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 |
| 7 | Fernando Tatis Jr. | SD | RF | 4 | 16 | 7.6 | 1.9 | 11 | 4 |
| 28 | Luis Robert Jr. | CWS | CF | 17 | 41 | 28.9 | 4.8 | 37 | 9 |
| 58 | Jazz Chisholm Jr. | MIA | CF | 38 | 108 | 60.8 | 12 | 80 | 22 |
| 61 | Christian Yelich | MIL | LF,DH | 37 | 85 | 62.1 | 7.1 | 72 | 11 |
| 80 | Josh Lowe | TB | CF,RF,DH | 36 | 150 | 81.6 | 21.3 | 90 | 10 |
| 99 | Seiya Suzuki | CHC | RF | 58 | 134 | 103 | 12.3 | 107 | 8 |
| 111 | Jordan Walker | STL | LF,RF | 39 | 179 | 114.5 | 22.6 | 124 | 13 |
| 127 | Jackson Chourio | MIL | CF | 56 | 235 | 136.6 | 31.6 | 143 | 16 |
| 128 | Riley Greene | DET | CF,RF | 55 | 188 | 138 | 29.7 | 159 | 31 |
| 130 | Ian Happ | CHC | LF | 49 | 178 | 138.7 | 21.7 | 150 | 20 |
| 137 | Jorge Soler | SF | RF,DH | 109 | 210 | 145.7 | 18.3 | 152 | 15 |
| 141 | Wyatt Langford | TEX | LF | 47 | 284 | 147.4 | 57.7 | 164 | 23 |
| 142 | TJ Friedl | CIN | LF,CF | 84 | 374 | 148.7 | 25.3 | 156 | 14 |
| 148 | Chas McCormick | HOU | LF,CF,RF | 100 | 204 | 154.7 | 21.9 | 171 | 23 |
Fantasy Baseball Draft Outlook
Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD)
In 2023, Fernando Tatis Jr. showed a deceiving decline, batting .257/.322/.449 post-suspension. Yet, a deeper look reveals a promising expected slash line of .282/.332/.511, with a low BABIP (.299) impacting his performance. Tatis achieved a career-low strikeout rate (22.2%), hitting 25 homers and swiping 29 bases. A weaker team offense hinders him, so his overall stats don’t reflect his potential. Avoiding off-field mishaps, Tatis, at 25, is a strong candidate for a significant rebound. He’s a steal in drafts if available at a reduced price.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (MIA)
Jazz Chisholm’s 2022 season with the Miami Marlins was limited to 97 games due to injuries. Despite this, he showcased his talent with 19 home runs and 22 stolen bases. His advanced metrics indicated struggles, notably with a high strikeout rate over 30% and a drop in walk rate. Chisholm also experienced a decrease in sprint speed, ranking in the 78th percentile, likely impacted by a turf toe injury, which was surgically addressed in October. Looking ahead to 2024, if he stays healthy, Chisholm has the potential to achieve over 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, along with 70-80 RBIs and runs. However, he will no longer be eligible as a second baseman, affecting his versatility in fantasy lineups.
Jordan Walker (STL)
In his debut season, Jordan Walker showcased potential with a .276 average, .342 OBP, and .445 slugging. His performance included 16 home runs and seven steals. Despite a challenging year for the Cardinals, Walker’s power was evident. Expectations for 2024 lean towards a 20-homer, 10-steal output, but his full potential is yet to be fully realized.
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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