Aaron Judge’s dramatic September surge keeps him in the AL MVP conversation even as Cal Raleigh’s historic 60‑homer season for a catcher shakes up the fantasy landscape. Raleigh’s power, deep-league upside and the evolving catcher market push sleepers like Taj Bradley and Tanner Bbeby into the spotlight for 2026. Francisco Alvarez’s late‑season action adds catcher depth, while Sasaki’s velocity spike fuels chatter about affordable postseason and next‑year upside. The playoff picture tightens, Castillo finishes strong, and JRod’s late‑season surge reinforces Seattle’s offensive backbone.

Much of the talk circles around how to translate elite late-season finishes into next‑year value. Raleigh’s 60 HR is an outlier at his position, so expectations should be tempered, but the bar for catchers has risen. Bradley’s late burst and Bbeby’s cutter adjustments keep deep-league futures interesting. Alvarez’s return in New York signals continued upside behind the plate. The conversation remains: chase upside late in drafts, balance with proven floor, and monitor how MVP narratives color 2026 projections.

In short, the fantasy horizon is wide open after strong finishes. Expect renewed interest in high‑variance arms, keep an eye on positional scarcity (catcher, pitching depth), and watch how several hot finishers shape early 2026 ADP debates.

Nolan McLean shines as Mets’ rookie spark at the top of fantasy rosters, while Pete Alonso and Juan Soto carry a Mets offense that has heaters blazing in September. The duo headlines a surge from the Mets’ lineup, with Alonso piling up homers and RBI and Soto showing multi-category fire. George Springer’s IL-recovery hot-streak, Julio Rodríguez’s continued torrid pace, and Cal Raleigh’s power stretch fuel late-season rosters. Additions like Adley Rutschman and Bo Bichette spark deeper league intrigue as waiver activity heats up.

Across the slate, sleeper arms like Nolan McLean emerge as must-roster in many formats, even as risk remains. Mound notes contrast with Mets’ bats; top-tier veterans hold steady, while injury timelines for Tucker and Co. shape week-to-week lineups. A blend of power, speed, and strategic pitching moves defines the fantasy air in this late-season stretch.

Week 22 edges into a turbulent fantasy landscape with a mix of breakout performers and riskier veterans. Max Scherzer continues to punch above his weight in a four-start quality-streak stretch, posting sub-3.00 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP with efficient outings that keep him in strong two-step lineups when the matchup suits. Brenton Doyle has emerged as a late-season spark for Colorado, flipping a rough first half into a second-half run that looks sustainable thanks to improved attack metrics and a ball-in-play approach that should yield value in a seven-game slate next week.

The slate also highlights Julio Rodríguez and Vlad Jr., two power-plus talents who have rekindled fantasy relevance as the season closes. Rodríguez is showing the speed and swing decisions that fuel multi-category upside, while Vlad Jr. maintains power production with steady plate discipline and a favorable park mix. Taylor Ward’s ongoing production raises questions about multi-category constellations for rosters in deeper formats. Kyle Tucker remains a focal point of contention and opportunity, with rest-of-season upside tempered by recent cold stretches that necessitate cautious rostering rather than outright selling.

Injury notes and roster moves pepper the week, with slugging linesman energy across the outfield and infield alike. Managers should prioritize outfield depth in formats with four or five spots, leverage second-half recency for veterans who have shown true outcomes, and consider Doyle as a sleeper in 5-outfield leagues given Rockies’ seven-game week, four at Coors Field. A steady baseline from Scherzer and strategic buys around Rodríguez, Vlad Jr., and Ward can unlock strong roto gains while navigating a week with uneven scheduling.

Brewers sprint to dominance reshapes their postseason odds as Milwaukee rides a nine-game win streak and a league-best mark through a demanding weekend. The pivot hinges on Woodruff’s health and a subtly evolved pitch mix that covers for velocity dips post-shoulder surgery, while Isaac Collins emerges as a sneaky rookie of the year candidate, amplifying the lineup’s impact alongside William Contreras’ hot stretch. The Mariners answer with a high-octane, deep batting order—Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez fueling a surge that could threaten October plans—while Drake Baldwin’s two-homer burst for Atlanta hints at a Braves offense that remains dangerous despite a rough patch elsewhere. Across the league, Wheeler’s steadiness keeps the Phillies in the hunt, Otani’s bat stays electric, and Seattle’s depth is turning into a playoff barrel. The weekend also spotlighted Ichiro’s ceremonial moment in Seattle and a Cubs offense that will need a rebound after trading deadline moves, with managers weighing pitching chaos versus stability as they push toward the finish line.

Milwaukee’s surge centers on a careful reintroduction of Woodruff’s repertoire—the slider and sinker getting more usage while the velocity remains modest. The Brewers’ offense has learned to chase power from Contreras and the rising contributions from Collins, making the midseason sprint more feasible than expected. Seattle’s breakout is less about one star and more about the depth across the lineup, with Rodríguez heating up and Raleigh’s impact growing as teams pivot to pull-heavy hitting strategies. In Philadelphia, the rotation remains the glue even when some peripherals wobble, and CeCe Ce Ce Ce is mixing more pitches, signaling a trend toward greater starter versatility nationwide.