20 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers Experts Target (2024)

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
103	Dansby Swanson	CHC	SS	77	160	107.7	17.7	116	13
114	Josh Naylor	CLE	1B,DH	85	198	114.8	12.5	127	13
121	Zack Gelof	OAK	2B	87	170	130.3	17.5	139	18
127	Riley Greene	DET	CF,RF	55	183	137.1	24.7	150	23
129	Ian Happ	CHC	LF	41	178	138.2	22.5	159	30
130	Vinnie Pasquantino	KC	1B	96	237	139	27.1	162	32
139	Bailey Ober	MIN	SP	99	208	144.6	24.4	155	16
148	Thairo Estrada	SF	2B,SS	110	201	153.1	21.4	173	25
157	James Outman	LAD	LF,CF	77	228	159.5	26.7	172	15
161	Brandon Nimmo	NYM	LF,CF	53	223	161.6	25.1	181	20
162	Rhys Hoskins	MIL	1B	111	237	161.6	24	190	28
170	Willy Adames	MIL	SS	116	263	171.7	24.4	189	19
178	Nathaniel Lowe	TEX	1B	112	279	179.8	35.3	200	22
182	Edouard Julien	MIN	2B,DH	102	264	186.8	35.5	209	27
183	Trevor Story	BOS	SS	140	241	187	20.9	199	16
185	Ezequiel Tovar	COL	SS	121	322	188.3	30.9	201	16
195	J.D. Martinez		LF,DH	158	280	200.4	29.4	219	24
196	Jeimer Candelario	CIN	1B,3B	147	246	200.8	18.8	211	15
197	Byron Buxton	MIN	DH	154	243	201.2	19.2	230	33
198	Logan O’Hoppe	LAA	C	143	293	202	40.9	217	19

Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice

Brandon Nimmo (OF – NYM)

Brandon Nimmo stands out as a valuable fantasy asset. Last year, he tallied 24 homers, scored 89 times, knocked in 68 runs, and swiped three bases. Boasting a .274/.363/.466 slash line, he emerges as a top choice in OBP leagues, especially in latter third of the draft. Although his strikeout rate saw a minor increase, his Statcast data confirms his robust capabilities. As an OF4/5, Nimmo is an excellent late-draft addition to strengthen fantasy lineups.

Ian Happ (OF – CHC)

Ian Happ offers a reliable fantasy outfield option with a projected 20-25 home runs and a solid on-base percentage despite an average batting average. In the previous season, he added value with 14 stolen bases, 86 runs, and 84 RBIs, fitting the profile of a dependable third or fourth outfielder. Happ has an impressive walk rate (14.3%) and a strong health record. Remaining with the Cubs under a new three-year deal, he’s poised to maintain his position high in the batting order.

Josh Naylor (1B – CLE)

Josh Naylor suffers from BatsInTheGuardiansLineupitis, but he offers enough upside to nab as a second or third corner infielder in the middle rounds. Naylor dealt with injuries in 2023, limiting him to 121 games. However, he hit 17 home runs and drove in 97 while slashing .308/.354/.489. He also kicked in 10 stolen bases for good measure. As long as he continues to bat behind Jose Ramirez, he should be a boon to the RBI category, but it’s his 95th percentile xBA (.293) and K% (13.7) that makes him a valuable pick.

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.