Sport: MLB

Points leagues have become one of the most popular ways to play fantasy baseball. Fantasy baseball points leagues provide a streamlined alternative to traditional category formats, focusing on overall production rather than statistical balance. With fantasy points assigned to nearly every aspect of the game, success comes from understanding scoring settings and identifying players who fit that model.

This 2026 Fantasy Baseball Points League Primer will break down the different types of points leagues, how points are tallied, and specific strategies for these types of leagues. Let’s get started!

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2026 Fantasy Baseball: Points League Primer
Scoring

Scoring Group
Scoring Category
Points

Hitting
Singles (1B)
1

Hitting
Doubles (2B)
2

Hitting
Triples (3B)
3

Hitting
Home Runs (HR)
4

Hitting
Walks (BB)
1

Hitting
Hit By Pitches (HBP)
1

Hitting
RBI (RBI)
1

Hitting
Runs Scored (R)
1

Hitting
Stolen Bases (SB)
2

Pitching
Innings Pitched (IP)
1

Pitching
Wins (W)
10

Pitching
Losses (L)
-5

Pitching
Quality Starts (QS)
3

Pitching
Saves (SV)
7

Pitching
Earned Runs Allowed (ER)
-1

Pitching
Strikeouts Pitched (K)
1

The thing I like most about points leagues compared to category formats is how scoring is distributed through a progressive system. Walks and singles are typically worth one point, doubles earn two, triples three, and home runs four, ensuring that every offensive contribution adds value while properly weighting extra-base hits. In short, you are looking for total production from your fantasy roster rather than category balance.

Types of Point Leagues

Fantrax offers two types of point league setups. The first, and most popular, is a “Head to Head Points” league where you have a different matchup each week, where you are awarded a win, loss, or tie. The regular season lasts 21 weeks, with the Top 8 teams advancing to the playoffs.

Head-to-Head Points leagues are also broken down into two types: daily and weekly leagues. The difference is that in daily leagues, you can adjust your starting lineup daily, while weekly leagues are set on Monday for the entire week. Both types of leagues have waiver wire transactions, which are processed on Mondays.

The second kind of points league is a “Standard Points” setup. You gain points in the same way as head-to-head, but you are competing against all teams daily throughout the season. The team with the most cumulative points throughout the season wins the league. These leagues are also set up with daily roster adjustments.

Draft Strategy and Player Archetypes

While it isn’t everything, the draft is your biggest opportunity of the season to set yourself up for success. The first thing with points leagues is that volume is key, and that becomes especially clear when evaluating hitters. Everyday players who hit near the top or middle of the lineup, draw walks, and consistently put the ball in play tend to thrive in this format. Plate discipline and extra-base hits are rewarded, while batting average and stolen-base specialization matter far less. As a result, well-rounded hitters with strong on-base skills often outscore flashier players whose fantasy value is tied to one or two categories.

The same mindset applies even more to pitching, considering the massive downtrend in innings pitched. Four of the last five seasons have seen five or fewer pitchers reach the 200 innings threshold. In 2015, there were 27, and in 2010, there were 45 pitchers reaching that mark. What that means for our points leagues is that we need to concentrate a little more on elite pitching at the top of the draft. Generally, I want at least two to three guys who will be locked into 180+ innings.

One type of player to avoid when drafting in points leagues is category specialists. For hitters, these are mostly your speedsters who really only contribute in stolen bases. It is especially important to avoid that player if he is neither on a good team nor hits down in the lineup. For pitchers, this means avoiding closers for the most part. I will make an exception for elite closers on top teams in the league. Back to the volume piece, as you would want 3-4 opportunities a week with a closer. That is rare. Avoid closers on bad teams or with low K rates.

In-Season Management

In-season management in points leagues is centered on maximizing opportunity, but the approach differs slightly between season-long and head-to-head formats. In season-long points leagues, consistency and durability are paramount, making the waiver wire a tool for replacing injured players and adding steady sources of volume rather than chasing short-term spikes. In head-to-head points leagues, weekly optimization becomes more important, with managers able to leverage scheduling advantages, stream pitchers, and aggressively target two-start arms to gain short-term point boosts. Across both formats, staying ahead of rotation changes, lineup roles, and off-days while consistently maximizing games played can create small edges that add up over the course of the season.

Final Thoughts: Build for Production

Success in points leagues starts with understanding your league’s scoring system and allowing it to guide every decision you make. By prioritizing volume and maximizing each roster spot on a weekly basis, managers can build teams designed to score consistently over the long season. Fantrax’s flexible scoring, advanced lineup tools, and detailed player data allow managers to adapt quickly and manage proactively as the season unfolds.

Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we’re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com!