When preparing for your fantasy baseball drafts, knowing which players to target and others to avoid is important. The amount of information available can be overwhelming, so a great way to condense the data and determine players to draft and others to leave for your leaguemates is to use our expert consensus fantasy baseball rankings compared to average draft position (ADP). In this way, you can identify players the experts are willing to reach for at ADP and others they are not drafting until much later than average. Let’s dive into a few notable players below.
- 2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit
- Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings
- Fantasy Baseball Projections
- Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Simulator
2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice
| RK | PLAYER NAME | TEAM | POS | BEST | WORST | AVG. | STD.DEV | ECR VS. ADP |
| 60 | George Kirby | SEA | SP15 | 46 | 86 | 62.5 | 9.5 | 8 |
| 63 | Joe Ryan | MIN | SP16 | 46 | 128 | 67.7 | 12.6 | 11 |
| 66 | Jesus Luzardo | PHI | SP18 | 53 | 96 | 70 | 9.4 | 10 |
| 69 | Framber Valdez | DET | SP19 | 54 | 90 | 72.9 | 10.1 | 8 |
| 86 | Nolan McLean | NYM | SP21 | 61 | 213 | 90 | 22.6 | 10 |
| 87 | Eury Perez | MIA | SP22 | 44 | 150 | 90.2 | 21.5 | 10 |
| 110 | Emmet Sheehan | LAD | SP29 | 83 | 240 | 119.3 | 18.9 | 30 |
| 111 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | SP30 | 73 | 169 | 119.7 | 21 | 10 |
| 118 | Nick Lodolo | CIN | SP31 | 90 | 185 | 122.3 | 13.2 | 9 |
| 120 | Michael King | SD | SP33 | 55 | 160 | 123.2 | 23.4 | 14 |
| 121 | Nathan Eovaldi | TEX | SP34 | 81 | 170 | 124.4 | 18 | 14 |
| 125 | Ryan Pepiot | TB | SP36 | 95 | 195 | 128.9 | 17.2 | 11 |
George Kirby’s 2025 surface stats regressed (4.21 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) as his pristine control wavered, highlighted by a career-high 5.5% walk rate and elevated hard-hit contact. The encouraging sign was a spike in strikeouts (26.1% K rate, 9.8 K/9), which kept his underlying indicators intact. His FIP was notably lower than his ERA, and his four-year track record of elite command and durability suggests the 2025 dip was more noise than skill erosion. Based on the 2026 projections and his underlying profile, Kirby profiles as a rebound SP2 whose draft cost should reflect last year’s disappointment rather than his true talent.
In his first season in Philadelphia, Jesus Luzardo threw 183 2/3 innings, struck out 216 batters, and ended with a 3.92 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. His xERA was 3.34, and his FIP was an impressive 2.90. Lizardo’s strikeout rate of 28.5% was in line with his two best seasons in Miami in 2022 and 2023, and even though we don’t chase wins, his 15-7 record was a nice addition in fantasy. He cut his HR/9 to 0.78, the lowest of his career as a starter. Heading into his age-28 season, Luzardo profiles as a solid SP2 in fantasy.
Emmet Sheehan took a meaningful step forward in 2025, improving nearly every underlying indicator. His strikeout rate jumped to 30.6% (up from 25.8%), supported by a 10.9 K/9 and a sharp drop in walk rate (7.6%), leading to a strong 4.05 K/BB ratio. Opponents managed just a .185 batting average and .568 OPS against him, and his HR rate was cut nearly in half (4.4% to 2.4%). His 2026 projections hold near a double-digit K/9 with solid ratios, Sheehan profiles as a high-upside SP3 in 12-team formats with SP2 weeks when the command is dialed in. On a strong Dodgers roster, the win equity further boosts his fantasy appeal, making him a worthwhile mid-round target for managers chasing strikeouts without paying ace prices.
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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