"Daily analysis of the biggest risers and fallers in dynasty, redraft, and prospect fantasy baseball rankings for 2026-02-22."
The fantasy baseball landscape shifted dramatically over the past four days, with injury news, trade activity, and prospect updates creating significant movement in both dynasty and redraft rankings. The most striking storyline involves several pitching prospects taking major tumbles due to injury concerns, while a handful of position player prospects and established veterans found themselves climbing the consensus boards.
The biggest story among dynasty risers is the surge of young middle infielders, led by Caleb Bonemer jumping 126 spots from #268 to #142. The White Sox shortstop prospect has been generating buzz throughout the organization, and his massive leap suggests scouts are increasingly confident in his long-term potential. Similarly, Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez vaulted 102 spots to crack the top 200, indicating the Giants' shortstop prospect is turning heads with his development trajectory.
Among established players, Alex Bregman rose 17 spots after his move to Chicago, as analysts warm up to his fit with the Cubs' improving lineup. The veteran third baseman's change of scenery appears to be viewed favorably by the expert community.
Starting pitchers also saw notable movement, with Tyler Glasnow climbing 13 spots and Pablo Lopez rising 9 positions. Both veterans are entering 2026 with health optimism, crucial for pitchers with their injury histories.
The fallout from injury news dominated the dynasty decliners, with Luis Garcia suffering a catastrophic 170-spot drop from #240 to #410. The Nationals utility man appears to be dealing with concerning health issues that have dramatically altered his fantasy outlook.
Several high-profile prospects took significant hits, including Zac Veen tumbling 117 spots and Termarr Johnson falling 114 positions. These dramatic declines suggest either concerning performance reports or potential injury concerns that have experts reassessing their long-term value.
Veteran starter Lucas Giolito dropped 112 spots, indicating pessimism about his role with Boston following an inconsistent recent track record.
The biggest redraft story belongs to Shohei Ohtani as a starting pitcher, rocketing up 217 spots from #374 to #157. This massive jump reflects growing confidence that the two-way superstar will return to the mound for the Dodgers in 2026, fundamentally changing his fantasy value equation.
A wave of middle infield prospects also surged, led by Bryce Rainer climbing 197 spots and Luis Pena jumping 189 positions. These moves suggest these prospects are being viewed as potential 2026 contributors rather than future assets.
Caleb Bonemer appears in both dynasty and redraft top risers, gaining 111 spots in redraft rankings, indicating he may be closer to MLB readiness than previously thought.
The redraft fallers tell a sobering story of injury-related setbacks. Yoniel Curet led the decline with a devastating 520-spot drop, which aligns with news that he was traded from Tampa Bay to Philadelphia but faces uncertainty about his 2026 availability.
Jake Bloss plummeted 487 spots following reports of UCL surgery on his right elbow, effectively eliminating his 2026 fantasy relevance. The Blue Jays prospect was previously viewed as a potential contributor, but the injury timeline pushes him well beyond this season.
Thayron Liranzo dropped 484 spots, reflecting his expected assignment to Double-A and diminished chances of impacting 2026 fantasy rosters. Several other prospects, including Roldy Brito, James Triantos, and Chase Hampton, saw similar drops as experts reassess their 2026 timelines.
The injury bug hit particularly hard among pitching prospects, with Moisés Chace falling 452 spots following Tommy John surgery news that will delay his development significantly.
This ranking period highlights the importance of staying current with injury news and organizational depth charts. The dramatic swings, particularly among prospects, underscore how quickly player values can shift based on performance reports and health updates. Dynasty managers should consider using FanRanked's trade calculator to capitalize on these ranking disparities, especially targeting players who may have fallen too far due to short-term concerns while maintaining long-term upside. The Ohtani pitching surge also serves as a reminder that elite two-way players create unique valuation challenges that can present significant opportunities for savvy managers.