The 2026 edition of The Process is now available! The FSWA award winning publication and the approach used by Jeff Zimmerman and Tanner Bell to win over $45,000 in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC) earnings is ready for the upcoming 2026 season.
Just like in recent years, the appendix contains all the new studies and research.
There is no need to purchase the full 2026 edition if you have already read a previous full edition. You only need to purchase the appendix to get all the groundbreaking new studies. There is no new information in the body of the full version. Everything new, including new research and all the SGP data will be in the 148-page-long appendix.
If you’re new to The Process, the 2026 Full Edition comes with the core fantasy baseball methodology along with the new appendix.
Just like last season, Jeff Zimmerman performed many new interesting research studies. In addition, additional research was contributed by talented fantasy managers and authors, including Patrick Davitt, Bryan Fitzgerald, Dan Madigan, Adam Sawyer, and Russell H. Withers (Armchair Roto).
The new appendix includes:
- Over 25 new research studies and analysis performed by the group above. The research is in the main categories of:
- NFBC Draft Theory and Strategy
- Hitter Evaluation
- Pitcher Evaluation
- The theory and strategy research looks at how to avoid busts and locate quality players in the late rounds of draft and hold leagues, the effectiveness of drafting players in “free look” early season games, the portion of statistics drafted versus FAABed by top teams, a quick approach to convert OPS and SB projections to a player’s expected ADP, analysis of the stats that mean the most at the top of large overall competitions, analysis of FAAB bidding patterns from the past two seasons, and the effectiveness of drafting injured players to sneak them through FAAB later in the season.
- The hitter evaluation section looks at using Statcast and other metrics to assist in projecting batting average, speculation on how to identify the next Pete Crow-Armstrong, several small studies looking at how top prospect list rankings affect projections, how contact percent and exit velocity interact with each other, a look at Kyren Paris and the lessons we can draw from his 2025 fantasy season, and research on the baseline level of power needed to be a player that could gain from additional exit velocity.
- The pitcher evaluation section studies second opinions and how to interpret the results of the first opinion, the traits of successful pitchers with low-velocity fastballs, how changeup-heavy starters should be viewed, how to view pitchers returning from a significant injury and if they pitched at all in a previous season, what changed characteristics about pitchers mean the most, the importance of paired pitch velocities, additional research on Jeff Zimmerman’s pitcher injury grades, the effect of ball percentage changes on pitcher results, a study of barrel-to-home-run stickiness and pitchers expected to regress in 2026, what to expect from top pitching prospects reaching the major leagues, and major league equivalents for the minor, Japanese, and Korean leagues.
We will continue to offer two editions this year, so our readers can choose the version that is right for them. More information on the Full 2026 and the Appendix 2026 Editions is below. We want to be very transparent about what you can expect from these options.
Printed editions of the Full and Appendix versions will be available on Amazon soon. Stay tuned for more information.
– Tanner and Jeff
2026 Appendix Edition PDF ($14.99)
If you have previously read the core book and are only looking for the 148 pages of new appendix material, this is for you! This version does not include the full text. If you’ve never purchased The Process and want the entire book, you need to purchase the Full Edition.
For $14.99, the PDF of the Appendix Edition includes 148 pages of information to help prepare for the 2026 season. Not having to manually calculate standings gain points for the main NFBC league formats, OBP leagues, or AL and NL-only leagues is worth the price of this alone.
In addition to the SGP, this season’s appendix includes the following new research studies:
- How to avoid busts and find quality players late in draft-and-hold drafts (Russel H. Withers)
- Analysis of the results of drafting players in the early season “free look” games (Bryan Fitzgerald)
- A look at the stats drafted versus added via free agency for top teams in the NFBC Main Event (Bryan Fitzgerald)
- How to use drafted percentage to target players in the NFBC Draft Champions competition (Jeff Zimmerman)
- A quick tool to convert OPS and SB to a projected average draft position (Jeff Zimmerman)
- Analysis of what statistical categories matter most for top performers in the large overall contests (Jeff Zimmerman)
- FAAB bidding analysis for the last two seasons (Jeff Zimmerman)
- A look at the strategy of drafting known injured players, dropping them, and re-adding them at a discount before they return (Jeff Zimmerman)
- Using Statcast and other metrics to help understand batting average (Patrick Davitt)
- How to identify the next Pete Crow-Armstrong (Bryan Fitzgerald)
- Several studies analyzing how top prospect rankings affect projections, rookie production, and creating a major league equivalent (Jeff Zimmerman)
- Analysis of how changes in contact percentage affect exit velocity (Jeff Zimmerman)
- A look at Kyren Paris’ season and what we can learn from it (Jeff Zimmerman)
- Research about the minimum level of power needed to see improved results (Jeff Zimmerman)
- A ground breaking study about medical second opinions and when you may have enough information to act upon the wording from a first opinion (Bryan Fitzgerald)
- The traits of successful pitchers with low-velocity fastballs (Dan Madigan)
- How much can we trust changeup-heavy starting pitchers (Dan Madigan)
- How to interpret pitchers returning from significant injuries and when they first return (Adam Sawyer)
- A look at the most important pitching changes and pitch characteristics (Jeff Zimmerman)
- Research about pitches that are close in velocity (Jeff Zimmerman)
- New analysis about Jeff’s starting pitcher injury grades (Jeff Zimmerman)
- The effect changes in ball percentage have on ERA and other metrics (Jeff Zimmerman)
- A study of pitcher barrels-per-home-run stickiness and pitchers expected to regress (Jeff Zimmerman)
- Research about top prospect pitchers, pitcher MLEs, and Japanese and Korean league MLEs (Jeff Zimmerman
Click here for the complete table of contents. The appendix also includes the following invaluable data tables to reference during draft preparation and in season:
- Jeff Zimmerman’s powerful pERA metric for MLB players
- Jeff Zimmerman’s starting pitcher injury grades
- Jeff Zimmerman’s hard hit information
- Updated standings gain points (SGP) from the 2025 season
- Average final league standings data for a variety of league types to help you determine your category goals
Click here to purchase the Appendix Only 2026 Edition in a PDF e-book format for $14.99.
Full 2026 Edition PDF ($19.99)
The full edition contains the same core of the book that’s been around since 2019 but with no updates except those provided in the appendix. The full edition of The Process e-book contains 440+ pages on how to run a fantasy baseball team, including the complete 148 page appendix discussed above. Some of the highlights are:
- Detailed analysis of how to use industry projections and when they should be modified.
- How to use valuation systems to turn projections into rankings and dollar values.
- Take advantage of industry biases and norms to pull as much value out of a draft and auction.
- Groundbreaking studies on when breakouts happen, how past performance predicts future success, when valuable free agents appear, and behavioral analysis of the best NFBC teams, with all aspects analyzed and presented so owners can take advantage of this information.
- Pages of hints and secrets to accumulate standing gains during the season.
- Discussion of specific in-season tools utilized by the authors.
- Rookie variance study looking at the accuracy of rookie versus non-rookie projections.
- Comparison of the SGP and z-score valuations system that highlights the differences between the two systems for both hitters and pitchers.
- Study comparing the cost to acquire closers and comparable starters via FAAB.
- Study on the extent to which previous fantasy productions levels indicate future success.
- Weekly valuation study analyzing the benefits of valuing players on a weekly basis instead of only on an annual basis.
Click here to purchase the Full 2026 Edition in a PDF e-book format for $19.99. Please note we plan to offer a printed version of the Full Edition at Amazon. Stay tuned for more details on when that will become available.
What Have Others Said About the Book?
I am one who loves a large variety of baseball content. I listen to a plethora of podcasts. I love BABS. And who does not appreciate Baseball HQ and the Forecaster? And there are so many wonderful websites available for news and content – FanGraphs, Rotowire, Razzball, just to name a few. These and others all play a role in developing our fantasy baseball skills, but none so thoroughly covers the season-long fantasy baseball process like The Process.
~ John Pausma – NFBC Hall of Fame, 2018 NFBC Main Event Champion, 2021 NFBC $50s Champion
My first five seasons playing fantasy baseball have been heavily influenced by Jeff Zimmerman and Tanner Bell and it all culminated into one of the greatest fantasy baseball seasons of all time in 2021 when I won the NFBC Main Event (645 teams), the NFBC Auction Championship (120 teams) and finished second in the NFBC Online Championship (2388 teams). Whether you’re just starting out like I was in 2017 or have been playing for far longer than I have, I think everyone will learn a ton from this book, I know I certainly have and will continue to do so.
~ Phil Dussault – 2021 NFBC Main Event Champion, NFBC Auction Champion, and 2nd Place Finisher in NFBC Online Championship
What lies in these pages is the most thorough tackling of the larger questions of rotisserie baseball that you’ll find anywhere in this world (physical or digital). Jeff and Tanner examine concepts such as cognitive biases and measurement of intrinsic value, they dig into the trick, inexact science of FAAB, and they also introduce new ideas and theories.
~ Clay Link – RotoWire, The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational Champion
After reading The Process, I realize I will never write a book about fantasy baseball because Jeff Zimmerman and Tanner Bell wrote the book I would have written, only way better.
~ Rob Silver – NFBC Main Event Overall Champion
There are two paths towards sustainable fantasy baseball success: 1) You have preternatural talent in scouting/projecting talent or 2) You build, maintain, and refine a winning process to maximize all the little advantages. I employ the latter path. I am not sure whether to be mad at Jeff Zimmerman and Tanner Bell for providing a cheat code to years of learnings/struggles or pleased that they will create smarter fantasy baseballers to better utilize Razzball tools/projections. I will go with the latter to increase the chances they use my blurb.
~ Rudy Gamble – Razzball, Two-time Tout Wars Champion
Most books just tell you how the author won his leagues. What makes Tanner Bell and Jeff Zimmerman’s effort so epic is that it not only shows their work in every step of their own methods, it gives the reader a great sense of how they could innovate further, and how they could build their own league-winning process. This is a must-read for any fantasy baseball lover.
~ Eno Sarris – The Athletic
This is undoubtedly the most comprehensive fantasy baseball guide I have ever come across. Jeff and Tanner are two of the smartest minds in the industry and are part of the few I make sure to read everything from. The pair cuts through the noise and the group-think with just the facts, and lots of ’em! Forget the annual publications that provide player commentary and projections that are already outdated the moment you pick one up. The Process will provide you with long-term value and make you a better fantasy baseball player not just for the upcoming season, but for many seasons to come.
~ Mike Podhorzer – Fangraphs, Projecting X 2.0, Former Tout Wars Champion
The Process is one of the smartest, most comprehensive fantasy baseball books to hit the market in years. If you’re a valuation fanatic like I am, you’ll enjoy and devour every page of this book. The combination of Bell’s valuation expertise and Zimmerman’s real-world auction experience (and multiple victories in Tout Wars) shines through in this tome. The Process is an essential part of any fantasy player’s bookshelf and should be on yours if you’re serious about winning your leagues in 2019.
~ Mike Gianella – Baseball Prospectus, Former Tout Wars and LABR Champion
I’ve suffered through several auctions against Jeff and have enjoyed Tanner’s work for years. There’s statistical analysis, then there’s the statistical analysis that they whisper to the lucky buyers of The Process. Jeff and Tanner present stout scientific research in their fantasy baseball strategy while putting their findings in terms any baseball aficionado can understand. The thorough, measured, logical approach taken in this book is worth a read before you draft your team.
~ Tim Heaney – RotoWire, ESPN, Tout Wars, FSWA Award Winner
Please Click the Button Below to Purchase the Full Edition PDF for $19.99
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