🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Underowned and Overowned Players for Week 26

This is it - the final week of the baseball season (sheds single tear). For those trying to clinch a championship or just a better final position, here are some players that could warrant starting, sitting, adding, or dropping, depending on your league and team's circumstance. I'll focus on lightly owned players to add or highly owned players to bench for this point in the season.

Scouting players who may be undervalued and re-assessing players who may be overvalued is a weekly exercise that you should pursue. Fortunately, I have you covered. Here are a few players who are good buy or sell candidates based on their current performance compared to ownership levels. This could mean scooping them off waivers if possible or actively seeking a trade to acquire or discard certain players in order to maximize value.

I will include one player at each key position group (Infield, Outfield, Pitcher). Ownership levels are taken from Yahoo! Fantasy Sports.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Underrated Players - Week 26

Tim Anderson (SS, CHW) 53% owned - It took long enough, but the speed is finally showing up. Anderson has eight steals over the past month with a .362 average to accompany them. There's no better time to take advantage of talented players on bad teams than in September. A young player like Anderson is auditioning to keep his starting job next year and can flash all the tools that made him a first round pick.

Mitch Haniger (OF, SEA) 38% owned - Haniger was one of the hottest pickups of the first month after getting off to a .342 average with 16 RBI in April. Injuries derailed his start and he just wasn't the same player the rest of the year, until September. Suddenly, Haniger is raking the way he did months ago to bookend his rookie year with another strong showing. Haniger is batting .350 with five HR in the last 19 games despite a declining BB:K ratio. If you need an extra outfielder on a hot streak, give Haniger a chance.

Daniel Mengden (SP, OAK) 8% owned - Also known as this year's Jharel Cotton, Mendgen is pushing for a role in the rotation long-term and doing a damn fine job. In five starts, he's got a 3.30 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and just five walks. The downside is clear - he's given up as many homers as walks (five) and is only striking out 15% of batters faced. He won't dominate, but if you need a streamer this week for ratio help, Mengden is proving more than capable.

 

Overrated Players - Week 26

Matt Carpenter (1B/2B/3B, STL) 84% owned - In non-keeper leagues, Carpenter should have rightfully been ditched weeks ago. Easier said than done when you used an early-round pick on an established star that can play all around the infield. It's inexplicable how poorly Carpenter has fared this year, but it's obvious that nothing is going to change over the final week. He's still bothered by a shoulder problem and is batting just .242 on the season. You're better off putting in Tim Anderson or Jose Reyes.

Adam Duvall (OF, CIN) 83% owned - It's tough to bench a player that could easily have a two-homer game on a given night, but it's been few and far between for Duvall in the second half. He has not a single base hit to his name over the past week and is hitting .156 with one homer in the last month. In other words, Scott Schebler single-handedly outproduced his September output in one game on Thursday. He's simply gone ice cold at the worst possible time for fantasy owners in weekly leagues.

James Paxton (SP, SEA) 84% owned - Paxton missed a month of action and was put on a pitch count upon returning. He didn't make the most of his time on the mound, giving up three runs in less than two innings against the Astros. He only lasted 3 2/3 innings in his next outing, getting hit hard right away in the first inning. It's the wrong time to take a chance on a starting pitcher trying to stretch out and regain command after a lengthy absence. Keeper leagues aside, you can cut bait with him.

 

More Risers and Fallers

 

Premium Tools & DFS Research

Get a free trial of our powerful MLB Premium Tools. Our famous DFS Optimizer & Lineup Generator, daily Matchup Ratings, expert DFS Lineups/Cheat Sheets, and more.

Sign Up Now!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Patrick Kane

to Miss Fifth Consecutive Game
Tyson Kozak

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Jakob Poeltl

Back in the Lineup on Sunday Night
Jack Roslovic

Ready to Return Sunday
Alexandre Sarr

Ruled Out Against San Antonio
NJ

Arseni Gritsyuk Back in Devils Lineup Sunday
Marvin Bagley III

Ruled Out Against San Antonio
Timo Meier

Available Sunday
Davion Mitchell

Available on Sunday Night
Jack Hughes

Returns From 18-Game Absence Sunday
Andrew Wiggins

Cleared to Play on Sunday Night
J.T. Miller

Out Week-to-Week
Quinshon Judkins

Done for the Season with Broken Leg
Gardner Minshew

Likely Tore His ACL on Sunday
Nick Chubb

Officially Active Against Raiders in Week 16
Gardner Minshew

Won't Return in Week 16
Woody Marks

Officially Inactive for Week 16
Quinshon Judkins

Carted Off in Week 16, Ruled Out with Apparent Leg Injury
Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins Hope to Trade Tua Tagovailoa in the Offseason
Woody Marks

Not Expected to Play in Week 16
Washington Commanders

Commanders to Retain Dan Quinn, Fire Joe Whitt?
New York Giants

Marcus Freeman is a Top Candidate in Giants' Head Coaching Search
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Expected to Return as Bengals' Head Coach in 2026
Las Vegas Raiders

Pete Carroll's Future with Las Vegas Raiders in Doubt
Mike Conley

Nears Return After Missing Four Games
Tee Higgins

Active for Week 16 Against Dolphins
Brandon Clarke

Exits After Brief Appearance Against Wizards
Derrick Jones Jr.

Nears Return From Sprained MCL
Herbert Jones

Head Injury Cuts Night Short
Ivica Zubac

Leaves Early After Suffering Left Ankle Injury
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Exits Early With Left Leg Contusion
Tage Thompson

Scores in Sixth Consecutive Game
Jacob Fowler

Posts First Career Shutout
Jonatan Berggren

Totals Three Points Saturday
Jake Evans

to Sit Out Sunday's Game
Zach Werenski

Injured in Saturday's Loss
Frank Nazar

Expected to Miss Four Weeks
Woody Marks

Plans to Play Against Raiders in Week 16
Tee Higgins

Likely to Play at Miami on Sunday
Drake London

Expected to Return in Week 16
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Play, Will Ease Back In
Romeo Doubs

Questionable to Return Against Bears in Week 16
Jordan Love

Ruled Out with Concussion, Replaced by Malik Willis
Jalen Smith

Expected to Remain in Lineup Sunday
Ayo Dosunmu

Probable for Meeting With Hawks
Jordan Love

Evaluated for Concussion, Questionable to Return
Coby White

Iffy for Sunday
Andrew Wiggins

May Remain Out Sunday
Davion Mitchell

Questionable for Sunday
Tyler Herro

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Sunday
Trae Young

Available for Sunday's Tilt
Doug McDermott

Active on Saturday
Rui Hachimura

Misses Battle of Los Angeles
Jerami Grant

Won't Play Saturday Night, Kris Murray Joins Starting Unit
D'Andre Swift

Officially Active Against Packers on Saturday
Mike Matheson

Returns Against Former Team Saturday
Timothy Liljegren

Misses Saturday's Game
Mackie Samoskevich

Out on Saturday
Anthony Cirelli

Available Against Hurricanes
Brandon Hagel

Added to Injured Reserve
Nikita Kucherov

a Game-Time Call Saturday
J.T. Miller

Injured in Saturday's Win
Zach Bogosian

Unavailable Saturday
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic
CFB

Will Muschamp Becoming Next Texas Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Beau Pribula Set to Enter Transfer Portal
Bo Bichette

Willing to Make the Move to Second Base
CFB

Jeremiyah Love Officially Heading to NFL Draft
CFB

Jake Merklinger Leaving Tennessee for Transfer Portal
Mike Trout

Angels Open to Mike Trout Playing Center Field in 2026
CFB

Kansas State's Jayce Brown Intends to Transfer
CFB

Nation's Leading Passer Drew Mestemaker to Enter Transfer Portal
Justin Crawford

Phillies Planning to Start Justin Crawford in Center Field
CFB

Jayden Maiava Signs New Deal to Return to USC
CFB

Aidan Mizell Won't Return to Florida, Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

East Carolina Targeting Jordan Davis as Next Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Michigan QB Jadyn Davis Set to Enter Transfer Portal
CFB

Travis Williams Joining Texas A&M Defensive Staff

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP