2026 Fantasy Baseball Breakouts: Who's ready to make a splash at … — and more

Drafting a team of safe, boring players is a great way to finish in third place. While those with a high floor have their place in a fantasy baseball draft, managers need to chase high ceilings at some point in the selection process if they want to build a truly special roster. The infielders listed below have a good chance to take a major step forward this year and are excellent targets in any draft.

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Please note that I omitted rookies, as any production from first-year players would constitute some degree of a breakout season.

Shea Langeliers, C, Athletics

The NHL trade deadline is approaching this Friday afternoon, March 6th at 3pm Eastern time. The Penguins find themselves in an interesting spot, tied for third currently in points percentage in the Eastern Conference. They have been the most active team at trading this season, having added Egor Chinakhov, Stuart Skinner and Sam Girard during the season, while acquiring and sending out Brett Kulak.

There’s good reason to believe that GM Kyle Dubas isn’t done putting the final touches on his team and making more moves to shuttle players and picks around in order to accomplish his stated goals of positioning the team now and in the future.

What we shouldn’t expect is any bold rental moves aimed solely with short-term ideas. The Pens weren’t involved at all in the Artemi Panarin sweepstakes and they won’t be involved in deals like the ones that included impending free agents like Rasmus Andersson and Kiefer Sherwood.

What’s left? Let’s get into it.

Areas to at least keep an eye on

Draft pick pile — no team has more quality draft depth in the next three or four years than Pittsburgh. The Pens have two second round picks in each of 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 and two third round picks in 2026, 2027 and 2028 thanks to previous trades made. That’s even after trading a second and third round pick for Chinakhov. If an opportunity arises to acquire a young-ish NHL player (like perhaps defenseman Zach Whitecloud) it makes a lot of sense that the Pens can use their excess picks to make that trade.

Connor Clifton —Clifton is an impending free agent that has been in and out of the lineup throughout the season. Lately he’s been a staple on the third pair, bringing his physical game and helping the team. While Clifton shouldn’t necessarily have his bags packed, if the Pens shuffle pieces to bring in a defenseman (like the aforementioned Whitecloud) it might make some sense to make a subsequent trade to send Clifton out to recoup some of that trade price. Hanging onto Clifton for depth’s sake also makes sense, but moving an impending free agent plays into what the team has frequently done.

Stuart Skinner —We wrote about this in detail last week, which all still applies today. Looking at the bigger picture, Arturs Silovs has only given up 16 goals in his last nine games. That has has to be noted if the Pens think Silovs might be turning into the main goalie for the rest of this season, where does that leave Skinner? It’s an intriguing question. Pittsburgh could always opt to stand pat and keep their goalie depth, but standing pat hasn’t been the typical M.O. as of late. You would have to think if a goalie-hungry team like Ottawa or Vegas was interested in Skinner that the Pens would at least hear them out.

Justin Brazeau — This might be months or even a year early, but if there was a time to sell high on Brazeau it would be now that he’s in a career-year in every major category. Brazeau is under contract for next season, so the onus would be on improving that third line for a player that might fit stylistically better with Anthony Mantha and Ben Kindel. Brazeau has been slowing down from his torrid early-season production, he found the back of the net against Vegas (scoring the fifth goal in a 5-0 win) but only had one goal in the 10 games prior to that. If the Pens think Avery Hayes or a trade addition might surpass Brazeau then dealing him could be a proactive move to make. Usually a player like Brazeau would be out of trade considerations at this time, but the Penguins have been so active at shuffling pieces like this around that it’s at least worth a mention.

Potential trade targets

Right side defense — The addition of Girard has seemingly set the left side for now with Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea in tow. The right side is the area that looks prime for improvement. Whether that means a potential big swing like Dougie Hamilton or Justin Faulk remains to be seen, the options could expand to a rental like Connor Murphy or something in between like Whitecloud. If you had to place a shiny nickel on what position the Penguins will add to this week before the deadline, the right side defense would be a very good selection in whatever form that might be.

Center — There’s no need to overreact managerially to the Sidney Crosby injury since the Pens’ captain should return to the team in a few weeks, yet center could be a place to monitor. Evgeni Malkin has shifted to the wing, leaving the non-center Crosby options of Kindel, Tommy Novak and Rickard Rakell sticking out at the moment. Someone like Vincent Trocheck (32) has been older than what Pittsburgh has been targeting, though the positional flexibility of players like Novak and Rakell could open up possibilities to bring in a center now and figure out the pieces as they go. This could be a longer-term play too, if Malkin isn’t going to be a center on the Pens in 2026-27 then there would be more of a need for a second or third line center next season to join the Crosby-Kindel tandem.

Expect the unexpected – Many of the trades, like Jarry/Skinner and Chinakhov have come out of the blue without much indication until a deal was finalized. Dubas operates in the shadows, and often counter to the conventional wisdom or reports of the day, going back to the ‘reach’ of taking Kindel 11th overall in the draft. Dubas’s next move might very well be something that isn’t seen coming, like adding a Bobby McMann or an even deeper cut for a different target that isn’t mentioned commonly on the trade rumor mill. Given the team’s draft surplus and significant cap space, their hands are free to operate about as creatively as they dare to dream. Lately there has been no shortage of surprising and unpredictable moves, the next one very well could follow that path as coming out of left field.

I usually only focus on the Jets with my mock drafts, and that will continue. But this will be one of three full mock drafts that I do this offseason. The other two will be coming at the beginning of April and the week of the NFL Draft. Like my usual Mock Drafts this will not have any trades

Pick #1 – Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

This is as locked in a pick as there has ever been in the history of the NFL Draft. If this was the old days, the Raiders would already be in contract negotiations with Mendoza to lock this pick in. But alas, with the rookie wage scale’s introduction, we now have to wait.

Pick #2 – Jets: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State

I thought a lot about David Bailey here after his phenomenal combine. But I couldn’t get past the age difference. That’s huge for Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey, who only took exceedingly young players with their premium picks last year.

Armand Membou turned 21 just a month before the draft, Mason Taylor turned 21 just a few weeks after the draft, and AZ Thomas turned 21 two months after the draft. Reese fits the pattern, as he won’t turn 21 until the final days of Training Camp.

Yes, he’ll be taking on an EDGE role full time for the first time in the NFL. But the Micah Parsons similarities are startling. That doesn’t mean he’ll be Parsons, but with that kind of upside, and at that age, the Jets are probably going to be too tempted to pass him up.

Pick #3 – Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

This may seem odd, but Mike LaFleur and his mentors have prioritized elite running backs in recent years. Kyle Shanahan traded for an extended Christian McCaffrey to take the 49ers offense to the next level. His brother gave Josh Jacobs a big time free agent contract to help the Packers offense. The Rams drafted and paid Kyren Williams. Not to mention, LaFleur himself was part of the trade up for Breece Hall when he was Jets Offensive Coordinator.

Talent-wise Love has an argument for being the best player in this draft class. For a Cardinals team that’s devoid of talent and looking for an identity Love makes a lot of sense. Mike LaFleur could look to establish a strong run game due to his lack of a quarterback as he tries to create a foundation for future success.

Pick #4 – Titans: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Robert Saleh’s defense doesn’t work without an elite pass rush. For his wide-nine defensive line, he needs twitchy athletes with elite get off. It’s why Will McDonald found success in the system in New York.

Well, David Bailey is pretty close to as elite an athlete as they come. And Saleh, unlike Glenn, has shown he doesn’t care about prospect age when drafting. Same for GM Mike Borgonzi, who drafted a 23 year old QB first overall last year.

With Bailey, Jermaine Johnson, and Jeffrey Simmons, Saleh will believe he has everything he needs to start a quick turnaround for what was an abysmal Titans defense.

Pick #5 – Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Rumors have been flying all offseason about how in love the Giants are with Downs. Like Love, Downs has an argument for being the best player in the draft despite playing a position that devalues them.

That’s where John Harbaugh comes in. With full control in New York, and a history of not caring about position value dating back over a decade in Baltimore, this one makes sense.

The Giants land an elite player, and figuring out how to maximize that is what Harbaugh has done best in his career.

Pick #6 – Browns: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

New head coach Todd Monken has always been about building up the trenches before anything else. He saw an elite OL help him in Baltimore, he saw it in Tampa Bay, and he even saw it in college with Georgia. The Browns OL is a complete mess. That’s where Francis Mauigoa comes in.

The Miami RT is the best OL in this class. If he has to stay at RT or move inside to guard, it is what it is. The Browns need help everywhere on the OL anyway.

Whether Sanders, Gabriel, or someone else is their franchise quarterback, they’re going to need help. That starts up front for Monken.

Pick #7 – Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Sonny Styles is a special player. He’s an unbelievable athlete, a sure tackler, and good in coverage. He’s a do it all three down linebacker who has shown versatility to play all over the field as a defensive weapon that few other linebacker prospects have ever shown.

Dan Quinn has been trying to solve the linebacker spot since he got to Washington. One ill-fated attempt was to bring in Bobby Wagner, whom he had with him in Seattle many years ago. Well, prime Wagner is my comp for Styles.

Pick #8 – Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The fourth Ohio State player to come off the board in the top-10, Carnell Tate becomes the first wide receiver taken. New Orleans already has a legitimate wide receiver one in Chris Olave, but he’s never healthy. Tate would provide a different kind of player than Olave, and provide backup in case Olave gets hurt. If they’re both healthy, watch out.

The move also supplies second year quarterback Tyler Shough with another much-needed weapon as Kellen Moore looks to continue to develop him.

Pick #9 – Chiefs: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami

The Chiefs have a serious problem coming off the EDGE. Last season their best sack producer off the EDGE, George Karlaftis, had just six sacks. No other EDGE even had four sacks. Karlaftis was also the only EDGE with a pressure rate of at least 10%.

In comes Rueben Bain, the monster EDGE from Miami with the short arms. Here’s the thing, the athletic testing and the tape says that Bain has a chance to be an above average or even elite player at the NFL level. But it takes a brave team to take a shot on a guy who’d have some of the shortest arms for an EDGE in NFL history. Andy Reid isn’t usually a guy scared off prospects by their measurements.

Pick #10 – Bengals: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Bengals defense has been their downfall the last few years. Their pass defense in particular has been an embarassment. As a team they had a 48.9 coverage grade last year. They gave up a completion on 65.2% of passes, the 7th most yards, the 4th highest yards per attempt, and an astonishing 33 passing TDs.

In comes Mansoor Delane, the top cornerback in this class and a potential shutdown corner. Delane allowed more than 30 yards receiving in a game just once this past season and never gave up 45 or more. He gave up zero TDs.

Pick #11 – Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Like the Bengals, the Dolphins defense has been a joke. Their secondary in particular has been bad. With a new Head Coach in Jeff Hafley coming in on the defensive side of the ball, he’ll probably look to improve there first. Especially since the team is trying to figure out how to get out from under Tua’s contract on offense.

McCoy didn’t play a down this year due to a torn ACL, but the talent he showed in 2024 is undeniable. 50% completion allowed, 4 INTs, and a coverage grade of 89.6. If he was healthy this season he had a shot to go top-5.

Given his injury history this is a risky pick, but if healthy, McCoy could end up one of the steals of the draft.

Pick #12 – Cowboys: Keldrick Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Jerry Jones wants the Cowboys to stop the run. He’s said it’s been a priority for him since the beginning of last offseason. He traded a future first and a second round pick to the Jets to get Quinnen Williams to help with it, and it did, but not enough to effect winning.

Keldrick Faulk could be the answer to that. Faulk may not be the elite pass rusher that some of the other EDGE in this class are. He is, however, an elite run defender. I comp him to the likes of John Franklin-Myers, a good enough pass rusher with elite run defense upside. A perfect fit for the Cowboys.

Pick #13 – Rams: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Davante Adams is closing in on 34 years old and had less than 800 receiving yards last year. Yes, the 14 TDs he had led the league, but that doesn’t change the fact that he wasn’t producing at his usual level. His 56.4 yards per game was his worst mark since his second year in the league.

With Stafford’s career coming to a close soon and the Super Bowl window potentially closing, the Rams can’t let an aging WR be the second best option on their offense behind Puka. Makai Lemon comes in to help.

The USC WR has elite hands and toughness that have drawn comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown. He also fits in nicely next to Adams instead of simply replacing him as a slot first option.

Pick #14 – Ravens: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State

Who was the only team in the NFL without a guard ranked in the top-40 in PFF offense grade? That would be the Baltimore Ravens, who had the 42nd and 47th ranked guards, minimum 50% of snaps played. That’s dreadful for an offense built on their run game and their quarterback’s elite athleticism. Which would explain the injuries and struggles of Lamar Jackson.

Vega Ioane provides an answer for that. The Penn State guard had a phenomonal season both as a pass blocker and a run blocker. He would come in Day One and provide an upgrade for an offensive line that needs to be elite for their offense to function at a high enough level to succeed.

Pick #15 – Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

The Tampa Bay Bucs got mediocre production out of their TE spot last year from Cade Otton, who’s set to be a free agent. Perhaps the Bucs bring him back, but they have a chance for a serious upgrade on him with Kenyon Sadiq.

The Oregon TE had one of the greatest combines ever at his position. He’s an athletic freak. Yes, his college production wasn’t elite, in large part due to injuries, but Sadiq has a chance to be significantly better in the NFL.

Pick #16 – Jets: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

On the field Jordyn Tyson is a beast. He’s the total package. He’s a great route runner, he’s good in contested catch situations, and he’s even got YAC ability. He’s a lot like Drake London as a player actually. That had him in top-5 contention for most of the season.

However, Tyson’s injury history is concerning. Even if he gets the all clear medically, teams will be concerned about his future ability to stay on the field given the list of injuries he’s already suffered.

That’s why he’s even available at 16 for the Jets. For a team that’s devoid of top talent everywhere, they need to take a risk on a player like this. The reward is too great to let potential injuries scare them off.

Pick #17 – Lions: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

The Lions have a cornerback issue. Despite using premium assets and top dollar in free agency, the Lions continue to struggle at the position. DJ Reed was a massive disappointment last year, posting just a 61.3 coverage grade. Terrion Arnold has been a disaster, and Amik Robertson was horrible and is an upcoming free agent.

So, the Lions take the top cornerback on the board in Avieon Terrell. He’s a great athlete who comes from a great pedigree. His brother AJ has been an elite CB in the league for the Falcons. The big concern with Avieon is that he doesn’t create turnovers. He had zero INTs in 2025 and only 2 in 2024. But in coverage, he’s been excellent. He’s allowed less than 57% of completions in each of the last two years, and under 400 total yards in both seasons as well. If he can start creating turnovers at the NFL level, there’s a chance he turns into a legitimate shutdown corner.

Pick #18 Vikings – Dillion Thieneman, S, Oregon

The Vikings have been hit hard at safety the last few years. Cam Bynum left in free agency last offseason and it seems like Harrison Smith may be headed into retirement this offseason, leaving a gaping hole in the back of Brian Flores defense.

Dillion Thieneman could be a potential long term replacement for Smith, and provide stability for Minnesota. Not only is he a freak athlete, Thieneman had elite production this past season. He had a ridiculous 91.1 coverage grade, he intercepted two passes and allowed less than 150 yards in coverage. He has work to do as a run defender, but the Vikings won’t do much better than the potential Thieneman has to provide as a high safety.

Pick #19 Panthers – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami

The Panthers pass rush was among the worst in the NFL last year. So, despite using second and third round picks on EDGE rushers last year, they’re going back to the well at the top of this year’s class.

Carolina is looking to improve immediately and keep hold of one of the weakest divisions in the NFL. That’s where an older prospect like Akheem Mesidor could come into play. Yes, Mesidor is already 25 years old, and that does limit his ceiling. However, it also means he’s likely among the most pro-ready options in the draft. For a Carolina team that may be looking for more immediate impact than ceiling, this feels like a perfect fit.

Pick #20 Cowboys – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

The Cowboys had issues at linebacker last year with Shemar James in the middle being one of the worst linebackers in the NFL. They can fix that right here with CJ Allen.

The Georgia linebacker is currently a 2-down linebacker. He’s elite against the run and a sure tackler. He’s struggled mightily in coverage, though he does have the athletic traits that say he could improve there. Overall, he should be an improvement on James in the middle of their defense. His ceiling will be determined by his ability to cover at the NFL level.

Pick #21 Steelers – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Steelers lack depth on their offense. Sure, their top end talent in DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren, and Pat Freiermuth is good. But they lack the kind of supporting pieces they need to take the next step as one of the best offenses in football. That’s especially true if they’re going to groom a young QB and continue to go with the declining Aaron Rodgers again.

Denzel Boston would provide a compliment to DK Metcalf. While Metcalf is a more explosive receiver who thrives on his athleticism, Boston would provide a solid route runner with great hands who wins more technically than athletically. While Metcalf could provide the big explosive plays, Boston would be the safety net for his next quarterback.

Pick #22 Chargers – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

The Chargers need IOL help, but sadly there’s none to be had here. So they look to improve in the trenches on the other side of the ball.

The Chargers 3-4 base front was led by Teair Tart last season. He was fine, but nothing special, a rotational player at best. They could improve on him with Caleb Banks. At his worst, Banks is an extremely athletic nose tackle who could provide above-average pass rushing ability for the position, even if he’s not the run stuffer that he should be. At his best though, which he rarely showed in college, Banks could be an elite 3-down player who could change games.

The Chargers are taking a chance here on a player who dealt with injuries last year because their DL could really use the upgrade and it’s just unlikely that another player with a ceiling as high as Banks is available. That’s too tempting despite the floor here being so low.

Pick #23 Eagles – TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson

Nolan Smith has been a massive disappointment, and the Eagles’ once elite pass rush has had a massive fall off in recent years that’s affecting their ability to win big games. They’ve tried to address it in trade, in free agency, and in the draft, but little has seemed to work. So they take another swing here.

TJ Parker provided a 12.7% pressure rate for Clemson last year. He also showed good run defense. At his best, he looks like he did against South Carolina where he had 4 sacks and 10 total pressures. That’s more like the guy from the tape in 2024 who was dominant off the edge with 12 sacks and a 13.75 pressure rate. In 2025 he regressed, as did most of Clemson’s team.

The Eagles are a team that’s likely going to be okay taking a risk on a guy who showed he could have been drafted way higher than this if not for a down year for his entire team.

Pick #24 Browns – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Browns entire starting OL from last year is free agents. Whether it’s at left tackle or right tackle, where neither Cam Robinson nor Jack Conklin is slated to return, Fano would be a much needed add in Cleveland and a potentially great pairing with Francis Mauigoa.

Would it seem like overkill to take two tackles in the first round of the draft? Maybe to some. But when you’re set to lose your entire OL in free agency and you have young quarterbacks you’re trying to develop, I think it’s perfectly rational.

Pick #25 Bears – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

The Bears have a great safety in Kevin Byard, but he’s the only safety under contract for them entering this season, and he’s also soon to be 33 years old. That leaves a nice opportunity for a younger safety to come in and earn playing time, while potentially being Byard’s future replacement.

McNeil-Warren is among the top safeties in a deep class. The biggest concern here is the level of competition he played, but the tape and analytics are elite. He gave up just 116 yards in coverage, he had two interceptions, an 83.2 run grade, and graded out as one of the best overall safeties in the country.

The Bears are a good team and can afford to take a top end player rather than reach for positional value here.

Pick #26 Bills – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

You want to talk about a player that has skyrocketed up draft boards? When Indiana finished their National Championship season Cooper was projected to be a third round pick. He’s now in the conversation to go in round one and potentially even be among the top three WRs taken.

A slot WR who’s shown great route running and YAC ability, Cooper could be a fit in Buffalo where the Bills just straight up lack WR talent. The conern here would be that he would likely have to move more outside in Buffalo given Khalil Shakir has the slot position locked down. However, I doubt that would be a problem for Cooper given his size and athleticism.

Pick #27 49ers – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The 49ers are headed for a crisis at wide receiver. They are set to lose Jauan Jennings in free agency, and their relationship with Brandon Aiyuk has seemingly been broken beyond repair.

So, they target a WR who perfectly fits their mold in Concepcion. A player with elite acceleration and YAC ability, it’s hard to find a better fit for Shanahan’s offense.

Pick #28 Texans – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

The Texans’ offensive line was a huge part of their downfall last year. They couldn’t stay healthy, and those who did underperformed at times. Now Trent Brown and Ed Ingram are both slated for free agency, so they need to address RT.

Kaydn Proctor could step in as an elite athlete with elite size. The tape isn’t the best for an Alabama offensive lineman you’ve ever seen, but it’s not bad. He only allowed 2 sacks this season, and 3.4% pressure rate allowed. Those numbers aren’t bad, they’re just not elite.

The Texans are taking the chance that with NFL coaching, Proctor’s elite athleticism will shine through in a way it didn’t in college, helping turn him into a franchise tackle that could keep CJ Stroud upright and not fighting for his life.

Pick #29 Rams – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Ty Simpson needs more time to develop. His college career was up and down and he simply didn’t get the game time he needed to be prepared for the NFL. That’s why the Rams are such a perfect fit.

In Los Angeles Simpson could sit behind Matt Stafford for at least one year and simply absorb the teachings of the future Hall of Famer and one of the best offensive minds in football in Sean McVay. They’ll make life easy on him and hope to groom him to be the replacement. There won’t be any immediate need to be great.

Pick #30 Broncos – Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

The Broncos need help in places where there just isn’t much talent in this range of the 2026 NFL draft. There’s no running back worth taking, there’s no TE worth taking, and the linebackers are all gone. So instead, they focus on replacing John Franklin-Myers, who’s set to hit free agency.

In Lee Hunter, the Broncos add a defensive lineman who fits their 3-4 scheme and could switch up between 3-4 DE and NT. He can do so while providing production both as a pass rusher and as a run defender. In doing so, the Broncos keep their defense elite and get younger.

Pick #31 Patriots – Zion Young, EDGE, Mizzou

Despite the Patriots’ defense’s performance during the playoffs, it was not good during the season and it needs to be improved. They gave up the third most yards in the NFL, they were bottom 10 in DVOA, and in general they just were not very good. Now they’re set to lose their best pass rusher from a season before in K’Lavon Chaisson who’s headed to free agency.

Zion Young has a chance to provide elite pass rush ability that could replace Chaisson and hopefully improve that defensive unit. Young had a 17.5% pressure rate this past season, which is wildly impressive, and way more telling than his 8 sacks. He was also an elite run defender with an 86.6 run defense grade. And he was one of a handful of people who dominated at the Senior Bowl.

Pick #32 Seahawks – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

To round out the first round, the Seahawks take a cornerback. They’re set to lose both Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant to free agency and need a replacement badly.

Cisse showed elite athleticism in the few drills he did at the combine. His toughness will be valued in Seattle, much like that of Devon Witherspoon. He’s also among the youngest players at his position in this class. Yes, Texas A&M did shred him. But his tape in every other game was good, and it shouldn’t be ignored he allowed a completion percentage of just 47%.