Breaking: 2026 Catcher Rankings Signal Deep Uncertainty Ahead of Opening Day
Fantasy baseball circles are buzzing as the early 2026 catcher rankings reveal a position-wide confidence gap. Analysts caution that depth at the catcher spot remains thin and volatility runs high as spring approaches.
Past season standouts Cal Raleigh and Hunter Goodman led the market in 2025,according to the fangraphs Auction Calculator. Yet experts warn that hopes for a repeat dominant season in 2026 should be tempered. peripheral trends and inconsistent performance across the board suggest a wide range of outcomes for the top catchers this year.
Projections remain unsettled as Opening Day nears. If your league prized reliability at catcher, now is the time to reassess values and potential breakout candidates.
These rankings are described as a living document, expected to shift as spring reports roll in. A key question for fantasy managers: is it worth prioritizing a top catcher, or is opportunity cost too high given the current depth across rosters?
Meet the Rankers
To streamline the list, analysts are identified by initials. Their backgrounds span decades of fantasy baseball,with weekly injury notes and roster guidance shaping the final consensus.
- DA – Doug Anderson, long-time editor and one of the sport’s moast trusted fantasy voices.
- TT – Taylor Tarter,veteran analyst with hands-on experience in major fantasy leagues.
- RK – Ray Kuhn,seasoned writer covering fantasy baseball and real-world trends.
- DF – Dave Funnell, the injury‑report specialist whose daily updates keep rosters sharp.
- BJ – Bryan Jaeger, contributor with redraft and dynasty expertise.
2026 Consensus Catcher Rankings
These rankings should be treated as a frist draft. Expect continued volatility as players compete for playing time and teams adjust their lineups before the season starts.
| Rnk | Player | Team | AND | TT | RK | DF | BJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cal Raleigh | SEA | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | William Contreras | MIL | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Shea Langeliers | ATH | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Ben Rice | NYY | 4 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 5 | salvador Perez | KC | 5 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 5 |
| 6 | Hunter Goodman | COL | 8 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| 7 | Will Smith | LAD | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 9 |
| 8 | Agustin Ramirez | MIA | 11 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| 9 | Drake Baldwin | ATL | 9 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
| 10 | Yainer Diaz | NEW | 10 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| 11 | Adley Rutschman | BAL | 7 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| 12 | Alejandro Kirk | TOR | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
| 13 | kyle Teel | CWS | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 |
| 14 | Gabriel Moreno | ARI | 14 | 18 | 13 | 16 | 13 |
| 14 | francisco Alvarez | NYM | 19 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| 16 | J.T. Realmuto | FA | 16 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 18 |
| 17 | Samuel Basallo | BAL | 15 | 24 | 15 | 15 | 20 |
| 18 | austin Wells | NYY | 20 | 15 | 21 | 20 | 17 |
| 19 | Logan O’Hoppe | LAA | 17 | 23 | 17 | 19 | 21 |
| 20 | Ryan Jeffers | MIN | 22 | 14 | 22 | 22 | 19 |
| 21 | Dillon Dingler | THE | 23 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 16 |
| 22 | Carter Jensen | KC | 18 | 26 | 18 | 18 | 26 |
| 23 | Tyler Stephenson | CIN | 21 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 22 |
| 24 | Edgar Quero | CWS | 27 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
| 25 | Bo Naylor | CLE | 26 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 27 |
| 26 | Freddy Fermin | SD | 29 | 21 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
| 27 | Keibert Ruiz | WSH | 25 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 30 |
| 28 | Carlos Narvaez | BOS | NR | 27 | 27 | 26 | 24 |
| 29 | Carson Kelly | CHC | 28 | 22 | 30 | NR | 25 |
| 30 | Sean Murphy | ATL | 24 | NR | NR | 29 | NR |
| 31 | Danny Jansen | TEX | NR | NR | 28 | NR | 29 |
| 32 | Joey Bart | PIT | NR | 30 | 30 | NR | NR |
| 33 | Jonah Heim | FA | NR | NR | NR | 30 | NR |
| 33 | Dalton Rushing | LAD | 30 | NR | NR | NR | NR |
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