While the 2nd basemen to target is a necessary evil like changing your underwear. This post, well, have you seen the top 20 shortstops for 2026 fantasy baseball? Dude, why did you not draft one of the glorious top top TOP guys? Did you show up late to your draft because they required you to wear pants? I’m hopeful that everyone rosters at least one shortstop prior to getting to the sleepers in this post, and likely two. Top shortstops are the bee’s knees, and bees have knees; I’m a scientist. This is a (legal-in-all-countries-except-Lichtenstein) supplement to the top 20 shortstops for 2026 fantasy baseball. The players listed have a draft rank after 150 on other sites. I love lots of top shortstops, but they’re not here because I didn’t see them after the draft price of 150. Click on the player’s name where applicable to read more and see their 2026 projections. Anyway, here’s some shortstops to target for 2026 fantasy baseball:
PSYCHE! Before the post, just wanted to say my top 500 and all my 2026 fantasy baseball rankings are updated as soon as possible (the latest, I moved Logan Henderson down in the top 100 starters, updated the pitchers pairing tool, added Kyle Harrison to the top 100 starters and moved up Brandon Sproat in the top 80 starters rankings). Also, Rudy’s War Room is updated multiple times per day, and in-season subscriptions are open for business. Buy a subscription and save a cowboy. Anyway, the shortstops to target:
Colson Montgomery (ESPN 160, NFBC 215) Do I think he’s going to be as good as he was last year but over a full season? That’s an interesting question to ponder. Ponder, we shall. In almost fifty more games, projections expect him to only hit one to three more homers. Does that sound plausible? If it does, I have a bridge in Chicago to sell you. It’s the Colson Montgomery Bridge to the Future and I’m on it, baby! Hop on! Only three shortstops made better contact: Corey Seager, Bobby Witt Jr. and Zach Neto. Does Colson have swing-and-miss tendencies? Yes, but if he makes enough contact, he’s going to hit 30+ homers.
Jacob Wilson (NFBC 171) Almost exact opposite of Montgomery. Wilson makes a ton of awful contact. He hit the ball 84.6 MPH on average. That’s basically 100% bloops. It’s okay, he makes a lot of contact, and is Luis Arraez in a great park. Call him Luis Iriseinagoodplace.
Xander Bogaerts (ESPN 203, 230) Similar to what I said about Brendan Donovan in the 2nd basemen sleepers. Do I love Bogaerts? Nogaerts. Ixnay on the Ogaertsbay, but he is the type to be more valuable than his preseason ranking, due to runs and RBIs.
JJ Wetherholt (ESPN 214, NFBC 245) Here’s my JJ Wetherholt fantasy. Since I wrote it, it looks a lot more likely he’s going to break camp with the team. Or at least be up very quickly. That’s good because the Cardinals have less than zero to look forward to outside of him.
Konnor Griffin (ESPN 210, NFBC 194) I wanna believe the Pirates will do the right thing and start the year with Griffin. Let’s see their recent past and how they operate with rookies and cost-cutting measures. [wavy lines] Why am I in a dream sequence? I wanted to research the Pirates, not dream up something. [wavy lines ending dream sequence, and instead now I’m an actuary] Hey, I don’t know what an actuary does. Can I just do some simple research! Geez! Anyway, let’s try my Konnor Griffin fantasy.
Kevin McGonigle (ESPN 212, NFBC 323) I hope I’m wrong, but this feels like one of those situations where the team is like, “Yeah, we want him to get reps everywhere,” and, “He’s got a real chance of breaking camp.” Then we get to a week before Opening Day and he’s reassigned. I really hope I’m wrong because I’ve now drafted McGonigle in a few leagues. (I have Konnor Griffin nowhere, but that’s more to do with cost; I do liek Griffin more.)
Ezequiel Tovar (ESPN 222, NFBC 198) Tovar is one of those where, I think, he’s completely off the radar, because the Rockies have been toe-tagged at the morgue and everyone is uninterested in DOA’s in Coors. It’s fair, Ezequiel sounds Amish, and last year was a-miss! Bam! High five me! No? Okay. He was a 26/5/.269 player only two years ago and he’s 24. Even though last year might have you rinsing your eyes with detergent, I wouldn’t call him washed.
Nasim Nunez (ESPN NR, NFBC 549) What if I could promise you Jose Caballero but 250 picks later, would that be something that might interest you? [a vague shrug that shows one’s interest is very tepid] Great! That’s what I thought.
Ha-Seong Kim (ESPN NR, NFBC 555) He went 11/22 in 2024 in 121 games. Braves said he’s due back early May, putting him in line for 121 games. Will he play that many? Eff if I know, but at the price of totally free? I’m like a reverse Eminem singing the virtues of Kim.
