2026 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Sleepers, breakouts, busts from model that nailed Raleigh's huge season
CBS Sports
by
Daniel Lewis
February 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The 2026 Fantasy Baseball season is approaching fast, with players reporting to spring training and drafts gearing up. SportsLine’s Projection Model has identified key sleepers, breakouts, and busts based on simulations of the entire MLB season, projected across 10,000 iterations. This model previously accurately predicted Cal Raleigh’s breakout 2025 season, showcasing its ability to pinpoint undervalued talent. With the goal of helping Fantasy players build deep, championship-level rosters, SportsLine’s cheat sheets and rankings provide a significant edge by highlighting players others might miss.
One standout sleeper is Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe, who was recently traded and projects as a key contributor hitting near the top of the order. Despite being selected at pick No. 136 in early Fantasy ADP drafts, SportsLine’s model ranks him as the No. 6 second baseman, ahead of more highly drafted players like Nico Hoerner and Ozzie Albies. Lowe’s power surge in 2025, with 31 home runs and 83 RBI, positions him as a valuable yet under-the-radar option for Fantasy rosters.
For breakouts, SportsLine is highlighting Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman. After struggling early in his career, Goodman had a breakthrough season in 2025, hitting .278 with an impressive .843 OPS, 31 home runs, and 91 RBI. Despite this success, he remains undervalued, with Fantasy players waiting until pick No. 130 to select him. SportsLine projects Goodman as the No. 2 catcher in 2026, advising Fantasy managers to prioritize him over more hyped catchers like Will Smith and Shea Langeliers.
On the flip side, Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is flagged as a potential bust. Despite his star-studded career, Betts’ numbers have declined recently, particularly during the 2025 postseason when he struggled with a low OPS of .648. As he approaches age 33 and faces competition for playing time in Los Angeles
Verticals
sports
Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/14/2026