‘Member the days when I told you that you needed to draft a top 1st baseman and you shouldn’t look for sleepers at this position? Don’t remember? Prolly for best, leave more room in your brain to remember excuses for why you don’t exercise. Previously, I’d tell you to go to my top 20 1st basemen for 2026 fantasy baseball (not clickbait at all) and draft some top guys and stop fooling around with sleepers at this position. Well, you need to again. You better make sure you draft an early 1st baseman this year — Vlad Jr., Naylor, Michael Busch, Tyler Soderstrom, Pete Alonso and Nick Kurtz get my nethers ablaze, then 1st basemen dry up quick. There’s a few 1st basemen to target below, but these guys are way more cornermen. As with other positions like the catchers to target (again, not clickbait), these are 1st basemen that are being drafted late. For the 1st basemen, I’m going with an ADP of 150 or later to be included in this post (because after 200, as I do with other target posts, the options are really bad). Anyway, here’s some 1st basemen to target for 2026 fantasy baseball:
PSYCHE! Before the post, just wanted to say my top 500 and all my 2026 fantasy baseball rankings are updated as soon as possible (yesterday, Hunter Greene’s got elbow trouble). Also, Rudy’s War Room is updated multiple times per day, and in-season subscriptions are open for business. Buy a subscription and save a cowboy. Anyway II, the 1st basemen to target post:
Alec Burleson (ESPN 197, NFBC 170). Last year Burleson was a sleeper of mine and he made good on his promise. Of course, his promise was that of a 18/5/.290 hitter. Is that good? Well, good is subjective, so how deep is your league and how badly do you need average?
Sal Stewart (ESPN 190, NFBC 198) I’m such a jackass but I see ESPN ranking a guy before NFBC ADP and it has me concerned. I love Sal Stewart. Wrote a Sal Stewart fantasy with straight-ass heart emojis all over it. I even have Sal ranked around where ESPN does, but they gotta go and jinx me? Come on, man!
Sal Stewart looks ready to date your mom
— Razzball (@razzball.bsky.social) February 13, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Jonathan Aranda (ESPN 204, NFBC 187) I don’t even love Aranda, but when I say the 1st basemen late sleepers are pee-poor, I am talking about taking a whizz as an 80-year-old with multiple intermissions. Aranda had a 38.7 HardHit% and a 25.9% line drive rate. Could the Rays have more than one Yandy? Yeah, it’s possible. Call them Yandy Duos.
Kyle Manzardo (ESPN 220, NFBC 233) Wow, the 1st basemen to draft late are terrible. I don’t even particularly love Manzardo, but I have to give you someone, with some reasons, so here goes:
Player A: 27/2/.234 in 470 ABs last year
Player B: 11/2/.287 in 464 ABs
Player A was better on the Player Rater last year. Player A is Manzardo, Player B is Alec Bohm. Realizing now that no one was drafting Bohm and that reason to draft Manzardo is so weak. Okay, trying again!
Player C: 14/10/.263 in 360 ABs. So, 100 less at-bats, and is this a reason to draft Manzardo either? Meh, I don’t know but it’s Noelvi Marte, who I love, but Manzardo is being expected to do the same thing this year, and why can’t he take a step forward? Rhetorical, I think, but the arguments in favor of Manzardo are iffy at best.
Ryan O’Hearn (ESPN 239, NFBC 267) One of the boringiest hitters in all of baseball who has value in deeper leagues. In shallower leagues, he’s the type you draft and drop within one week of the start of the season or aren’t paying attention.
Triston Casas (ESPN NR, NFBC 547) Draft Michel Busch, Tyler Soderstrom, Pete Alonso or Nick Kurtz! What are you doing trying to find a sleeper at 1st base? Fine! If you must, Casas was considered a can’t-miss prospect and hit 24 homers and .263 his rookie year, and is only 26.
Jake Burger (ESPN NR, NFBC 260) No, I’m not putting Casas then Burger because Burger King, the Home of the Whopper, paid me to write this post, but if they want to, I’m here! You can’t make me pretend to like these guys. Don’t punt 1st base. Draft Nick Kurtz! If you must make the case for Burger, then consider how he’s 29 until April and he seemed to have 35-homer power as recently as last preseason. Sure, that narrative kinda got squashed when he went to the worst park in baseball for power and hit 16 homers. But, what? Road homers don’t count in your league?
Charlie Condon (ESPN NR, NFBC 609) He sounds like a bad Oscar-bait movie. “Tom Hanks is Charlie Condon in Charlie Condon about Charlie Condon.” So, he’s not even ranked in my top 500, but I’m close to adding him. Only thing stopping me is the Rockies. They are not an easy team to figure out. The only guy in front of Charlie Condon is Troy Johnston and he sounds like a made-up name placeholder. Condon also hasn’t gone to Triple-A yet, which seems likely where he’s headed. He does have huge power and might hit .215. A very late flyer and, once again I am begging you, draft Nick Kurtz or some other top 1st basemen.