2026 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Targets

September’s Cutting‑Room Floor for Elite.Performers

The All‑Star break is a distant memory, and the final playoff push is underway. Managers who wait for miracles rarely climb to the top, so now is the moment to audit rosters and purge under‑performers. The players below all sit above an 80% roster rate, yet they have been dragging fantasy teams down for months. They were once Draft‑day gems, but recent stats show they are now dubious liabilities in most 10‑team leagues.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Toronto Blue Jays (99% rostered)

Guerrero has appeared in 95 of Toronto’s 100 games but sits 220th overall and 32nd among first basemen in 2026 fantasy production. Only one of the 31 players ahead of him is on the injured list, and many of those ahead are being shifted to different positions. In formats without a corner‑outfield spot, Guerrero’s high salary and six home runs no longer justify his carry‑over rate, suggesting a drop to 75‑80% is more reasonable.

Hunter Brown – Houston Astros (95% rostered)

After a 2.5‑month IL stint for a right‑shoulder strain, Brown’s numbers have plummeted in July (7.98 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 11:15 K:BB). His dominant 2025 campaign featured a 2.43 ERA and 206 strikeouts, but he is nowhere near that level this season. He remains a risky pickup unless you are locked into playoff spots and have bench space to keep him on the bench.

Cal Raleigh – Seattle Mariners (94% rostered)

Raleigh, last year’s top fantasy catcher, has missed a month and is hitting .163 with a .573 OPS while healthy. His strikeout rate sits at a career‑worst 32%, and his average exit velocity has fallen 3.3 mph year over year. For managers needing a dependable middle‑of‑the‑order catcher, Liam Hicks, Dillon Dingler, Carter Jensen, or Samuel Basallo provide comparable upside at lower roster percentages.

Geraldo Perdomo – Arizona Diamondbacks (91% rostered)

Perdomo’s 2025 breakout was a flash in the pan; his average exit velocity now sits at the 16th percentile, capping his power ceiling. While he remains a solid base‑stealer with good plate discipline, his modest home‑run track record keeps him from elite status. A roster rate hovering around 70% better reflects his current fantasy value.

Framber Valdez – Detroit Tigers (90% rostered)

Valdez’s strikeout rate has fallen to a career‑low 18.6%, and his 4.10 ERA/1.32 WHIP are the worst since 2019. His poor second half in 2025 (5.20 ERA) has carried into this calendar year, where he is 8‑13 with a 4.53 ERA. The steep drop in swing‑and‑miss stuff makes him a risky hold for most leagues.

Alex Bregman – Chicago Cubs (89% rostered)

Bregman, ranked 31st at third base despite playing 98 of Chicago’s 100 games, has not stolen a base and has not posted a 25‑home‑run season or a .270 batting average since 2019. His .652 OPS at his new park suggests the struggles will linger. Alternatives such as Casey Schmitt (19% rostered), Sam Antonacci (47%) and Curtis Mead (50%) have outperformed Bregman in recent weeks.

Nico Hoerner – Chicago Cubs (89% rostered)

Since May 1, Hoerner is hitting .226 with zero home runs, 17 RBI, 23 runs and seven steals. The once‑steady contact hitter’s recent numbers look more like a utility player than a core second‑base option. Expected stats hint at a possible bounce‑back, but the risk of staying down outweighs the reward for most fantasy managers.

Freddy Peralta – New York Mets (87% rostered)

Peralta’s ERA sits at 5.01 and his WHIP at 1.46, and he has not recorded a quality start since June 3. His strikeout rate has slid from 28.2% last season to 22.4% this year, eroding the pitch‑ability that once made him reliable. He is one of several Mets whose 2026 collapse has shocked even the most skeptical observers.

Jarren Duran – Boston Red Sox (86% rostered)

Duran’s May surge has melted away; he is hitting .191 overall and has batted under .175 in every other month. Since June 1 he has posted only 3 homers, 14 runs, 16 RBI and four steals, while his strikeout rate has spiked and contact quality has slipped. Several players with similar power‑speed profiles remain available and could fill his roster spot more efficiently.

Jose Altuve – Houston Astros (84% rostered)

At 36, Altuve’s strikeout rate has cracked 20% for the first time, a troubling sign for a player who has long struggled with hard‑hit balls. He may still club 20 home runs, but those long balls will come with a low batting average and single‑digit stolen bases. A roster‑rate cut of about 15% would better align with his declining production.

Taylor Ward – Baltimore Orioles (83% rostered)

Ward’s barrel rate sits at a career‑low 5.7%, killing his power potential and leaving him with just seven home runs. He is a .248 career hitter with limited speed, and seven of his fellow outfielders have already doubled his homer total while staying available in the majority of Yahoo leagues. Dropping Ward from most rosters makes room for cheaper, more productive options.