Kelly Kirby

Elly De La Cruz's 2025 season failed to showcase his elite fantasy ceiling. Fantasy managers expecting him to shore up the stolen base category were disappointed to see them drop from 67 to 37. However, after the season, the Reds revealed ELDC had played through a left quad strain for the entire second half, which is certainly supported by his first-half/second-half splits. Swing-and-miss remains part of his profile, though he did get his strikeout rate below 30% for the first time. His 2026 projections expect his stats to move back toward his 2024 numbers, though counting on him for 50+ steals isn't the best approach. Elly remains one of the riskier first-round picks, but could turn into a Top 3 overall if he is able to put it all together.

Garrett Crochet built on his breakout 2025 by sustaining elite strikeout rates and improved efficiency, alleviating many durability concerns that followed him earlier in his career. His 2026 projections continue to reflect frontline stuff, with strong K totals and solid ratios over a full starter's workload. Crochet is a premium fantasy arm whose upside justifies an aggressive draft slot and should easily be one of the first three pitchers off the board.

Paul Skenes lived up to the hype in 2025, overpowering hitters with elite velocity and swing-and-miss stuff while maintaining strong run prevention in his first extended MLB action. Sure, his record was 10-10, and he probably could have been a 20-game winner on almost any other team. His 2026 projections remain aggressive on strikeouts and ratios, and he is expected to pitch almost 200 innings after throwing 187 in 2025. The year-over-year takeaway is how quickly his command stabilized, limiting walks more than expected for a power arm. Skenes profiles as a high-impact fantasy SP1 whose value is driven by dominance rather than volume alone.

Tarik Skubal dominated in 2025, posting ace-level ratios while maintaining elite strikeout and walk rates across a full workload (195 IP). His 2026 projections remain optimistic, forecasting another sub-3 ERA with a strong WHIP and strikeout volume. The sustainability is supported by stable velocity, plus command, and one of the league's best swinging-strike profiles. Skubal enters 2026 as a true fantasy ace and a reliable anchor for managers prioritizing pitching early.

Gunnar Henderson backed up his 2024 breakout with a season during which he says he had a shoulder impingement for almost 75% of the year. His power dipped considerably, and even though he still stole 30 bags, it was obvious something was off. His 2026 projections expect a bounce-back year, projecting elite power production and strong run totals. Year-over-year gains in swing decisions suggest his profile is fully established rather than volatile. Shortstop is a stacked position, but Henderson remains one of the elite options for those looking to secure it early.

Julio Rodriguez posted a strong but slightly underwhelming 2025 relative to his sky-high expectations, as his power output plateaued despite excellent durability and counting stats. The 2026 projections forecast a modest power rebound into the low-30s with continued double-digit steals. His underlying contact metrics remain strong, but launch-angle inconsistency has capped his home-run ceiling year over year. Rodríguez remains a foundational fantasy outfielder, though he now projects closer to the back half of the first round than the very top.

Corbin Carroll made a noticeable jump in power in 2025, setting career bests with 31 home runs, 84 RBI, a .541 slugging percentage, and a 14.5% barrel rate. The added thump came with a higher strikeout rate (23.8%), but the tradeoff paid off as he still delivered elite all-around production, scoring 107 runs and swiping 32 bases. After an injury-marred 2024, his batting average bounced back from .231 to .259. Heading into his age-25 season, Carroll had been projected to come within striking distance of a rare 30 HR / 100 RBI / 100 R / 30 SB campaign, but a Spring Training injury to his hamate bone could impact his power output, moving him down in drafts and making him riskier than he was before.

Jose Ramírez remained one of fantasy's most reliable five-category contributors in 2025, once again clearing 30 HR while adding strong run production and double-digit steals. His 2026 projections show only mild age-related regression, with power and speed both expected to remain intact thanks to elite contact quality and plate discipline. Ramírez continues to profile as a safe first-round cornerstone and chronically underrated.