Top 15 Risers In Our 2026 Dynasty 500 Rankings

With several months having passed since our last update, a number of players made substantial jumps in the rankings. Buoyed by impressive late-season debuts and some memorable playoff performances, thereâ€s significant helium for these players, making them some of the fastest-rising assets in fantasy at the moment.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at 15 players who made significant jumps in our latest Dynasty 500 list.

Nolan McLean, SP, Mets

• Previous Rank: 399
• Current Rank:58
• Movement: +341

Over his eight starts in the big leagues, McLean looked like an ace. The former Oklahoma State two-way star struck out 57 batters to 16 walks while registering a 61.1% groundball rate across 48 innings after being called up by the Mets. McLeanâ€s ability to generate outs in a variety of ways while challenging opposing hitters with good stuff in the zone means he will likely lead New York’s rotation next year. With the potential to work deep into starts and rack up strikeouts, a year from now McLean could be a universally-ranked top 10 pitcher.Â

Cade Smith, RP, Guardians

• Previous Rank: 483
• Current Rank: 147
• Movement: +336

There’s an old cliche when it comes to relievers in fantasy, and it applies here: “Chase skills over roles.” After being one of the best relievers in the game for multiple seasons, Smith moved into the Guardians’ closer role this season due to unfortunate off-field circumstances surrounding former all-star closer Emmanuel Clase. Over the last two seasons, the 26-year-old Smith has struck out 35.1% of opposing batters, while issuing free passes at a rate of 6.1%, and he’s let up just five homers in 149 innings during that stretch. Armed with one of the best fastballs in the game and two secondaries that grade as plus on Stuff+ models, Smith looks to be the rare elite reliever with some runway.

Cam Schlittler, SP, Yankees

• Previous Rank: 442
• Current Rank: 109
• Movement:+333

At this point, youâ€d have to be living under a rock to not be aware of Schlittlerâ€s dominance down the stretch for the Yankees. The tall righthander saw a substantial jump in stuff this year and now boasts a fastball that sits 97-99 mph and touches triple digits as a starter. Schlittler made 14 MLB starts, pitching to a 2.96 ERA over 73 innings while striking out 27.6% of batters. While Schlittler doesnâ€t likely have the upside of fellow rookies Trey Yesavage or Nolan McLean, itâ€s not unreasonable to expect him to outproduce either in the next year or two. Schlittler is now a bona fide fantasy No. 3 with the potential to grow into a No. 2 by the end of 2026. Â

Carson Benge, OF, Mets

• Previous Rank: 431
• Current Rank: 127
• Movement:+304

While the emergence of the Mets’ pitching prospects stole the headlines this year, their hitting development was cooking in 2025, as well. Benge is the best of a talented group of Mets position prospects currently matriculating through the minors. The former two-way star at Oklahoma State (yes, the Mets have a type) converted to a full-time outfielder for the first time in his career in 2025, and he took off.  Across three levels of the minors, Benge hit .281/.385/.472 with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases. Itâ€s the blend of hit tool, power and speed that’s most exciting about Benge. While he may never be a category stuffer in any one area, he should provide the type of all-around production and counting stats upside to develop into a top 50 position player. Â

Rainiel Rodriguez, C, Cardinals

• Previous Rank: 378
• Current Rank:123
• Movement: +255

The road to fantasy irrelevance is paved with good hitting catchers, but Rodriguez might be the exception to the rule. Rodriguez has a perfect blend of plate skills, power and good angles, making it easy to project strong production from the young backstop in the coming years. Rodriguez boasted a max exit velocity of 113.4 mph as an 18-year-old in full-season ball, with a 23.8% barrel rate and a 30.5% air-pull rate. The upside with Rodriguez is a 30-plus home run bat that doesnâ€t come at the expense of your batting average. Rodriguez is a long way away, but he could be special.Â

Trey Yesavage, SP, Blue Jays

• Previous Rank: 299
• Current Rank: 53
• Movement: +246

If you watched the World Series, this jump should come as no surprise. Yesavageâ€s over-the-top arm slot and unusual pitch mix featuring only armside break kept the best lineups in the world off balance in the biggest moments. He looks like a linchpin for the Blue Jays’ rotation for years to come, and his professional track record showcases his ability to miss bats at elite rates. Yesavage has multiple plus offerings in his fastball and slider and is one of the most valuable trade assets coming off his October helium boost. Â

Carter Jensen, C, Royals

• Previous Rank: 437
• Current Rank: 212
• Movement: +225Â

While he played in just 20 games with the Royals this season, Jensenâ€s production in the small sample size has many excited for what he could do with full-time at-bats in the coming years. Jensen is an advanced hitting catcher with plus power and above-average plate skills that translated in his brief MLB sample. A combination of plus on-base skills, average bat-to-ball ability and power could see Jensen turn into a top five catcher soon.Â

Trevor Story, SS, Red Sox

• Previous Rank:448
• Current Rank:212
• Movement: +214

It was a bounce-back year for the Red Sox shortstop, who opted back into his contract following the World Series. Story produced a top 30 fantasy season in 2025 and finished fifth among shortstops in value for 5×5 roto leagues. His 25 home runs were his most since 2019, and his 31 stolen bases were a career high. Under the hood, the power surge tracks, as Story produced the highest hard-hit rate of his career. It coincided with jumps in average exit velocity and barrel rate, too. If healthy, Story can be counted on once again to produce a top 10 season at shortstop. Â

Caleb Bonemer, SS, White Sox

• Previous Rank: 357
• Current Rank:144
• Movement: +213

We feel as if the industry in general hasnâ€t fully caught up on Bonemer. Early this season, we saw plentiful signals with his underlying data—here, here, here, here and here—as his power, approach and athleticism compare favorably to the Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson. Bonemer is a top 25 fantasy prospect right now and could play his way into the White Sox lineup by 2027. After hitting .281/.401/.473 across 107 games in his professional debut, Bonemer will only be a value play for so much longer. We view him as a top 150 dynasty asset at present with up-arrow potential.

Aidan Miller, SS, Phillies

• Previous Rank: 287
• Current Rank: 86
• Movement: +201

The collection of young talented shortstops at the top of our current prospect rankings is impressive, as there could be as many as eight future all-star infielders lurking in the minors at present. Miller finished the season on a high note, hitting .382/.544/.645 over the final month, including an eight-game stretch in Triple-A to finish the year. Miller stole 59 bases this year and shows a full toolkit of fantasy-relevant skills. With an above-average hit tool, power and speed, Miller could work his way into the Phillies’ infield picture early in 2026. Â

Quinn Priester, SP, Brewers

• Previous Rank: 446
• Current Rank: 250
• Movement: +196

When the Brewers acquired Priester from the Red Sox early in 2025, no one anticipated the type of season he would enjoy for the NL Central champions. Over 29 appearances, including 24 starts, Priester went 13-3 with a 3.32 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 132 strikeouts across 157.1 innings pitched. The Brewers have a long track record of developing good starting pitchers, so after producing a strong 2025 season at just 25 years old, Priester could have more than a half decade of fantasy production left in the tank. Â

Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox

• Previous Rank:468
• Current Rank:296
• Movement: +172

This is the breakout everyone expected two years ago and the breakout no one expected in January. After over a year spent lost in the wilderness of Triple-A, Montgomery was shut down, reworked his swing and rocketed to the major leagues. Once renowned for his blend of plate skills and power, Montgomery has evolved into a power hitter. His plate skills are still worrisome—29.2% strikeout rate, 8.8% walk rate and .239 average—but his 21 home runs in 71 games and .290 isolated slugging make his batting average drain more palatable. After many had written Montgomery off entering 2025, he bounced back in a big way. Â

Sal Stewart, 3B, Reds

• Previous Rank: 270
• Current Rank: 108
• Movement: +162

Stewart has been a RoboScout darling for years, but his lack of power made him a tough sell as a likely first base-only prospect. However, Stewart found his power stroke in Triple-A this year, producing a .315 isolated slugging and never looking back. Over 18 games at the end of the season with the Reds, Stewart slugged .545 with five home runs. His blend of advanced bat-to-ball skills and game power that is now plus is a marriage made in heaven for Cincinnatiâ€s hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark. Stewart’s potential for 30 home runs seasons with batting averages north of .270 have us excited for 2026 and beyond.Â

Emmet Sheehan, SP, Dodgers

• Previous Rank: 277
• Current Rank: 116
• Movement:+161

Sheehan was a consistent go-to weapon out of the bullpen for Dave Roberts and the Dodgers down the stretch this season, but itâ€s his potential as a starter that has us excited. In his return to the mound this season, Sheehan was excellent over 15 appearances and a dozen starts for the Dodgers. In 73.1 innings, Sheehan pitched to a 2.82 ERA with 89 strikeouts to 22 walks while holding opposing batters to a .184 average. In a crowded Dodgers rotation, Sheehan is unlikely to see 30-plus starts, but with the way Los Angeles skips starts for their elite arms, Sheehan could still see 20 or more.

Cade Horton, SP, Cubs

• Previous Rank: 348
• Current Rank: 204
• Movement: +144

While standout rookies like Nick Kurtz, Roman Anthony, Jacob Wilson and others received the headlines, Horton may have produced the best season among rookie pitchers. Over 23 appearances and 22 starts, the 24-year-old pitched to a 2.67 ERA over 118 innings. And while the strikeout numbers werenâ€t impressive, he has the stuff to likely make gains in that department.  Horton should be at the front of the Cubs’ rotation for years to come and looks like a reliable No. 3 or 4 fantasy starter with the ability to blow past his 2025 production in the coming years.Â

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