Earlier-Round Fantasy Baseball Draft Targets - They're Worth The Cost (2026)

March 17, 2026

Joey's earlier-round fantasy baseball draft sleepers, values, and targets who are worth the cost in 2026. These players are value picks, even in earlier rounds.

The best part about fantasy baseball drafts is the early rounds. These are the players who are going to lead your fantasy team after all. As a result, the early rounds are some of the most stressful moments for fantasy managers. Selecting a bust within the first few rounds could throw everything off during the 2026 season.

In this article, we will look at five of the best draft targets within the first six rounds. All five of these players might be considered risks in drafts, but fantasy managers should be all over them in the first few rounds. These players have the chance to carry your fantasy team throughout the 2026 campaign.

So, who are the five biggest sleepers going within the top 65 picks in Yahoo! drafts? Let's dive in and find out.

Ronald Acuna Jr. OF, Atlanta Braves

ADP: 10.9

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. posted solid numbers in his first season back from a torn ACL in 2025. Acuna hit .290 with 21 home runs, 12 doubles, 49 RBI, 74 runs scored, and nine stolen bases across 95 games. While his stolen base numbers were extremely low, he contributed above-average numbers in the rest of the categories. 

With Acuna now almost two full years removed from that torn ACL, fantasy managers can seriously expect MVP-caliber numbers from the Braves outfielder this year.

Ronald Acuña Jr. is showing off his speed in #SpringTraining! pic.twitter.com/V6YKZ0p9y0

— MLB (@MLB) February 27, 2026

For starters, Acuna ranked in the 95th percentile or better in xwOBA (.397), expected slugging (.535), average exit velocity (92.7 mph), barrel rate (15.7%), hard-hit rate (52.5%), and walk rate (17.2%) in 2025. He was able to put up all those metrics despite coming off a torn ACL. Another 35-plus homer campaign certainly feels attainable for him this season. 

Acuna also put together the best numbers of his career two years removed from his first ACL tear earlier in his career. He tore his first ACL in 2021 and posted subpar numbers in his first season back from that injury in 2022. But the Braves outfielder then hit .337 with 41 home runs, 106 RBI, and 73 stolen bases once he was fully healthy again in 2023.

Therefore, Acuna is a fantastic pick at his 10.9 ADP in Yahoo! leagues. Although it's hard to expect another 41-home run, 73-stolen base campaign, it wouldn't be surprising to see him hit around .290 with upward of 30 home runs and 40 stolen bases this year. That's why he's worth the draft cost at this spot in fantasy drafts. The upside is definitely there.

Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles

ADP: 16.5

It was no doubt a down year for Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson. After hitting 28 home runs in 2023 and 37 home runs in 2024, Henderson was held to just 17 home runs in 2025. Part of the reason for his down power-hitting season was due to a shoulder injury he battled for most of the year.

Well, now Henderson is fully healthy heading into the 2026 season. That should give fantasy managers enough confidence to take him at his 16.5 ADP in Yahoo! leagues. That's a fair price to pay for a hitter who has the potential to hit 30 home runs, steal 30 bases, drive in upward of 80 runs, and score over 100 runs.

Back in 2024, Henderson hit .281 with 37 home runs, 31 doubles, 92 RBI, 118 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases across 159 games. Fantasy managers should expect his power numbers to return to that level, with his shoulder feeling 100% heading into 2026.

Gunnar Henderson almost took off Kyle Bradish’s head with this line drive during live BP pic.twitter.com/JwWmZhwlHH

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) February 17, 2026

It also wasn't all bad for Henderson last year. He stole a career-high 30 bases, and his overall metrics were solid. The 24-year-old ranked in the upper half of the league in wxOBA (.341), expected batting average (.276), average exit velocity (92.1 mph), hard-hit rate (49.2%), and bat speed (75.3 mph). So, he's worth his early second-round draft cost in 12-team leagues.

Yordan Alvarez, DH, Houston Astros

ADP: 37.0

It was a disappointing 2025 campaign for Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez. The left-handed slugger missed over 100 games due to a right-hand fracture that he suffered in early May. That injury sidelined Alvarez from May 3 to August 25. That makes his 2025 season really hard to evaluate entering fantasy drafts.

However, Alvarez is one of the best power hitters in the game when healthy. He totaled 33 home runs and 104 RBI in 2021, added 37 home runs and 97 RBI in 2022, had 31 home runs and 97 RBI in 2023, and belted 35 home runs with 86 RBI in 2024. In each of those seasons, the Astros designated hitter also hit above .275 at the plate.

If Alvarez just stays healthy, he is almost guaranteed to hit above .275 with over 30 home runs and 95 RBI in 2026. That is why he is the perfect pick at his 34.4 ADP in Yahoo! leagues. Even though he only appeared in 48 games last year, the 28-year-old still posted elite metrics. His expected batting average (.284), expected slugging (.549), barrel rate (13.8%), and launch angle sweet-spot rate (42.8%) all ranked in the top 15% of the league.

Don't skip past Alvarez in drafts because of his limited games played in 2025. He's a smash pick at his third-round ADP due to his power potential.

Logan Gilbert, SP, Seattle Mariners

ADP: 42.7

There's no doubt that Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert has established himself as an ace in the majors. Gilbert has finished with a sub-3.45 ERA and over a 27% strikeout rate in back-to-back seasons. He has been a really good fantasy option over the past few years and has been able to keep his WHIP very low.

Last year was a weird one for Gilbert, as he spent almost two months on the injured list due to a forearm injury. After being one of the most durable pitchers in the game from 2022 to 2024, seeing the right-hander miss time came as a surprise. However, there should be no injury concerns with him entering 2026, which makes him worth the draft cost at his 42.7 ADP in Yahoo! leagues.

Gilbert's fantasy ceiling is through the roof with the potential to keep a low ERA, a low WHIP, and post high strikeout numbers. Last season, the Mariners pitcher finished with a 3.44 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and 173 strikeouts. He also ranked in the top 12% among all pitchers in xERA (3.09), whiff rate (32.9%), strikeout rate (32.3%), and walk rate (5.8%).

There's a lot to like about Gilbert's game, and he will likely be in the running for the American League Cy Young award. He's a fantastic starting pitcher target early in drafts.

Josh Naylor, 1B/DH, Seattle Mariners

ADP: 62.2

The metrics don't always seem to back up Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor, but he continues to put up strong all-around numbers for fantasy managers. The 28-year-old has now posted solid fantasy numbers in each of the past three seasons.

In 2023, Naylor hit .308 with 17 home runs, 97 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 121 games. In 2024, he hit .243 with 31 home runs, 108 RBI, and six stolen bases in 152 games. Then, last year, the lefty slugger batted .295 with 20 home runs, 92 RBI, and a career-high 30 stolen bases. That means the Mariners first baseman has batted a combined .280 with 68 home runs, 297 RBI, and 46 stolen bases over the past three years.

Josh Naylor puts the Mariners back in front with a massive solo homer here in the 4th inning.

His 19th of the year, which coupled with his 25 stolen bases, has him one homer shy of a 20/20 season.

Exit velo: 106.2 mph
Launch angle: 30°
Distance: 415 ft.
Hang time: 5.8 seconds pic.twitter.com/kcNcUdF3bj

— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) September 10, 2025

It was a little surprising to see Naylor steal 30 bases last year, considering his sprint speed ranked in the bottom third percentile of the sport (24.4 ft/sec). However, it's not out of the question for him to steal double-digit bases again in 2026. He has stolen at least 10 bases in two of the past three seasons. That makes him a perfect draft target at his 62.2 ADP in Yahoo! leagues.

His fantasy floor is somewhere around hitting .280 with 20 home runs, 90 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. That's hard to pass up in the sixth round of fantasy drafts.

More Fantasy Baseball Advice

Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!