs, 44 RBI, and eight stolen bases -- look respectable for a corner infielder. But digging deeper exposes real concerns. Chapman’s batting average has dipped by 20 points compared to last season, and his .276 BABIP isn’t enough to offset a lofty 25.5% strikeout rate. He has maintained an impressive 13.1% walk rate, but the added on-base skills aren’t compensating for his lack of consistency at the plate.

With the fantasy playoffs in full swing, managers can no longer afford to stash a struggling veteran who isn’t producing. Chapman is a clear “Drop” candidate in most formats. Viable replacements are out there, including Noelvi Marte (available in nearly two-thirds of ESPN leagues), Brett Baty of the Mets, and Yankees utility man Jose Caballero. Each provides more upside for the stretch run than Chapman at this stage.

Verdict: Drop 

Ian Happ, OF, Chicago Cubs 

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, rostered in 75.4% of ESPN leagues, is going cold at the worst possible time. Despite the Cubs’ success as a team, Happ has failed to deliver the kind of production fantasy managers have come to expect.

For the year, he’s slashing just .226/.330/.380 with 16 home runs, 56 RBI, 68 runs, and only five stolen bases. While those counting stats aren’t empty, the lack of batting average help and diminishing power-speed combo make him a liability as the playoffs heat up. Happ simply hasn’t resembled the multi-category contributor he was in 2024.

Fantasy managers in need of immediate production can turn to hotter options on the wire. Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle has launched six home runs over the past two weeks, while Jakob Marsee (26.8% rostered) and Roman Anthony (33.9% rostered) are heating up at just the right time. At this stage of the season, Happ is a drop candidate in most competitive leagues.

Verdict: Drop

Nick Castellanos, OF, Philadelphia Phillies 

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos has started trending in the wrong direction during the fantasy stretch run. For the season, he’s slashing .258/.296/.414 with steady production, but his recent slide has been frustrating. Over the past two weeks, Castellanos has hit just .208 with one home run, leaving fantasy managers wondering if his bat has gone cold at the worst time.

While his power numbers have dipped, reflected in a modest 34.7% hard-hit rate, there are still positives in his profile. Castellanos owns a .299 BABIP, suggesting he continues to put the ball in play effectively, and the quality lineup around him offers plenty of run-producing opportunities once he rebounds.

This isn’t the time to panic and cut ties. Castellanos has proved to be a streaky hitter throughout his career, and with the Phillies pushing for the postseason, he’s likely to see plenty of meaningful at-bats. Pulling him from your starting lineup during the slump is understandable, but dropping him outright would be a mistake. Castellanos remains a firm hold.

Verdict: Hold in all formats

Seiya Suzuki, OF, Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki has emerged as one of the team’s stars, putting together a strong power profile with 27 home runs, 87 RBI, and 64 runs scored. Expectations have risen as his offensive game has shifted, but the transformation hasn’t come without trade-offs.

Suzuki is hitting just .243 this season, a 40-point drop from his .283 mark in 2024, as he’s exchanged contact for power. Still, he’s managed to trim his strikeout rate slightly to 25.9% while showing improvement in exit velocity and hard-hit rate.

Unfortunately, Suzuki has hit a brutal cold spell at the worst possible time. Over the past two weeks, he’s batting just .185 and hasn’t collected an extra-base hit since a double against the Pirates on August 15. The timing couldn’t be worse for fantasy managers leaning on him during playoff matchups.

Seiya Suzuki singles to bring home Reese McGuire! pic.twitter.com/JUQiVJEJOU

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 14, 2025

Despite the slump, cutting Suzuki loose would be a major overreaction. At 31, he looks like a hitter who is peaking in terms of raw power, and his full-season body of work shows that he’s capable of carrying a lineup. He’s earned the trust to remain on fantasy rosters and should be held through the playoffs, even if he’s temporarily cooled off.

Verdict: Hold in all formats

Gleyber Torres, 2B, Detroit Tigers

After leaving the Yankees in the offseason, Gleyber Torres has found new life with the Detroit Tigers. The 28-year-old second baseman has been a steady contributor for one of the league’s best teams, slashing .262/.363/.400 with 13 home runs, 60 RBI, and 66 runs scored. His well-rounded production has made him a reliable piece in fantasy lineups all season long.

Lately, however, Torres has run into a cold stretch, hitting just .200 with no homers over his past 15 days. Even so, he’s still chipped in 10 RBI during that slump, showing that he can find ways to help fantasy managers even when his bat isn’t at peak form. His excellent plate discipline -- 66 walks compared to 73 strikeouts -- remains a strong indicator that he can quickly turn things around.

Gleyber Torres continues to be the right guy in the right spot for the #Tigers as they hold tight to the AL Central division lead nearing September.#RepDetroit
🔗 https://t.co/iXax8hx4iO pic.twitter.com/BdfPTElxCT

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) August 24, 2025

Fantasy managers should remain patient. Torres has both the talent and lineup support to rebound, and Detroit’s upcoming schedule is favorable, with matchups against the Athletics and White Sox over the next two weeks providing an opportunity for him to break out. He’s earned the benefit of the doubt this season and should be firmly held as the playoffs roll on.

Verdict: Hold in all formats 

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