It’s not a stretch to say shortstop is probably one of the most stacked positions in fantasy baseball ahead of the 2026 season.
Unlike first and second base, where there’s top-end quality but a sizable drop after the best players go off the board, there are several shortstops who could easily be selected in the first two or three rounds of most standard drafts.
Even if you go past the elite options, there are several quality alternatives if you decide to draft building blocks in other positions. There are five players who could easily be top-50 selections, and there are as many as 12 who could be top-100 players in most drafts. That’s how stacked the position is.
These are the shortstop tiers ahead of the upcoming 2026 fantasy baseball season.
Tier 1: Elite Shortstop Options for 2026
Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals), Elly De La Cruz (Cincinnati Reds), Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore Orioles), Trea Turner (Philadelphia Phillies)
Witt could be in a tier of his own because the Royals’ shortstop is that good. Even though he had a down year in 2025 compared to the 2024 campaign in which he finished second in the AL MVP voting, Witt still led the majors in hits and doubles while also offering an elite combo of hitting, power, and speed.
No other shortstop in the majors offers the kind of upside Witt possesses, and he’s probably the lone shortstop who should be considered a lock to be selected in the first round regardless of your league format. Other elite options, such as Elly De La Cruz and Gunnar Henderson, carry some risks, but that’s not the case with Witt.
Tier 2: Above-Average Fantasy Shortstops
Francisco Lindor (New York Mets), Zach Neto (Los Angeles Angels), Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers), Geraldo Perdomo (Arizona Diamondbacks), Bo Bichette (New York Mets)
Zach Neto is one player to watch ahead of the 2026 fantasy baseball season. The Angels’ star infielder is entering the prime of his career and is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he hit .257 with a .793 OPS.
There are players with better numbers, but Neto has proven he’s a valuable commodity in fantasy after posting 26 homers and 26 stolen bases in 2025. Only three shortstops posted at least 25 homers and 25 stolen bases in 2025, with Trevor Story and Francisco Lindor being the other two. Neto should be a legitimate starter across all formats even if the Angels look bound to struggle once again in 2026.
Tier 3: Valuable Shortstop Alternatives
CJ Abrams (Washington Nationals), Corey Seager (Texas Rangers), Trevor Story (Boston Red Sox), Jeremy Peña (Houston Astros), Dansby Swanson (Chicago Cubs), Jacob Wilson (Athletics), Willy Adames (San Francisco Giants)
Don’t overlook what Swanson brings to the table for the Cubs. Even though he’s yet to hit at least .250 in his three seasons in Chicago, the veteran is a quality, consistent player who should be a safe bet for 40 combined homers and steals.
He had at least 20 homers, doubles, and steals in 2025, and if he repeats those marks in 2026, he would possess an excellent floor once again. He stands out in this tier for his consistency and high floor, qualities that can’t be said of other players in this group.
Tier 4: Shortstops With Limited Fantasy Upside
J.P. Crawford (Seattle Mariners), Jose Caballero (New York Yankees), Konnor Griffin (Pittsburgh Pirates), JJ Wetherholt and Masyn Wynn (St. Louis Cardinals), Kevin McGonigle (Detroit Tigers)
Griffin could be a sleeper and is a strong candidate to outperform his ADP once the 2026 season is over, and quite honestly, he could make all of his doubters look pretty bad. The only reason why he’s in tier 4 and not higher is that he’s not expected to break camp with the Pirates, meaning we’ll have to wait to see his debut in the majors.
But if you’re playing in a dynasty format, Griffin is a must-have since he has superstar potential written all over him after he hit .333/.415/.527 with 21 home runs and 65 stolen bases across three levels in his first professional season in 2025.
Tier 5: Late-Round Shortstop Fliers
This is a list of players who might not find a roster spot in 12-team leagues but could be worth a look as late-round fliers. This list includes names such as Colson Montgomery (Chicago White Sox), Xander Bogaerts (San Diego Padres), Ezequiel Tovar (Colorado Rockies), Otto Lopez (Miami Marlins), Zach McKinstry (Detroit Tigers), and Anthony Volpe (New York Yankees), among others.
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