Single-league drafts aren’t for the faint of heart. They require a deep knowledge of a particular league and a certain amount of patience. While AL- or NL-only leagues can be more rewarding for the die-hard baseball fan, the draft takes on added significance because there’s very little to choose from once it’s over. It’s imperative to make the right selections and to make sure you fill out every starting spot before you move onto depth because you don’t want to be left with the weak side of a platoon for your fourth outfielder.
The good news is, that the American League has plenty to choose from and loads of promising upside. When playing in single leagues, the return value you get on your first 10 selections is even more significant than usual. They are your moneymakers and if you don’t do well there, you likely won’t do well at all. But it’s not like the rest of the draft isn’t important – it’s just much harder than in mixed leagues to find productive players later on. You must do all you can to find those steady producers early, then some hidden gems in the middle rounds, and the diamonds in the rough towards the end.
Lucky for you, I’m here to help. After countless hours of research, I’ve singled out six players you should target in AL-Only leagues this year who are massively undervalued. If you can draft one or more of these guys at or near their current ADP you’re already two steps ahead of the competition.
- 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit
- Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Simulator
- Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings
- Fantasy Baseball Projections
2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values
Bichette has been a consensus late first-round/early second-round pick (in mixed leagues) since his second year in the league. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays as a whole struggled to meet expectations in 2023 and went through plenty of lull phases. Bichette was arguably their best hitter but even he produced slightly under projections because of time spent on the injured list. Had Bichette not gotten hurt, he could easily have met his career norms and finished with something in the neighborhood of 26 home runs, a .300 average, 85 runs and RBI. He surprisingly didn’t run as much on the basepaths last year but 10 bags this season seem well within reach.
With the Jays working hard to bounce back and with Justin Turner adding to the mix, look for Bichette to come back with a vengeance and remind everyone that he has no business lasting until the fourth round in mixed leagues and the late second in AL-only ones. If you get him past 17th overall, consider yourself lucky.
After missing the first two months of last season, Lewis hit well before heading back to the IL with an oblique injury. He then returned in August and closed out the year as one of the most productive hitters in baseball. Lewis finished the 2023 season with a robust .309/.372/.548 slash line. He then mashed four dingers in the playoffs over six games.
If it weren’t for all the injuries he’s already endured, Lewis may already be a second-round pick. If he can stay off the IL or at the very least start 135 games, the 23-year-old could generate first-round value. His BABIP was elevated this past season (.354) but the man rakes with power to all fields so his .300 plus average should be possible once again. He’s expected to bat somewhere between second and fourth in the lineup this year and could flirt with 100 RBIs and runs. The former top pick in the draft did steal four bases in September this past year but with his injury history, the team may play it safe and limit his aggressiveness.
Lewis could end up the most valuable pick in fantasy drafts this season if he can just stay on the field. The budding superstar comes with plenty of risk, but in the fourth round, he’s highly worth it.
Duran will likely be Boston’s leadoff hitter this year where he could easily finish as a top-50 player in AL-Only leagues. The 27-year-old was a force on the base paths last season snagging 24 bags on 26 attempts before missing nearly the final two months of the season due to turf toe. Despite the injury, Duran finished with an excellent .295/.347/.482 triple slash in just over 100 games.
Projections have him down for around 15 homers and 28 steals in 2024 which would easily catapult him into the top-100 players. If he can reach 500+ plate appearances, Duran could sniff 85 runs scored and about 65-70 RBIs. His power hasn’t been much of a factor yet in his major league career but at the classic break-out age of 27 and his ability to hit home runs in the minor leagues, 18-20 homers isn’t out of the question. Duran’s .295 average will be difficult to repeat but if he can cut down on his strikeouts with another year of experience under his belt, a .280 average is a strong possibility. The Red Sox center fielder is a solid pick just after the top 100 are off the board.
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Austin Lowell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Austin, check out his archive.