FantasyPros Staff | Mon, Mar 9th 2026, 3:29am EDT

7 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers (2026)

Finding sleepers and avoiding busts is one of the biggest edges you can create on draft day. Anyone can draft the obvious stars, but fantasy championships are usually decided by the managers who uncover value before the rest of the room catches on and avoid paying for production that’s unlikely to repeat.

Every year, a handful of players smash their ADP thanks to changing roles, improved skills, or simply better health. At the same time, some big-name players fail to justify their draft price as regression, declining skills, or playing-time concerns quietly creep in.

To help identify both sides of that equation, we asked our Featured Pros to highlight the sleepers they’re targeting and the busts they’re avoiding in 2026 drafts. Their insights can help you uncover undervalued players who could outperform expectations and steer clear of the landmines that can derail a fantasy roster.

Consensus Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Who is the player you expect to be this year’s biggest fantasy baseball sleeper and why?

JJ Wetherholt (2B, 3B, SS – STL)

“I expect JJ Wetherholt to be the starting second baseman for the Cardinals come Opening Day. His current ADP of 251 is an extreme value for a player with his skill set and minor-league accomplishments. Between Double-A and Triple-A last year, Wetherholt combined for .306/.425/.510 slash with a .931 OPS. He has a great approach, makes consistent contact, has legit pop, and 20-SB speed. I expect him to be at least a .275 hitter with 15/20 upside, and considering the lack of depth at second base, he could be a huge asset in 2026. And by the way, he’s off to a hot start this spring, hitting .300 with a 1.000 OPS in his first 10 AB’s. The guy is ready.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)

Ryan Waldschmidt (OF – ARI)

“Ryan Waldschmidt is going to be the biggest fantasy sleeper. The reason is quite simple: he’s one of the very few players actually being slept on while everyone chases the would-be sleepers of Konor Griffin, Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, and more. His blend of power, speed, and great contact rates, plus ample opportunity and a great ballpark, could not only make Waldschmidt an amazing fantasy asset but also a dark horse for NL Rookie of the Year.”
– Chad Simpson (Fantasy Six Pack)

Jac Caglianone (1B, OF – KC)

“Jac Caglianone’s rookie season was forgettable, after hitting just .157. He showed some signs of life, though, with a 12% barrel rate, a 22% strikeout rate, and incredible bat speed. It’s spring training, but we’re seeing some encouraging signs from Jac with a 25% barrel rate early in March, and one of the hardest hit balls in the Statcast era at 120.2 MPH. If we see some of these spring improvements carry over to the regular season, Jac will easily be a 30+ home run hitter, going well outside the top 200 in drafts.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)

Jacob Melton (OF – TB)

“Jacob Melton had a forgettable debut with Houston, hitting .157 over 78 plate appearances. He is now with Tampa Bay and will have a chance to earn an everyday role, showcasing his plus power and speed. In a limited time, he showcased his 90th percentile sprint speed by stealing seven bases. The Rays led the majors in SB attempts per game last year and will keep the green light on for him. Melton is off to a strong spring and could easily be a five-category contributor available at the end of fantasy drafts.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)

Emmet Sheehan (SP – LAD)

“Emmet Sheehan is one of the top sleepers. In 15 games last season, he had a 2.82 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 30.6% strikeout rate, and 7.6% walk rate. He was in the 88th percentile or better in xERA, xBA, Whiff rate, chase rate, and strikeout percentage. He had a 16.2% swinging strike rate. All the ingredients are there for Sheehan to throw 150 innings and be one of the best values.”
– Adam Ronis (Sirius XM)

Jackson Holliday (2B – BAL)

“The player I expect to be this year’s biggest fantasy baseball sleeper is Jackson Holliday of the Baltimore Orioles. I realize he is behind schedule after removing a fractured hook of the hamate in his right hand, but he should be ready within the first couple of weeks of the regular season. Holliday entered the league with massive expectations as the #1 overall prospect in baseball, but his first taste of MLB pitching was uneven. In fantasy, that usually creates a draft discount the following season, and this is typically when players often break out. The underlying skill set is there, and you can get him at a post-hype discount. He has an elite underlying skill set and plays in a loaded lineup. If it all comes together for Jackson Holliday, I am forecasting him for a 286 BA, 20 HR, 20 SB, 100 Runs, and 80 RBI.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)

MacKenzie Gore (SP – TEX)

“Unfortunately, “sleeper” has become a distorted term. When EVERYONE identifies sleepers, their profiles rise, and before you know it, they are being overdrafted. Keep in mind that we are compiling this list on March 5th. I believe Oneil Cruz (ADP of 88.4) and Eugenio Suarez (90) are underappreciated, but not sleepers. MacKenzie Gore at pick 146.6 is. He has struck out more than a batter per inning in every season he has pitched, and 2026 isn’t going to change that trend. His “stuff” is inarguably filthy. His command is also inarguable… not so good. He walks too many batters, gets himself in too many difficult positions, and it has killed his innings pitched and ratios. If he could find a way to go from approximately 2.5 walks per 9 to something closer to 1.5, he’d be a Cy Young Candidate and the Rangers would have the breakout Ace of the 2026 season with one of those special “200+” K guys that I absolutely love and always prioritize on draft day. I like Jackson Holliday (152.2) and Ceddanne Rafaela (153.3), and especially Gore at 146.6 as fantastic values sitting around the 150 overall price range. If this is too high for the label “sleeper,” then take a peak at Milwaukee Brewer SP Logan Henderson (289.2) or St Louis Cardinal SS Masyn Winn (289.4) or Cleveland Guardian SP/RP Joey Cantillo (296.8), especially in points leagues, where his potential double-starts could add extra value in a RP slot due to his dual-position eligibility. I love SP/RP guys. A niche difference maker in competitive, deep leagues.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)

NFL

MLB

NBA

NHL