Yordan Alvarez

Yordan Alvarez is shaping up as one of the more polarizing draft-day decisions in 2026 fantasy leagues. After an injury-marred 2025 season burned managers who invested a first- or early second-round pick, Alvarez now projects as a rebound bat with elite per-game production when healthy. Projection systems still view him as a middle-of-the-order force capable of strong four-category output, supported by his consistently elite plate skills and long track record of hard contact. The main complication is positional flexibility: Alvarez is expected to qualify only at DH in most formats, effectively locking him into a UTIL role and increasing roster rigidity. That added risk will likely suppress his ADP, but entering his age-29 season, the underlying talent suggests a strong bounce-back is well within reach. If the discount reflects health concerns rather than skill erosion, Alvarez becomes a calculated upside play worth considering at the right price.

Yordan Alvarez (ankle) to spend most of next season at DH

Astros manager Joe Espada said Yordan Alvarez will spend most of next season at DH.

Fantasy Impact

Alvarez missed much of last season due to injuries, but he is expected to be fully healthy by Opening Day. He should remain in his usual role in the middle of the Astros lineup with Houston wanting to keep him off the field as much as possible defensively.