Is Roman Anthony of the Boston Red Sox Worth Starting in Fantasy Leagues?

Roman Anthony of the Boston Red Sox Growing Pains: Hold the Panic, But Maybe Bench the Bat (For Now)

The Roman Empire isn’t rising just yet in Boston. Anthony, the Red Sox’s prized outfield prospect and one of the most-hyped fantasy draft stashes of 2025, has stumbled out of the gate. Through his first stretch of big-league action, he’s hitting below .100 with just one home run, five RBIs, and a single stolen base. It’s not what fantasy managers—or Red Sox fans—were expecting.

So the question for the week ahead isn’t whether Anthony has long-term value (he does). It’s this: Is he startable in fantasy right now? And how should bettors view his short-term props?

Let’s dive in.

The Talent Is Real, But the Struggles Are Too

Let’s make this clear: no one doubts Roman Anthony’s ceiling. Scouts rave about his advanced plate discipline, left-handed power, and overall polish. But like so many prospects before him (Mike Trout, anyone?), his first taste of MLB pitching hasn’t gone well.

The kid got his first home run and was over the moon getting the ball back. That was a feel-good moment. But outside of that? He’s 4-for-42 in his first stretch of games—hardly a confidence-inspiring stat line. He’s shown flashes of good swing decisions but isn’t barreling the ball consistently.

It’s not time to panic long-term. But it is time to be realistic short-term.

Weekly Lineup Dilemma: Sit or Start in Fantasy?

Fantasy Advice:

• If you have a stable OF/UTIL option producing even mildly, sit Anthony this week.

• Better to be a week late than suffer through another 1-for-17.

Daily leagues? Sure, keep him handy. You can pick and choose the matchups.

Betting Angle: Props? Fade for Now

Until the bat heats up, Anthony is not worth targeting in most betting markets. His total bases props (often set at 0.5 or 1.5) are bait right now. The value will come—just not yet.

Betting Strategy:

• Fade total bases and hits props until he strings together a few multi-hit games.

• Avoid HR props unless they’re absurd longshots (e.g., +800 or higher).

• Watch for matchups vs. soft-tossing righties—that’s when he’ll break out.

Also, keep an eye on the lineup card. If Boston sits him vs. tough lefties, you’ll want to avoid betting on overs blindly.

Long-Term Outlook: Superstar Trajectory Still Intact

The struggles don’t change the projection. Anthony is going to be a star. But like Nick Kurtz of the Athletics or even Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers before him, the transition to MLB takes time. Let’s not forget that Kurtz also struggled initially, and now he’s blasting five homers in a week for the A’s.

Give Anthony time. Give him at-bats. But don’t force-feed him into your lineup or props ticket while he’s ice cold.

Final Word: Be Patient, But Play Smart

• Fantasy Verdict: Bench in weekly leagues if you have a solid alternative. Start cautiously in daily formats.

• Betting Take: Fade props until his swing stabilizes. Don’t fall for the hype trap just yet.

• Long-Term View: He’ll be fine. He might even be great. But it doesn’t have to be this week.

Remember, development isn’t linear. The skills are there. The breakout is coming. Just don’t lose your fantasy week or your bankroll trying to guess the exact moment it starts.

You can read all about what’s going on in Major League Baseball at SportsGrid.com.