Expert Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings (2024)

It can be helpful to get an early sense of where the experts stand in terms of initial fantasy baseball draft rankings. We’ll have you covered as we approach the spring and new season, but for now let’s take a look at 2024 fantasy baseball rankings.

2024 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Rank	Player	Team	Positions	Best	Worst	Avg	Std Dev	ADP	vs. ADP
1	Ronald Acuna Jr.	ATL	RF	1	1	1	0	1	–
2	Bobby Witt Jr.	KC	SS	2	8	2.4	0.8	4	2
3	Julio Rodriguez	SEA	CF	2	5	3	0	2	-1
4	Mookie Betts	LAD	2B,RF	2	10	4.8	0.8	3	-1
5	Corbin Carroll	ARI	LF,CF,RF	2	11	5.8	1.5	5	–
6	Kyle Tucker	HOU	RF	5	9	6.5	0.9	6	–
7	Freddie Freeman	LAD	1B	3	13	8.1	2	7	–
8	Shohei Ohtani	LAD	DH,SP	3	13	8.1	2	12	4
9	Fernando Tatis Jr.	SD	RF	5	16	8.7	2	9	–
10	Juan Soto	NYY	LF	4	12	9.2	1.3	8	-2
11	Spencer Strider	ATL	SP	4	17	10.2	3.1	10	-1
12	Aaron Judge	NYY	RF,DH	8	49	12.4	3.2	11	-1
13	Matt Olson	ATL	1B	7	18	13.9	1.8	14	1
14	Trea Turner	PHI	SS	8	27	14.4	3.9	13	-1
15	Yordan Alvarez	HOU	LF,DH	12	22	14.5	1.5	16	1
16	Jose Ramirez	CLE	3B,DH	12	22	15.5	2.3	15	-1
17	Bryce Harper	PHI	1B,DH	14	26	17.9	2.6	17	–
18	Austin Riley	ATL	3B	14	20	18.4	1.1	18	–
19	Rafael Devers	BOS	3B	17	25	19.9	1.8	21	2
20	Ozzie Albies	ATL	2B	16	31	21.3	2.8	22	2
21	Corbin Burnes	BAL	SP	12	32	23	4.5	19	-2
22	Pete Alonso	NYM	1B	15	34	23.7	3.1	23	1
23	Zack Wheeler	PHI	SP	18	34	24.6	4	28	5
24	Francisco Lindor	NYM	SS	18	44	24.7	4.1	24	–
25	Marcus Semien	TEX	2B	20	35	25	3	26	1
26	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	TOR	1B,DH	19	35	26.4	4.2	27	1
27	Luis Robert Jr.	CWS	CF	17	37	27.5	3.6	30	3
28	Corey Seager	TEX	SS	14	44	29.6	6.4	25	-3
29	Michael Harris II	ATL	CF	15	39	29.7	3.9	35	6
30	Luis Castillo	SEA	SP	19	46	32.3	6.8	33	3
31	Gunnar Henderson	BAL	3B,SS	26	56	33.4	5.3	31	–
32	Jose Altuve	HOU	2B	22	44	34	6.1	36	4
33	Pablo Lopez	MIN	SP	27	43	35	5.9	39	6
34	Bo Bichette	TOR	SS	21	47	35.9	3.9	37	3
35	Kevin Gausman	TOR	SP	17	46	36.2	7.2	32	-3
36	Randy Arozarena	TB	LF	26	44	36.7	3.8	42	6
37	George Kirby	SEA	SP	25	73	37.5	9.5	41	4
38	Adolis Garcia	TEX	RF	28	69	39.8	7.1	40	2
39	Zac Gallen	ARI	SP	31	72	40.8	4.5	38	-1
40	Yoshinobu Yamamoto	LAD	SP	27	71	41.7	8.8	34	-6
41	Elly De La Cruz	CIN	3B,SS	20	93	42.1	13.2	29	-12
42	Tarik Skubal	DET	SP	34	60	46.3	7.7	45	3
43	Tyler Glasnow	LAD	SP	31	77	46.5	6.7	43	–
44	Manny Machado	SD	3B,DH	35	81	46.6	9.5	50	6
45	Logan Webb	SF	SP	32	60	48.4	6.5	48	3
46	CJ Abrams	WSH	SS	31	93	49.5	15.5	46	–
47	Aaron Nola	PHI	SP	26	66	50.1	7.3	49	2
48	Royce Lewis	MIN	3B	39	72	50.5	9.2	55	7
49	Cody Bellinger	CHC	1B,CF	38	94	52.4	12.6	52	3
50	Edwin Diaz	NYM	RP	43	78	52.4	4.8	57	7

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.