It can be helpful to get an early sense of where the experts stand in terms of initial fantasy baseball draft rankings. We’ll have you covered as we approach the spring and new season, but for now let’s take a look at 2026 fantasy baseball rankings.
2026 Fantasy Baseball Rankings
| RK | PLAYER NAME | TEAM | POS | BEST | WORST | AVG. | STD.DEV | ECR VS. ADP |
| 1 | Shohei Ohtani | LAD | DH1 | 1 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Aaron Judge | NYY | OF1 | 1 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Bobby Witt Jr. | KC | SS1 | 3 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 4 | Juan Soto | NYM | OF2 | 3 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 5 | Jose Ramirez | CLE | 3B1 | 4 | 10.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 6 | Corbin Carroll | ARI | OF3 | 5 | 11.0 | 7.5 | 1.7 | 2.0 |
| 7 | Tarik Skubal | DET | SP1 | 5 | 11.0 | 7.8 | 2.2 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | OF4 | 5 | 13.0 | 8.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 |
| 9 | Julio Rodriguez | SEA | OF5 | 7 | 11.0 | 9.3 | 1.1 | 4.0 |
| 10 | Elly De La Cruz | CIN | SS2 | 6 | 14.0 | 9.8 | 2.1 | 0.0 |
| 11 | Paul Skenes | PIT | SP2 | 7 | 13.0 | 11.0 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Garrett Crochet | BOS | SP3 | 6 | 19.0 | 12.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Kyle Tucker | LAD | OF6 | 6 | 18.0 | 12.7 | 3.7 | 4.0 |
| 14 | Fernando Tatis Jr. | SD | OF7 | 8 | 21.0 | 14.2 | 2.6 | 0.0 |
| 15 | Gunnar Henderson | BAL | SS3 | 11 | 20.0 | 14.5 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| 16 | Francisco Lindor | NYM | SS4 | 14 | 17.0 | 15.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Junior Caminero | TB | 3B2 | 10 | 18.0 | 15.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 |
| 18 | Cal Raleigh | SEA | C1 | 16 | 22.0 | 18.7 | 0.5 | -3.0 |
| 19 | Nick Kurtz | ATH | 1B1 | 17 | 22.0 | 19.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| 20 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | TOR | 1B2 | 16 | 24.0 | 20.2 | 1.8 | 2.0 |
| 21 | Jackson Chourio | MIL | OF8 | 17 | 49.0 | 20.2 | 1.2 | 3.0 |
| 22 | Kyle Schwarber | PHI | DH2 | 15 | 32.0 | 21.7 | 1.5 | -2.0 |
| 23 | Jazz Chisholm Jr. | NYY | 2B1 | 21 | 24.0 | 22.5 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| 24 | Pete Alonso | BAL | 1B3 | 23 | 28.0 | 24.2 | 1.1 | 1.0 |
| 25 | Ketel Marte | ARI | 2B2 | 21 | 34.0 | 26.7 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| 26 | Trea Turner | PHI | SS5 | 21 | 71.0 | 28.3 | 4.8 | 3.0 |
| 27 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto | LAD | SP4 | 22 | 36.0 | 30.8 | 3.5 | -1.0 |
| 28 | Cristopher Sanchez | PHI | SP5 | 26 | 41.0 | 30.8 | 4.5 | 0.0 |
| 29 | Yordan Alvarez | HOU | OF9 | 27 | 40.0 | 31.0 | 3.3 | 4.0 |
| 30 | Bryce Harper | PHI | 1B4 | 27 | 42.0 | 32.5 | 3.0 | 7.0 |
| 31 | Manny Machado | SD | 3B3 | 25 | 37.0 | 33.2 | 2.3 | 0.0 |
| 32 | Matt Olson | ATL | 1B5 | 26 | 48.0 | 33.8 | 4.7 | 4.0 |
| 33 | Pete Crow-Armstrong | CHC | OF10 | 25 | 131.0 | 35.0 | 5.9 | -3.0 |
| 34 | Chris Sale | ATL | SP6 | 26 | 40.0 | 35.2 | 3.1 | 5.0 |
| 35 | Rafael Devers | SF | 1B6 | 26 | 50.0 | 36.2 | 6.1 | 6.0 |
| 36 | Zach Neto | LAA | SS6 | 26 | 47.0 | 36.5 | 5.9 | -1.0 |
| 37 | Logan Gilbert | SEA | SP7 | 29 | 67.0 | 37.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| 38 | James Wood | WSH | OF11 | 27 | 65.0 | 39.5 | 5.6 | -6.0 |
| 39 | Hunter Brown | HOU | SP8 | 31 | 60.0 | 40.2 | 8.6 | -5.0 |
| 40 | Bryan Woo | SEA | SP9 | 32 | 65.0 | 41.0 | 1.4 | -2.0 |
| 41 | Jacob deGrom | TEX | SP10 | 36 | 74.0 | 41.8 | 6.2 | 7.0 |
| 42 | Logan Webb | SF | SP11 | 33 | 76.0 | 42.2 | 7.8 | 4.0 |
| 43 | Mookie Betts | LAD | SS7 | 34 | 53.0 | 42.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| 44 | Brent Rooker | ATH | OF12 | 31 | 67.0 | 45.5 | 9.4 | -2.0 |
| 45 | Cole Ragans | KC | SP12 | 28 | 56.0 | 45.7 | 2.8 | 6.0 |
| 46 | Hunter Greene | CIN | SP13 | 40 | 64.0 | 46.3 | 3.0 | 1.0 |
| 47 | Max Fried | NYY | SP14 | 43 | 67.0 | 47.7 | 3.1 | -4.0 |
| 48 | Freddie Freeman | LAD | 1B7 | 24 | 67.0 | 53.0 | 10.3 | 5.0 |
| 49 | Josh Naylor | SEA | 1B8 | 47 | 68.0 | 53.7 | 6.0 | 7.0 |
| 50 | Roman Anthony | BOS | OF13 | 29 | 145.0 | 54.2 | 9.6 | -1.0 |
| 51 | Wyatt Langford | TEX | OF14 | 30 | 87.0 | 54.3 | 8.4 | -1.0 |
| 52 | Riley Greene | DET | OF15 | 49 | 70.0 | 58.0 | 4.9 | 10.0 |
| 53 | Austin Riley | ATL | 3B4 | 43 | 79.0 | 58.2 | 10.5 | 13.0 |
| 54 | Joe Ryan | MIN | SP15 | 51 | 86.0 | 59.5 | 6.5 | 10.0 |
| 55 | Cody Bellinger | NYY | OF16 | 45 | 73.0 | 59.7 | 4.5 | 12.0 |
| 56 | Jackson Merrill | SD | CF1 | 49 | 91.0 | 60.0 | 13.8 | 9.0 |
| 57 | Brice Turang | MIL | 2B3 | 32 | 101.0 | 60.8 | 12.5 | -13.0 |
| 58 | Jarren Duran | BOS | OF17 | 33 | 88.0 | 61.2 | 10.3 | 1.0 |
| 59 | William Contreras | MIL | C2 | 46 | 77.0 | 62.3 | 5.3 | -2.0 |
| 60 | Blake Snell | LAD | SP16 | 48 | 103.0 | 62.8 | 13.3 | 8.0 |
| 61 | George Kirby | SEA | SP17 | 57 | 84.0 | 62.8 | 6.9 | 9.0 |
| 62 | Mason Miller | SD | RP1 | 34 | 210.0 | 63.0 | 9.7 | -8.0 |
| 63 | Spencer Schwellenbach | ATL | SP18 | 54 | 84.0 | 63.0 | 5.6 | 13.0 |
| 64 | Geraldo Perdomo | ARI | SS8 | 40 | 92.0 | 64.8 | 13.9 | -3.0 |
| 65 | Dylan Cease | TOR | SP19 | 46 | 95.0 | 67.5 | 14.7 | 10.0 |
| 66 | CJ Abrams | WSH | SS9 | 48 | 86.0 | 68.0 | 10.9 | -3.0 |
| 67 | Corey Seager | TEX | SS10 | 52 | 79.0 | 68.2 | 5.6 | 18.0 |
| 68 | Freddy Peralta | NYM | SP20 | 46 | 83.0 | 68.3 | 8.7 | -10.0 |
| 69 | Edwin Diaz | LAD | RP2 | 33 | 89.0 | 69.8 | 11.9 | -17.0 |
| 70 | Jesus Luzardo | PHI | SP21 | 59 | 93.0 | 70.2 | 3.6 | 7.0 |
| 71 | Andres Munoz | SEA | RP3 | 49 | 90.0 | 74.5 | 9.6 | -16.0 |
| 72 | Vinnie Pasquantino | KC | 1B9 | 63 | 87.0 | 75.0 | 5.8 | 8.0 |
| 73 | Kyle Bradish | BAL | SP22 | 45 | 94.0 | 75.8 | 5.0 | 10.0 |
| 74 | George Springer | TOR | OF18 | 45 | 105.0 | 77.0 | 9.9 | 7.0 |
| 75 | Bo Bichette | NYM | SS11 | 48 | 117.0 | 77.3 | 11.2 | 12.0 |
What is Fantasy Baseball?
Fantasy baseball is an online game where participants act as managers of virtual baseball teams based on real-life Major League Baseball (MLB) players. The performance of these players in actual games determines the results in the fantasy league. It’s a blend of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck, akin to the real-world decisions team managers must make.
Basic Strategy for Fantasy Baseball Success
1. Understand Your League’s Format and Scoring
Before drafting your team, it’s essential to understand the scoring system and rules of your specific league, as this will influence your drafting and management strategy. Knowing whether you’re in a points-based, category-based, or head-to-head league will guide you in selecting players whose strengths align with the scoring system.
2. Drafting Your Team Wisely
A solid draft is the foundation of a successful season. Here are a few tips for the drafting phase:
- Balanced Team: Ensure you have a balanced team with a mix of power hitters, average hitters, speedsters, starting pitchers, and relievers.
- Position Scarcity: Be aware of the depth of talent at each position. Some positions, like shortstop, may have fewer high-quality players, making it beneficial to draft a top player at that position early.
- High-Floor Players: Early in the draft, focus on players with a proven track record of consistency.
- Upside Picks: In the later rounds, look for “upside” players. These are athletes who have the potential to outperform their draft position.
3. In-Season Management
- Stay Active: Constantly look for ways to improve your team through waivers, trades, and free-agent pickups.
- Mind the Matchups: Pay attention to player matchups, platoon splits, and ballparks. Starting a pitcher in a hitter-friendly park, for example, can be risky.
- Injury Management: Stay on top of player injuries and have backups ready for your key players.
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