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Which running backs are going to win your fantasy football leagues in 2026? Our Featured Pros have their answers about which players are poised to help you dominate your competition.
Which one player inside the top 35 of our half-PPR consensus RB rankings has the greatest return on investment potential in 2026?
“Chicago head coach Ben Johnson recently said his goal is to have “the highest-scoring offense ever…I want shutouts. I want blowouts.” If that’s the goal, I need some more D’Andre Swift in my life. Perennially a fantasy RB2, Swift might mess around and finish as an RB1 this season as the main cog in Johnson’s running attack. He just has to build on last season’s outstanding numbers: 4.9 yards per carry, along with career highs in rushing yards (1,087) and touchdowns (10). Yes, Kyle Monangai will get some work, but Swift is the 1A in this backfield. He should own the passing-down work, and if he earns 15-18 touches per game, Swift will smash in an offense aiming to put its name in the record books. RB20 feels a little low for him, and I’ll likely bump him up in my rankings.”
– Wolf Trelles-Heard (FantasyPros)
“D’Andre Swift might not be exciting, but that’s part of the appeal. He’s coming off an RB15 finish after rushing for 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He remains in Ben Johnson’s run-friendly offense, and Chicago added second-round center Logan Jones up front. At a fifth-round ADP, Swift looks like a safe RB2 with a good chance to outperform his price.”
– Doug Burrell (Draft With Doug)
“May not seem like a bargain at RB12, but Kenneth Walker is. He should be going in the first round of fantasy drafts. Fresh off a Super Bowl MVP, Walker has relocated to Kansas City, a team that has longed for a bell-cow running back to pair with their high-flying passing game for years. There is almost no talent behind him on this running back depth chart, and none that can be anything more than backups. Walker is going to be the workhorse for an offense that has the potential to be elite. Add in the lion’s share of the goal-line work, and Ken Walker is going to bring in a monster return on what is currently a moderate price tag. In the past, Walker has struggled to stay healthy, but if he manages to stay on the field, this is going to be a career year for him.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
“Kenneth Walker (RB12) easily has the most upside of any running back outside the first round, and he could easily finish top-3 this year. There was once a time when Andy Reid’s running backs were a coveted fantasy asset. Kareem Hunt started his first 2 seasons at a 1,600-yard-per-season pace before his legal trouble. Jamaal Charles and LeSean McCoy had high levels of production in this system also. Matt Nagy is finally gone, and this young offensive line should rebound this year. There are not many times when the PFF 1st-ranked running back becomes available in free agency and goes to a situation like this. ”
– Justin Weigal (FantasySharks)
“FantasyPros’ Real-Time ADP tool shows TreVeyon Henderson going RB25, 59th overall. It’s easy to understand the late-fifth-round ADP when Rhamondre Stevenson will probably be on the field when the Patriots play their first offensive snap of 2026, but Henderson’s ceiling is the Sistine Chapel. When Stevenson missed Weeks 9-11 last year, Henderson had 330 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns and was RB3 in fantasy scoring over those three games. Henderson had two other two-TD games with Stevenson active. Henderson had four runs of 40 or more yards last year. Stevenson has had three runs of 40 or more yards over his five-year NFL career. And let’s not forget that Stevenson has had fumbling issues. Even if there’s not a changing of the guard in the New England backfield, Henderson should play enough to provide a fair return on investment. But if there IS a changing of the guard, Henderson stakeholders will get a massive windfall.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“TreVeyon Henderson has the best return-on-investment case for me inside the top 35 because the market is pricing in too much of the Rhamondre Stevenson concern. New England’s 2026 schedule is brutal, which should create more negative game scripts and more opportunities for Henderson’s explosiveness and receiving ability to matter. As a rookie, he ran for 911 yards and nine touchdowns on 180 carries, averaged 5.1 yards per carry, caught 35 passes, and scored four touchdowns of 50-plus yards. Stevenson does not need to disappear for Henderson to smash his current price because the Patriots can support two useful backs.”
– Jay Henry Ocho (Jay Henry Ocho)
“Now a “co-starter” atop the Jags depth chart, buy, buy, buy, BUY, Bhayshul Tuten. Chris Rodriguez, also a co-starter for Jacksonville, is the main source of competition for Tuten, but do not be alarmed. Tuten has been the name on everyone’s mind in camp thus far, and he has delivered. It also really helps that Jacksonville HC Liam Coen has praised Tuten and has talked up his potential any chance he has possibly could. Tuten has 280+ touch, 10+ touchdown upside, even with the competition, with a top-12 finish well within his range of outcomes.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
“For me, it’s Bhayshul Tuten. He’s a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. He runs with a tremendous burst and plays on a good offense. With respect to Chris Rodriguez, I think Tuten is the most electric RB in Jacksonville. When it comes to Bhayshul “Rootin'” Tuten, his talent is obvious. He’s the fastest RB north, south, east, and west of the Pecos, according to Yosemite Sam Ringo. Ringo’s comp: Tuten reminds me of a smaller version of former Bronco and Redskin, Clinton Portis.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“Bhayshul Tuten is currently being drafted in the 5th round of drafts. Travis Etienne is gone, and Chris Rodriguez was the only back they brought in. Tuten showed promise last year with limited opportunities. This offense under Liam Coen can produce; we saw Travis Etienne get ideal usage last year. Tuten is an RB2 with RB1 upside at an RB3 price!”
– David Heilman (Dynasty Trade Calculator)
“It doesn’t get much better than Bhayshul Tuten at RB25. Part of my love for Tuten is the offense, led by Trevor Lawrence and scheme by Liam Coen. Both have proven to be capable of moving the offense and, more importantly, they can help the Jags score. In 2025, the Jags were 6th in total points and 5th in rushing TDs in the entire NFL. Next, Travis Etienne is gone and replaced by former Commander Chris Rodriguez. Given that the Jags did not bring in serious competition, it shows us that Tuten’s involvement will rise significantly this season. And finally, the Jags’ strength of schedule and offseason buzz about Tuten and this offense have me all the way in on his ability to shatter his current standing. Draft Bhayshul Tuten in 2026 and profit.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
“The running back inside the top 35 with the greatest return‑on‑investment potential is Jadarian Price. Landing a rookie workhorse running back in one of the NFL’s best run offenses is exactly how fantasy managers gain an early season edge, and Price is set up for immediate volume. He’s being overlooked because he was part of a two‑back system at Notre Dame and because Zach Charbonnet is expected to return, but Seattle drafted Price to be its feature back. His power, efficiency, and projected workload give him a clear path to outperform many of the backs ranked ahead of him. At RB26, he is one of the biggest steals on the board.”
– Lawrence Iacona (The Architect’s War Room)
“Jadarian Price is the one for me because I am not sure his price has caught up to the opportunity in Seattle yet. Zach Charbonnet is still working his way back from a torn ACL with no set timetable yet on his return. Seattle also gave its running backs 25.8 carries per game last season, so Price could walk into a much bigger workload than his current RB price suggests. There is some risk with his limited receiving resume, but if he grabs the lead job early, I can easily see him beating where he is being drafted.”
– Justin Fuhr (Pro Football Mania)
“Jaylen Warren is my pick. At RB27, we’re getting a back who produced 1,291 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns last season while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. His established receiving ability gives him another path to fantasy production, and Pittsburgh currently lists him atop its depth chart despite Rico Dowdle creating legitimate competition for touches. That competition is helping suppress Warren’s price, but if he maintains the lead role, he has a realistic path to significantly outperforming his RB27 cost.”
– Stephen Floyd (Draft With Doug)
“Jahmyr Gibbs is a cheat code in fantasy football this season, and it is unfair if you land him with the first pick. While you can argue Bijan Robinson is in the same territory as Gibbs, the reality is the Lions offense will be scoring way more points than the Falcons in 2026. Gibbs is on the fast track for 2000+ total yards and possibly 20+ TDs. Having the first pick almost guarantees a championship; just do not mess up the rest of your draft.”
– Muntradamus (Beast Dome)
“I was out on RJ Harvey at his price last year, but at RB33 this year I’m all the way back in. We’re talking about a player who finished as the RB20 in half-PPR as a rookie with 896 scrimmage yards and 12 TDs, and now I’m supposed to draft him 13 spots later entering Year 2 in Sean Payton’s offense behind arguably the best offensive line in football? J.K. Dobbins is already injured again, and even before he went down last year, Harvey was averaging 10.0 PPG to Dobbins’ 11.6, so I’m not particularly worried if Dobbins or Jonah Coleman takes some of the work. Harvey has already shown he can produce without owning the backfield, and if that workload grows at all, we’re drafting a player at RB33 who has a legitimate chance to finish as an RB1. At RB33, I’m all the way in; buying ascending players after the market has overcorrected on them is exactly how you win in fantasy football.”
– James Emrick-Wilson (The Armchair Sports Corner)
“De’Von Achane was the RB5 the last two seasons. During the off-season, the Miami Dolphins gutted the team and are rebuilding. They signed Malik Willis to lead the offense, totally revamped the receiving corps, and have made changes to the offensive line, including drafting the massive Kadyn Proctor, who will play left guard this year. Many expect the Dolphins not to win a lot of games, which is probably true. As we have seen in the past, cream rises to the top, and Achane has quieted doubters during his 3-year NFL career. This year he has fallen to RB9, being drafted around 18th overall, which could benefit managers who take the risk on the player that new coach Jeff Hafley said he will be feeding the ball to and might have to carry off the field. Touches equal points in fantasy football, and it appears that Achane will be getting those touches!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
“James Cook. We know he can lead the league in rushing, and we just watched him finish as the RB6 last season. The coaching change doesn’t scare me either, as Joe Brady simply moved from OC to head coach, so I don’t expect Cook’s involvement to suddenly disappear. Even with the talk of Buffalo wanting to throw the ball more, Cook continues to be mentioned as someone they want more involved in the passing game. With Ty Johnson and Ray Davis remaining behind him, I don’t see either taking significant touches away from one of the league’s best running backs on a high-scoring offense.”
– Joe Pepe (Beyond The Gridiron)
“The answer is clearly Tony Pollard. He’s a mispriced RB2 with an RB3 price tag. Pollard remains the clear leadback for the Titans entering the 2026 season. Last year, he ranked 15th in snap share, 17th in opportunity share, and 16th in weighted opportunities, but because of the putrid offensive situation he found himself in, he was only the RB29 in fantasy points per game. This can be traced to his five total touchdowns, which were a result of an offense that was 30th in points per game and 32nd in red zone scoring attempts per game, so it makes sense that he also ranked 49th in red zone touches. Pollard was still solid on a per-touch basis. Among 49 qualifying backs, he ranked 25th in explosive run rate and 22nd in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). Brian Daboll, his new offensive coordinator, has historically ridden one running back in his offenses, and Pollard looks to be that guy this season. Pollard should find running room in 2026 with Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson added to the passing game, improved play from Cam Ward, and an offensive line that last year was quietly 13th-best in yards before contact per attempt.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Which sleeper candidate outside the top 35 in our half-PPR consensus RB rankings has the most “upside” relative to his draft cost?
“Chuba Hubbard has been listed as week-to-week with a hamstring injury. Jonathon Brooks’ RB1 szn is a go. He will get the majority of reps with the starters throughout the rest of training camp/preseason, giving him a chance to cement himself as RB1 in Carolina. The Panthers RB has barely played since being selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he is finally fully healthy entering his third season. I expect him to have an immediate impact as a receiver out of the backfield, given that element of the offense has been another missing piece from the Panthers’ RB room. In his limited NFL playing time, Brooks commanded 3 targets and caught all of them for 23 yards, despite playing only 23 offensive snaps. The 23-year-old RB also opens the year versus the terrible Bears defense in Week 1.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
“The answer for me is Carolina running back Jonathon Brooks. Brooks was a second-round pick for Carolina only two years ago and was the first running back selected in that draft class. The ceiling appeared limitless, but back-to-back years of injuries have limited the once-highly touted rookie to only three games. He sits behind only veteran Chuba Hubbard on the depth chart, but I’m not convinced Hubbard is a three-down stud running back. This pick will obviously rely heavily on Brooks actually being healthy enough to stay on the field, but if he does, his RB36 rank is free money. The preseason is going to be a big hurdle for Brooks to overcome. If he can get through it healthy and show he has recovered from multiple knee surgeries, he has league-winning upside.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
“It has to be Jonathon Brooks, and I suspect he won’t be outside the top 35 at the RB position a few weeks from now as more fantasy managers become enticed by the potential payoff. Of course, some people will never take a chance on a player who tore the same ACL twice in a span of 13 months. But it’s now been almost 20 months since the second ACL tear, and the Panthers seem confident that the second reconstruction went much better than the first. Brooks was a second-round draft pick. He was only a one-year starter at the University of Texas because he was playing behind Bijan Robinson for most of his college career, but in his one season as a college starter he had 1,425 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns in 11 games. When Brooks was a prospect, Lance Zeirlein of NFL.com listed Jamal Charles as a comp. That’s the sort of playmaking ability Brooks has. I think Brooks dislodges Chuba Hubbard from the lead-back role by mid-October and becomes a coveted fantasy asset.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“I know Jonathon Brooks is going to be a popular pick here, but I still think RB36 is too cheap if the knee finally holds up. He’s worked with the first-team offense throughout camp, and Dave Canales already plans to mix him in with Chuba Hubbard on first-team drives this weekend. Hubbard is still there, but Rico Dowdle took advantage when he was injured last year and played well enough that Carolina kept feeding him once Hubbard came back. Brooks was the first running back drafted in 2024 for a reason. If that player finally shows up in Carolina, there is a lot more upside here than RB36.”
– Justin Fuhr (Pro Football Mania)
“The low-hanging fruit, but the correct answer is Jonathon Brooks at RB36. Brooks is a wonderful wild card pick for 2026 with big-time upside. Brooks has had enough time to recuperate from his second torn ACL that he should enter camp this season and Week 1 fully healthy. Chuba Hubbard lost his starting job to Rico Dowdle last season, and Carolina let him walk in the offseason. Outside of Brooks and Hubbard, Carolina has only Trevor Etienne and A.J. Dillon on the roster, so Carolina is heavily betting on Brooks to return to his collegiate form. Brooks could pull an Uncle Rico from last year and steal Hubbard’s starting job in 2026. Just to remind everyone about the talent that Brooks has, in 2024 (his final collegiate season), he ranked 21st in yards after contact per attempt, ninth in elusive rating, and 21st in yards per route run (per PFF). I’ll be drafting Brooks a ton this season.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
“I’ve been pounding the table for Kenneth Gainwell all offseason. Why stop now? After a superb season in Pittsburgh last year, he moved south and signed with the Buccaneers to be the 1B to Bucky Irving‘s 1A. Expect offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to use Gainwell aggressively as a receiver, especially after the former Memphis Tiger reeled in 73 receptions for 486 yards and three scores last year. There were very few running backs better on a per-touch basis in 2025, with Gainwell ranking fourth in yards created per touch (4.32) and second in fantasy points per opportunity (1.11). He was also a beast down the stretch, averaging 17.8 fantasy points per game (RB7) from Week 11 on. It’s easy to imagine him carving out a similar role in Tampa Bay, and that makes his RB37 ADP look like a big-time bargain.”
– Wolf Trelles-Heard (FantasyPros)
“Keaton Mitchell joins a RB room containing Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal in LA with a real chance to earn immediate reps. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose offense relies heavily on running back involvement, has already signaled that he plans on rolling multiple running backs this year. If Mitchell can get on a roll, he could gain even more work in a high-powered Chargers offense. Aiding Mitchell’s appeal is Omarion Hampton‘s questionable health record, with one injury to Hampton leaving the runway clear for Mitchell’s value to soar in 2026.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
“Keaton Mitchell is the type of late-round running back I want when I’m chasing upside. He brings game-breaking speed to a Mike McDaniel offense that should find creative ways to use him. Omarion Hampton is still the clear lead back, so Mitchell’s weekly role could be limited, but McDaniel has already said all three Chargers backs will be involved. At that price, I’m willing to bet on Mitchell’s explosiveness and the possibility that his role grows if anything changes ahead of him.”
– Doug Burrell (Draft With Doug)
“Honestly, I could have gone with several players here, but I’ll go with Isiah Pacheco. Analysts who think that Jahmyr Gibbs will get all of David Montgomery‘s volume are wrong, imo. Lions’ GM Brad Holmes knows how vital Gibbs is to the Lions’ success and doesn’t want him to wear down or get injured, so he will keep him on the strong side of a running back committee instead of making him a true bell-cow. That’s why Pacheco was signed in free agency, to take some of the workload off of Gibbs. In his three years with the Lions, Montgomery finished at RB 13th, 18th, and 27th in half-point PPR, so regardless of whether Gibbs gets injured, Pacheco should have standalone value. My only concern with Pacheco is that his violent running style increases his injury risk. However, considering Pacheco’s ADP is at RB 48, the risk is worth the reward, especially on a high-powered offense like Detroit has, imo.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“Among all RBs outside the top 35, Nicholas Singleton stands out as the clear upside play. He’s sitting at RB62 in a shaky Titans backfield where Tony Pollard is nearing the end of his career, and Tyjae Spears has not developed into the player Tennessee hoped for. Singleton was feared in college and brings the kind of size, burst, and power that can take over a backfield once he gets consistent touches. The Titans are in a rare win‑now and rebuild window, and unleashing a young, explosive back behind a rebuilt offensive line makes perfect sense for balancing their offense. If he seizes the role, he has the talent to become one of the biggest profit plays in fantasy this season.”
– Lawrence Iacona (The Architect’s War Room)
“It is a bit of a projection, but MarShawn Lloyd could finally have his breakout year. We are projecting better production for RJ Harvey, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Tyjae Spears, who all have worse offenses and more competition at the RB3 spot. All of these listed RBs are the same age as Lloyd and are going 2-4 rounds earlier. We’ve seen about as much of him as Jonathon Brooks, who was in the same draft class, but everyone has faith in him to produce. We should consider that this could be the year and the Packers RB2 spot does produce some stand-alone value historically.”
– Justin Weigal (FantasySharks)
“The upside I’m looking for lies with MarShawn Lloyd. While it is true he has struggled mightily to stay healthy over the course of his career, Lloyd is also in a phenomenal situation coming into 2026. First, lead back Josh Jacobs not only faces potential legal and suspension concerns, but he’s also carrying a nagging groin injury into camp in his age-28 season with a metric ton of mileage on his frame already. Then, there are camp reports that Lloyd has looked explosive in camp and that the Packers are limiting his load early on. To me, that’s great to hear and means he’s a big part of their plans this season. Lloyd himself is also only 25 and, thanks to those injuries, has barely seen any NFL action in his first 2 years in the league. If he can manage to stay healthy, the current consensus RB61 could not only shatter expectations, but also become a weekly starter for your fantasy team on a good offense with a good schedule ahead this season. And he’s basically free.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
“Rachaad White is currently RB40 in ECR and will at least be in the pass-catching role for this Commanders offense. White is a veteran back with a history of fantasy success, finishing as high as RB7. Last year, Jacory Croskey-Merritt didn’t live up to the hype. If he doesn’t start off hot, White could easily supplant him as the starter. White offers some short-term value out of the gate in PPR formats already. At his current price, you could get a big payoff if White finishes the year as the starter.”
– David Heilman (Dynasty Trade Calculator)
“Jacory Croskey-Merritt is my pick. At RB39, his draft cost doesn’t reflect the opportunity he has to emerge as the lead back in Washington. He showed enough as a rookie to prove he belongs at this level, and an expanded receiving role would give him another avenue to consistent fantasy production. With one of the cleaner paths to a starting workload among backs in this range, I see legitimate weekly RB2 production with room for considerably more if the offense takes another step forward.”
– Stephen Floyd (Draft With Doug)
“Brian Robinson Jr. is a guy who can sit on your bench for weeks to months, but he will vulture some TDs here and there throughout the year for the Falcons. You can draft him near the end of every draft, and on the off chance Bijan misses a game, Brian Robinson will go to RB1 instantly. On top of everything, he is a great trade piece, as the Bijan Robinson manager will lose sleep not having Brian on their roster. If you own Bijan Robinson, do whatever it takes to draft Brian Robinson a bit earlier so you can have your handcuff. Just make sure you draft Bijan instead of Brian in the 1st Round.”
– Muntradamus (Beast Dome)
“Tank Bigsby at RB52 because the upside relative to cost is massive, especially with camp reports suggesting Philadelphia could move closer to a 50/50 split with Saquon Barkley to keep him fresh. Bigsby averaged 5.7 YPC last season and led qualifying RBs with a 29.3% explosive-run rate when given at least one yard before contact, while also producing .14 EPA and more than 2.8 yards after contact since 2024. He should have enough of a weekly role to provide standalone value, but the real appeal is what happens if Barkley misses time. If Saquon is out, we’re ranking Bigsby as an RB1 that week, and getting that kind of contingent upside at RB52 is exactly the bet I want to make late in drafts.”
– James Emrick-Wilson (The Armchair Sports Corner)
“Tank Bigsby is my swing outside the top 35 because his ceiling changes completely if Saquon Barkley misses time. Barkley is 29 and has enough injury history that Bigsby getting starts this season is well within the range of outcomes. Bigsby has already shown he can produce with volume, and Philadelphia gives him one of the best rushing environments in football. At his current price, you are barely paying for the possibility. If Barkley goes down, I think Bigsby has immediate RB1 upside.”
– Jay Henry Ocho (Jay Henry Ocho)
“The age cliff happens to all players. Teams have a choice: they can drop the player or adapt to their skill set. In the case of Alvin Kamara, it appears that the Saints are doing the latter. The Saints signed Travis Etienne to a massive 4-year contract to start free agency, but that doesn’t mean that Kamara is cooked. Kamara restructured his deal to stay with the Saints for the 2026 season, which is a steal for a team that now has two players that can play three downs. Even though Kamara has that potential, all signs point to him being the pass-catching back, which will be great news for fantasy managers in PPR leagues. At RB50, Kamara has the upside as a pass-catcher to give owners a steady RB2 and FLEX for the entire season, with the possibility of some boom weeks and that he could fill in for any games that Etienne might miss.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
“On just 159 rushing attempts last season, Jordan Mason produced 758 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. The efficiency numbers scream that Mason deserves more work: 10th in explosive run rate, seventh in rushing success rate, ninth in missed tackle rate, and 15th in yards after contact per attempt among 49 qualifying running backs. Mix those numbers together with Minnesota doing very little to build out its running back room this offseason and bringing back an aging Aaron Jones, and you have a potential starting running back sitting around RB40 in drafts. Yes, Mason’s passing-game involvement needs to improve, but I would expect another 50-75 rushing attempts and potentially 10-15 more targets this season. If that happens, you’re getting a 200-plus-carry running back with around 30 targets at a price where you’re barely paying for him to be more than a handcuff.”
– Joe Pepe (Beyond The Gridiron)
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Welcome to our weekly fantasy baseball risers and fallers column. In this article, I’ll identify three risers and three fallers based on what transpired over the previous week.
Given that we’re in the second half of the season, there are more options to choose from. We know how managers are deploying their players, with some surprisingly receiving less playing time than initially expected. We also have a few young hitters who are making their presence felt immediately.
Without further ado, let’s find out who this week’s biggest risers and fallers are.
Jac Caglianone is heating up at the plate. In the last seven days, he has a 295 wRC+ with three home runs and one stolen base in 27 plate appearances. This includes a homer off Tarik Skubal last night, which is extremely impressive considering it was a lefty versus lefty matchup against one of the best pitchers in baseball. We could see a strong finish from Caglianone.
Tyler O’Neill is a streaky hitter who is running hot right now, registering a 222 wRC+ with three home runs in his last 22 plate appearances. He’s seeing an uptick in playing time while hitting cleanup for the Orioles. This puts him in a good spot for counting stats, so it’s a good idea to pick him up to ride the wave right now.
Jackson Merrill is having a second-half surge for the second year in a row. In the last seven days, he has a 208 wRC+ with three home runs and one stolen base in 29 plate appearances. With Merrill being such a touted young hitter, you have to feel like it’s wheels up for the rest of the season. Congratulations if you bought low.
Jeremy Pena has been having a terrific season, but he’s ice-cold at the plate right now, putting up a -44 wRC+ with zero home runs and zero stolen bases in 28 plate appearances. While I’m confident he’ll get it going at some point, we have to acknowledge that this is just regression for a player who was performing above expectations.
Kazuma Okamoto is one of the streakiest hitters in Major League Baseball. Right now, he’s running cold, putting up a -13 wRC+ with zero home runs and zero stolen bases in his last 27 plate appearances. Now, he’s day-to-day with a left knee contusion. It remains to be seen if the Blue Jays feel like Okamoto needs an injured list (IL) stint, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he did.
Zach Neto is having a bit of a disappointing season thanks to a high strikeout rate. He’s ice cold at the plate right now, putting up a -9 wRC+ with one home run and zero steals in his last 32 plate appearances. It’s time to start looking at Neto more as a Javier Baez (prime version) type — a free-swinger with peaks and valleys.
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