Fantasy season has begun and so has that urgency to win your weekly matchups. Today, I’ll take a look at five players with a roster rate at 65% or below who can help you win in notable major categories. Let’s dive right in!
A.J. Smith-Shawver, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Smith-Shawver, 22, is one of the most promising young arms in the league. He racked up 13 whiffs in 4.0 innings against a quality Padres offense last weekend and is primed to have even more success against his next opponent.
He faces an underwhelming Miami offense (89 wRC+) that hasn’t hit the ball hard, boasts a -3.5 batting value (and -2.2 offensive value via FanGraphs), leads the league in infield hits (13), and is striking out at a 23.3% clip. I think it’s time they come back down to earth against an overpowering arm like AJSS. This is an arm I’d target if you need a win in a number of categories.
Rostered: 65% via FanTrax
Jordan Hicks, RHP, San Francisco Giants
Hicks was brilliant in his season debut versus Houston, tossing six scoreless innings allowing just one hit and two walks while generating seven whiffs and six strikeouts. He boasted a 36% CSW, his sinker topped out at 100 mph (sat 98), and his sweeper stole the show with a 79.3 mph average exit velocity and 50% whiff rate.
Hicks faces a Seattle offense that notoriously has been brutal. Let’s take a look at their season ranks:
| Stat | # | MLB Rank |
| AVG | .177 | 29th |
| SLG | .309 | 25th |
| K% | 27.5% | 24th |
Seattle has also posted a -3.5 batting value, per FanGraphs. I think this leaves a very favorable matchup for Hicks on Sunday.
Rostered: 60% via FanTrax
Jesse Winker, OF, New York Mets
Winker is a guy I drafted late in an 18-man league and he’s been a quality option off the bench, taking an exceptional number of walks (18.8% walk rate in 2025) and boosting my squad’s OBP. I plan on starting him this weekend, as the Mets face two righties, Bowden Francis and Chris Bassitt.
Winker posted a 124 wRC+ versus right-handed pitchers as opposed to a 95 wRC+ versus left-handed pitchers in 2024, not to mention his walk rate increased by nearly 3% against right-handers. He also has a .500 AVG and 1.167 OPS through a limited sample size against Bassitt in his career.
His average bat speed is fantastic (75.8 mph), he doesn’t chase (20.6%), and squares the ball up often (31.3%). I really like what Winker brings to the table, especially in his matchups this weekend.
Rostered: 29% via FanTrax
David Hamilton, INF, Boston Red Sox
Need a stolen base or two? Maybe three? Hammy is your guy. He stole nine bases in 10 tries this spring and swiped 33 bags last season in under 100 games. Boston faces back-to-back right-handers Andre Pallante and Miles Mikolas over the weekend in their first homestand of 2025, meaning Hamilton will be utilized well.
Worried he won’t start? That’s fine. Manager Alex Cora isn’t shy of using his bench… he utilized the most pinch hitters/runners in 2024 and I would be utterly shocked if he doesn’t repeat that feat in 2025.
Rostered: 29% via FanTrax
Randal Grichuk, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
If you want to play a quick matchup, look no further than Randal Grichuk.
He’s a certified lefty-killer, slashing .319/.386/.528/.913 with 21 extra-base hits and a 151 wRC+ against them last season. Additionally, he’s already smashed three doubles in 2025, all against left-handed pitchers.
On Saturday, Grichuk faces a young left-hander in Mitchell Parker who was in the 30th or lower percentiles in over a handful of meaningful categories such as average exit velocity, xBA, xERA, and ground-ball rate. He generates fly balls, and Grichuk loves to hit the ball hard in the air plus mashes versus lefties… a match made in heaven.
Rostered: 9% via FanTrax
