As we take a look at the RotoProspects fantasy baseball rankings and projections, it’s true that the catcher position is often one of the trickiest to navigate in fantasy baseball. However, landing the right backstop can give your team a major advantage.
Here at RotoProspects, we provide 2026 Catcher Fantasy Baseball Rankings and Projections, broken into tiers. You can check out the entire list of the top 50 catchers, broken into eight different tiers, by clicking here (subscription required).
Here’s a quick look at the first two tiers.
Tier 1: The elite stands alone
1. Cal Raleigh (SEA): Coming off a legendary 60-homer campaign in 2025, Raleigh (pictured above) is the undisputed power king of the position and a foundational piece for any roster. While he may not repeat that historic milestone, his elite barrel rates and “pull-side air” approach ensure a home run floor that towers over every other backstop.
| TIER 1 – PROJECTION | Age | PA | HR | R | RBI | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 1. Cal Raleigh, Sea | 29 | 637 | 43 | 87 | 111 | 8 | .234 | .331 | .522 | .853 |
Tier 2: The near-elite standouts
2. William Contreras (MIL): After playing through a fractured finger last season, Contreras remains the premier “workhorse” catcher with a massive volume of plate appearances and elite contact skills. He is the safest bet for high-end AVG and OBP while still chipping in double-digit steals and 20+ home run power.
3. Hunter Goodman (COL): Goodman emerged as a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat in 2025, using the Coors Field altitude to fuel a 31-homer breakout. While his high strikeout rate makes his batting average volatile, his raw power and fly-ball profile make him a high-upside gamble for those chasing counting stats.
4. Shea Langeliers (ATH): One of the most polarizing names in 2026 drafts, Langeliers backed up his massive power with significant strides in plate discipline and batting average during the second half of last year. If his improved K% sticks, he has the physical tools to follow the Cal Raleigh trajectory and push for a 35-homer season.
5. Ben Rice (NYY): A Statcast darling, Rice ranks in the top percentiles for nearly every power and quality-of-contact metric while maintaining a surprisingly disciplined eye at the plate. Now established as a primary fixture in the Yankees’ lineup, he offers rare dual-eligibility upside and a ceiling that could see him jump into the first tier by 2027.
6. Salvador Perez (KC): The ageless wonder continues to defy the “catcher cliff,” coming off his second consecutive 100-RBI season at age 35. While the young legs are catching up to him in the rankings, his role as the Royals’ primary run producer—splitting time between C, 1B, and DH—guarantees the steady veteran production you need.
| TIER 2 – PROJECTIONS | Age | PA | HR | R | RBI | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 2. William Contreras, Mil | 28 | 629 | 21 | 85 | 81 | 6 | .268 | .356 | .435 | .789 |
| 3. Hunter Goodman, Col | 26 | 571 | 28 | 73 | 86 | 2 | .256 | .307 | .483 | .790 |
| 4. Shea Langeliers, Ath | 28 | 525 | 28 | 69 | 78 | 6 | .256 | .316 | .487 | .803 |
| 5. Ben Rice, NYY | 27 | 546 | 27 | 76 | 79 | 4 | .249 | .335 | .472 | .807 |
| 6. Salvador Perez, KC | 36 | 601 | 28 | 65 | 88 | 0 | .252 | .302 | .449 | .751 |
Get our Full Rankings and Projections for each position
Don’t head into your draft with just a list of names. Our full projections also include 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, OF, DH, SP (coming soon) and RP, all organized by tiers and available with a link to an easy-to-print PDF format.