9 League-Winning Fantasy Baseball Hitters: Andy Smith's High-Upside Draft Targets

March 14, 2026

Andy's 9 league-winning hitters, fantasy baseball breakouts, values, studs to provide massive return on value in 2026 including Michael Busch, Kyle Stowers, more.

I've spent the entire offseason doing deep dives into positional previews, the next group of emerging rookies, and pitching changes, but on draft day, you are looking for those league winners. Finding a player like Junior Caminero in the middle rounds or Nick Kurtz on the waiver wire could have almost single-handedly won you your league.

In this piece, I will spotlight my top league-winning hitters using NFBC ADP since February 16. My definition of a league-winner is someone who will deliver immense value at their current draft cost. This could be a top prospect or an overlooked veteran.

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Geraldo Perdomo, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

NFBC ADP: 74

Geraldo Perdomo was a league winner last year, as he was the early-season waiver-wire hero and became a must-start shortstop in all formats. Perdomo turned in a breakout season, posting a .290/.389/.462 line with 20 home runs and 27 stolen bases. Batting in a solid Arizona lineup, Perdomo scored 98 runs while adding 100 RBI.

However, the fantasy community has not fully bought into his breakout, as he holds a surprising 74.0 ADP on NFBC and goes off the board as the No. 9 shortstop, providing managers with a great buying opportunity for this potential superstar.

Perdomo held a solid .265/.370/.413 line over the first half, but took his game to a new level after the All-Star break. In the second half, Perdomo was one of the sport's top hitters, posting a .325/.417/.533 line with 10 HRs and 14 SBs.

Perdomo saw fastballs just under 60.0% of the time last season and showed steady progression against them all summer long. As shown below, his xwOBA against heaters improved each month, peaking in September at an incredible .425 xwOBA.

While his 20 HRs may not be overly sustainable as Statcast projected him to hit just 17 last season, he remains an elite asset in counting stats and average (.278 xBA), while chipping in 15+ SBs. ATC projects Perdomo to turn in another five-category campaign, hitting 13 HRs, swiping 21 bags while holding a .263 AVG. Perdomo has top-5 upside at the position but is being treated as a borderline top-10 option in current draft rooms.

Yordan Alvarez, UT, Houston Astros

NFBC ADP: 33

Yordan Alvarez lost leagues in 2025. The first-round caliber bat appeared in just 48 games due to numerous injuries and posted an underwhelming .273/.367/.430 line with just six long balls. However, after a disastrous season, Alvarez can be had in the third round of most leagues, making him one of the best "early-round" values on the board.

From 2022 through 2024, the 28-year-old averaged a 303/.401/.587 line with 34.3 HRs per season. During this three-year stretch, he appeared in 132 games per season as well.

Even in his limited stint in 2025, Alvare generated .284 xBA, .549 xSLG, and a 52.9% hard-hit, all of which were right in line with career norms. While he will be the season as a "utility-only" asset, reports suggest he may see time in the outfield sooner rather than later.

It's not often a perennial first-round pick falls to the mid-30s. Take advantage of it this season.

Kyle Stowers, OF, Miami Marlins

NFBC ADP: 124

Stowers surprised many in 2025, not only claiming a full-time role in Miami but also emerging as one of the game's top power hitters. Over a career-high 117 games, Stowers launched 25 home runs while holding a .288/.3368/.544 line.

However, similar to Perdomo, the fantasy community does not appear to be "all-in" on this post-hype breakout, as evidenced by his ADP, going off the board as the No. 28 outfielder.

Despite skepticism, Stowers posted elite metrics suggesting this production is sustainable, and he could be a legit 30+ HR option in 2026. He posted a .375 xwOBA (94th percentile), .537 xSLG (95th percentile), and an incredible 19.0% barrel rate (98th percentile). The 28-year-old also raised his pull AIR% to 23.7%, compared to the miniscule 10.1% he held back in 2024.

Fantasy managers are targeting outfielders like Michael Harris II and Oneil Cruz ahead of Stowers. The form Orioles prospect has high-end OF2 upside but can be had as a borderline OF3 price tag.

KYLE STOWERS GRAND SLAM pic.twitter.com/m7LQMUV4JF

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) August 2, 2025

Ivan Herrera, UT, St. Louis Cardinals

NFBC ADP: 155

Despite being "utility only" like Alvarez, Herrera carries immense value in 2026 drafts and is being pushed down draft boards solely because of his positional eligibility.

Over his first two full seasons in the majors (2024 and 2025), Herrera has held an overall .290/.373/.451 line with an .823 OPS. He has hit 12 home runs per season while chipping in 6.5 stolen bases with 45.5 runs and 46.5 RBI.

While drafting him does make lineup construction slightly more difficult, as you will not be able to "start" him if you begin your draft with Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber, or Alvarez, he is worth targeting if you avoid that early group. Under the hood, Herrera posted an elite .371 xwOBA with a .275 xBA, and a .491 xSLG, all of which are well above average.

Additionally, there are reports that the Cardinals will likely provide him with opportunities behind the dish to Herrera as the season progresses. Even though it may take time for him to earn catcher eligibility, this is a situation worth following as he could carry top-5 catcher upside in the second half.

When on the field, Herrera will produce an elite batting average with near 30/10 upside. Per FanGraphs Player Rater, Herrera was the No. 105 overall player last season, despite playing in only 107 games. He is a bargain value in drafts that could see his value only increase once he earns catcher eligibility.

While most leagues require 10 "in-season" appearances to gain positionable eligibility, some only require five. In those leagues, Herrera should be a must-draft as he could pick up catcher eligibility before May 1. Even if Herrera does not earn catcher eligibility until the second half in most leagues, he is still significantly undervalued and a top target if you do not have your utility spot filled past pick 150.

JJ Wetherholt, SS, St. Louis Cardinals

NFBC ADP: 230

Let's shift gears and postlight my favorite prospect to draft. While Konnor Griffin and Kevin McGonigle have been pushed up draft boards, Wetherholt is still being quite undervalued despite being ticketed for a clear everyday role in St. Louis.

The former seventh overall pick is a lock to make the Opening Day roster and should begin the season as the everyday second baseman, as the Cardinals shipped Brendan Donovan to the Mariners this winter. Even though Wetherholt has yet to appear in an MLB game, he has flashed immense upside in the upper minor leagues and could be a league-winner past pick 200.

Last summer, Wetherholt posted an impressive .314/.416/.562 slash line with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, and nine stolen bases over a 47-game stint at Triple-A. Earlier in the season, he added home runs with 14 stolen bases over 62 games at Double-A.

The top prospect has clear five-category upside and should be going much higher in drafts. Even if he struggles early on, it will be hard to see St. Louis send him to the bench, given their lack of enticing options in the infield.

Isaac Paredes, 3B, Houston Astros

NFBC ADP: 219

Isaac Paredes has seen his ADP decline due to the crowded Houston infield. Currently, the Astros have five capable infielders to cover four positions (Christian Walker, Paredes, Carlos Correa, Jeremy Pena, and Jose Altuve), which complicates playing time. Additionally, Alvarez is listed as the primary DH, which further prevents one of them from seeing everyday at-bats.

For good reason, Paredes is now being drafted outside of the top-200 and has fallen into the corner infield range and out of the top-12 3B range. However, with Pena slated to miss time due to a fractured finger early in the season, Paredes could return to an everyday role much sooner than expected.

During his first stint in Houston last summer, Paredes looked the part, hitting for a .254/.352/.458 line and 20 long balls. At Daikin Park, the pull-heavy batter posted a much higher .835 OPS compared to the .783 OPS on the road.

With Pena expected to miss the start of the season, Parades should face little trouble earning everyday at-bats in the short term. However, in order to keep that role, he will need to enjoy a hot start, and managers looking to acquire a legit top-10 3B can do so at a cheap discount.

Additionally, given Walker's inconsistent hitting last season and Correa's extensive injury history, managers should not be overly concerned with Paredes' at-bats. If he continues the same trajectory he was on last season before suffering the hamstring injury, he will not come out of this lineup.

At a shallow position like third base, Paredes carries prime sleeper value, with the potential to hit 25+ HRs while totaling strong counting stats and a .250 AVG.

Isaac Paredes is one of the best values if you choose to wait at third base@TheReal_NFC ADP since 2/26 - 221.5 (16 3B)

— Andy Smith (@A_Smith_FS) March 8, 2026

Daylen Lile, OF, Washington Nationals

NFBC ADP: 204

The 23-year-old did not generate much hype ahead of his MLB promotion, but was one of the game's top hitters over the final month. In 92 ABs in September, Lile held an incredible .391/.440/.772 line with six home runs and a stolen base. Overall, over his first 91 MLB contests, Lile posted a .299/.347/.498 line with nine home runs and eight stolen bases.

While the sample size was small and his team's context will significantly hinder his counting stats, Lile should still be your reader as a high-end No. 4 OF. In his first taste of the majors, Lile looked quite comfortable, generating .302 xBA (100th percentile) with a 44.2% LA sweet-spot, which also placed him in the 100th percentile.

He also generated an above-average 20.1% Pull AIR%. This means that the young outfielder is not only lifting the ball at a high rate, but he is also pulling the ball at an ideal angle that is suitable for home runs.

The 23-year-old also placed in the 92nd percentile in sprint speed. Finding an outfielder that could hit .300 while pushing for 20/20 upside past pick 200 is not easy, and Lile fits that bill. He is a multi-category booster. He is currently being selected as the No. 49 OF in NFBC drafts, after players with major questions like Chandler Simpson, Mike Trout, and Jose Caballero.

Daylen Lile delivered an 11th-inning go-ahead inside-the-park home run, the ninth such homer in Washington Nationals history (since 2005) and the first ever hit in extra innings.

WOW! pic.twitter.com/mkerRXBfSf

— TheNatsReport 🇺🇸 ⚾ (@TheNatsReport) September 20, 2025

Gleyber Torres, 2B, Detroit Tigers

NFBC ADP: 232

While Lile is the upside play, Gleyber Torres is the high-floor play. When looking at all infielders in this range, Torres may be the most undervalued at all positions. During his first season in Detroit, Torres posted a .256/.358/.387 line with 16 home runs, four stolen bases, 79 runs, and 74 RBI. He saw an everyday role and is ticketed for the same workload once again in 2026.

Per the FanGraphs Player Rater, this stat line made him the No. 11 overall 2B last summer. However, he is now going off the board at the No. 17 2B, making him an elite value as both a second baseman and a middle infielder.

Even if he posts the same exact stat line, he will provide a great return, but his underlying metrics suggest they may even take a step forward. He generated a .269 xBA (13 points higher than his ERA value BA) and a .363 xwOBA (31 points higher than the surface value wOBA). He also raised his barrel rate to 8.2% and hard-hit rate 39.0%, both gains compared to 2024.

While managers should not expect a return to his 25+ HR upside, he has shown elite production in his career, with a .265 AVG, 20 HRs, and a high total of runs/RBI, making him the perfect option at 2B. Fade the top options and strengthen your team elsewhere. A legit top-10 player at this position is waiting for you just outside the top 225 picks.

Michael Busch, 1B, Chicago Cubs

NFBC ADP: 105

Michael Busch was the most prominent post-hype breakout last season. In his first season in a near full-time role, Busch smashed all expectations. launching 34 home runs with a .261/.343/.523 line serving as the everyday first baseman in Chicago. However, despite appearing in 155 games, his 592 plate appearances placed him 15th at the position, which slightly limited his upside.

This offseason, Cubs manager Craig Counsell expressed that Busch is no longer expected to be platooned and is slated to be a lineup regular, even when going against the game's top southpaws.

In 2025, Busch took a major step forward, posting a career-high 22.2% Pull AIR% with a 17.1% barrel rate and an 111.9 mph max exit velocity, all of which set career highs.

Despite his elite power, he tallied only 90 RBI (ninth-most at the position) and scored 78 runs (11th-most at the position), which hindered his overall fantasy output. With him now slated to play against lefties, Busch should see an uptick in countings but may see his batting average take a slight dip.

Even with a slight regression in his batting average, he is being drafted as the No. 13 overall 1B in NFBC drafts, making him a low-end starting 1B/high-end corner infielder. The 28-year-old has the skill set to hit 40 home runs while tallying 100+ RBI/runs while batting in one of the game's most potent lineups. Draft him with confidence.

Michael Busch launches his 27th home run of the season with Anthony Rizzo in the bleachers 🚀 pic.twitter.com/vyVrCtZKlk

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) September 13, 2025

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