2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings: Expert Picks & Predictions

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	Aaron Judge	NYY	OF1	1	5	1.6	0.5	1
2	Shohei Ohtani	LAD	DH1	1	63	1.7	1	-1
3	Bobby Witt Jr.	KC	SS1	3	7	3.1	0.3	1
4	Juan Soto	NYM	OF2	3	7	4.3	0.8	1
5	Jose Ramirez	CLE	3B1	4	18	5.8	1.6	1
6	Ronald Acuna Jr.	ATL	OF3	4	13	6.3	1.8	2
7	Julio Rodriguez	SEA	OF4	6	13	8.4	1.6	4
8	Elly De La Cruz	CIN	SS2	5	13	8.8	1.9	1
9	Tarik Skubal	DET	SP1	1	22	9	4.2	-2
10	Kyle Tucker	LAD	OF5	6	17	10.4	2.5	2
11	Paul Skenes	PIT	SP2	4	23	11.9	2.8	-1
12	Fernando Tatis Jr.	SD	OF6	9	17	12.3	2.1	2
13	Gunnar Henderson	BAL	SS3	8	22	12.6	2.3	3
14	Garrett Crochet	BOS	SP3	6	24	14	4.5	-1
15	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	TOR	1B1	4	24	16.8	2.9	4
16	Corbin Carroll	ARI	OF7	8	23	17.1	2.7	1
17	Jackson Chourio	MIL	OF8	10	32	18.8	3.6	5
18	Junior Caminero	TB	3B2	10	45	19.1	7.5	0
19	Cal Raleigh	SEA	C1	11	36	19.4	3.6	-4
20	Nick Kurtz	ATH	1B2	9	34	20.6	4.8	0
21	Kyle Schwarber	PHI	DH2	14	30	21	3.3	0
22	Jazz Chisholm Jr.	NYY	2B1	16	51	22.1	6.7	1
23	Trea Turner	PHI	SS4	15	42	23.9	4.5	5
24	Pete Alonso	BAL	1B3	13	37	24.1	3.7	1
25	Ketel Marte	ARI	2B2	15	41	26.4	5	2
26	Francisco Lindor	NYM	SS5	16	41	27.4	5.5	-2
27	Yordan Alvarez	HOU	OF9	19	59	29.3	5.7	6
28	Cristopher Sanchez	PHI	SP4	13	47	30.8	6.9	1
29	Yoshinobu Yamamoto	LAD	SP5	24	80	31.8	5.4	-3
30	Zach Neto	LAA	SS6	15	57	32.1	8.6	4
31	James Wood	WSH	OF10	20	62	33.5	6.9	1
32	Manny Machado	SD	3B3	23	57	33.5	3.5	-1
33	Bryce Harper	PHI	1B4	20	50	34.4	6.6	5
34	Matt Olson	ATL	1B5	25	70	36	5.8	3
35	Pete Crow-Armstrong	CHC	OF11	23	75	36.4	8.7	-5
36	Hunter Brown	HOU	SP6	28	59	38.8	6.4	-1
37	Logan Gilbert	SEA	SP7	26	78	39.4	6.7	2
38	Chris Sale	ATL	SP8	20	85	39.6	7.4	2
39	Bryan Woo	SEA	SP9	12	77	40.3	4.6	-3
40	Brent Rooker	ATH	OF12	20	132	40.6	8.9	2
41	Rafael Devers	SF	1B6	14	68	41.9	10.8	0
42	Wyatt Langford	TEX	OF13	28	63	42.5	8.5	6
43	Mookie Betts	LAD	SS7	26	64	42.7	8.7	3
44	Jacob deGrom	TEX	SP10	35	88	46.6	9.6	6
45	Cole Ragans	KC	SP11	30	89	47	8.6	7
46	Logan Webb	SF	SP12	32	76	47.9	9.6	3
47	Max Fried	NYY	SP13	34	86	50.3	7.8	-2
48	Freddie Freeman	LAD	1B7	25	87	50.6	10.5	3
49	Roman Anthony	BOS	OF14	27	97	51.5	11.8	4
50	Brice Turang	MIL	2B3	26	77	51.8	11.8	-3
51	Josh Naylor	SEA	1B8	40	96	56	8.2	6
52	Jackson Merrill	SD	CF1	36	88	57.8	9	7
53	Mason Miller	SD	RP1	29	151	58.1	18.2	-10
54	Austin Riley	ATL	3B4	37	90	58.2	10.2	8
55	CJ Abrams	WSH	SS8	25	80	59.6	11.1	15
56	William Contreras	MIL	C2	34	88	60.4	9.8	-1
57	Riley Greene	DET	OF15	36	82	60.4	10.2	3
58	Jarren Duran	BOS	OF16	34	82	60.8	10.7	6
59	Edwin Diaz	LAD	RP2	28	187	61.4	24.2	-15
60	George Kirby	SEA	SP14	46	87	61.6	9.1	8
61	Freddy Peralta	NYM	SP15	47	112	62	12.2	-3
62	Cody Bellinger	NYY	OF17	33	91	64	12.3	3
63	Joe Ryan	MIN	SP16	43	101	69	13.9	12
64	Jesus Luzardo	PHI	SP17	53	102	69.2	10.1	13
65	Dylan Cease	TOR	SP18	55	101	69.5	11.8	7
66	Geraldo Perdomo	ARI	SS9	36	95	70.3	11.5	-3
67	Vinnie Pasquantino	KC	1B9	44	86	70.8	6.6	12
68	Shea Langeliers	ATH	C3	47	102	71.3	14.8	3
69	Maikel Garcia	KC	2B4	47	93	71.7	10	0
70	Corey Seager	TEX	SS10	41	99	72	12.4	17
71	Ben Rice	NYY	1B10	45	155	73.8	17.9	-4
72	Byron Buxton	MIN	CF2	48	92	74.6	12.2	1
73	Framber Valdez	DET	SP19	59	93	74.9	10.2	5
74	Andres Munoz	SEA	RP3	38	147	75.8	25.8	-18
75	George Springer	TOR	OF18	49	103	76.2	11.4	1
76	Jhoan Duran	PHI	RP4	37	170	76.8	27.1	-15
77	Hunter Goodman	COL	C4	48	134	78.6	18	-3
78	Cade Smith	CLE	RP5	35	189	79.1	26.7	-12
79	Kyle Bradish	BAL	SP20	50	170	80	20.9	1
80	Bo Bichette	NYM	SS11	46	129	80.4	13.2	6
81	Seiya Suzuki	CHC	OF19	58	104	80.9	10.3	4
82	Randy Arozarena	SEA	OF20	55	101	82.4	8.5	1
83	Jeremy Pena	HOU	SS12	38	146	84.8	15.3	19
84	Eugenio Suarez	CIN	3B5	41	118	86.3	14.6	6
85	Tyler Soderstrom	ATH	1B11	57	121	87.5	12.2	-4
86	Michael Harris II	ATL	OF21	52	110	90.8	10.8	17
87	Nico Hoerner	CHC	2B5	60	116	91	13.4	8
88	Nick Pivetta	SD	SP21	70	135	92	14.1	1
89	Eury Perez	MIA	SP22	64	153	92.8	21.2	11
90	Nolan McLean	NYM	SP23	67	213	93.6	22.2	7
91	Alex Bregman	CHC	3B6	58	134	96.4	16.2	1
92	Oneil Cruz	PIT	CF3	67	123	97.8	13.7	-4
93	Aroldis Chapman	BOS	RP6	55	203	98.8	24.2	-11
94	Michael Busch	CHC	1B12	51	124	100.7	8	11
95	Jose Altuve	HOU	2B6	70	158	101.1	15.4	3
96	Christian Yelich	MIL	OF22	55	142	101.7	20.5	-3
97	David Bednar	NYY	RP7	52	202	101.9	26.5	-13
98	Kevin Gausman	TOR	SP24	62	128	101.9	13.2	6
99	Trevor Story	BOS	SS13	64	161	103.3	22.6	18
100	Devin Williams	NYM	RP8	46	232	103.5	27.8	-6
101	Teoscar Hernandez	LAD	OF23	60	144	103.8	11.1	18
102	Willy Adames	SF	SS14	65	157	107.9	15.9	13
103	Salvador Perez	KC	C5	81	162	108.5	15.9	-4
104	Yandy Diaz	TB	1B13	57	171	112.3	12.2	29
105	Tyler Glasnow	LAD	SP25	65	190	115.3	28.7	6
106	Luke Keaschall	MIN	2B7	73	161	115.8	16.7	14
107	Sonny Gray	BOS	SP26	76	185	116.3	24.5	-1
108	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	SP27	73	156	116.6	18.9	13
109	Blake Snell	LAD	SP28	48	189	117	32.5	-13
110	Kyle Stowers	MIA	OF24	83	166	117.4	22.3	4
111	Emmet Sheehan	LAD	SP29	83	160	117.5	18.2	27
112	Agustin Ramirez	MIA	C6	61	171	117.9	28.5	-2
113	Spencer Strider	ATL	SP30	63	195	118.3	34.9	-4
114	Chase Burns	CIN	SP,RP1	81	199	118.9	27.8	-1
115	Drake Baldwin	ATL	C7	74	181	119.9	25.4	-7
116	Jo Adell	LAA	OF25	68	172	121	17.1	8
117	Will Smith	LAD	C8	93	167	123.5	19.8	-16
118	Jacob Misiorowski	MIL	SP31	90	249	123.6	25.8	4
119	Brandon Nimmo	TEX	OF26	94	184	124	13.6	-1
120	Luis Robert Jr.	NYM	OF27	90	155	124.3	16.9	3
121	Nick Lodolo	CIN	SP32	102	187	126.6	17.3	6
122	Trey Yesavage	TOR	SP33	87	219	127.2	24.7	4
123	Nathan Eovaldi	TEX	SP34	87	170	127.2	15.8	13
124	Andy Pages	LAD	OF28	71	161	127.5	15.2	16
125	Ozzie Albies	ATL	2B8	103	198	128.3	18.6	7
126	Michael King	SD	SP35	80	191	129.4	21	9
127	Zack Wheeler	PHI	SP36	67	195	131.2	27.3	4
128	Jakob Marsee	MIA	OF29	102	161	132.6	17.3	0
129	Lawrence Butler	ATH	OF30	95	152	132.7	14.6	5
130	Ryan Pepiot	TB	SP37	96	197	133.3	13.1	7
131	Raisel Iglesias	ATL	RP9	77	221	134.9	25.8	-19
132	Matt Chapman	SF	3B7	96	198	136.3	22.4	9
133	Jacob Wilson	ATH	SS15	78	196	136.6	27.3	32
134	Ryan Helsley	BAL	RP10	56	285	137.6	47.1	-5
135	Luis Castillo	SEA	SP38	91	174	138	20.7	7
136	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	SP39	95	277	138.1	31.3	20
137	Taylor Ward	BAL	OF31	87	197	138.4	21.4	-7
138	Cam Schlittler	NYY	SP40	106	283	139.2	39.5	-13
139	Ceddanne Rafaela	BOS	OF32	63	192	140.9	27.3	19
140	Josh Hader	HOU	RP11	103	212	142.8	25.1	-33
141	Dansby Swanson	CHC	SS16	75	197	144.3	23.2	8
142	Ranger Suarez	BOS	SP41	106	217	145.1	16.1	24
143	Steven Kwan	CLE	OF33	77	202	147.6	21.7	8
144	Bubba Chandler	PIT	SP42	103	324	147.9	29.2	15
145	Robbie Ray	SF	SP43	92	280	148.4	30.1	18
146	Drew Rasmussen	TB	SP44	106	187	150.2	17.1	14
147	Jeff Hoffman	TOR	RP12	76	230	150.2	30.5	-8
148	MacKenzie Gore	TEX	SP45	92	215	150.3	23.3	0
149	Carlos Estevez	KC	RP13	101	215	154.3	25.8	-33
150	Willson Contreras	BOS	1B14	98	210	154.7	26.5	17
151	Gavin Williams	CLE	SP46	116	243	155.6	26.1	-6
152	Ian Happ	CHC	OF34	105	234	155.7	26.2	-2
153	Daniel Palencia	CHC	RP14	100	253	156.3	35.6	0
154	Ivan Herrera	STL	C9	123	219	156.4	19.6	28
155	Trevor Rogers	BAL	SP47	114	294	158.6	36.4	0
156	Shota Imanaga	CHC	SP48	100	219	159.1	21.9	14
157	Yainer Diaz	HOU	C10	93	210	159.4	30.9	-13
158	Tanner Bibee	CLE	SP49	105	264	160.4	17.7	15
159	Xavier Edwards	MIA	SS17	108	202	162.4	25.6	5
160	Brandon Lowe	PIT	2B9	112	235	163.3	29.5	-6
161	Pete Fairbanks	MIA	RP15	102	241	164.3	31	-4
162	Noelvi Marte	CIN	3B8	84	238	167.8	31.6	-19
163	Spencer Torkelson	DET	1B15	97	206	167.9	17.4	20
164	Emilio Pagan	CIN	RP16	115	284	168.7	37.2	-17
165	Bryan Reynolds	PIT	OF35	120	250	170.8	26.2	16
166	Hunter Greene	CIN	SP50	43	360	173.8	95.5	-112
167	Dylan Crews	WSH	OF36	127	204	173.8	18.5	27
168	Brenton Doyle	COL	OF37	99	241	173.9	32.4	49
169	Edward Cabrera	CHC	SP51	138	240	176.8	22	23
170	Jonathan Aranda	TB	1B16	125	233	178.2	24.5	14
171	Adley Rutschman	BAL	C11	137	260	181.1	34.9	-19
172	Jack Flaherty	DET	SP52	125	269	181.4	25.1	36
173	Carlos Rodon	NYY	SP53	126	455	181.6	25.2	17
174	Cade Horton	CHC	SP54	108	263	184.7	26.8	11
175	Trevor Megill	MIL	RP17	128	245	186.8	30.3	-29
176	Kenley Jansen	DET	RP18	105	267	188.3	34.5	-15
177	Shane Baz	BAL	SP55	134	268	188.3	27.1	28
178	Ezequiel Tovar	COL	SS18	71	284	189.5	46	50
179	Aaron Nola	PHI	SP56	135	456	190.3	25.1	39
180	Alec Burleson	STL	OF38	109	279	190.4	37.6	-3
181	Christian Walker	HOU	1B17	145	241	191.2	26.2	-5
182	Marcus Semien	NYM	2B10	133	250	191.3	29.5	13
183	Zac Gallen	ARI	SP57	138	271	192.9	34.6	29
184	Royce Lewis	MIN	3B9	153	256	195	23.4	27
185	Colson Montgomery	CWS	SS19	131	237	195.1	23	-6
186	Matt McLain	CIN	2B11	151	257	195.6	26.4	38
187	Daylen Lile	WSH	OF39	158	231	195.9	19	26
188	Matthew Boyd	CHC	SP58	129	275	196	26.8	21
189	Andrew Abbott	CIN	SP59	137	259	196	27.4	-1
190	Kris Bubic	KC	SP60	133	245	196.6	28.8	-1
191	Heliot Ramos	SF	OF40	114	284	196.8	28.6	29
192	Shane McClanahan	TB	SP61	140	457	196.8	28.9	29
193	Jac Caglianone	KC	1B18	126	260	199.2	34.7	6
194	Tatsuya Imai	HOU	SP62	132	400	199.3	57.6	-23
195	Mike Trout	LAA	OF41	140	251	185.6	24.5	-26
196	Chandler Simpson	TB	OF42	79	242	186.2	26.8	-28
197	Addison Barger	TOR	3B10	149	292	200.2	32	1
198	Daulton Varsho	TOR	OF43	157	243	202.5	23	-2
199	Jorge Polanco	NYM	2B12	132	268	203.9	32.6	7
200	Munetaka Murakami	CWS	1B19	136	271	205.9	30.6	-13
201	Kerry Carpenter	DET	OF44	154	236	206.7	20.1	34
202	Bryson Stott	PHI	2B13	101	283	208	43.3	-24
203	Dennis Santana	PIT	RP19	150	273	209.1	30.7	-12
204	Sal Stewart	CIN	1B20	142	254	198.2	27.3	-3
205	Joe Musgrove	SD	SP63	149	263	211.4	25.9	21
206	Gleyber Torres	DET	2B14	102	281	212	37	-2
207	Ryan Walker	SF	RP20	119	279	199.3	38.9	-4
208	Alejandro Kirk	TOR	C12	120	297	200.6	35.9	-34
209	Konnor Griffin	PIT	SS20	108	305	186.3	52.9	-16
210	Jackson Holliday	BAL	2B15	111	270	201.2	36.7	-48
211	Luis Garcia	WSH	2B16	129	269	214.4	31.2	56
212	Isaac Paredes	HOU	3B11	120	278	203.6	36.5	-32
213	Merrill Kelly	ARI	SP64	141	459	218	30.4	17
214	Kazuma Okamoto	TOR	3B12	133	295	208.1	37.5	-39
215	Wilyer Abreu	BOS	OF45	159	282	209.8	24.1	12
216	Adolis Garcia	PHI	OF46	124	270	222.4	28	9
217	Sal Frelick	MIL	OF47	175	272	223.4	18.5	-15
218	Kyle Manzardo	CLE	1B21	174	262	224.7	23.9	25
219	Abner Uribe	MIL	RP21	142	286	214.5	33.9	-22
220	Brendan Donovan	SEA	2B17	104	289	228.3	31.1	-4
221	Gerrit Cole	NYY	SP65	164	315	230.3	31.1	-11
222	Ramon Laureano	SD	OF48	172	265	219.2	26	14
223	Otto Lopez	MIA	2B18	128	297	231.4	34.8	22
224	Xander Bogaerts	SD	SS21	114	291	222.6	36	28
225	Griffin Jax	TB	RP22	122	295	223.5	41.8	-6
226	Trent Grisham	NYY	OF49	199	289	238.9	21.8	7
227	Andrew Vaughn	MIL	1B22	170	286	239	27.9	51
228	Gabriel Moreno	ARI	C13	162	393	227.7	52	-13
229	Kyle Teel	CWS	C14	168	286	228.3	30.5	-7
230	Francisco Alvarez	NYM	C15	159	287	230.1	34.4	14
231	Masyn Winn	STL	SS22	135	319	233.7	46.7	56
232	Caleb Durbin	BOS	2B19	162	297	246.3	29.9	7
233	Jordan Beck	COL	OF50	154	293	235.3	21.5	62
234	Jack Leiter	TEX	SP66	142	307	246.7	32.1	16
235	Shane Bieber	TOR	SP67	99	322	227.7	51.4	-21
236	TJ Friedl	CIN	OF51	190	291	241.5	23.1	36
237	Bryce Miller	SEA	SP68	152	341	246.2	36.9	23
238	Alec Bohm	PHI	3B13	137	299	235.9	29.6	9
239	Max Muncy	LAD	3B14	171	282	236.8	25.9	-10
240	Connelly Early	BOS	SP69	184	461	250.7	58.8	19
241	Jake Burger	TEX	1B23	165	305	251.9	28.1	25
242	Ryne Nelson	ARI	SP,RP2	203	338	252.1	31.9	16
243	Noah Cameron	KC	SP70	163	374	253.2	37.5	-1
244	Seranthony Dominguez	CWS	RP23	180	301	244	28.3	19
245	Samuel Basallo	BAL	C16	157	282	232.7	29.6	-14
246	Luis Arraez	SF	2B20	112	383	245.8	44.4	-5
247	Ryan Weathers	NYY	SP71	169	306	249.1	30	47
248	Colton Cowser	BAL	OF52	196	281	249.6	21.4	3
249	Jose Soriano	LAA	SP72	145	469	251.6	61.2	84
250	Casey Mize	DET	SP73	156	320	251.7	31.9	32
251	Marcell Ozuna	PIT	DH3	191	324	262.8	25.9	6

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.