2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings: Expert Picks & Predictions

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	7	3	1.3	3	1
3	Julio Rodriguez	SEA	CF	2	5	3	0.8	5	2
4	Mookie Betts	LAD	2B,RF	2	11	4.8	1.7	2	-2
5	Corbin Carroll	ARI	LF,CF,RF	2	22	5.3	2	4	-1
6	Kyle Tucker	HOU	RF	4	10	6.5	0.9	6	–
7	Fernando Tatis Jr.	SD	RF	4	12	7.2	1.8	11	4
8	Freddie Freeman	LAD	1B	4	17	8.8	1.9	7	-1
9	Juan Soto	NYY	LF	4	18	9.9	1.8	8	-1
10	Aaron Judge	NYY	RF,DH	3	15	10	2.3	9	-1
11	Spencer Strider	ATL	SP	3	29	11.9	5.4	10	-1
12	Shohei Ohtani	LAD	DH,SP	3	33	12	3.7	12	–
13	Trea Turner	PHI	SS	6	29	14.4	4.8	16	3
14	Matt Olson	ATL	1B	7	17	15	1.5	15	1
15	Jose Ramirez	CLE	3B,DH	11	21	15	2.3	14	-1
16	Yordan Alvarez	HOU	LF,DH	8	22	15.3	2.6	17	1
17	Gerrit Cole	NYY	SP	12	31	16.7	4.1	13	-4
18	Bryce Harper	PHI	1B,DH	11	27	18.3	3	18	–
19	Austin Riley	ATL	3B	12	27	18.9	1.5	21	2
20	Rafael Devers	BOS	3B	18	29	21.2	2.1	20	–
21	Francisco Lindor	NYM	SS	13	43	23.8	5	28	7
22	Corbin Burnes	BAL	SP	12	37	24.1	4.5	19	-3
23	Ozzie Albies	ATL	2B	14	36	24.1	4.2	22	-1
24	Pete Alonso	NYM	1B	16	44	24.2	2.9	25	1
25	Marcus Semien	TEX	2B	13	63	26.8	5.2	24	-1
26	Zack Wheeler	PHI	SP	13	62	27.3	5.8	23	-3
27	Corey Seager	TEX	SS	12	53	28.2	6.2	26	-1
28	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	TOR	1B,DH	11	42	28.4	5.5	27	-1
29	Luis Robert Jr.	CWS	CF	17	40	29	5	37	8
30	Michael Harris II	ATL	CF	24	39	31.5	3.9	35	5
31	Gunnar Henderson	BAL	3B,SS	20	61	32	4.6	31	–
32	Bo Bichette	TOR	SS	15	79	34.8	6	40	8
33	Luis Castillo	SEA	SP	23	71	34.9	6.7	30	-3
34	Kevin Gausman	TOR	SP	23	66	36	10.2	29	-5
35	Jose Altuve	HOU	2B	23	53	36.3	5.8	32	-3
36	Elly De La Cruz	CIN	3B,SS	20	81	37.2	12.8	34	-2
37	Pablo Lopez	MIN	SP	24	54	37.5	5.1	38	1
38	Randy Arozarena	TB	LF	21	57	39.9	5.9	44	6
39	George Kirby	SEA	SP	27	74	40.1	9.2	41	2
40	Adolis Garcia	TEX	RF	24	69	41.3	8	43	3
41	Zac Gallen	ARI	SP	30	73	42.2	7.4	33	-8
42	Yoshinobu Yamamoto	LAD	SP	26	80	43.9	8.8	36	-6
43	Tyler Glasnow	LAD	SP	30	108	46.6	9.1	42	-1
44	CJ Abrams	WSH	SS	15	108	48.4	15.6	61	17
45	Manny Machado	SD	3B,DH	33	68	49.9	8.7	47	2
46	Logan Webb	SF	SP	33	64	50.4	6.3	46	–
47	Tarik Skubal	DET	SP	37	134	50.4	8.6	49	2
48	Devin Williams	MIL	RP	34	86	52.6	8.7	48	–
49	Mike Trout	LAA	CF	26	78	53.2	11.4	53	4
50	Royce Lewis	MIN	3B	41	85	55	9.3	64	14

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.