Points Leagues: Fantasy Baseball Sleepers for 2026 Drafts

February 21, 2026

Joey's points league fantasy baseball sleepers for 2026 drafts. His fantasy baseball value picks and draft targets for points leagues and H2H points leagues.

Every year, some players go too late in fantasy baseball points leagues. These players then become tremendous value picks, and those fantasy managers who selected them in the late rounds just got a game-changer at the backend of drafts.

In this article, we will be looking at seven players who are currently value picks. These fantasy baseball sleepers are simply going too late in points league drafts and could wind up being a steal at their average draft position. Each of these seven players is going outside the top 150 in fantasy baseball drafts.

So, who are the biggest draft sleepers in fantasy baseball points leagues for 2026? Let's dive in and find out.

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Taylor Ward, OF, Baltimore Orioles

Fantasy Baseball ADP: 156.3 

Taylor Ward was on this exact list last year as a sleeper target in points leagues. He then had a career year at the plate. He hit .228 with 36 home runs, 31 doubles, and 103 RBI across 157 games with the Los Angeles Angels. Those 36 home runs, 31 doubles, and 103 RBI were all career highs, and Ward had an impressive 11.3% walk rate (second-highest of his career) in 2025.

After putting up those career numbers with the Angels last season, the 32-year-old now lands in an even better situation with the Baltimore Orioles. Ward was traded to the Orioles in November and could put up very similar numbers in 2026. Hitting around players like Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Pete Alonso could lead to more runs scored and RBI.

There's also no reason to believe that Ward can't hit 25+ home runs and 90+ RBI again this year. His expected slugging (.450), barrel rate (13.7%), and squared-up rate (28.9%) all ranked in the upper half of the league, and the veteran will simply be hitting in a better lineup. With at least 25 home runs, 25 doubles, and 75 RBI back-to-back seasons, the new Orioles slugger is a smash pick in points leagues.

He has only missed 11 games over the past two seasons and will be in the best lineup of his career. That's enough to make Ward a sleeper in drafts right now.

Bubba Chandler, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Fantasy Baseball ADP: 163.9 

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler is a popular breakout candidate in 2026. After making his major league debut in late August last season, Chandler showed some good things to begin his career. He tossed four shutout innings each in back-to-back relief appearances and had a 2.25 ERA across his first 12 innings pitched out of the bullpen.

Then, the Pirates decided to move Chandler to the rotation for the final three weeks. Although he allowed nine earned runs across 2 2/3 innings in his first career start on September 7, the right-hander was fantastic to end the season. He had a 1.08 ERA, 1.04 FIP, and 19 strikeouts in his final three starts to cap off his first major league campaign.

Outside of that nine-run outing against the Brewers, Chandler was really untouchable on the mound. He had a 30.2% chase rate, a 30.3% whiff rate, a 25% strikeout rate, and a 3.2% walk rate in a limited sample size. Those elite metrics are an encouraging sign for the 23-year-old entering his first full season in the Majors.

Bubba Chandler is very quickly becoming one of my guys.

Falls way too far in literally every single draft.

Emerging ace.

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) January 24, 2026

As a result, Chandler is a nice target at his 163.9 ADP in NFBC leagues. He has the tools to break out this upcoming season and could really become a reliable fantasy pitcher option.

Trevor Rogers, SP, Baltimore Orioles

Fantasy Baseball ADP: 170.9

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers went on an unreal run once the team called him up in mid-May to start a doubleheader. He threw 6 1/3 shutout innings with two hits and five strikeouts in his first start of the season. From that point on, Rogers was one of the best pitchers in the game.

He allowed one run or fewer in 13 of his 18 starts and finished the year with a 1.81 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts across 109 2/3 innings pitched. The southpaw emerged as one of the top fantasy pitchers during this span, as he didn't allow many runs and completed at least six innings in 13 different outings.

While fantasy managers can't expect Rogers to put up those numbers again in 2026, he absolutely should be on fantasy managers' radar at his 170.9 ADP in NFBC leagues. That ADP is way too low for a pitcher who put up those dominant numbers throughout the 2025 season. He also ranked in the upper half of the league in expected batting average against (.225), chase rate (29.9%), walk rate (6.9%), and strikeout rate (24.3%).

That's enough reason to make him a sleeper pick in the later rounds. He looked like a completely different pitcher last year and seems to already be off to a nice start at Orioles camp this spring.

Trevor Rogers struck out five of six batters he faced during his live bullpen:

Rutschman groundout
W. Vazquez K
Cowser K
Kjerstad K
W. Wilson K
Beavers K

Rogers’ velo looks in a great spot. No radar gun here, but wouldn’t be surprised if he was up a tick or two today. pic.twitter.com/iK75Znp1cD

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) February 14, 2026

Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Detroit Tigers

Fantasy Baseball ADP: 187.4

When looking for hitters to select in the later rounds of points league drafts, targeting home run hitters is a smart strategy. That's why Eugenio Suarez was on this list before last season. This year, fantasy managers should be looking to choose Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson later in the double-digit rounds.

Torkelson's power was on full display again in 2025, as he hit 31 home runs, 27 doubles, and 78 RBI across 155 games. Those 31 home runs marked the second time in three seasons that the slugging first baseman hit 30+ home runs in a year. He also hit 31 home runs with 94 RBI in a breakout campaign with the Tigers in 2023.

With Torkelson hitting over 30 home runs in two of the past three seasons, he is definitely a sleeper in all points leagues. He scored the 11th-most fantasy points among first basemen in ESPN leagues last year and nearly scored more fantasy points than Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman, and Josh Naylor at the position.

The home runs will no doubt carry the Tigers slugger once again. He ranked in the 83rd percentile in barrel rate (13.5%) and 90th percentile in launch angle sweet-spot rate (39.3%). Those two numbers should help Torkelson hit over 30 home runs again, especially since he is set to remain Detroit's everyday first baseman in 2026.

Christian Walker, 1B, Houston Astros

Fantasy Baseball ADP: 188.2

Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker got off to a miserable start in 2025. He was hitting just .213 with 10 home runs and 31 RBI in his first 81 games, and most fantasy managers might have dropped him at that point in the season.

However, Walker eventually figured things out and was a top fantasy first baseman in points leagues from July 1 onward. He batted .264 with 17 home runs, 12 doubles, and 51 RBI across his final 73 games. Even with the slow start, the 34-year-old veteran still finished with around the same statistics that he always does.

That makes Walker a sleeper pick at his 188.2 ADP in NFBC leagues. He hit .238 with 27 home runs, 24 doubles, and 88 RBI in 154 games last year and continues to be a reliable fantasy option in points leagues. The Astros first baseman has now hit at least 25 home runs, 20 doubles, 70 runs scored, and 80 RBI in four consecutive seasons.

Given that Walker still ranked in the upper half of the league in barrel rate (12.9%), hard-hit rate (46.1%), and bat speed (74.1 mph) in 2025, there's a strong chance he makes it five straight years with those numbers. He's a sneaky pick at his 188.2 ADP and could greatly outperform that cost, even while playing in a crowded Houston infield.

Cade Horton, SP, Chicago Cubs

Fantasy Baseball ADP: 196.6

Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton was arguably one of the best pitchers in the second half of the 2025 season. Following an up-and-down first half, Horton really figured things out after the All-Star break. The rookie had a 1.03 ERA and 54 strikeouts across his final 12 starts of the season. That 1.03 ERA was the lowest among all qualified starting pitchers post All-Star break.

Although fantasy managers can't expect Horton to post those elite numbers again, passing up on a pitcher coming off a dominant second half could be a massive mistake in your fantasy drafts. He showed what type of pitcher he can be down the stretch, and the 24-year-old has the potential to fully break out in his first full Major League season.

Therefore, his current 196.6 ADP in NFBC leagues makes him a top sleeper pitcher in the later rounds. His chase rate (29.5%) and whiff rate (25.8%) both ranked in the upper half of the league last year, and Horton will pitch in one of the most pitcher-friendly ballparks in 2026. Wrigley Field is tied for the second-lowest Park Factor over the past three seasons.

Cade Horton in the bullpen 🔥 pic.twitter.com/FDSaMs0hLG

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 12, 2026

Don't miss out on taking a pitcher who could be consistent throughout the year and has a secure spot in the starting rotation.

Daylen Lile, OF, Washington Nationals

Fantasy Baseball ADP: 207.2

If you are looking for a sleeper in points leagues outside the top-200, Washington Nationals outfielder Daylen Lile is someone to target in the 17th or 18th round of 12-team leagues. Part of the reason is that Lile put together a strong September campaign. Fantasy managers shouldn't be overlooking a September that saw him emerge as a dominant fantasy option.

Lile slashed .391/.440/.772 with six home runs, three doubles, seven triples, 19 RBI, and one stolen base across 25 contests in September. He put himself on the map during this hot stretch and could really be a value pick in fantasy drafts this spring. The potential is there for the Nationals outfielder to really be an all-around fantasy asset in 2026 as he should be penciled into an everyday role.

The 23-year-old really displayed his power in the month of September with 16 extra-base hits. He also ranked in the 100th percentile in expected batting average (.302) and launch angle sweet-spot rate (44.2%). With a 92nd percentile sprint speed (29.1 ft/sec) as well, Lile is capable of being a 20-home run, 20-stolen base player in 2026.

As a result, Lile is a fantastic target in points leagues at this point in drafts. He had a low strikeout rate (16%) in his rookie season and put the ball in play at a high level. He's absolutely worth his 207.2 ADP in NFBC leagues, especially given his strong September numbers.

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