2024 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Freddie Freeman has established himself as an irreplaceable cornerstone for the Dodgers, entering 2024 as one of baseball's most consistent and elite performers. At 34, he's defying age-related expectations, showcasing a blend of power, skill, and speed rarely seen at his position. In 2023, Freeman delivered an elite .334 batting average while driving in 101 runs and smashing 28 home runs. He also reached the milestone of 200 hits for the first time in his career. His season was filled with career highs, including 21 stolen bases, 125 runs scored, and 56 doubles, nearing the first 60-double season in the majors since 1936. Heading into 2024, Freddie Freeman isn't just an asset for the Dodgers; he's a fantasy baseball gem, offering a rare mix of average, power, and speed. He should be the first 1B off the board.

Matt Olson's 2023 season marked a significant improvement over his 2022 performance. His batting average jumped from .240 to .283, and he saw a notable increase in his on-base percentage (OBP), going from .325 to .389. More impressively, Olson's slugging percentage (SLG) spiked to .604, substantially improving from his .477 in 2022. His home run count highlights this surge in power; he smashed 54 homers with 139 RBI, leading all of MLB. Additionally, Olson played in all 162 games for the formidable Atlanta Braves, a role he will return to in 2024. While Freddie Freeman offers better all-around numbers, Olson is the powerful corner infielder worth a second-round pick.

Bryce Harper returned triumphantly from elbow surgery in May instead of the predicted July and rewarded every fantasy manager who took a flier on him late in 2023 drafts. He played 126 games and remained an elite hitter in the majors, slashing .293/.401/.499 in the middle of a Phillies lineup that finished sixth in team OPS. Harper is now primarily a DH/1B, which should work just fine in fantasy leagues, and fantasy managers can anticipate a 30/90/90 season with double-digit steals (he stole 11 in '23). After Freddie Freeman is off the board, whether Matt Olson or Harper goes next is a coin flip. A full season of Bryce Harper is never a bad thing to have on your fantasy roster.

In 2023, Alonso showcased his home run prowess, belting 46 to finish third in the majors. His batting average disintegrated to .217 from .271 in 2022, and his OBP cratered to .318 from .352. His run production remained high, with 92 runs scored and 118 RBIs over 658 plate appearances. Chances are good that Alonso's ratios will settle somewhere between his 2022 and 2023 numbers. If you're looking for monster counting stats from your first baseman, Alonso has you covered in three categories and most likely will be around in the third round.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. played 156 games and raised his walk rate while lowering his strikeout rate. Those were the highlights. Unfortunately, his other numbers took a fall across the board. The good news for 2024 is that Vladdy's expected numbers were more in line with what fantasy managers were looking for when they drafted him. For his age-25 season, he should see a bounce back to mid-30s in homers and close to 100/100 in runs and RBIs. The biggest discrepancy was his .264 average compared to his xBA of .295. Vladdy should be an asset, but he is now a Round 3 or 4 guy.

Paul Goldschmidt continued to do what he does, albeit at a lesser pace than his torrid 2022. He hit 25 home runs, scored 89 runs, knocked in 80, and stole 11 bases. He continued to be a picture of stability, playing in over 150 games for the eighth year in a row (excluding 2020). His batting average tumbled from .317 to .268, and his slugging fell to .447 from .578. Essentially, the regression that we expected hit, yet he still had an overall productive season. Looking ahead, fantasy managers can probably expect numbers in line with 2023.

Cody Bellinger notably outperformed expectations with a .307/.356/.525 slash line against his predicted .270/.331/.437. He is returning to the Cubs on a three-year, $80 million contract with opt-outs after each of the first two years. Wrigley Field is a great landing spot for him overall, but Bellinger presents a challenge for fantasy managers, with caution advised due to the typical decline following a standout season. While a 20/20 season is plausible, managers should temper expectations for a repeat of his 2023 performance.

Will Christian Walker remain a sleeper first baseman for the third year in a row, or are people finally onto his production? The 32-year-old hit 33 home runs and drove in 103 while slashing .258/.333/.497 for an exciting Arizona lineup. Walker has an impressive K% (19.2) and xwOBACON (.380), and he has also remained healthy, playing 160 games in 2022 and 157 last year. While he is not a full sleeper in 2024, he is still the cheapest of the top 1B options, going in the fifth or sixth round in most drafts. Don't be afraid to wait - the return on investment will be worth it.

Triston Casas is the next star at the first base position. He took a leap in 2023 at the age of 23, hitting 24 home runs in 132 games with an impressive slash line of .263/.367/.490. He is in the 93rd percentile of BB% at 13.9 and the 92nd percentile in xwOBA at .370. His counting stats weren't great, only tallying 65 RBIs and 66 runs, but this should improve with the return of some key Boston players. He might come at a wild discount, going in the early 100s, but this will be the last time you will be able to get him there. He is worth reaching for because chances are good he will outproduce his ADP.

Spencer Torkelson hit 31 home runs and drove in 94, and his ISO went from .117 to .213 in 2023. He ranked in the 94th percentile in hard-hit percentage at 50.9, and he should be in line for another 30/90 season in 2024. Torkelson can hopefully continue to improve his patience while reducing his strikeouts, and he may end up being a steal at his current 10th-round ADP.

Yandy Diaz broke out of his power deficiency in a big way in 2023. After hitting only nine home runs in 2022, the 32-year-old smacked 22 dingers while slashing .330/.410/.522 in 2023. He rescued many fantasy managers who waited too long on 3B in drafts by setting career highs across 137 games. That's the good news. The bad news is that Diaz will probably return to his regularly scheduled self in 2024, and he no longer has 3B eligibility in most leagues, leaving him among the middle-rounds first basemen. Drafting him in the 12th round or beyond feels right for next year, but don't let him be your first 1B. He's not going to save fantasy managers two years in a row.

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.

Spencer Steer is expected to be eligible for 1B/3B/OF, and possibly even 2B in some formats. With a solid 2023 season of 156 games, 23 homers, and 15 steals for the Reds, Steer is a promising fantasy pick. Batting in the middle of an exciting lineup with huge potential, he's on track to surpass his 86 RBI from last year. While not standing out in advanced metrics, Steer's consistent performance offers value in Round 9 and beyond, and the fact he plays half his games at Great American Ballpark is a plus for fantasy managers.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand got 241 plate appearances for Cincinnati in 2023, hitting 13 home runs and slashing .270/.328/.477. The acquisition of Jeimer Candelario leaves the 24-year-old without a regular position other than DH, but that's all fantasy managers will need him for. CES has the profile to become a very helpful fantasy bat and can slot in as a corner infielder in lineups nicely.

Vinnie Pasquantino's 2023 shoulder injury cut his season short at 61 games. It was apparent he was dealing with something, as his usual stellar AVG and OBP dropped to .247 and .324. Assuming the shoulder is good to go, Pasquantino should be a significant boost to batting average and counting stats, batting close to Bobby Witt Jr.

 

Alec Bohm offers fantasy managers an intriguing later-round third-base option. He will help your team's batting average (.274 last year), provide a little pop (16-20 homers), and collect some RBIs along the way. With an ADP in the 150s, he shouldn't be your 3B1, but he can certainly fill a CI role at a difficult position.

 

Salvador Perez remained a staple of the Kansas City Royals lineup in 2023, playing in 140 games and racking up 580 plate appearances. He hit .254 with a miserable .292 OBP and .422 SLG. He hit 23 home runs for the second year in a row and drove in 80. His projections for 2024 suggest more of the same for the 33-year-old. Perez is a catcher who isn't going to drag down your batting average and give you 20+ homers. That is a rare bird; at his ADP of 133, he isn't a bad value in 2024.