Austin Lowell | Fri, Jan 16th 2026, 7:15am EST

12 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers (2026)

Is it that time again, already? Time to give away all my secrets for the upcoming fantasy baseball season. I don’t know about you, but I’m psyched for MLB in 2026. If it’s anything like last year, we’re in for a special treat. Let’s get straight to it. Here are a few of my favorite early fantasy baseball sleepers.

This week’s piece is dedicated to some of my favorite 2026 early draft sleepers. A lot of these guys are coming off down years or injury-riddled seasons. There are also a few high-ceiling up-and-coming superstars, who deserve your attention. Just make note of who I point out first because other pundits are sure to follow. Give me all the credit! Without further ado here are your early fantasy baseball sleepers for the 2026 season.

Fantasy Baseball Sleepers to Draft

Fantasy baseball sleepers listed in order by consensus fantasy baseball ADP

Kyle Stowers (OF – MIA): ADP 129

Kyle Stowers was well on his way to fantasy stardom when an oblique injury cut his season short. Stowers enters this year as one of the league’s most intriguing hitters after belting an impressive 25 home runs over just 117 games. His .912 OPS would have ranked seventh in all of baseball, if he qualified.

I remember when Stowers was still in Baltimore (before being traded). Fans on various sites were eagerly calling for him to be given a genuine chance to start; now I understand why. With just one glance at the outfielders’ Statcast page, his exceptional bat-to-ball skills become immediately apparent. Stowers ranks in the top five percent of xwOBA, xSLG, Barrel %, and hard hit %. His swing speed is also ranked in the top 12% of the league, as is his arm strength.

With a healthy off-season in tow, and the emergence of Jakob Marsee and Augstin Ramirez, Stowers could put up a 30/80/90/.265 stat line. The risk is obviously greater but to me, he’s a poor man’s Brent Rooker who is going eight rounds before him. That production would put him well ahead of his current 14th-round price tag.

Bubba Chandler (SP – PIT): 176 ADP

Bubba Chandler is perhaps not a sleeper because of all the buzz already surrounding him. That said, he could still easily blow by his draft capital. After finally earning his call-up late last year, Chandler pitched like a grizzled vet. The 24-year-old walked just four batters over 31.1 innings while striking out 31. His outstanding 21.8 K-BB% helped lead to a fine 2.66 FIP despite producing a 4.02 ERA. The power righty regularly did well on the farm as well, averaging over 12 K/9 with a home run rate under 0.84/9.

His ADP is a bit steep for an unproven arm, but many of the top scouts couldn’t stop raving about him last year. Chandler should be given a chance in the starting rotation from day one where he’s got a good shot at performing like a solid number two behind Paul Skenes.

Jonathan Aranda (1B – TB): ADP – 177

Speaking of line drive rate, Jonathan Aranda also eclipsed the 30% mark last year. While his BABIP is alarming at an unsustainable .409, the Rays’ first baseman does combine an excellent contact rate with above-average power. A fractured wrist shortened his season last year, but if he can stay healthy for the long haul, Aranda could produce like a mid-round talent but at a significant discount; especially sandwiched between Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero.

Daylen Lile (OF – WAS): ADP – 192

Daylen Lile is one of my favorite sleepers for the 2026 season. He’s currently being drafted around 200th overall, but his athleticism and bat control make him a steal at that price. Out of every qualifying hitter last year, Lile led the league in line drive percentage. The Nats’ speedy outfielder mashed with a 32.3% line drive rate which pushed his expected batting average (xBA) to the top of the league.

Lile also performed well in the Minors last year, registering a .328 average across Double and Triple-A. He then joined the Major League club in late May and finished the season with a .299 average. He won’t hit a ton of homers (nine in 91 games) but combining his speed and line drive prowess he is an extra base machine. In just over half a season of at-bats, Lile was able to collect 15 doubles and a whopping 11 triples. If you play in a deeper league and need a boost for batting average this guy will almost assuredly help. I for one am gobbling up Lile wherever I can.

Bryan Reynolds (OF – PIT): ADP – 198

Bryan Reynolds has been a bit of a bust in recent years but has now reached underrated/sleeper status. Not only does he finally have a supporting cast but Reynolds should see a hefty dose of left-handed pitching. Surrounded by left-handed hitters who struggle against southpaws, opposing teams will likely go with a variety of lefties late in games to face the top of the order. Reynolds should be able to take advantage as he’s historically hit lefties better than righties.

Opposing teams also won’t be able to pitch around him as they could in the past when guys like Joey Bart were hitting behind him. The Pirates could surprise this season and I expect Reynolds to be a big reason why. He’s an excellent sleeper in the early 200s.

Shane McClanahan (SP – TB): 215 ADP

It wouldn’t be right to do a sleepers article without mentioning Shane McClanahan. The Rays starter was one of the top aces in all of baseball before dealing with multiple arm injuries over the past three seasons. How much he’ll pitch or at what level is anyone’s guess, but the Rays’ organization is bullish on his return and hopeful for production.

He can be had for next to nothing, so if you feel like gambling in the late rounds give him a shot. If he’s throwing 89 in spring and Tampa announces his move to the bullpen or back to the IL to rehab, then dropping him won’t be a major loss. However, if McClanahan does defy odds, then you’ve possibly got a league winner on your hands.

Connelly Early (SP – BOS): ADP – 225

The Red Sox just signed Ranger Suarez to a long-term deal, but there’s still one spot in the Boston rotation up for grabs. Between now and Opening Day plenty of other pieces could be on the move, but Connelly Early could be a massive asset this season for fantasy managers.

Early showed his dominance in the high Minors last year and continued that trend when promoted to the Big Leagues. In four MLB starts (19.1 IP), Early was able to maintain a 36.7 K% while holding opponents to just four walls, no homers, and five earned runs. His ERA was 2.33 (he posted a 2.60 ERA over 100 innings in the minors) and a 1.09 WHIP (1.11 in the minors).

While the hard-throwing Payton Tolle got most of the publicity, it was Early who was quietly dominating. With Patrick Sandoval and Kutter Crawford possibly returning from injury, Early could very easily start the season in Triple-A. However, if the Red Sox are serious about capturing that division title, I expect to see them utilize Early sooner than later.

Sal Stewart (1B – CIN): ADP – 229

Sal Stewart blasted 20 home runs in the Minor Leagues last year while also stealing 17 bases. More impressively his strikeout rate was kept to a low 15.6% – a rarity for sluggers in today’s game.

Called up to the Reds in September, the stoutly 22-year-old launched another five homers in just 58 plate appearances. There are rumors that Stewart may not only make the Opening Day lineup but could hit as high as fifth or sixth in the lineup. Barring any type of success and the Reds lacking a true power threat, Stewart could find himself in the cleanup spot before long.

He knocked in 80 in 117 Minor League games last year and could very easily do the same this season on the big league club. He’s one of my top sleepers at the moment.

Jack Flaherty (SP – DET): ADP 239

Jack Flaherty will return to Detroit this season in what hopes to be a bounce-back year. Flaherty struggled in 2025 by allowing too much hard contact (43.8%) and too few ground balls (37.1 %). Those inferior numbers led to an unfavorable 4.64 ERA and 1.28 WHIP – not great for fantasy purposes. The good news is, the former Cy Young contender is just one year removed from a 2.95 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP over 18 starts for the Tigers.

Flaherty is a gamer who won’t rest on his laurels as he hopes to increase his value approaching free agency. The commanding righty is still just 30 years old and should have at least a few more solid years in him. I fully expect some form of an ROI and even if he ends up with an ERA close to 4.00 and 188 strikeouts towards the end of the draft is not something to be taken lightly.

Dylan Beavers (OF – BAL): ADP – 301

Dylan Beavers is a former first-rounder who showed some nice promise in his rookie campaign. While the .227 average left plenty to be desired, his .375 OBP and .173 ISO proved he belongs. Expected to start in right field for the O’s this year, the 6-foot-5 24-year-old could be a handy contributor across multiple categories.

While Beavers stole just two bases in the Show last year, he did swipe 23 in the Minors and 31 in the year prior. Equipped with a sprint speed that ranks in the top 11% of the league, I fully expect Beavers to be granted the green light more often this year.

He might sit every so often versus lefties, but coming off of a 22/25 season (including the Minors) with nearly a 20% walk rate, Beavers has all the makings of a deep league sleeper for this year’s draft.

Andrew Vaughn (1B – MIL): 302 ADP

Andrew Vaughn will likely be the Brewers’ starting first baseman this season. The club paid him 7.5 million in arbitration to return after registering a team-leading (in the games, he was active) 46 RBI over 221 at-bats. Vaughn also hit over .300.

I truly believe the former third overall pick in the draft just needed a change of scenery. After hitting the ground running in his rookie campaign, Vaughn’s production tanked every season after. It can’t be easy playing for a team you know isn’t in contention. Plus, being surrounded by guys who are constantly making outs doesn’t help either.

If Vaughn is even remotely successful, he could have a banner year hitting behind the Brewers’ core and 85 RBIs are well within reach. Not bad for a guy who’s going undrafted in the majority of leagues.

Robby Snelling (SP – MIA): ADP – 379

Robby Snelling will likely start the season in Triple-A but few prospects will enter the year with a higher ceiling. Snelling dominated Triple-A last season producing a microscopic 1.27 ERA over 11 starts. Some of that was aided by an unsustainable 90% stand-rate but it does speak to his ability to pitch with runners on and in the clutch. His K/9 was excellent at 11.45 and he held opponents to just four home runs over 63.2 innings pitched.

Snelling also exhibits great control, maintaining a walk rate of under 7%. With Ryan Weathers and Edward Cabrera recently shipped out of town, the back end of the rotation could be filled by Snelling and fellow top prospect Thomas White before long.

Honorable Mention

Pablo Lopez
Jordan Westburg
Matt Chapman
MacKenzie Gore
Brenton Doyle
Mark Vientos
Konnor Griffin

Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.

NFL

MLB

NBA

NHL