Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep: The Top First Basemen by ADP

Let's break down another fantasy baseball position and some average draft position data by going over first basemen.

We've already gone over catchers, starting pitchers, shortstops, third basemen, outfielders and designated hitters, and looked at things overall. Keep checking back for more position breakdowns!

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The Top Option

The top first baseman off fantasy draft boards is Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He's the 17th player taken overall, but going at pick 21.25 on average.

Over 156 games last year, Guerrero had a .292 average and .381 on-base percentage. Over 680 plate appearances, Guerrero had 172 hits, including 34 doubles and 23 home runs. He also had 84 RBIs, 96 runs scored, six stolen bases, 81 walks and 94 strikeouts.

He's been a steady fantasy asset over the past five years, and there's no reason to expect a big dropoff in his age-26/27 season. Guerrero regressed a bit last season across the board, but still delivered good marks. 

Guerrero is the pretty easy choice for the No. 1 spot at the first base position. He'll have some competitors, but I also like Guerrero first, as his potential is higher than anyone else.

Other Top-100 Picks

Baltimore's Pete Alonso and Atlanta's Matt Olson are the next two first basemen off draft boards, going at picks 44.38 and 46.38, respectively.

Alonso is 31 years old and is on a new team after spending the first seven years of his career with the Mets. Alonso played in 162 games in back-to-back years, and availability is a major deal in fantasy baseball.

Alonso had a .272 average and .347 OBP in 2025. He had 170 hits, including 41 doubles and 38 homers, along with 126 RBIs, 87 runs scored, a stolen base, 61 walks and 162 strikeouts.

That was one of Alonso's best seasons in his career, and at his age, some regression could be coming. That's why he's going after Guerrero, but he definitely could challenge for the top spot again.

Olson is the epitome of availability, playing in all 162 games in four straight years. He bounced back in 2025, hitting .272 and getting on base at a .366 clip.

Olson had 170 hits, including 41 doubles and 29 homers, plus also had 95 RBIs, 98 runs scored, a stolen base, 91 walks and 176 strikeouts.

He's also 31 years old, so some regression could be coming. Both he and Alonso are going close to each other in fantasy drafts, and that seems perfect after analyzing everything.

Your choice between the two is simply who you like more. I prefer Olson, but it's very, very close.

Athletics' Nick Kurtz is next off draft boards at pick 52.75 on average.

Kurtz flashed some great things in his rookie season, which spanned 117 games. He had a .290 average and .383 OBP, along with 36 homers, 86 RBIs, 90 runs scored, two stolen bases, 63 walks and 151 strikeouts. Kurtz had 122 total hits, including 26 doubles and two triples.

Kurtz is only 22 years old, so the sky is the limit for him. The league has found ways to try to hold him down, so we'll see if he can improve in his second year.

Kurtz is going fairly early in drafts, but I still think his potential is higher than his ADP, so I'd be happy to take Kurtz around that part of a draft. He could be a big-time draft steal if he stays healthy.

Philadelphia's Bryce Harper is going around pick 60.5.

Harper got in 132 games last season. He had a .261 average and .357 OBP over 580 plate appearances. Harper had 131 total hits, including 32 doubles and 27 homers, plus 75 RBIs, 72 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, 70 walks and 121 strikeouts.

Availability is a big concern with Harper, but when healthy, he can still deliver big. He's still a risky pick near his ADP, but if he sticks on the field, he could easily outproduce his ADP. Give him some consideration if you miss out on first baseman early on.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman is being picked around 67, while New York Yankees' Ben Rice is at 68.25 overall.

Freeman got in 147 games (for a second straight year), posting a .295 average and .367 OBP. He had 164 total hits, including 39 doubles and 24 doubles, plus 90 RBIs, 81 runs scored, six stolen bases, 60 walks and 128 strikeouts.

Part of that stacked Dodgers' lineup, Freeman has a really good fantasy outlook. He's still a very good fantasy option, and you wouldn't need a backup option if you decided to take him.

Rice broke out in his first full MLB season in 2025. He played in 138 games, posting a .255 average and .337 OBP over 530 plate appearances. Rice had 119 total hits, including 28 doubles, four triples and 26 homers, plus 65 RBIs, 74 runs scored, three stolen bases, 50 walks and 100 strikeouts.

Rice is projected to be in a platoon at first base, and if that happens, his fantasy outlook will be hampered a bit. That makes him a pretty risky pick near his current ADP, but maybe his role will be bigger than that - it's definitely something to watch in spring training.

Seattle's Josh Naylor is going around pick 71 on average. 

In 147 games between the Diamondbacks and Mariners last year, Naylor had a .295 average and .353 OBP over 604 plate appearances. Naylor had 160 total hits, including 29 doubles and 20 homers, plus 92 RBIs, 81 runs scored, 30 stolen bases, 48 walks and 83 strikeouts.

That was his best overall season, and at 28 years old, I wouldn't expect a huge dropoff, but there could be some regression in 2026. I still like his ADP, and think I'd probably rather take him than guys like Rice, Freeman and Harper, just because the production could be pretty similar between them all.

Kansas City's Vinnie Pasquantino is the last first baseman in the top 100, going at pick 87.38 on average.

Pasquantino is coming off the best season in his four-year career - he most importantly played 160 games. He had a .264 average and .323 OBP over 682 plate appearances. Among his 164 hits, Pasquantino had 33 doubles and 32 homers - he also had 113 RBIs, 72 runs scored, 49 walks and 107 strikeouts.

If he delivers a similar season in 2026 (his age-28 season), Pasquantino will be a big-time draft steal. Again, I'd prefer to take a chance on Pasquantino over some of the first basemen going ahead of him.

Other Draftable First Basemen

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch is going around pick 111 so far.

Busch played in 155 games last season, hitting .261 and getting on base at a .343 clip. He had 137 total hits, including 34 homers, 25 doubles and five triples, along with 90 RBIs, 78 runs scored, four stolen bases, 56 walks and 139 strikeouts.

It was his best season of his career, and entering his age-28 season, Busch should be in line for another good season in 2026. I like his ADP, but would want another 1B option, in case he regresses at all.

Tampa Bay's Yandy Diaz checks in just before pick 140.

Diaz hit .300 and got on base at a .366 clip over 150 games last season. He's 34 years old, but there's still more in the tank I think. I like his draft value, but would again want another option at the position in case he regresses hard.

Detroit's Spencer Torkelson (159.5 ADP) and San Francisco's Luis Arraez (161.5) are going near each other. Houston's Christian Walker (164) and St. Louis' Alec Burleson (165.33) are not far behind.

Torkelson had a huge bounceback season in 2025, and entering his age-26 season, fantasy owners are hoping for a similar showing. We will see if Torkelson can keep delivering, or even taking a step forward - he could be a draft steal if the latter happens.

Arraez has a new home again, so we will see if he can keep delivering at the plate. He's a different kind of fantasy asset as a contact hitter, but he should be eligible at first and second base, which ups his fantasy value some. I like him near his ADP, especially as a backup 1B or 2B.

Walker really struggled last season, so he's a bounceback candidate. At age 34, I wouldn't expect a huge bounceback, but he's worth a late pick, especially as a secondary fantasy option.

Burleson is one of the few remaining Cardinals left after a season of tearing the roster down. He's also an outfielder, and that dual eligibility makes him a better fantasy asset - it makes him a good value pick, especially coming off a big 2025 season.

Pittsburgh's Ryan O'Hearn is the last first baseman on the draft list, sitting at pick 186.5 so far. He's another who can also play the outfield, and his outlook in Pittsburgh is pretty solid. He'll start as a better deep-league asset, but could work into standard leagues in a hurry with good results and daily starts.