Fantasy Baseball 2026 First Baseman Preview: Nick Kurtz Gives Group Lacking Depth Another Superstar

Although we are not yet back to the heyday of first base, the position is starting to improve. The arrival of Nick Kurtz has given the position another superstar, as the youngster has yet to play a full season and is already the top first baseman on many draft lists. And the group of long-time veterans, including Pete Alonso and Matt Olson, is still going strong.

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But no matter how strong the first base position is at the top, it falls just as quickly. Depending on the format, there are about a dozen attractive options. Unfortunately, the next level leaves a lot to be desired, which is especially a problem in Roto leagues, where many coaches will need to secure their corner infielder from the first base group. Here are some players to target and avoid.

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Proactive selections

Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves (Yahoo ADP 33.6)

Olson, ADP’s second-tier first baseman, is closer to those ahead of him than those behind him on the list. In four years with the Braves, the 31-year-old has hit .261 with an average of 37 home runs, 109 RBIs and 97 runs scored. Those numbers look a lot like what’s expected from Kurtz and Alonso, who were selected about 15 picks earlier. Olson is boring, productive, and the perfect third-round pick for those who started their draft with a pair of speedy players.

Ben Rice, New York Yankees (Yahoo ADP 84.7)

Let’s start with the obvious: The best part about drafting Rice is that he’s eligible at catcher but won’t have the physical demands of working behind the plate. And managers who come for the heavier workload will find they get a lot more. Rice is a rising star who posted a 95th percentile average exit velocity and 92nd percentile barrel rate last season. His expected stats were well above his actual marks, indicating he could enjoy better hitting luck and a significant performance boost. More volume and better per game? Sign me up.

Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox (Yahoo ADP 105.9)

The ceiling was raised for Contreras as soon as he was traded from the Cardinals to the Red Sox. Fenway Park will be the best place he’s ever called home in his career, and Boston has a far superior lineup than the one Contreras left in St. Louis. The 33-year-old is expected to come out of the cleanup role with his new team and could produce 25 home runs and 90 RBIs in 150 games.

fades away

Josh Naylor, Seattle Mariners (Yahoo ADP 58.5)

No one really knows what to do with a player with third-percentile sprint speed who surprisingly stole 30 bases last season. The assumption here is that Naylor’s steals total comes back down to Earth now that he’s in possession of a long-term contract, and he ends up closer to 10 steals than 20. And when we remove the steals, Naylor doesn’t look all that special as a career .269 hitter who has hit 20-plus home runs just once.

Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers (Yahoo ADP 52.7)

Let’s take the value out of Freeman’s name and look at his stats from the last two seasons. During 2024-25, the Dodgers star averaged 147 games, 23 home runs, 81 runs, 89.5 RBI, 7.5 steals and a .289 average. Those are excellent numbers, but they’re not much better than the production you can expect from a first base group that has an ADP that’s 30-40 picks later than Freeman. Add in his advanced age (36), and there are reasons to allow someone else to use a premium pick on him.

Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers (Yahoo ADP 185.4)

Torkelson was one of the biggest busts of 2024, and after getting off to a strong start last season, he accumulated just 17 home runs and 36 RBIs over the final four months of the campaign. The career .227 hitter needs to be a top-quality home run hitter to have value in standard leagues. So far, his power stroke has been too inconsistent.

Sleepers

Kazuma Okamoto, Toronto Blue Jays (Yahoo ADP 179.6)

A quick look at Okamoto’s stats from Japan will excite Fantasy officials. The 29-year-old has strong contact skills and recorded six 30-home run seasons overseas. He can play multiple positions (which would be great for his fantasy value) and will be a full-time member of Toronto’s lineup. He could also earn a premium spot in the lineup if he gets off to a good start. Late-round picks are best used on players with upside, and Okamoto fits that bill.

Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals (Yahoo ADP: 184.1)

Burleson improved in several areas last season, including walk rate (7.1%), average exit velocity (91.0 mph) and fly ball rate (42.1%). On a rebuilding Cardinals team, he has virtually no competition to play every day and get out of a premium spot in the lineup. He should post a batting average similar to his .290 mark from 2025, while hitting 20-plus home runs and contributing some steals.

Andrew Vaughn, Milwaukee Brewers (Yahoo ADP 219.0)

Vaughn was fantastic after joining the Brewers, hitting .308 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs in 64 games. One of the smarter organizations must be confident in the sustainability of their contributions as they did not pursue other first base options in the offseason. Vaughn will go undrafted in most leagues despite his potential to provide a useful batting average and solid counting stats while regularly playing in one of the best lineups in baseball.

1. Nick Kurtz, Athletics

2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays

3. Pete Alonso, Orioles

4. Bryce Harper, Phillies

5. Matt Olson, Braves

6. Rafael Devers, Giants

7. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

8. Josh Naylor, Mariners

9. Tyler Soderstrom, Athletics

10. Vinnie Pasquantino, Royals

11. Ben Rice, Yankees

12. Michael Busch, Cubs

You can find our complete first baseman rankings for the 2026 fantasy baseball season here.

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