Fantasy Baseball Player Notes
2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Notes
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1.
Shohei Ohtani
SP,DH
There's no real debate at the top of 2026 fantasy drafts: In formats where he is considered one player, Shohei Ohtani remains the clear-cut 1.01 thanks to his unmatched two-way impact. Offensively, his 2026 projections again place him among the game's elite, with 45-plus home runs, triple-digit runs and RBI, and an on-base percentage north of .390 while continuing to anchor the Dodgers' lineup from the leadoff spot. The stolen base ceiling isn't what it was earlier in his career, but projected totals in the high teens still provide a valuable bonus atop his league-leading power and run production.
What truly separates Ohtani, however, is his return as a full-time starting pitcher. His 2026 projections peg him as a top-tier arm, capable of delivering ace-level strikeout totals, strong ratios, and double-digit wins in one of baseball's best team contexts. Even with some workload management baked in, Ohtani's ability to provide elite value on both sides of the ball gives fantasy managers a structural advantage no other player can match. As long as he's healthy, Ohtani isn't just the safest pick in fantasy baseball; he's still redefining what roster construction can look like. |
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15.
Kyle Tucker
RF,DH
Tucker delivered another well-rounded fantasy season in 2025, pairing plus power with double-digit steals and elite run production. He also delivered another season of murky injuries that diminished his output. His 2026 projections remain remarkably stable, reflecting how consistent his plate discipline and contact quality have been year over year. While there's little growth left in the profile, there's also minimal downside other than the injury history. Tucker remains a free agent, though his landing spot should not change his profile as a safe early-round outfielder who fits seamlessly into any roster build.
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29.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
SP
Yoshinobu Yamamoto followed up his MLB debut with a strong 2025, flashing elite command and swing-and-miss ability even as his workload was managed. That, however, went out the window when he threw 37-1/3 postseason innings, bringing his total to 210 in 2025. His 2026 projections show maintained excellent ratios and strikeout efficiency. The year-over-year improvement in pitch efficiency suggests he can work deeper into games moving forward. The biggest knock against Yamamoto is that he pitches for the Dodgers, who have a deep enough staff to go with a six-man rotation or rest elite starters down the stretch (fantasy playoffs) if they wish. In any case, Yamamoto profiles as a high-end fantasy starter whose value is anchored in ratios.
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40.
Mookie Betts
SS
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48.
Freddie Freeman
1B
Freddie Freeman remained a model of consistency in 2025, combining a strong batting average, on-base skills, and run production near the top of the Dodgers lineup. The only concerning stat on his profile was a large jump in strikeout rate to 20.4%, the first time since 2016 that it crossed the 20-percent mark. His 2026 projections show only modest age-related regression. If you draft him, you need to bake in lowered expectations regarding his consistency (147 games played each of the last two years) and fewer counting stats. Freeman remains a solid early-round corner infielder in fantasy, even factoring in that he will turn 37 in September, but he is not the pillar that he once was.
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56.
Blake Snell
SP
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84.
Tyler Glasnow
SP
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90.
Edwin Diaz
RP
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105.
Teoscar Hernandez
RF
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110.
Will Smith
C
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126.
Andy Pages
LF,CF,RF
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149.
Emmet Sheehan
SP
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240.
Roki Sasaki
SP
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275.
Max Muncy
3B
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284.
Tommy Edman
2B,CF
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338.
Tanner Scott
RP
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461.
Dalton Rushing
C
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476.
Hyeseong Kim
2B
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564.
Justin Wrobleski
RP
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629.
River Ryan
SP
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690.
Ben Casparius
RP
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698.
Alex Vesia
RP
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708.
Alex Freeland
3B
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711.
Ryan Ward
LF
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721.
Miguel Rojas
2B,3B,SS
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740.
Bobby Miller
SP
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