After the first five or six picks are off the board in your fantasy baseball draft, the process gets complicated for managers. Granted, there are worse scenarios than drafting eighth overall, as having a top-10 pick ensures you will open your roster with an elite player, regardless of whether you choose to draft a pitcher or a hitter.
If a player like Jose Ramirez or Juan Soto slides to the eighth pick, you should take him with your eyes closed. However, if the draft goes as expected, you must start analyzing your options.
Based on the ADP, the two best options at the 1.08 pick are Paul Skenes and Ronald Acuña Jr.
Why You Should Draft Paul Skenes With the No. 8 Overall Pick in 2026 Fantasy Baseball
Drafting a pitcher in the first round is always risky, but targeting Skenes is a safe choice, alongside Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet. Skubal could be off the board at the eighth pick, and while Crochet might deliver first-round value, drafting him eighth would be a reach. If you are set on drafting a pitcher in the first round, Skenes is a strong choice.
Skenes won the 2025 National League Cy Young Award unanimously after finishing the year with a 1.97 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP, and a 216:42 K:BB ratio across 187 2/3 innings. He is as durable as they come, and his peripherals are impressive.
He recorded 10.4 K/9, and his walk rate was minimal at just 2.0 BB/9. His 2.36 FIP suggests the low ERA was not a fluke, and he posted 20 quality starts in 32 outings. The numbers tell the whole story.
Why Ronald Acuña Jr. Is a Top Option for the No. 8 Fantasy Baseball Pick
If you prefer to start your roster with a hitter, the field is even bigger at 1.08. Ramirez is likely off the board at this point in the first round, but you will still have quality options.
You could try to draft from a shallow position, but Cal Raleigh might be a reach at 1.08. Thus, an outfielder like Acuña Jr. is an excellent choice.
The Atlanta Braves star was limited to 95 games in 2025 after working his way back from a torn ACL that limited him to 49 contests in 2024. He was dominant in that 95-game sample, hitting .290 with a .935 OPS, 21 homers, 42 RBIs, 74 runs scored, and nine steals.
Projected over a full season, Acuña Jr. could have ended with 30-plus dingers, roughly 80 RBIs, 100-plus runs scored, and 20–25 steals. If he is healthy in 2026, Acuña Jr. provides above-average or elite value in all five major categories.
At the end of the day, your strategy will determine what suits you best. Regardless of whether you choose to draft Acuña Jr. or Skenes, either player is an excellent choice with the eighth overall pick in the 2026 fantasy baseball season.
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