Another fantasy baseball season is here, and the landscape has never been more dynamic. Power is everywhere, stolen bases remain a premium separator, and elite pitching is once again forcing tough draft-day decisions. According to Fantasy Nerds rankings, this year's board blends proven MVPs, generational young talent, and a new wave of arms capable of carrying entire rotations - and fantasy rosters.
Below is a ranked, player-by-player outlook to help frame draft strategy and expectations as the season approaches.
Player Outlooks (Fantasy Nerds Top 36)
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1. Shohei Ohtani
Even when limited to one side of the ball, Ohtani remains a fantasy cheat code. His combination of elite power, run production, and lineup context keeps him in a tier of his own.
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2. Aaron Judge
Judge is the safest elite power profile in the game. Health is the only variable - when he's on the field, 50-HR upside is always in play.
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3. Bobby Witt Jr.
Five-category dominance defines Witt. He offers first-round power with league-winning speed and is entering his prime as a true fantasy cornerstone.
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4. Juan Soto
OBP monster, elite run scorer, and quietly improving power profile. Soto's floor is as high as anyone's ceiling.
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5. José Ramírez
Ramírez continues to defy aging curves. Switch-hitting power, speed, and positional scarcity keep him perennially elite.
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6. Corbin Carroll
Speed still kills in fantasy, and Carroll adds improving power and plate discipline. A true category amplifier.
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7. Tarik Skubal
The rare ace who combines elite strikeouts with command. Skubal anchors fantasy rotations with Cy Young upside.
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8. Julio Rodríguez
Julio's tools remain unmatched. Another step forward in plate consistency could unlock an MVP-level fantasy season.
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9. Ronald Acuña Jr.
When healthy, no one matches Acuña's category-breaking upside. He's a risk worth taking if medical reports cooperate.
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10. Paul Skenes
A generational arm with strikeout totals that shift league standings. Workload is the only concern.
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11. Garrett Crochet
Crochet's velocity and swing-and-miss profile scream breakout ace. Durability will decide how high he climbs.
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12. Kyle Tucker
Underrated consistency. Tucker offers power, speed, and stability in any scoring format.
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13. Elly De La Cruz
Electric doesn't begin to describe him. If the plate discipline improves even slightly, Elly could finish top five overall.
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14. Gunnar Henderson
Elite plate skills meet growing power. Henderson's floor keeps rising as Baltimore's lineup matures.
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15. Fernando Tatis Jr.
Still a superstar talent. A healthy, locked-in Tatis offers five-category excellence few can match.
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16. Cal Raleigh
Power at catcher changes roster construction. Raleigh's HR totals provide a massive positional edge.
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17. Francisco Lindor
A model of consistency. Lindor's balanced stat line makes him a reliable early-round anchor.
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18. Junior Caminero
One of baseball's most exciting young bats. Caminero's raw power gives him immediate fantasy relevance.
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19. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Still chasing another MVP-caliber season. Even without peak power, the floor remains extremely high.
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20. Jackson Chourio
Youth, athleticism, and upside collide. Chourio could be this year's league-winning breakout.
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21. Kyle Schwarber
Three true outcomes, fantasy-friendly results. Schwarber's power plays in every format.
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22. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Elite command and devastating stuff. Yamamoto profiles as a top-tier fantasy ace with ratio dominance.
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23. Nick Kurtz
Advanced bat, immediate power impact potential. Kurtz is a high-upside investment with long-term payoff.
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24. Ketel Marte
Quietly one of the most valuable multi-position bats in fantasy baseball.
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25. Jazz Chisholm
Boom-or-bust, but the speed/power combo is worth the gamble if he stays healthy.
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26. Cristopher Sánchez
A rising arm with improving strikeout rates and run-prevention metrics that fantasy managers love.
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27. Trea Turner
Speed remains his calling card. Even slight power rebounds keep Turner fantasy relevant.
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28. Logan Gilbert
Workhorse profile, elite WHIP potential, and consistent strikeout growth make Gilbert a safe SP1/2.
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29. Manny Machado
Veteran reliability with lingering upside. Machado still delivers elite production at a thin position.
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30. Pete Alonso
Pure power never goes out of style. Alonso remains one of the league's most bankable HR sources.
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31. Yordan Alvarez
Arguably the best pure hitter in baseball. Health is the only thing holding him back from the top tier.
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32. Chris Sale
When available, Sale still flashes ace-level dominance. Risk baked in, upside undeniable.
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33. Pete Crow-Armstrong
Defense drives playing time, speed drives fantasy value. Power growth could unlock another level.
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34. Matt Olson
Elite power and RBI production stabilize any roster, even with batting average volatility.
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35. Hunter Brown
Stuff has never been the issue. Command gains could push Brown into breakout territory.
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36. Jacob deGrom
A high-risk, high-reward gamble. Even limited innings from deGrom can tilt fantasy matchups.
Final Draft Takeaway
This season's fantasy blueprint rewards balance: elite bats early, impact arms in the middle, and upside swings late. Whether you're building around a five-tool superstar, a shutdown ace, or the next breakout phenom, the 2026 fantasy baseball season offers more paths to a title than ever before.
Draft smart. Trust the numbers. And let the chaos begin.
