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Nick Mariano's expert first base (1B) fantasy baseball rankings for 2026 drafts. RotoBaller has the industry's #1 accuracy fantasy baseball rankings, projections.
Spring is here, the weather is starting to warm up, Opening Day is near, and at RotoBaller, we are back with more updated fantasy baseball rankings to help you win your drafts. Today, we focus on the first base position with our updated 2026 fantasy baseball first base rankings and tiers for roto leagues (5x5 category mixed leagues). These March rankings cover the top 75 first basemen for 2026.
With Opening Day fast approaching, fantasy managers should expect to hear a lot of news, rumors, and hype this offseason on trendy picks or even a player having a hot spring. When should you take a chance on a first baseman who is on the rise, a top prospect, a player returning from injury, or an first baseman who is set to bounce back this season? Find out where key first basemen such as Josh Naylor, Yandy Diaz, Willson Contreras, Spencer Torkelson, Jonathan Aranda, Kyle Manzardo, and others are listed in our rankings.
The first base rankings below are specifically designed for traditional roto leagues, put together by RotoBaller's lead MLB forecaster Nick Mariano. We're also writing fresh articles all throughout the off-season for fantasy baseball prospects, fantasy baseball dynasty, and so much more. Win more in 2026!
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Updated Fantasy Baseball First Base Rankings (March)
| Tier | Rank | Player | Position |
| 1 | 1 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | 1B |
| 1 | 2 | Nick Kurtz | 1B |
| 2 | 3 | Pete Alonso | 1B |
| 2 | 4 | Matt Olson | 1B |
| 2 | 5 | Bryce Harper | 1B |
| 3 | 6 | Freddie Freeman | 1B |
| 3 | 7 | Ben Rice | C/1B |
| 3 | 8 | Vinnie Pasquantino | 1B |
| 4 | 9 | Rafael Devers | 1B |
| 4 | 10 | Josh Naylor | 1B |
| 4 | 11 | Tyler Soderstrom | 1B/OF |
| 4 | 12 | Michael Busch | 1B |
| 4 | 13 | Salvador Perez | C/1B |
| 4 | 14 | Yandy Diaz | 1B |
| 5 | 15 | Jac Caglianone | 1B/OF |
| 5 | 16 | Willson Contreras | 1B |
| 5 | 17 | Kazuma Okamoto | 1B/3B |
| 5 | 18 | Alec Burleson | 1B/OF |
| 5 | 19 | Sal Stewart | 1B |
| 6 | 20 | Jonathan Aranda | 1B |
| 6 | 21 | Spencer Torkelson | 1B |
| 6 | 22 | Christian Walker | 1B |
| 7 | 23 | Munetaka Murakami | 1B/3B |
| 7 | 24 | Miguel Vargas | 1B/3B |
| 7 | 25 | Kyle Manzardo | 1B |
| 7 | 26 | Jake Burger | 1B |
| 7 | 27 | Alec Bohm | 1B/3B |
| 7 | 28 | Ryan O'Hearn | 1B/OF |
| 8 | 29 | Andrew Vaughn | 1B |
| 8 | 30 | Spencer Steer | 1B/OF |
| 8 | 31 | Luis Arraez | 1B/2B |
| 8 | 32 | Ernie Clement | 1B/2B/3B/SS |
| 8 | 33 | Nolan Schanuel | 1B |
| 8 | 34 | Colt Keith | 1B/2B/3B |
| 8 | 35 | Josh Bell | 1B |
| 9 | 36 | Coby Mayo | 1B |
| 9 | 37 | Josh Smith | 1B/3B/SS/OF |
| 9 | 38 | Lenyn Sosa | 1B/2B |
| 9 | 39 | Spencer Horwitz | 1B |
| 9 | 40 | Kody Clemens | 1B/2B/OF |
| 9 | 41 | Gavin Sheets | 1B/OF |
| 9 | 42 | Bryce Eldridge | 1B |
| 9 | 43 | Jake Cronenworth | 1B/2B/SS |
| 9 | 44 | Jared Triolo | 1B/2B/3B/SS |
| 9 | 45 | Troy Johnston | 1B/OF |
| 9 | 46 | Charlie Condon | 1B/OF |
| 9 | 47 | Tim Tawa | 1B/2B/OF |
| 9 | 48 | Rhys Hoskins | 1B |
| 9 | 49 | Edouard Julien | 1B/2B |
| 9 | 50 | Victor Caratini | C/1B |
| 9 | 51 | C.J. Kayfus | 1B/OF |
| 10 | 52 | Paul Goldschmidt | 1B |
| 10 | 53 | Triston Casas | 1B |
| 10 | 54 | Liam Hicks | C/1B |
| 10 | 55 | Ryan Mountcastle | 1B |
| 10 | 56 | Pavin Smith | 1B |
| 10 | 57 | Nathaniel Lowe | 1B |
| 10 | 58 | Luke Raley | 1B/OF |
| 10 | 59 | Casey Schmitt | 1B/2B/3B |
| 10 | 60 | Jake Bauers | 1B/OF |
| 10 | 61 | Carlos Santana | 1B |
| 10 | 62 | Christian Encarnacion-Strand | 1B/3B |
| 10 | 63 | Otto Kemp | 1B/3B/OF |
| 10 | 64 | Oswald Peraza | 1B/2B/3B/SS |
| 10 | 65 | Romy Gonzalez | 1B/2B |
| 11 | 66 | Curtis Mead | 1B/2B/3B |
| 11 | 67 | Eric Wagaman | 1B/OF |
| 11 | 68 | Michael Toglia | 1B |
| 11 | 69 | Wilmer Flores | 1B |
| 11 | 70 | Dylan Moore | 1B/2B/3B/OF |
| 11 | 71 | Blaine Crim | 1B |
| 11 | 72 | T.J. Rumfield | 1B |
| 11 | 73 | Ty France | 1B |
| 11 | 74 | Warming Bernabel | 1B |
| 11 | 75 | Ryan Clifford | 1B/OF |
| 11 | 76 | Ezequiel Duran | 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF |
| 11 | 77 | Josue Briceno | C/1B |
| 11 | 78 | Abimelec Ortiz | 1B/OF |
| 11 | 79 | Ryan Ward | 1B/OF |
Fantasy Baseball First Base (1B) News
Jonathan Aranda, Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda got plenty of hype as a top prospect, and although it took longer than some people expected, he put together a breakout season last year. The 27-year-old hit an impressive .316 with 14 homers and a .381 wOBA in 106 games last year. He missed time with a fractured wrist, but returned before the end of the season and looked strong in the World Baseball Classic for Mexico.
After an All-Star season last year, Aranda is still flying a little under the radar as the No. 21 first baseman in RotoBaller's rankings, but he brings excellent upside as the Rays' top left-handed power option after the departure of Brandon Lowe this offseason.
Aranda should hit in the heart of the order, and if he stays healthy, could emerge as a top value play at the position after the elite options are off the board. His power production may not match the elite options, but he is definitely someone to target in the middle rounds if you need depth at the position or missed out on the big boppers at first base.
Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (knee) played in a minor-league game on Monday and showed that his hit tool is still sharp, hitting a double, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Casas has been cleared to take at-bats on the minor-league side of things in spring training, but he has yet to be cleared to run the bases or slide.
The 26-year-old left-handed slugger is most likely to continue to serve as the designated hitter in minor-league games for the rest of camp as he continues to work his way back from a surgically-repaired left knee. The Red Sox aren't going to rush Casas back after trading for first baseman Willson Contreras in the offseason.
Fantasy managers hoping that Casas can bounce back in 2026 need to be prepared for him to potentially miss the first month of the 2026 regular season as he continues to get his legs back underneath him. Casas hasn't been able to reach his true potential in the big leagues due to injury, making him RotoBaller's No. 53 fantasy first baseman.
Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds infield prospect Sal Stewart has continued to play at an elite level during spring training and appears ticketed for a major role during his first full MLB season. Through 13 spring games, the team's top infield prospect has held a dominant .355/.487/.613 line with two home runs and four stolen bases. This is an excellent sign for Stewart as he looked just as comfortable during his first taste of MLB action last summer.
Over his first 18 games in Cincinnati, Stewart held a .255/.293/.545 line with five long balls. Earlier in the campaign, Stewart hit 10 home runs while swiping four bags across a brief 38-game stint at Triple-A, showcasing his five-category upside. Given Stewart's ability to play at several positions, he carries elite breakout appeal heading into the 2026 season, as he should have an everyday role in the offense.
Christian Walker, Houston Astros
Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker hit his first Grapefruit League home run on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals, but overall, he's been swinging a cold bat this spring. Going into Sunday's action, Walker has gone 3-for-23 (.130) with one home run, two RBI, two runs scored, three walks, and six strikeouts in the small sample size of nine games played.
Walker's name came up in trade rumors in the offseason, but he remains in Houston and will open the 2026 regular season as their starting first baseman. The 34-year-old veteran right-handed slugger slashed .238/.297/.421 with a .717 OPS, 27 home runs, 88 RBI, 72 runs scored, and two steals in 640 plate appearances over 154 games in 2025 in his first year with the Astros.
If he stays healthy, Walker should be a reliable mid-round contributor at first base in fantasy while hitting in the heart of Houston's batting order. He's had at least 26 homers and 84 RBI in each of the last four years. RotoBaller has Walker ranked as the No. 22 fantasy first baseman.
Jake Burger, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger had an uncharacteristically poor year at the plate in 2025, but a strong performance this spring has sparked some optimism about his outlook for 2026. Through 103 games last year -- his first in Texas -- Burger slashed .236/.269/.419 with 16 home runs, a 3.2 walk rate, and a 24.7% strikeout rate. He amassed a career-low 89 wRC+ and, for the first time in his career, produced negative fWAR at the plate and in the field.
This spring, however, his slash line is up to .355/.429/.645 with an 11.4% walk rate and 180 wRC+, and he has slugged three home runs in 35 plate appearances. We shouldn't invest too much stock into spring stats, but it's refreshing to see that his home run and walk rates have improved in Grapefruit League play, even if some of the pitchers he's facing aren't MLB-caliber arms.
Managers should be optimistic that Burger, who launched 63 home runs between 2023 and 2024, might be able to mash around 20-25 homers this upcoming season, even though the Rangers' park is very pitcher-friendly.
Yandy Diaz, Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (hand) is back in the lineup ahead of Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox. Diaz is back in the mix after missing more than a week of action due to left-hand soreness. He has been increasing his workouts in recent days and is feeling good enough to play now.
Diaz looks to continue his reliable ways after slashing .300/.366/.482 with 25 home runs and 83 RBI in 150 games last season. His power numbers could regress with the move back to Tropicana Field in 2026. The 34-year-old still hits well enough to be a useful corner infield bat for fantasy managers heading into the 2026 campaign.
Who Should I Draft Fantasy Baseball Tool
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Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player name. In the second box, search for the second player name. Compare up to four MLB players at once, and then click the Who To Draft? button to see who the recommended draft picks are based on fantasy baseball rankings, projections, and more.
Improvements For Who Should I Draft? We have lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your 2026 fantasy baseball drafts. You'll see MLB player tiles with stats and projections, ADPs, and news -- enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their preseason fantasy baseball rankings and projections based on their research and updates them constantly throughout the preseason. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.
Scoring Formats. Fantasy baseball managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's roto leagues (rotisserie) scoring or points leagues scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are two small radio buttons (small circle), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.
Popular Draft Searches. Curious to see some tough draft decisions for 2026? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Draft? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at, including recent trending player names who are seeing increases or decreases in their draft values. Click any of the links to see the results and recommendations.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Draft
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Draft tool for 2026 drafts:
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