After an unconventional opening weekend containing off-days on Friday and Sunday around the league, the first full week settled in more traditionally around MLB. While it’s still too early to make definitive decisions about most players, it’s never too early to get excited for what’s ahead.
We’ve seen several late-round or undrafted fantasy baseball players explode out of the gate, while some high draft picks were slow to start and might display red flags worthy of our attention.
Week 1 takeaways should be used to adjust your roster, prioritize your waiver wire adds and to fuel early trade strategies. Note: We are only discussing offensive winners and losers this week — it’s way too early to make any declarations about pitchers.
Biggest Winners from Week 1 of 2026 Fantasy Baseball
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Standout Performers and Breakout Stars
Liam Hicks, C, Miami
How about this early-season stat: through his first seven games, Hicks has zero swings and misses, or a 100 percent contact rate. Hicks owns excellent strike zone knowledge, high walk rates and good strikeout rates. He doesn’t own great power. His 3 HR and 7 RBI through Saturday represent half his homers and more than a quarter of his RBI in 390 plate appearances last season. When he’s not catching, he plays 1B, so he will have dual-eligibility. He’s about a .260 hitter but his minor league on-base percentage was often higher than .400, so in OBP leagues he’s a nice stash, particularly if he keeps the power gains.
Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians
DeLauter does what he does best — he hit 5 HR over the first 10 days of the season AND suffered a foot injury. The oft-injured prospect has had trouble staying in the lineup, but when he does play, he produces. If you can roster him, do it, but also know the risks and know you’ll have to plan to find other OF at-bats for maybe 40 games at some point in the season.
Sal Stewart, 1B, Reds
Stewart had an ADP around 200 this spring, after his September call-up that netted 5 HR in 18 games last season. Stewart makes hard contact, knows how to take a walk and doesn’t strike out as often as other sluggers. He is probably rostered in your league and any trade attempts now will result in highway robbery attempts by his owners, but he is making the most of the early season so far.
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Brandon Lowe, 2B, Pirates
Sure, Lowe owns identical and impressive 19.4 percent walk and strikeout rates, and has hit 3 HR over the first 10 days of the season. He’s hitting .280 and making fans in his new city, but he might (eventually) be the big winner of Week 1. You might have heard that SS phenom Konnor Griffin made his MLB debut Friday. Although he’s hitting in the lower part of the order, it seems like only time until he’s hitting leadoff to Lowe’s number 2 slot. Lowe is a player who may not have the highest ceiling, but his floor is more than serviceable in fantasy baseball and if Griffin does hit in front of him, you’ll be happy if he’s on your roster.
Cam Smith, OF, Astros
The hype around Smith has died down, but he’s off to a good start with 2 solo homers, 2 steals and 7 runs so far. His manager has said he can envision Smith swiping 15 to 20 bases this season. He’s hitting just .250 but displaying good strike zone knowledge with a walk rate around 15 percent. If he can bring down his K% from 27 percent and use that discipline to put the ball in play, Smith could enjoy a nice little season
Biggest Losers from Week 1 of 2026 Fantasy Baseball
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Early Disappointments and Red Flags
Jo Adell, OF, Angels
Adell put on a show Saturday, stealing 3 HRs in a single game - one of the best defensive performances I’ve seen in a while. But at the plate, he has yet to walk once and has a 29 percent strikeout rate. He’s hitting just .176 with zero homeruns, runs and steals. The once-hyped prospect needs better offensive consistency and needs to trade in HR robbery for actual HRs soon, before seeing time on the bench.
Jorge Soler, DH/OF, Angels
Perhaps offensive ineptitude is contagious in Anaheim. Soler is hitting just .152 but has a HR and 6 RBI through nine games. The 34-year-old Soler is in the final season of a three-year contract, so having a good season at the plate will be necessary for his future. He gets on base via the walk, so far about 12 percent of the time, but a 43 percent K rate is atrocious. Small sample size, obviously, but another week like this and the whispers will start.
Caleb Durbin, 3B, Red Sox
Durbin is not making anyone forget that Alex Bregman bolted for Chicago this off-season. Durbin was traded to the Sox by Milwaukee and brings a low strikeout rate with him. In his rookie year last year, Durbin stole 18 bases and knocked 11 HR in 506 plate appearances, but has yet to register a single extra base hit in Boston. Durbin should get plenty of chances to shake the early season slump, but what his true ceiling is is a bit murky.
Byron Buxton, OF, Twins
Buxton returned to the lineup Sunday after missing a game with a forearm contusion. X-rays were negative after he was hit by a pitch, but I’d expect at least a couple of games before his full power might be restored. He is hitting .154 with no HRs or steals so far this season. Staying healthy has been a struggle for Buxton, but he has produced when on the field, so I’m not worried about his early season woes.
Other losers, (from injury) include: Jackson Chourio (left hand fracture, mid-April return expected), Andrew Vaughn (hamate bone fracture, mid- to late-May), Jordon Lawlar (wrist, mid-May).
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2026 Fantasy Baseball Winners & Losers: Week 1 Review (3/30-4/5)
If you have deep benches in your fantasy league, it’s worth adding Week 1 winners, at least to monitor their progress through April, if not inserting them in your lineup. It’s too early to cut bait on the losers, unless a clear early standout player is available.
If any of the injured players were cut in your league, each of them is worth a stash on your IL or bench.
People Want To Know More About Fantasy Baseball Winners and Losers
Who were the biggest winners in Week 1 of the 2026 fantasy baseball season?
Several late-round and undrafted players exploded with elite production that far exceeded their ADP.
What roster moves should managers make based on these Week 1 winners & losers?
Prioritize adds on the proven winners while considering sell-high opportunities or drops on the early disappointments.
How do these Week 1 results affect dynasty or keeper strategy?
Early performance is creating clear buy-low and sell-high windows for dynasty managers heading into the first trade deadline.
Will these Week 1 winners & losers continue to hold through the rest of April?
Small-sample volatility means some early results may normalize, but the underlying traits highlighted here are the best predictors.
