Catcher is an interesting position ahead of the 2026 fantasy baseball season. There is one player who could easily have a tier of his own, several steady producers, and then a bunch of options that, even though they might be productive, aren’t close to the top 10 options on the board.
Here, we present our rankings for the 10 best catchers ahead of the 2026 fantasy baseball season.
2026 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings
1. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
This ranking couldn’t have started with any other player. Raleigh is the definition of a durable, productive backstop who can impact the game in all areas.
He played in 159 of the Mariners’ regular-season games, and while he saw time at DH, he spent most of his time behind the plate. He didn’t allow any passed balls in the regular season despite his unorthodox one-leg stance, but enough about what he can do defensively.
His value in fantasy will be tied to his power and hitting ability, and there aren’t enough adjectives to describe what he did in 2025 after launching 60 homers while adding 125 RBI, 110 runs scored, a .589 slugging percentage, a .948 OPS, and a .342 ISO. All those marks were career-best numbers for the five-year veteran.
Even if Raleigh experiences significant regression and hits “only” 40 to 45 homers, he would still be the most productive catcher in the majors by a long shot. Raleigh is not only the best catcher in the game right now, but he is a premium fantasy bat who justified being a first-round pick in all formats, particularly since catcher is not a position of strength.
2. William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
3. Shea Langeliers, The Athletics
4. Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies
Perhaps the lone bright spot in a Rockies’ roster that looks bound to struggle again in 2026, Goodman has the advantage of playing half of his games in a hitters’ park like Coors Field. He appeared in 144 games in the 2025 season and posted excellent numbers.
Goodman slashed .278/.323/.520 with an .843 OPS, 31 homers, 91 RBI, and 73 runs scored across 579 plate appearances. Even though playing at Coors Field can be considered an advantage due to its favorable conditions for hitters, it is worth noting that Goodman posted an .803 OPS on the road compared to an .881 OPS at home.
He is the real deal, and the advantage of Coors Field is something managers could also exploit in fantasy.
5. Ben Rice, New York Yankees
6. Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
7. Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
8. Agustin Ramirez, Miami Marlins
9. Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves
10. Yainer Diaz, Houston Astros
Smith often goes unnoticed since he is a secondary piece in one of the best lineups in all of baseball, but the seven-year veteran is an outstanding hitter who can smack homers with ease, hit for a high average, and get on base at an elite clip while also playing strong defense.
Smith hit .296 with a .901 OPS across 110 games in 2025, and it was the first time his OPS surpassed the .900 mark since the shortened 2020 season. If you are looking to draft a catcher in later rounds and miss out on some of the top options, Smith can be a strong addition to any fantasy lineup.
That said, hitting in the Dodgers’ lineup probably boosts his fantasy appeal since he occupies a middle-of-the-order role.
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