2026 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Sleepers, breakouts, busts by model that nailed Raleigh's huge season

Pitchers and catchers are reporting to spring training, which means the MLB season is just around the corner and 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts are going on the clock soon. The early 2026 Fantasy baseball ADP shows two-way player Shohei Ohtani as the clear-cut top pick in most drafts, with Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt and Juan Soto also going in the top-five of many drafts. Those are relatively obvious picks for the top of drafts, but finding value throughout drafts is the key to building a deep, championship-level roster. 

Who are the top 2026 Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts, and which 2026 Fantasy baseball picks can give your roster an edge this season? Before going on the clock in any 2026 Fantasy baseball drafts, be sure to see the 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

Last season, SportsLine's Projection Model identified several top Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts, and busts, including nailing Cal Raleigh's huge season. The team at SportsLine was all over Raleigh as a Fantasy breakout from the start. They had him as a top-five catcher in their optimal rankings, ahead of catchers such as Adley Rutschman and William Contreras. The result: Raleigh blasted 60 home runs and gave unprecedented value at a position where it can be tough to find offense from.

The SportsLine model is powered by the same people who powered projections for three major Fantasy sites. And that same group is sharing its 202 Fantasy baseball rankings and cheat sheets over at SportsLine, helping you find Fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts and busts long before your competition. Their cheat sheets, available for leagues on many major sites, are updated multiple times every day.

Any time more MLB news comes out about trades, signings or Fantasy baseball injuries, the team at SportsLine updates its projections. Go to SportsLine now to see these proven Fantasy baseball cheat sheets.

Top 2026 Fantasy baseball sleepers

One of the 2026 Fantasy baseball sleepers the model is all over: Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe. The longtime Rays infielder was traded to Pittsburgh over the offseason, and he projects to be a centerpiece for the Pirates who will hit near the top of the order. Lowe had a power surge in 2025, with his 31 home runs and 83 RBI marking his best numbers in those categories since 2021. 

The latest Fantasy baseball ADP shows Lowe going off the board at pick No. 136. SportsLine's model, however, projects him as the No. 6 second baseman, ahead of players such as Nico Hoerner, Marcus Semien and Ozzie Albies, all top-100 picks on average. See more Fantasy baseball sleepers at SportsLine.

Top 2026 Fantasy baseball breakouts

One of the 2026 Fantasy baseball breakouts the model is jumping on: Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman. Goodman hit below .200 as he got a taste of the Majors in both 2023 and 2024. As the primary catcher for the rebuilding Rockies in 2025, however, Goodman took a giant leap -- hitting .278 with an .843 OPS and 31 home runs and 91 RBI. 

Despite that success and the advantage of hitting in the thin air at Coors Field, Fantasy players are still waiting until pick No. 130 to take the 26-year-old catcher this year. SportsLine's model is projecting him as the No. 2 catcher in 2026, and advises Fantasy players to take him ahead of top-100 picks like Will Smith and Shea Langeliers. See more Fantasy baseball breakouts at SportsLine.

Top 2026 Fantasy baseball busts 

As for players to avoid, the model has pinpointed Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts as one of its top Fantasy baseball busts. While the Dodgers have continued to stockpile high-priced talent at almost every position, Betts is a player who has seen his numbers decline recently. He especially struggled in the 2025 postseason with a .648 OPS, continuing the season-long trend of struggling at the plate as compared to his lofty career norms.

Entering his age-33 season, the model believes that Betts, who is going off the board pick No. 36, is again overvalued from a Fantasy standpoint this season. The model projects that players such as Jeremy Pena, Corey Seager and Willy Adames, all of whom are going off the board several rounds later, will provide more production. See more Fantasy baseball busts at SportsLine.

How to find proven 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings

SportsLine's model has some shocking rankings at starting pitcher, projecting that one player who is barely going off the board in the top 200 will outperform huge names such as Max Fried, Chris Sale and Logan Webb. This pick could be the difference between winning your league or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.

So which 2026 Fantasy baseball busts, breakouts and sleepers should you target or fade in your drafts? Visit SportsLine now to get 2026 Fantasy baseball rankings for every single position, all from the model that called Cal Raleigh's monster season, and find out.