First Base Bargains: Fantasy Baseball Draft Steals You Can’t Ignore This Season

It's time to get back into our fantasy baseball draft bust/steal series. Here, we will go over first basemen, starting with draft steal options.

Here are the other positions we've covered so far: catchers (steals and busts) outfielders (steals and busts), shortstops (steals and busts) and third basemen (steals and busts). Check back for more in the days/weeks to come!

Fantasy baseball average draft position data can be found on FantasySP. Draft Genius now has custom head-to-head scoring options and on demand AI expert help for every pick.

Matt Olson - Atlanta Braves

Olson is the top-drafted fantasy first baseman on my draft steal list. He's going around pick 45 right now and is the fourth first baseman off draft boards.

Olson was the No. 6 fantasy 1B last year, but was only 12 points away from being the No. 3 finisher (using ESPN scoring settings). He's less of a risk than other first basemen as he plays every game (playing in 162 games four straight years).

He had good numbers across the board last season, and though he's on the wrong side of 30 now, I still like his outlook for 2026. The Braves' lineup is good, and if it stays healthy, Olson could deliver better marks.

If you miss out on the first couple first basemen, or simply want a reliable option at first base, Olson is a great target, especially if he falls past his ADP.

Josh Naylor - Seattle Mariners

Naylor is the eighth first baseman off draft boards right now, going at pick 73 on average. Naylor was the No. 5 fantasy 1B last season, and just four points back from being the No. 3 finisher. He posted some of the best numbers of his career.

While he possesses a good amount of pop, he doesn't strike out a ton. With a pretty good career average and on-base percentage, Naylor is a bit better fantasy asset then he first appears to be.

I like his outlook in Seattle and think he delivers similarly to 2025. Even if he regresses a bit, I believe Naylor will be able to go down as a draft steal.

Getting him as your top first baseman is fine in my eyes, and you wouldn't need another guy at that spot if you didn't want to. Getting him as a second fantasy 1B or an additional infielder or utility hitter sets your team up really, really well.

Vinnie Pasquantino - Kansas City Royals

Pasquantino is the ninth fantasy first baseman off draft boards, going around pick 79 on average.

He was the No. 3 fantasy finisher in 2025. I keep talking about how bunched up the position was last year, but even with some regression, I see Pasquantino outperforming his current ADP.

Some might be worried about his injury-prone past, but a 160-game campaign in 2025 eases that concern in my eyes. He's in a good spot in Kansas City and should be in store for another big year.

At 28 years old, I could see Pasquantino delivering career-best marks, and being one of the bigger draft steals of 2026. Getting him near pick 80 feels like great draft value, and a chance to really improve your team despite it not being a premium pick.

Yandy Diaz - Tampa Bay Rays

Diaz is the 11th fantasy first baseman on the ADP list, sitting around pick 140 right now.

Diaz was the No. 7 fantasy first baseman in 2025. He was 12 points away from being the No. 3 finisher. So even if he regresses a bit, or finishes where he did last year, Diaz has draft steal written all over him.

Diaz is 34 years old, but coming off a bounceback season, I like him for 2026. He flashed some of the best power numbers of his career, but his average and OBP were still great.

He's another guy who doesn't strike out a ton, and he just seems like he's being overlooked for no reason this coming year. Spend a late pick on him and I'm sure you'll love the reward.

Luis Arraez - San Francisco Giants

Arraez is the No. 12 fantasy 1B off draft boards, going near pick 153 so far.

He could be eligible at second base as well, which makes him even more valuable. I think Arraez could put up really good numbers in San Fran, after kind of fizzling out in San Diego.

He's a high average guy who rarely strikes out. Arraez had more walks (34) than strikeouts (21) last year. That offsets lower power numbers.

Arraez is never a huge fantasy asset, but he usually delivers as a high-end option at whatever position you want to take him at. He was the No. 8 fantasy 1B and No. 2 fantasy 2B if he's eligible there, so I'd love to spend one of my last picks on him.