Since the rule change in 2023, stolen bases have skyrocketed. From 2022 to 2025, the league total jumped 38% — nearly 1,000 additional steals (3,440 overall). Even with the surge, speed still plays a critical role in winning fantasy baseball leagues. The elite five-category stars will cost you early picks, but several lesser-known speed threats won’t. If you prioritize power and pitching early, you can round out your fantasy baseball roster later with lightning-quick contributors who close drafts strong.
This piece highlights those players. They won’t lead your team in home runs or RBIs, but they offer strong value in stolen bases. Here are six names going after pick 100 — including two who often go undrafted in fantasy baseball leagues — that should consistently pile up steals.
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6 Fantasy Baseball Value Targets for Stolen Bases in 2026
Jakob Marsee (OF – MIA) | ADP 133
Jakob Marsee may not repeat his scorching debut, but the steals should keep coming. The Marlins’ center fielder burst onto the scene in August with 18 extra-base hits, 25 RBIs, and nine steals. He also dominated the minors, though few predicted the 1.058 OPS he posted in his first big-league month.
His production cooled in September, but his aggression didn’t. He swiped five bags on nine attempts and finished with 20 attempts over the final two months. Only Juan Soto, Corbin Carroll, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. attempted more during that stretch.
Marsee’s ADP feels slightly aggressive for someone with just two MLB months of experience. Still, his minor league resume supports the breakout. The 24-year-old hit 14 homers and stole 47 bases in 98 Triple-A games before adding five more steals in Miami. He swiped 51 bags the year prior and 46 in 2023.
Batting near the top of the order against righties, Marsee should beat his ADP. The Marlins have little reason to hold him back, so 40-50 steals sit firmly in play.
Noelvi Marte (3B, RF – CIN) | ADP 150
If you’re drafting a player for 15-20 steals, he needs to bring power — and Noelvi Marte does. If he stays healthy, Marte can deliver across the board. He’ll likely hit second or third against righties, putting him in position to produce something close to a 75/25/80/16/.270 line.
Those projections are aggressive, but the upside is real. Marte runs hot and cold, yet even with a few slumps, he remains undervalued around Round 16.
Chandler Simpson (OF – TB) | ADP 166
No stolen-base list is complete without Chandler Simpson. He won’t stuff the stat sheet, but he may offer the highest pure steal upside here. Simpson swiped 104 bases in the minors in 2024. Last season, he stole 19 in Triple-A and added 44 more across 104 MLB games.
He offers almost no power and rarely walks, but he sprays singles and runs constantly. He’ll attempt a steal nearly every time he reaches base. Don’t reach before Round 16, but if you’ve built a power-heavy roster, he becomes a strong value shortly after.
Jose Caballero (2B, 3B, SS, OF – NYY) | ADP 246
Jose Caballero won’t hit much and likely won’t play more than 125 games. Still, he can carry your steals category early. With Anthony Volpe recovering from labrum surgery, Caballero should open as the everyday shortstop. Even after Volpe returns, Caballero will rotate in, fill gaps, and serve as a late-inning pinch runner.
Despite limited playing time, he stole 49 bases last year — most in the Majors. He has attempted 149 steals in just 369 career games, despite playing nine full innings in fewer than 75% of them. When he’s active, he runs. Caballero offers elite late-round value and should climb draft boards as the season approaches.
Evan Carter (OF – TEX) | ADP 285
Can Evan Carter stay healthy? Can he hit enough to stay in the lineup? Reports suggest he enters his age-23 season fully healthy. He stole 14 bases in just 63 games last year and has openly targeted 30 steals in 2026.
Fantasy managers experienced some fool’s gold in 2023. Carter hit over .300 in his debut, adding five homers and three steals in 62 at-bats. A .412 BABIP and 32% strikeout rate signaled regression, and he slumped to .188 the following season while battling injuries.
Last year showed progress. Carter stole 20 bases on 22 attempts across fewer than 90 combined games and cut his MLB strikeout rate to 18% over 220 plate appearances.
I’m more bullish on Carter than most. Even if he sits occasionally versus lefties, 15 homers, 28 steals, and a .250 average feel attainable. At pick 339, the upside outweighs the risk.
Nasim Nunez (2B, SS – WAS) | ADP 544
The Nationals selected Nasim Nunez 46th overall in 2019 out of Collins Hill High School. He never fully broke out in the minors, but he consistently ran. In his first MLB action last year, he stole nine bases in just 92 plate appearances and surprisingly added four home runs.
He won’t homer at that pace again, but he will run. Nunez currently projects as Washington’s everyday second baseman. If he reaches 300 at-bats, 30 steals sit within reach. His switch-hitting profile and strong defense should help him maintain playing time.
With an ADP of 544, Nunez offers tremendous value in deeper leagues. If you exit your draft short on speed, he’s a name worth circling.
Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.
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