Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler (knee) was one of the breakout stars of the 2024 fantasy baseball season, recording an .807 OPS with 22 home runs and 18 stolen bases across just 451 plate appearances and earning a seven-year contract extension from his organization. However, the 25-year-old posted a somewhat underwhelming follow-up campaign in 2025. Across 630 plate appearances, Butler hit .234/.306/.404 with 21 home runs, 63 RBI, 83 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases. His strikeout rate jumped from 23.9% in 2024 to 28.4% in 2025, while his barrel rate fell from 11% to 9.2%. Over the offseason, Butler underwent knee surgery to repair a torn right patellar tendon, and reportedly battled knee troubles throughout 2025. He expects to be ready for the start of Spring Training, which means Butler could be in line for a bounce-back season with improved health. Even in a down year, Butler still provided fantasy managers with both power and speed, and he profiles as an everyday regular in an improving Athletics lineup. Butler carries some downside risk, but he could represent a value pick for fantasy managers as the 135th player off the board by current average draft position.

Ex-major-league outfielder Yasiel Puig was found guilty of obstruction of justice and lying to federal officials investigating an illegal sports betting operation, according to David Payne Purdum of ESPN. Puig now faces up to 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26. The 35-year-old initially pled guilty to a felony charge of lying to federal agents. He acknowledged in an Aug. 2022 plea agreement that he racked up more than $280,000 in losses over a few months in 2019 while wagering on tennis, football, and basketball games through a third party who worked for an illegal gambling operation run by Wayne Nix, a former minor-league baseball player. Authorities said Puig placed at least 900 bets through Nix-controlled betting websites. Prosecutors said Puig denied knowing about the nature of his bests in a Jan. 2022 interview, but he changed his tune months later, announcing he was switching his plea to not guilty because of "significant new evidence." In seven major-league seasons (six with the Dodgers), Puig hit .277 with 132 home runs and 415 RBI.

Texas Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo continues to have a high floor in category formats heading into the 2026 campaign. Nimmo was shipped to the Rangers in the early stages of the offseason in exchange for infielder Marcus Semien. Over the past two seasons, Nimmo has hit at least 23 home runs while swiping double-digit bases. In 2025, Nimmo would launch a career-best 25 long balls with 13 stolen bases, a slight drop from the 15 he stole the year prior. He posted a .262/.324/.436 line with 81 runs and a solid 92 RBI, the highest of his career. His rise in power could continue in 2026, as he posted a career-best 50.2% hard-hit rate and a 112.3 max exit velocity. While the 32-year-old's counting stats could take a slight hit in the move to Texas, he holds 20/10 (HR/SB) upside while proving a solid batting average. He is a prime target as a No. 3 OF in NFBC drafts, at his current 142.2 ADP.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story appeared in 157 games in 2025, which matched a preivous career high he set in 2018. Since joining the Red Sox in 2022, Story never appeared in more than 94 games in a season and has only surpassed the 50-game mark once, until 2025. Last season, Story looked like his former self, posting a .263/.308/.433 line with 25 home runs and 31 stolen bases. He tallied 91 runs and 96 RBI as he held a consistent spot in the heart of the Boston lineup. However, under the hood, Story generated a modest .311 xwOBA, suggesting he may take a bit of a step back in 2026. Additionally, his 26.9% K% and low 5.0% BB% significantly lower his floor in points formats. Given his injury history, Story does hold some risks heading into the 2026 campaign. However, when on the field, he possesses legit power and speed upside while providing high-end counting stats. He is a solid option at his 104.9 (No. 13 SS) on NFBC drafts when looking for upside, albeit with some risk.