"Daily analysis of the biggest risers and fallers in dynasty, redraft, and prospect fantasy baseball rankings for 2026-02-23."
The fantasy baseball landscape saw some intriguing shifts over the past few days, with veteran arms leading a charge up the rankings while injury concerns and positional battles created some notable fallers. While dynasty rankings remained stable, redraft leagues witnessed significant movement, highlighted by Max Scherzer's meteoric 89-spot climb and Shohei Ohtani's surprising 26-spot tumble from the second overall pick.
Max Scherzer stole the show with an impressive 89-spot surge from #657 to #568, making him the period's biggest riser. Now projected to suit up for the Texas Rangers in 2026, the future Hall of Famer appears to be garnering renewed fantasy interest as experts reassess his potential value as a top pitcher option for drafts. At his age, Scherzer's ability to still command ranking improvements speaks to his enduring skill set and the Rangers' ability to maximize veteran talent.
Christopher Morel made waves with a 71-spot leap from #547 to #476, coinciding with his transition focus to first base with the Miami Marlins. After signing a one-year contract with Miami in December, Morel's positional flexibility and the clarity around his 2026 role appear to be driving renewed optimism among analysts, despite acknowledged needs for offensive improvement.
The middle tier saw several notable climbers, including Brooks Baldwin (up 39 spots to #421) and Nick Martinez (up 29 spots to #401). Baldwin's steady performance continues to impress, with projections showing significant power upside for the 25-year-old White Sox outfielder. Martinez's rise comes despite his current free agent status after leaving Cincinnati, with his versatility making him an attractive one-year deal candidate.
Jorge Soler jumped 29 spots to #455, with projections pointing toward 19-21 home runs for his 2026 campaign. His power potential, even with a modest projected average around .220-.227, continues to provide fantasy relevance in an era where home runs remain at a premium.
Tyler O'Neill climbed 23 spots to #394, solidifying his role as Baltimore's everyday right fielder. His current sleeper status at first base eligibility adds another layer of value, particularly for managers seeking power upside in later rounds.
The period's most shocking development was Shohei Ohtani's 26-spot plummet from #2 to #28 overall. This dramatic fall is particularly puzzling given that recent reports confirm he'll remain the Dodgers' leadoff hitter and he's still widely ranked as the top fantasy player across league types. The DH-only designation in some expert rankings may be creating valuation concerns, especially in leagues where his pitching eligibility remains uncertain.
Jordan Westburg experienced the second-largest drop, falling 21 spots from #131 to #152. Despite being projected as a top-10 third baseman for 2026, his significant injury time in 2025 appears to be weighing on expert confidence. The disconnect between his talent level and current ranking suggests potential value for savvy drafters.
Several established players saw modest but notable declines, including Ozzie Albies (down 10 spots to #140), Randy Arozarena (down 7 spots to #89), and Spencer Strider (down 7 spots to #109). These moves likely reflect ongoing concerns about health, role security, or general market correction after potentially inflated preseason rankings.
The pitching landscape showed particular instability, with arms like Luis Castillo (down 8 spots to #148) and Freddy Peralta (down 5 spots to #65) losing ground. This volatility in pitcher rankings often reflects the inherent unpredictability of arms entering a new season, particularly those changing teams or coming off injury-shortened campaigns.
While dynasty rankings remained remarkably stable, the redraft movement reveals experts fine-tuning their evaluations as we approach the season. The veteran resurgence led by Scherzer suggests age isn't automatically disqualifying talent, while Ohtani's fall—despite his elite status—reminds us that even superstars face valuation questions in unique circumstances.
For dynasty managers, the stability in long-term rankings provides confidence in current roster construction, while the redraft volatility offers potential trade opportunities. Players like Westburg and Ohtani may present buy-low chances if their dynasty managers are influenced by short-term ranking movements. Consider using FanRanked's trade calculator to explore whether these ranking shifts have created any market inefficiencies in your leagues.