Michael Harris II’s 2025 campaign for the Braves was the baseball equivalent of a Jekyll and Hyde act. Just when fantasy managers thought they could count on him, the wheels would come off. Then, just as quickly, he’d go on a tear, leaving scorched box scores and a trail of regret for those who dared bench him. Now, as the 2026 season approaches, CBS Sports fantasy analyst Chris Towers is planting his flag: Harris still holds the key to a potential fantasy baseball breakout.
A High-Risk Profile with High-End Production
Let’s be clear, Harris’s track record is littered with both tantalizing upside and maddening inconsistency. His aggressive plate approach, which Towers bluntly attributes to “swinging at everything,” has made him one of the league’s more unpredictable performers. But as Towers points out, there’s real, measurable production under the hood. Despite a lackluster .249 batting average in 2025, Harris still racked up 20 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and 86 RBI, numbers that fantasy managers dream about from their centerfielder, especially one drafted outside the top 100.
Underlying Metrics Suggest a Braves Bounceback Is Possible
That’s the paradox at the heart of Harris’s fantasy value: his floor might be higher than many realize, while his ceiling, if he tightens up that plate discipline, is sky-high. The discrepancy between his 2025 wOBA (.289) and his career-worst .315 wOBA 2024 isn’t just trivia for stat-heads. It’s a flashing sign that Harris left production on the table last year. And if he rebounds even slightly in that department, his 2026 numbers could leap.
Could Harris Be the Steal of the Draft?
Yet fantasy baseball isn’t just about upside; it’s about reliability. And Harris has yet to prove he can deliver consistent value over a full season. That’s what makes him both a risk and a potential steal. The 2025 version of Harris, as Towers notes, is already “a pretty terrific fantasy player.” But the 2026 version? If things break right, he might be one of the biggest draft-day bargains on the board.
So, for fantasy managers willing to stomach the volatility and savvy enough to pounce when his stock dips, Michael Harris II could be the swing that wins a league.
