The NFL season is ending, which means pitchers and catchers are reporting to their respective camps. Spring Training is around the corner, so we are about to be full steam ahead in fantasy baseball draft season.
Everyone gets prepared for this time of year in different ways, be it looking over last season’s stats, projections for the upcoming season, mock drafting, etc. With all the preparation for the draft season, we usually come away with some preferred draft-day targets.
Targets are great to have on draft day. We can have targets at certain positions. We can have targets at certain ADPs. Regardless of approach, you also have to have a plan of attack for securing your targets. Do you jump ADP? Do you have a target bucket, or a tier, at a position to ensure you get at least one? Whatever your strategy, targets are essential. Below are five of my favorites for 2024.
The NFL season is ending, which means pitchers and catchers are reporting to their respective camps. Spring Training is around the corner, so we are about to be full steam ahead in fantasy baseball draft season.
Everyone gets prepared for this time of year in different ways, be it looking over last season’s stats, projections for the upcoming season, mock drafting, etc. With all the preparation for the draft season, we usually come away with some preferred draft-day targets.
Targets are great to have on draft day. We can have targets at certain positions. We can have targets at certain ADPs. Regardless of approach, you also have to have a plan of attack for securing your targets. Do you jump ADP? Do you have a target bucket, or a tier, at a position to ensure you get at least one? Whatever your strategy, targets are essential. Below are five of my favorites for 2024.
2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Targets
Lindor is typically around in the second round of early fantasy drafts, and I am all aboard at that price. He’s is coming off a fantastic 31/31 season, hitting .254 with 108 runs scored and 98 RBI. He had a down 2021 season, his first season with the Mets, but has improved each season since.
This past season, Lindor had a career-high barrel rate of 10.4%, a 43.9% hard-hit rate, and 112.4 mpg maxEV. He was locked in and looked more like the fantasy stud we saw from 2017-2019. He brings a 20-20 floor with a 30-30 upside and solid production in the three other ROTO categories. Sign me up for that floor and ceiling in the early rounds.
We’ve known Luzardo had the talent to be an ace of a team. He finally stayed healthy in 2023 and showcased that ace upside. Last season, he threw 178.2 innings with a 3.58 ERA and 20.6% K-BB. I value innings and strikeouts tremendously, especially from the top pitchers on my fantasy teams.
There is still room for Luzardo to grow. He can improve his 1.21 WHIP, which would make him an even better fantasy option. Luzardo started 30 games for the first time in 2023. That could be a slight concern for some. I take it as a significant plus, as he will be 26 this season. If Luzardo finds his next level, he is a fantasy ace being drafted around pick 80 in early drafts. Why gamble on Tarik Skubal 30 picks earlier when you can get a proven arm in Luzardo?
Suzuki was battling injuries in early 2023 and still finished with 20 home runs, six stolen bases, and a .285 batting average. He had a strong 10.5% barrel rate with an outstanding 48% hard-hit rate and 114.6 mph maxEV.
Suzuki was getting healthy in the second half of the season, hitting .313 with 13 home runs and five stolen bases. So, most of his fantasy production came in the second half of the season. Suzuki also had an outstanding .938 OPS and 149 wRC+ in the second half. I am all in on Suzuki at an ADP of around 112 this season.
Rizzo is a smash pick for me at his late ADP. He is coming off a season in which the stat line looks terrible, including a .244 batting average and 12 home runs over 99 games. We must remember he played many of those games with a concussion.
Before getting hurt, Rizzo was raking. Over the season’s first two months (opening day to May 31), he hit .304 with 11 home runs, 30 runs scored, and 32 RBI. He had a 10.5% barrel rate, .880 OPS, and 146 wRC+. Rizzo is reportedly healthy now. He will be hitting in the middle of the Yankees lineup and should be a strong fantasy asset at first base or corner infield.
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