When preparing for your fantasy baseball drafts, knowing which players to target and others to avoid is important. The amount of information available can be overwhelming, so a great way to condense the data and determine players to draft and others to leave for your leaguemates is to use our expert consensus fantasy baseball rankings compared to average draft position (ADP). In this way, you can identify players the experts are willing to reach for at ADP and others they are not drafting until much later than average. Let’s dive into a few notable players below.
2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice
| Rank | Player | Team | Positions | Best | Worst | Avg | Std Dev | ADP | vs. ADP |
| 48 | Adley Rutschman | BAL | C,DH | 43 | 80 | 52.4 | 6.3 | 39 | -9 |
| 49 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | 40 | 70 | 53.2 | 6 | 40 | -9 |
| 53 | Mike Trout | LAA | CF | 38 | 89 | 57 | 8.1 | 43 | -10 |
| 63 | Kyle Schwarber | PHI | LF,DH | 43 | 98 | 64.4 | 13.6 | 48 | -15 |
| 69 | Blake Snell | SP | 44 | 118 | 71.1 | 18.8 | 60 | -9 | |
| 71 | J.T. Realmuto | PHI | C | 62 | 83 | 75.4 | 5.7 | 50 | -21 |
| 76 | Will Smith | LAD | C | 65 | 92 | 81.8 | 5.6 | 62 | -14 |
| 79 | Nolan Arenado | STL | 3B | 44 | 98 | 85.2 | 7.6 | 71 | -8 |
| 85 | William Contreras | MIL | C,DH | 70 | 131 | 90.1 | 17.4 | 73 | -12 |
| 94 | Kyle Bradish | BAL | SP | 70 | 122 | 97.7 | 14.7 | 83 | -11 |
| 103 | George Springer | TOR | RF,DH | 82 | 134 | 105.7 | 13.7 | 87 | -16 |
| 104 | Justin Steele | CHC | SP | 81 | 134 | 105.9 | 11 | 92 | -12 |
| 107 | Joe Musgrove | SD | SP | 78 | 126 | 106.8 | 10.1 | 95 | -12 |
| 108 | Walker Buehler | LAD | SP | 59 | 171 | 108.2 | 20.8 | 96 | -12 |
| 111 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | 85 | 151 | 114.7 | 15.6 | 94 | -17 |
| 115 | Cole Ragans | KC | SP,RP | 65 | 163 | 119.9 | 20.2 | 98 | -17 |
| 117 | Dylan Cease | CWS | SP | 77 | 154 | 120.7 | 19.9 | 84 | -33 |
| 118 | Andres Gimenez | CLE | 2B | 84 | 189 | 121.6 | 14.1 | 103 | -15 |
| 122 | Edwin Diaz | NYM | RP | 40 | 320 | 98.3 | 86.3 | 66 | -56 |
| 128 | Cedric Mullins II | BAL | CF | 36 | 177 | 131.7 | 6 | 109 | -19 |
| 132 | Christian Encarnacion-Strand | CIN | 1B,DH | 73 | 184 | 134.1 | 14.6 | 116 | -16 |
| 133 | Teoscar Hernandez | LAD | RF,DH | 107 | 208 | 136.2 | 19.8 | 110 | -23 |
| 142 | Salvador Perez | KC | C,1B,DH | 128 | 196 | 148 | 16 | 118 | -24 |
| 143 | Sean Murphy | ATL | C | 131 | 207 | 148.2 | 8.1 | 119 | -24 |
| 150 | Max Muncy | LAD | 3B | 127 | 198 | 157.4 | 19 | 134 | -16 |
Mike Trout (OF – LAA)
Mike Trout’s performance in 2023 showcased his exceptional hitting abilities, though injuries limited him to just 82 games. Averaging slightly over 100 games annually since 2016 (excluding the 2020 shortened season), Trout’s recent playing time has been inconsistent, with 82, 119, and 36 games in the last three seasons. His .263/.367/.490 slash line last season reflected a dip that can likely be attributed to a wrist injury. At 32, Trout’s base-stealing days are behind him, with only 17 steals in the past five years. Additionally, his lineup may no longer include Shohei Ohtani. While a fully healthy Trout could warrant a first or second-round fantasy pick, relying on his full-season availability is risky. Trout remains a viable OF1, but drafting him as an OF2 with a plan for potential absences might be more prudent.
Cedric Mullins (OF – BAL)
In 2023, by April’s end, Cedric Mullins kicked off the season with 11 stolen bases. However, persistent injuries hampered his performance, resulting in a modest .233/.305/.416 and only 19 steals. If healthy, Mullins has the potential for 30 steals in 2024, but his poor batting may relegate him lower in the lineup of the promising Orioles team. His position may not be as secure as it has been in the past because of the wealth of talent in the Baltimore pipeline.
Teoscar Hernandez (OF – LAD)
Teoscar Hernandez appeared in 160 games in his season with Seattle, echoing his typical performance. He notched 26 home runs, tallied 93 RBIs, and scored 70 runs. Excelling in hard hits (90th percentile) and a 13.8% barrel rate, Hernandez is expected to maintain a batting average of around .250. Landing in Los Angeles to bat in the middle of that powerhouse lineup, Hernandez suddenly has extremely high upside in counting stats. Beware of the premium that many fantasy managers will put on all 2024 Dodgers, but at the right price, Hernandez can be a high-end OF3.
What is Fantasy Baseball?
Fantasy baseball is an online game where participants act as managers of virtual baseball teams based on real-life Major League Baseball (MLB) players. The performance of these players in actual games determines the results in the fantasy league. It’s a blend of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck, akin to the real-world decisions team managers must make.
Basic Strategy for Fantasy Baseball Success
1. Understand Your League’s Format and Scoring
Before drafting your team, it’s essential to understand the scoring system and rules of your specific league, as this will influence your drafting and management strategy. Knowing whether you’re in a points-based, category-based, or head-to-head league will guide you in selecting players whose strengths align with the scoring system.
2. Drafting Your Team Wisely
A solid draft is the foundation of a successful season. Here are a few tips for the drafting phase:
- Balanced Team: Ensure you have a balanced team with a mix of power hitters, average hitters, speedsters, starting pitchers, and relievers.
- Position Scarcity: Be aware of the depth of talent at each position. Some positions, like shortstop, may have fewer high-quality players, making it beneficial to draft a top player at that position early.
- High-Floor Players: Early in the draft, focus on players with a proven track record of consistency.
- Upside Picks: In the later rounds, look for “upside” players. These are athletes who have the potential to outperform their draft position.
3. In-Season Management
- Stay Active: Constantly look for ways to improve your team through waivers, trades, and free-agent pickups.
- Mind the Matchups: Pay attention to player matchups, platoon splits, and ballparks. Starting a pitcher in a hitter-friendly park, for example, can be risky.
- Injury Management: Stay on top of player injuries and have backups ready for your key players.
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