When it comes to pinpointing RBI potential in fantasy drafts, the place to begin is with the deepest lineups around the league. However, players from teams such as the Braves and Rangers, which featured the top-scoring lineups in the N.L. and A.L. respectively last year, are more difficult to find in the later rounds due to the potency of their offenses. That does not mean “sleepers” with notable RBI upside are impossible to find on the cheap.
Some RBI sources from better teams will drop to the late rounds for any number of reasons. On top of that, it is a mistake to simply cast aside middle-of-the-order bats in weaker lineups. All teams score runs, and even some shallower lineups feature good table setters at the top that supply ample run-scoring chances for their teams. In fact, of the 61 players that drove in 80 or more runs in 2023, 30 percent of them were on clubs that finished below .500.
With all that said, there are fewer RBI guys around late in drafts. Still, there are options, and the list below will highlight a few.
- Hitter Category Sleepers: SBs | AVG/OBP | HRs | Runs
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5 Sleepers to Target for RBI (2024 Fantasy Baseball)
Jorge Polanco (2B/3B – SEA)
It wasn’t too long ago (2021) when Polanco finished a season with 33 homers and 98 RBI for the Twins. However, following two injury-plagued campaigns which saw him perform quite inconsistently at the plate when he was healthy, the 30-year-old switch-hitter was shipped off to Seattle back in January. That move could provide Polanco with a golden opportunity to bounce back in 2024, as he could be lining up right behind J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodriguez.
Andrew Vaughn (1B – CWS)
Vaughn is one of those players who reached 80 RBI for a sub-par team in 2023, finishing right on the mark across 152 games. That came after driving in 76 over 134 games in 2022. Vaughn is not elite in any category, but he’s a steady bat with a firm spot in the heart of the batting order. He makes a good amount of hard contact, mostly keeps his strikeouts in check, and should get the opportunity to drive in a solid number of runs once again this year. Vaughn is also just entering his “prime” years.
Jack Suwinski (OF – PIT)
Another player entering his prime, Suwinski uses his big pop to drive runs home. A decent batting average is likely not in the cards for him anytime soon, but Suwinski drove in 74 runs to go with 26 homers and 13 steals across 534 plate appearances for the Pirates last season. The offense in Pittsburgh is getting better. The top of the order, in particular, could be quite dynamic with a healthy Oneil Cruz. Suwinski’s RBI potential is even higher this season.
Eugenio Suarez (3B – ARI)
Suarez just keeps on contributing RBI year after year regardless of how bad it looks at times. Excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 season when he drove in 38 runs in 57 games, Suarez has finished with at least 70 RBI every year since 2016. He has gone over 80 RBI five times and north of 100 twice (2018, 2019).
Last season in Seattle, despite hitting just .232 with a career-high 214 strikeouts and a slugging percentage that fell below .400 for the first time since his rookie season in 2014, Suarez still managed 22 home runs, 29 doubles and 96 RBI. Now with the defending N.L. Champions, it’s just difficult to doubt Suarez at this point. It’ll be ugly, but the good money is on him turning in another nice RBI total.
Joey Meneses (1B – WSH)
Predictably, in 2023, Meneses came nowhere close to replicating the outstanding numbers he put up during his 56 games as a rookie the previous year. He did still put together a steady season from the heart of the Nationals’ batting order, though, batting .275 with 13 long balls, 36 doubles and 89 RBI. That RBI total was a product of a ridiculous .363 AVG with runners in scoring position. It was also certainly aided by the emergence of both CJ Abrams and Lane Thomas at the top of the lineup. Meneses should continue to benefit from that dynamic duo.
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Nate Miller is a featured writer at FantasyPros and a 9-year veteran of the fantasy sports industry. For more from Nate, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @Miller_RotoDad.
