Our experts have combined to provide their must-have fantasy baseball draft targets of the 2025 MLB season. They each provide several players they are circling on their fantasy baseball cheat sheets. You can find a pick from each below along with a link to their full list of must-have fantasy baseball draft targets. Here are must-have fantasy baseball draft targets the experts love!
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Must-Have Fantasy Baseball Draft Targets
Brent Rooker delivered a standout fantasy season in 2024, launching 39 home runs, driving in 112 runs, scoring 82 times, and even adding 11 stolen bases. His impressive .293/.365/.562 slash line, however, is unlikely to hold up in 2025, as it significantly outpaces his career .243 batting average. The good news is that Rooker’s power is legitimate, supported by a .570 xSLG and a 97th percentile Barrel Rate (16.6%). While his 28.8% strikeout rate showed improvement, it still raises concerns, particularly since players at 30 years old rarely sustain such progress. The Athletics’ move to Sutter Health Park in Sacramento could enhance Rooker’s counting stats next season. His potential for 40 home runs places him among an elite group of power hitters, making him a worthwhile addition to fantasy rosters.
– Kelly Kirby
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This Mets’ lineup is deep and Mark Vientos feels like a lock to drive in 100 runs hitting either third or fifth in this lineup. Vientos has legit 30-homer power and will feel very little pressure with all the stars around him. That’s crucial for a young player’s development.
Vientos is usually the 10th third baseman drafted, but I feel as good, if not better about him than I do the five players going ahead of him in ADP. That’s why I’m practicing patience at the position and snagging Vientos aggressively in 2025 drafts.
– Joe Pisapia
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Ivan Herrera should get the majority of reps at catcher for the Cardinals in 2025 with Willson Contreras moving to first base and having a significantly better bat than Pedro Pages. He’s an above-average hitter with more power potential than we have seen so far in the Majors after hitting 15 bombs in his last 110 Minor League games. He is a potential 20-25 home run hitter over a full season, despite playing his home games in a bad park for power (especially early in the season when it’s cold). Herrera has more potential than other catchers such as Keibert Ruiz, Connor Wong and Ryan Jeffers – if he gets the at-bats.
– Tim Kanak
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Christian Walker left Arizona, which was a tough place to hit home runs, to Daikin Park in Houston, where his power plays perfectly.
His expected home runs (xHR) in Houston would have been 28. He is going to hit in the middle of a lineup behind Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve. His average draft position (ADP) cost is similar to Josh Naylor and Vinnie Pasquantino, making him a great value.
– Justin Mason
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Cristopher Sanchez is still disrespected in drafts despite a season with a 3.32 ERA in 181.2 innings. Sanchez’s WHIP was a pedestrian 1.24 but his ERA is supported by xFIP and SIERA. WHIP is typically a better indicator of a pitcher’s caliber and sustainability than ERA. Given Sanchez’s high batting average on balls in play (BABIP), however, he has regression baked in.
Sanchez is a groundball-heavy starter similar to fellow lefty Framber Valdez. His groundball/flyball rate improved from 2022 to 2023 and from 2023 to 2024. This allowed Sanchez to surrender just 11 home runs last season in 31 starts. He allowed double that total (22) in 2023 in nearly half the innings (99.1).
Sanchez is only 28 and may continue to improve. His strikeout rate leaves plenty to be desired but given his low walk rate, this could be a middle-class man’s Valdez in 2025 at a much cheaper cost. Sanchez is available as the SP53 around pick 170 in drafts.
– Kev Mahserejian
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