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February 18, 2026 <\/p>\n
Nick Mariano’s 2026 fantasy baseball draft sleepers list for hitters and pitchers. His top fantasy baseball value picks, underrated players to outperform ADPs.<\/p>\n
This premium article is part of our 2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit<\/a> and a free sample of the expert analysis loaded up in RotoBaller’s Draft Kit. Enjoy this premium article for free for a limited time. All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n Little else has changed over the years in the fantasy space, like the word “sleeper,” so I believe that everyone should define it as they go. Fantasy baseball sleepers<\/a> may have been complete unknowns back in the day, but now we’re just rolling with underrated players who are poised to crush their draft cost.<\/p>\n As a result, you will find youngsters and veterans alike, though it does skew young. With those guys, the helium tends to bring the ADPs up as they get a chance to showcase their talent, and the chance of them breaking camp as a starter gets more and more real.<\/p>\n This column will use consensus ADP from ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, RTS, and NFBC. These are players who deserve more love as the 2026 season approaches, giving us cheap avenues to upside for our fantasy teams.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers – Hitters<\/p>\n Catchers: Carter Jensen<\/a> (ADP: 236)<\/p>\n Fresh off his 22nd birthday, Jensen hit the ground running in the majors after an impressive show between Double- and Triple-A. The backstop\u2019s plate discipline is his foundation, with the last couple of years yielding more power on those good swing decisions.<\/p>\n He hit 20 homers with 10 steals and a .290 average over 492 PAs on the farm before a brief 60 at-bat sample in the bigs gave us a .300 average with six doubles, three home runs, and a crisp 9:12 BB:K to chew on. He may not become a star out of the chute, but few can supply five-category juice at catcher.<\/p>\n If he\u2019s mired in a platoon at the designated hitter and can\u2019t convincingly outproduce someone like Nick Loftin<\/a>, then we\u2019re likely not interested anyway. But few catchers have the toolbox to help you at average with a little speed to boot. And the man doesn’t rely on cheapies, either.<\/p>\n Carter Jensen hit this baseball 482 feet \ud83d\ude33 pic.twitter.com\/CE151rFkIk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MLB (@MLB) September 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n First Base: Sal Stewart<\/a> (ADP: 226)<\/p>\n Stewart\u2019s 18-game MLB sample provided a gigantic double-edged sword to behold. He blasted five homers for a 29.4% HR\/FB rate, but the .293 on-base percentage, zero steal attempts, and 26% strikeout rate may scare off those who only glance at the sticker stats.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s plenty of reason to believe that his power flash is real, that the speed will come, and a long history of plus plate discipline across the minors to give OBP enjoyers hope. He started his age-21 season at Double-A, producing a .306\/.377\/.473 triple slash over 80 games (10 HR, 13 SB) before catching fire at Triple-A (.315\/.394\/.629, 10 HR, 4 SB in only 38 contests).<\/p>\n He posted strikeout rates just under 16% at each stop, which is where he\u2019s lived since being drafted in 2022. With Great American Ball Park in his sails, Stewart\u2019s power should only grow, and more chances on the basepaths will get him his bearings on reading MLB pitchers.<\/p>\n The Eugenio Suarez<\/a> signing will choke off most DH reps, but Stewart could own first base if Spencer Steer<\/a> continues to scuffle. Those who don\u2019t believe in Matt McLain<\/a> can also further hedge that position by taking Stewart.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Second Base: Jose Caballero<\/a> (ADP: 224)<\/p>\n Caballero could get a month or more as a regular to open the season, pending Anthony Volpe<\/a>\u2019s shoulder recovery. That\u2019s enough time to build a lead at SB, possibly without the same pitfalls that limited him in Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n He turned just 95 PAs into 15 steals and a .266 average after hitting .226 over 275 PAs as a Ray. Per Statcast, his average attack angle with his swing fell, and his highest hard-hit rate by month was August\u2019s 38.7%.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll see if the Yankees can get him going early, as you know he\u2019s just raring to go. FanGraphs\u2019 Ben Clemens wrote in early September how Caballero attempted a steal nearly 40% of the chances given, with no one other than role player David Hamilton<\/a> (42%) sitting above 30%.<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible that Volpe\u2019s rehab isn\u2019t linear and Caballero gets a legitimate opportunity, or Jazz Chisholm Jr.<\/a> once again misses time down the road. If the Yankees get full health, then Caballero could be limited to playing against lefties, but he has game-changing speed that we can\u2019t overlook at this point.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Third Base: Kazuma Okamoto<\/a> (ADP: 188)<\/p>\n Toronto may have wound up with a great hitter in Okamoto, who has been a force in the NPB since he was 22 years old. Unfortunately, he was limited to just half of 2025 after injuring his left elbow in a collision at first base. Before that, his stat sheet is stuffed with eclipsing 30 homers and posting elite OPS marks.<\/p>\n Before the injuries ended his 2025 campaign, he tallied an equal number of walks and strikeouts (33). We\u2019ve got a plus power profile with discipline that will have a good chance at adjusting to MLB life. That kind of polish outweighs Munetaka Murakami<\/a>\u2019s advantage in raw power, as the White Sox slugger had an NPB K rate near 30%, which could get dangerous when amplified by MLB whiff-masters.<\/p>\n Okamoto has been trending in the opposite direction, taking his swinging-strike rate down from 11.7% in 2023, to 9.5% in 2024 and 8.8% in the abbreviated \u201825 stint. You should be catching on that there\u2019s a Maslow\u2019s Hierarchy-esque pyramid of trust that we\u2019re building here, and discipline goes a long way toward the foundation layer.<\/p>\n Kazuma Okamoto turning around a 98.4 MPH heater from Cubs closer Daniel Palencia<\/a> and scorching a 2 run double at 112.6 MPH off the bat during an exhibition game prior to the 2025 season.<\/p>\n \u3053\u306e\u7537\u306f\u672c\u5f53\u306b\u3001\u672c\u5f53\u306b\u3059\u3054\u3044\u3002 pic.twitter.com\/22LyyQsKZg<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Damon (@Damon98_) January 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Shortstop: JJ Wetherholt<\/a> (ADP: 282)<\/p>\n The seventh pick of the 2024 Draft showed off a penchant for contact in 29 games at Single-A after being selected out of West Virginia, but his first full year in the minors had all of his tools blossoming. He hit seven homers with 14 steals and a .300 average in 62 Double-A games before cruising to 10 HRs, nine steals, and a .314 average in 47 Triple-A tilts.<\/p>\n He\u2019s already shown that he won\u2019t chase out of his zone and can cover the edges with healthy cuts. There were questions about his defensive ability to handle the far side of the infield, but the Brendan Donovan<\/a> trade opens up a lane at second base. Thomas Saggese<\/a> had promising minor-league numbers but has not converted them to MLB success.<\/p>\n Wetherholt opens the Yahoo season as triple-eligible at 2B, 3B, and SS, so we\u2019re going to plug him in at SS for now. It could take a year for fantasy-viable power to show up, but he should sprinkle a bit of everything onto your plate while delivering a decent average. And if he hits the ground running, then we could have a five-category party on our hands.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Outfield: Daylen Lile<\/a> (ADP: 242)<\/p>\n Lile reached hitting heights in the second half that placed him on several top-10 leaderboards over on FanGraphs, including best OPS (.956, seventh), weighted runs created plus (162, eighth), expected batting average (.305, fifth), and line-drive rate (30.1%, third).<\/p>\n He attacks pitches in the zone well and doesn\u2019t wait around, with a healthy 90.8% zone-contact rate leading to a modest 16% strikeout rate. If he sees a pitch to hit, then he\u2019s taking a good cut and rolling the dice. Note that amazing line-drive rate with that in mind. His overall .333 average and .343 BABIP would be sustainable that way.<\/p>\n But how much of the gains will he be giving back? And will Washington trust him, let alone deploy him, against left-handed pitchers enough to make him an everyday option for us? He hit .254 with two homers over 77 PAs, showing a softer exit velocity and more whiffs in what\u2019s hardly a damning sample size.<\/p>\n And his defense wasn\u2019t strong, so the offense needs to stay productive. He was caught stealing on four of his first six attempts before looking better over the summer (5-for-5), only to drop back to a 1-for-3 clip in September.<\/p>\n But at 23, Lile is showing far more promise with questions that seem reasonably addressable for the team. More defensive and baserunning reps will come. He doesn\u2019t hit the ball hard enough to become a power-first bat, but the all-fields liners could prove bankable. This ADP is reasonable for a BABIP gamble!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Outfield: Owen Caissie<\/a> (ADP: 377)<\/p>\n Caissie now finds himself with Miami after being part of the Cubs\u2019 package to acquire Edward Cabrera<\/a>, which doesn\u2019t help appeal to fantasy managers. We know the Marlins house value, though Miami doesn\u2019t have the same curb appeal as the Cubbies.<\/p>\n Then you have to mix in that folks have been hardscoping the 11 strikeouts in 27 plate appearances (.192\/.222\/.346). He\u2019s suffered from lofty K rates in the minors, often pushing 30%, but it\u2019s often come with plus walk rates (13-18%) to create a semblance of balance.<\/p>\n Being a top prospect must come with potential, right? As a 22-year-old, he swatted 22 longballs, 28 doubles, and a pair of triples in just 99 games. You\u2019re taking on the prototypical swing-big, miss-big power prospect and hoping that he doesn\u2019t drown in the whiffs.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll know soon enough whether we\u2019re in the \u201csink\u201d or the \u201cswim\u201d bucket with Caissie. Or if the Marlins see fit to mess around with an obnoxious platoon for the lefty-swinging bat, pairing him with someone like Heriberto Hernandez<\/a> or Javier Sanoja<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Outfield: Chase DeLauter<\/a> (ADP: 301)<\/p>\n I am going to be hyping this man up until I’m blue in the face (keyboard?). DeLauter\u2019s foot injury from college finally didn\u2019t rear its head in 2025 after further injuries in 2023 and \u201824, though other issues arose. Early on, he suffered a sports hernia, and then he got drilled in the hand and broke his hamate bone.<\/p>\n If you believe in curses, then this isn\u2019t for you. But the 24-year-old James Madison alum has a 55 hit, run, and field tool, with a 60 in power and arm, per MLB Pipeline. That foot injury may limit his willingness to be aggressive on the basepaths, but we\u2019re here for the plus power and average, with a shot at middle-of-the-order RBI opportunities.<\/p>\n Even while dancing around all of the missed time and rehab work, DeLauter has 20 HRs and a .302 average over 138 pro games. His longer swing may endure cold streaks while adjusting to regular MLB pitching, though Cleveland has few threats for significant playing time. Let\u2019s see if he and Kyle Manzardo<\/a> can give Jose Ramirez<\/a> help around the cleanup slot.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n More Fantasy Baseball Hitter Sleepers<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers – Pitchers<\/p>\n Starting Pitcher: Braxton Ashcraft<\/a> (ADP: 272)<\/p>\n Ashcraft was shuffled around in a swingman role for the Pirates last year, amassing a sharp 2.71 ERA and 2.78 FIP with 71 Ks in 69 \u2154 IP. Wouldn\u2019t you know it, but the rookie who has been developing as a starter throughout his young career performed better with a set starting job?<\/p>\n His 2.16 ERA was over a full run lower as a starter compared to a 3.22 mark out of the bullpen (roughly 35 IP in each split). The .226\/.289\/.298 triple slash allowed paints the picture of a prepared arm that wasn\u2019t getting beat by mistakes, in or out of the zone.<\/p>\n He needs to get more effective at locating the fastball when he\u2019s trying to set up the devastating curveball, though he actually threw his slider the most (31% of the time). It\u2019s worth noting that he rose to the occasion when needed, holding opponents to a .585 OPS with men in scoring position. Let\u2019s see what a set role from the jump gives us.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Relief Pitcher: Grant Taylor<\/a> \u2013 (ADP: 366)<\/p>\n Those of you who love to FrankenAce it up should take care to target Taylor, who should stack multi-inning appearances to provide serious volume out of the bullpen. He turned 36 \u2154 IP into 54 Ks with six saves and nine holds, but all eyes are drawn to the 4.91 ERA\/1.42 WHIP. No one wants to deal with those ratio grenades.<\/p>\n But you\u2019re smart cookies and know that it\u2019s never that simple, especially if I\u2019m bothering to include the fella here! What would you think if the 4.91 ERA had a 2.65 SIERA underneath the hood? Not enough? What about a 1.42 FIP then? Yes, that\u2019s the power of a brutal .420 BABIP blazing it all over the field.<\/p>\n The White Sox brought in Seranthony Dominguez<\/a> and returned Jordan Leasure<\/a>, which may help suppress Taylor\u2019s draft attention. ATC is calling for 74 IP, and Steamer is up to 95 frames, with the latter projecting five wins, five saves, and 15 holds.<\/p>\n Though the modest ~28% K rate is well behind the whiffs that he\u2019s shown since being drafted in 2024. OOPSY leans more into that skill set, giving him a 30.2% figure for 115 Ks in 92 IP next to a 2.80 ERA\/1.16 WHIP. That\u2019s what we like to see! Well-reasoned projections with a side of confirmation bias.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Relief Pitcher: Justin Sterner<\/a> \u2013 (ADP: 436)<\/p>\n The A\u2019s saw Sterner put up a 3.18 ERA\/1.05 WHIP with 70 Ks, four wins, and 16 holds over 65 innings. He did have a 4.27 FIP, but I place more stock in the 3.47 SIERA. The bullpen is wide open, with many rightfully viewing the veteran Mark Leiter Jr.<\/a> as the \u201c1A.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Sterner improved in the second half, and we have momentum to build on. He\u2019d been pushing through with a middling 13.5% K-BB rate in the first half, but then the Ks rose, and the walks were halved. The resulting 24.6% K-BB rate in the second half ranked 28th out of 182 RPs (min. 20 IP) and came with a 2.64 ERA\/0.85 WHIP.<\/p>\n Plant a flag in ambiguous bullpens! Do your best to target the talent that will help your fantasy team, even if the saves don\u2019t flow in. You don\u2019t want to endure ratio jeopardy while hoping for the saves dam to break.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Relief Pitcher: Jarlin Susana<\/a> \u2013 (ADP: 736)<\/p>\n This is a long shot, as we doubt the Nationals give up on Susana as a starter just yet. But he had 95 Ks in 56 \u2153 IP between High- and Double-A, though the 15.4% walk rate that came up after being promoted could spell danger.<\/p>\n He had surgery to address a right lat tear in September, but if he comes out of the gate with the same fire that reaches 102 with a wipeout slider, then an elite RP is lurking. The organization may just not know it yet!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n More Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Sleepers<\/p>\n More Fantasy Baseball Advice<\/p>\n Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
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