Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Options for Week 1: Victor Scott II, Luke Jackson, Cam Smith, AJ Smith-Shawver, Kristian Campbell and More

After looking at some week 1 fantasy baseball projections and possible streaming options on Tuesday, let's look at the top overall waiver wire options going into the MLB season.

We'll break things down into hitters and catchers and explain a bit why a player is on the rise.

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Hitters

St. Louis' Victor Scott II and Brendan Donovan, Houston's Cam Smith, Boston's Kristian Campbell, Seattle's Victor Robles, New York Yankees' Ben Rice, Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells, New York Mets' Brett Baty, Tampa Bay's Curtis Mead and Milwaukee's Joey Ortiz are all part of the 25-player waiver wire list.

Scott is the top pickup of the day. He won the everyday starting center fielder job this spring and is projected to hit near the bottom of the team's lineup every day.

His biggest asset is his speed, and hitting near the bottom of the lineup should allow him to show that skill off. If he can consistently get on base, he'll go from a deep-league option only to a standard league threat.

It's surprising to see Donovan's own percentage below 80%. He's expected to hit in the heart of the team's lineup, where he should be able to drive in runs and also score plenty of times.

He's not a huge power guy, but the versatile fantasy player (second base, left field, and maybe third base) should really be rostered in more leagues. I expect his own percentage to keep rising as the season gets rolling.

Smith was traded from Chicago to Houston this offseason, and is opening the season as the team's starting right fielder after a big spring. He's the team's top prospect, and is a top-100 prospect, so there's plenty of buzz around him. 

I'd definitely add him in deeper leagues (he should be owned in most dynasties already), and with a little success early in the season, Smith should be owned in a ton of standard leagues. If you don't want to miss out on Smith, you might have to add him now.

Campbell is the No. 7 prospect in baseball, so his expectations are even higher in Boston. He made the opening day roster and should start most days at second base.

Being a higher-ranked prospect, Campbell's own percentage should be higher than Smith's. Add Campbell now in deeper leagues, and again, if you don't want to miss out on him, now is probably the team to add him in standard leagues too.

Robles is the projected everyday right fielder for Seattle, and he should hit atop the lineup. He was a pretty good fantasy asset after joining the Mariners in 2024, and he went mostly overlooked in 2025.

He's on the rise now, and rightfully so. Robles should be rostered in almost every deeper league, and I think he's already a good standard league option, especially if you need some help in the first week of play. If you don't add him now, keep a very close eye on his first few games, as some strong play could lead to him being added quickly in standard leagues.

Rice, Volpe and Wells are all projected to start most days for New York - Rice is in a projected platoon, but being a left-handed hitter should mean more starts and fantasy value.

Wells is the fantasy asset I really like, mostly because he's at a weak catcher position. He's expected to leadoff to begin the season, which should give him really good fantasy value.

Volpe and Rice are in the bottom half of the order. Volpe should have plenty of RBI chances hitting behind Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. Rice is just a deep-league option if he's in a platoon.

Baty is projected to platoon at second base near the bottom of the Mets' lineup. That gives him a little deep-league value, but that's it.

Mead is in a projected platoon in Tampa Bay, but as a right-handed hitter, his playing time could be sparse. He had a big spring, but until he's playing everyday, he's no more than a deep-league option.

Ortiz is projected to start most days at shortstop in Milwaukee. He was a third baseman last season, so that added position versatility will be a nice boost for his fantasy value.

Ortiz is another deep-league option to kick off the season, but could get some standard league action if he's in a groove at any point this season.

Pitchers

Texas' Luke Jackson and Kumar Rocker, Atlanta's AJ Smith-Shawver, San Francisco's Landen Roupp, Justin Verlander and Camilo Doval, Athletics' Jeffrey Springs, Boston's Richard Fitts, New York Yankees' Luis Gil, Detroit's Jackson Jobe, Los Angeles Angels' Jose Soriano, Los Angeles Dodgers' Kirby Yates and Dustin May, Philadelphia's Orion Kerkering are pitchers on the waiver wire list.

Jackson is the most-added pitcher after getting a save in the team's exhibition game earlier this week. He looks to be the preferred closer for the team going into the regular season.

If you are lacking saves, adding Jackson could be a little gamble to take. He might not last all season as the closer, but on a good team, I like the idea of adding him, at least in deeper leagues.

Rocker is expected to open the season in the team's starting rotation. He's another top-100 prospect, so it makes sense to see him being added. 

In deeper leagues, it makes sense to give Rocker a try, but standard league owners should wait for good fantasy results in the regular season before adding him. He should be rostered in most dynasties already.

Smith-Shawver is part of the team's projected rotation to kick off the season. He's another young pitcher with big expectations, and on a good team, it's easy to see why he's being added too.

Smith-Shawver is another good add in deeper leagues, but we'll need to see regular season success before he's a standard league keeper. He's definitely one to keep tabs on though.

Roupp is part of the team's projected rotation to start 2025, so he's getting some deep-league attention. He'll need to pitch well to retain that starting role, and work his way into standard leagues.

Verlander is a veteran who is expected to be the team's No. 2 starter at the start of the season. He's a good deep-league option at least, and is a streaming option any start too.

Doval is likely just going to be a setup man in 2025, but if Ryan Walker struggles at all, Doval could regain the closer role again. Doval is someone to stash in deep leagues, but there's probably better relief options out there.

Springs is a big-time sleeper pick of mine for 2025, and I think he's very underrated and has far too low an own percentage right now. There's injury concerns to worry about, but he's a good fantasy asset in all leagues when he's healthy - add him now and hold on to him for as long as he's active.

Fitts is part of the team's rotation to kick off the season, at least until some other starting pitchers are healthy again. He's just a deep-league option, and will need good regular season fantasy results before he's a standard league option

Gil is going to miss considerable time in 2025, and opens the season on the 60-day IL. In leagues where IR spots are available, he's a fine stash option, but there's no reason to roster him otherwise in standard leagues. 

Jobe is the No. 5 prospect in baseball and is likely to open the season in the Detroit starting rotation. I'd add him in every deeper league, and highly consider stashing him in standard leagues.

You don't have to start him in his first regular season start, but rostering him through that appearance will help you avoid the waiver wire rush if he excels in that game.

Soriano is locked into the Angels' rotation and really needs to be rostered in more deep leagues. He'll need regular season success before he becomes a standard league threat, but he's underrated and overlooked for now.

Yates is opening the season as a setup man for the Dodgers. I believe he'll get save chances throughout the season, but as is, he's just a deep-league asset. 

May is in the team's rotation to start the season, and based on some fantasy success in his past, he's getting waiver wire love now. I'd add him in most deeper leagues, and watch him closely for a possible standard league add.

Kerkering is the top setup man in Philadelphia, but seems pretty far behind Jordan Romano for the closer role. Kerkering is still a deep-league option as a late-inning reliever, but he won't be a standard league option unless he's earning saves repeatedly.