Hitter Fantasy Baseball Sleepers at Each Position for 2026 Drafts

February 21, 2026

Mike identifies the best fantasy baseball sleepers for hitters at each position for 2026 drafts. His fantasy baseball value picks based on their current ADPs.

Spring training arrived this week, and with it, so begins our speculation on perhaps the best topic of fantasy baseball: who are this season's sleepers at every position? Hope springs eternal, as the poets say. We all have opinions as to who these players are.

The debates rage on in late winter, when fantasy players begin their long morning or evening draft preparations. We all know the top picks. Where great players make their marks (and their money) is by finding players people are sleeping on, as we say.

We define a “sleeper” as a player going after pick 200. There is a cornucopia of delights here, from young players getting an opportunity to aging veterans hoping for one last season of glory in the sun. We have sleepers at each position, including three outfielders for your consideration.

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Catcher Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Bo Naylor, Cleveland Guardians

Naylor has 25 home run upside, and there is reason to believe he may not continue to be the batting average drain he has been over the first three years of his career. Both his barrel rate and his exit velocity inched upwards in 2025.

But the biggest measure of hope for Naylor is that he adjusted in the second half, leading to better contact rates. Look at his second-half splits below, where he hit .230 with five home runs and 27 RBI, cutting his strikeout rate from 31% on the first half to a more palatable 22% in the second half.

Naylor is currently the 24th catcher off the boards over the last two weeks, but with his possible growth potential, he could easily improve that ranking this season. He's a great choice as a second catcher in two-catcher leagues this spring.

First Base Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Jake Burger, Texas Rangers

Burger has battled injury concerns over the last couple of seasons, but the 30-homer power is there. Burger had three separate IL stints in 2025 for a quadriceps injury, wrist sprain injury, and an oblique issue. That's extensive. It was a nightmarish season for the veteran.

In between the injuries, Burger hit .236 with 16 home runs, 53 RBI, and 43 runs in only 103 games. But, in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the burly slugger played in 141 and 137 games, and pounded 34 and 29 home runs. His hard-hit percentage is elite; see below.

Burger's hard-hit percentage has been consistent over time; all he needs is better health. With an ADP of 269, the price is right for you to take a chance on Burger as your corner infield option with the chance for much more.

Second Base Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Otto Lopez, Miami Marlins 

Lopez has both second base and shortstop eligibility, but for the sake of this article, we will classify him at second base. Lopez had a nice first full season, hitting .246 with 15 home runs, 77 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 66 runs scored over 143 games.

Lopez should hit sixth in the order due to the Marlins' lineup improvement, which means his surprising RBI total from last season could decrease. But he could easily go 15/15 again, and his batting average could be higher, as his .269 xBA suggests he should see positive regression.

Look for a close repeat of last year's numbers and maybe even a few more bags. At his current ADP price of pick 218, Lopez is a good value for the middle infield position, and I would feel very comfortable with him as my starting second baseman in 15-team leagues.

Shortstop Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals 

Winn flies under the radar a bit, but there are good tools here that could translate into results for your fantasy team. Last year, Winn quietly had a nice season as he hit .253 with nine homers, 51 RBI, nine steals, and 72 runs. He did this while playing on a knee that needed offseason surgery.

I am curious as to how he could perform now that his knee has been fixed. With added health and playing time, Winn could easily post 15/15 status and 80 runs while batting .260. At pick 269 over the last two weeks, Winn is being drafted as a middle infielder.

Keep in mind that players with everyday lineup slots will be productive even on bad teams. Because of his stellar defense, range, and sprint speed, the biggest path for Winn to fantasy value could be his ability to steal bases and score runs. Watch him in spring training.

Third Base Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Caleb Durbin, Boston Red Sox

Durbin broke in last season and took the third base job in Milwaukee, hitting .256 with 11 homers, 53 RBI, 60 runs, and 18 stolen bases. He was sent in a surprise deal to the Boston Red Sox last week. Can we expect growth from Durbin?

Look at the box below and note the pull air percentage. Could his swing be better suited for Fenway Park than American Family Park? Envision him hitting doubles off the Green Monster in left field with his pull-heavy approach.

He is never going to be a major home run threat, but should hit 10-15 home runs with a .260 batting average and 25 bags. At the point where you might consider Durbin, you would be taking him as your corner infielder. I am in at that price.

With an ADP over the last two weeks of 253, Durbin is a nice play there. If you pair him with, for example, Matt Chapman, you should get decent production from an overall weak position. Players seem wary of drafting Durbin, but there is no reason he should not continue to be a solid addition.

It is important to note that Durbin may end up playing second base in Boston if the team chooses to play Marcelo Mayer at third base. This added eligibility also enhances Durbin's profile.

Outfield Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Jordan Beck, Colorado Rockies 

I am not sure why Beck is not being drafted higher this winter. The 29.6% K% really seems to put people off. Can he improve that? Beck quietly put up an encouraging season in 2025, hitting .258 with 16 home runs, 53 RBI, 62 runs, and 19 stolen bases in 148 games.

Beck should have an everyday role and bat cleanup on what should be another bad Rockies team, but that guarantees a daily playing spot. His higher-than-average bat speed (73.2 MPH) and elite sprint speed with good defense should keep him in the lineup.

With an ADP of 235, Beck seems like a good bet as your fourth outfielder in deep drafts, with hopes of a 20/20 season and 70+ runs scored.

Josh Lowe, Los Angeles Angels 

This is a make-or-break season, even though he is only 28. Traded to the Angels by the Tampa Bay Rays this winter, Lowe looks like he will receive a full season of at-bats for the Halos this spring while manning right field.

His best season was in 2023, where he hit .292 with 20 home runs, 83 RBI, and 32 stolen bases in 501 at-bats. If he were able to remain healthy, he could hit .250 with 15 home runs, score 60+ runs, and steal 25 bases. Lowe has consistently been injured in his career; an oblique injury on Opening Day wiped out the first six weeks of the season. But with an ADP of 263, he's at the right price to speculate.

It will cost you very little draft capital to see what he does in 2026.

This assessment is not based on metrics; rather, it is an opportunity for playing time and to be out of the platoon split in Tampa. At age 28, it is within the range of possibilities to return to his prior heights.

Evan Carter, Texas Rangers 

It feels like we have been waiting for Carter to be a star since he made his big-moment debut in the 2023 World Series, hitting third as a 21-year-old. Injuries have derailed his career thus far, but he is still only 23. It looks like he will play center field in 2026.

Carter hit only .247 with five home runs and 14 steals in only 220 plate appearances. If we could extrapolate that to 500 plate appearances, we get 12-14 home runs and over 30 stolen bases. That's not bad for a fifth outfielder.

Carter mentioned to local reporters that his goal this year is to steal 30 bases. Projections are always going to stop short because of injury concerns, but this is a player who could hit 15-20 home runs and steal 20 bases as well.

With a current ADP of 294 over the last two weeks, the price feels right to roster Carter as your fifth outfielder. At this point in drafts, I do not mind taking a little risk for a player who could bring a 2o/20 season to fruition.

Designated Hitter Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

Marcell Ozuna, Pittsburgh Pirates

The veteran slugger just signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates last week for $12 million. Ozuna immediately slots into the middle of an improved batting order as the primary designated hitter, which already includes Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn.

Ozuna played through a hip injury all season in 2025 and still managed to hit 21 home runs, essentially on one leg. With health and a regular playing opportunity in front of him now, a return to 25 home runs with a .250 batting average seems entirely possible.

There are still good plate skills here in this profile. See below.

If you find your team short on power late in drafts, consider Ozuna. With an ADP of 318 over the last week since he signed, the price is right to add that late power.

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