Top 5 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper First Basemen for 2026: Undervalued Gems to Draft

With first base not being as deep as it used to be, plus a lot of leagues requiring a corner infielder, the chances are you might have to go deeper at the position than in previous years.

Once you get out of the top 10, the players get a little riskier. Some are single category contributors, some have some injury risk, some are young and unproven players, and others have some age risk. Here are five players available after the first 150 picks that can greatly outperform their average draft position.

Spencer Torkelson ( Detroit Tigers )

Sure, he is never even going to threaten to be close to a batting title, but he hit .240 last season and batting averages across the league are definitely down. Last season, his BABIP was at .283 while his hard-hit rate was back in a very strong level, and his exit velocity was back to over 90. His strikeout rate was down while his walk rate took a significant tick up.

He had a really rough season in 2024 with both injuries and terrible production, but he was back at it with 31 home runs for the second time in three years. His RBI total is less than what you would expect from a guy who hit 31 home runs, but he did have 94 in 2023, so the potential is there. The Tigers are going to be a strong offense again, and Torkelson will hit in the middle of an offense that will score a lot of runs.

Alec Burleson ( St. Louis Cardinals )

The Cardinals are in full rebuild mode, and Burleson could be a big beneficiary of that. St. Louis is not likely to compete for anything in 2026, and that could entice pitchers against them to be a little more free flowing with fastballs. The biggest improvement for Burleson in 2025 was his ability to hit left-handed pitching where he rose nearly 60 points from the previous season. That is huge to keep him in the lineup daily, although with the Cardinals choices on their roster, his playing time should be all but guaranteed.

His strikeout to walk ratio is elite, and his batting average rose over 20 points last season. I am not sure that will stick, but at worst he won’t be a drain on your batting average. He is going to hit in a very advantageous spot in the lineup for not only scoring runs but driving them in as well. His fly ball rate and exit velocity continue to rise year to year, which suggests perhaps we haven’t seen his ceiling in home runs just yet. He should be available around the 15th round, and he should easily outperform that value.

Sal Stewart ( Cincinnati Reds )

A top 100 prospect going into 2025, Stewart mashed last season over three levels and ended in the Major Leagues late in the year. After 10 home runs in 80 games at AA, Stewart crushed AAA with 10 homers in just 165 plate appearances and then jacked five more in 58 plate appearances in Cincinnati. He doesn’t appear to have any great struggles with left-handed pitching, and right now Stewart appears in line for an everyday role in Cincinnati.

He will run a little, and hit .289 over his Minor League career, so while he isn’t a heavy contributor in all five categories, Stewart should give you a nice sprinkle across the board. He is just 22 and had only 58 plate appearances in the Majors last year, so there is some uncertainty, but he certainly looks the part of a nice fantasy piece for 2026.

Jac Caglianone ( Kansas City Royals )

He played 10 games at first base last season, so if your league has that threshold, he should be first base eligible although he is likely to be in the outfield in 2026 with Vinnie Pasquantino manning first base for the Royals. He was ranked inside the top 25 prospects by Major League Baseball coming into 2025 and then he mashed 20 home runs and had 72 RBI in just 66 games across two minor league levels. He then had 232 plate appearances across 62 games in Kansas City and hit just .157 with seven home runs.

He turned 23 on February 9, and his pedigree says that he is going to be a big time home run hitter. He is the prototypical post-hype sleeper. Caglianone has 25+ home run power written all over him, it seems like it is just a matter of when. He should be available in Round 20 and could pay off quite handsomely.

Josh Bell ( Minnesota Twins )

He is never going to win you a batting title, and he was an absolute nightmare against left-handed pitchers last season. However, Bell is a fairly consistent producer of 20 home run seasons, as he has 63 dingers in the last three years combined. His RBI total is likely to top out in the 70s, but this guy is totally free. He changes teams like people change their underwear, and this year he goes to Minnesota, which isn’t exactly a home run hitting paradise. He will turn 34 years old late in the season, but he has been consistent and hasn’t shown signs of falling off a cliff.

He is a safe bet to hit 18-22 home runs and drive in 70-75 runs and he might not even be drafted. Grab him at the end for some great first base or corner infield insurance for your squad.

Summary

First base isn’t the gold mine that it used to be, but there are a good eight to 10 really solid players and another four or five who should be good. After that, you need to dig a little deeper and we have given you a number of good options to choose later in your draft that will help round out your team no matter which categories you need. While not as deep as it used to be, there are still some good later round options to fill your first base position.

People Also Ask About Fantasy Baseball Sleeper First Basemen

Is Spencer Torkelson a bounce-back target in 2026?Yes. Power metrics and plate discipline point to another 25–30 home run season.

Can Alec Burleson be trusted in fantasy lineups?Yes. Improved results against lefties support everyday playing time and batting average stability.

Is Sal Stewart worth drafting in redraft leagues?Stewart profiles as a steady contributor with modest upside rather than a category winner.

How risky is Jac Caglianone for fantasy managers?High risk, high reward. Elite raw power offsets contact and role uncertainty.

Does Josh Bell still have fantasy value?Yes. Bell remains a cheap source of home runs and RBI depth.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Fantasy section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.