Every fantasy baseball platform has unique draft rankings, especially ESPN. Points leagues are common on ESPN instead of category leagues, which often causes well-rounded players like Julio Rodriguez to be ranked lower than their consensus average draft position (ADP). This shift is done in favor of players more optimized for a points format, like Juan Soto. In addition, ESPN often bestows unproven young talent with a lower draft position, such as Oneil Cruz, whose ADP is 174 in ESPN compared to an 89 consensus. A dive into similar examples can reveal undervalued players to target.
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8 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values in ESPN Leagues (2024)
Bobby Witt Jr. (SS – KC) – 14 ESPN ADP vs. 5 Consensus ADP
Witt is a second-rounder in ESPN, yet is projected no later than third overall in the other major fantasy platforms. In 2023, the speedster contributed 49 steals, a .276 average, and 30 home runs, making him a potential category league winner if he repeats this performance. Witt is less valuable in a points league, but he is still one of the best players in fantasy regardless of format and has ridiculous value in the second round.
*Corbin Carroll is a similar undervalued player (12 ESPN ADP vs. 6 Consensus ADP)
Julio Rodriguez (CF – SEA) – 21 ESPN ADP vs. 6 Consensus ADP
Rodriguez is another consensus first-round pick undervalued by ESPN rankings. The 23-year-old outfielder profiles closely to Witt in the sense that he is invaluable to a category league (.275 BA, 37 SB, 32 HR, 103 RBI and 102 R in 2023). The Mariners star would be a steal as a second-rounder.
Bo Bichette (SS – TOR) – 61 ESPN ADP vs. 41 Consensus ADP
Bichette played only 135 games in 2023 due to injuries to his thumb, knee and quad. Being hurt did not slow down the shortstop, who recorded a .306 average and a career-low 19.1 SO%. Bichette led the major leagues in hits in 2021 and 2022 and finished ninth this year despite missing games. ESPN managers will be lucky to get the Blue Jay at this price if he performs even close to this level.
Elly De La Cruz (3B/SS – CIN) – 75 ESPN ADP vs. 37 Consensus ADP
De La Cruz was phenomenal during the first weeks of his June 6 debut, where he batted .307 with a .881 OPS, logging three home runs, nine steals and 12 RBI in just 21 games. But, when all eyes watched the young star after the All-Star Break, he declined and slashed just .191/.272/.355 in 68 games. A fourth-round consensus could be high for the 22-year-old, but ESPN’s seventh-round approximation may appeal to a manager chasing elite upside.
Adolis Garcia (CF/RF – TEX) – 81 ESPN ADP vs. 48 Consensus ADP
Garcia is an excellent source of power coming off of a career-high in all of these stats: 107 RBI, 39 HR, 65 BB and .508 slugging. The Rangers ALCS MVP, a late bloomer, has only improved through each of his three complete seasons. This is a great position to grab a player who earned MVP votes in 2023, and perhaps managers should ensure drafting Garcia by seeking him even earlier.
Esteury Ruiz (OF – OAK) – 197 ESPN ADP vs. 134 Consensus ADP
Ronald Acuna Jr. made history this year as the first player to go 40-70. Ruiz may have only launched five homers, but he was close behind Acuna with 67 steals. Ruiz’s average bat is not what makes him useful in fantasy, but his stolen bases provide excellent value in their own right. This advice depends on the league format, but Ruiz is a cost-effective way to win the steals category.
Gavin Williams (SP – CLE) – 210 ESPN ADP vs. 178 Consensus ADP
The top pitching prospect had a 3.29 ERA in 82.0 IP, with a WHIP of 1.26. Williams had an xERA of 4.21, revealing that he got lucky, but managers must also consider that he only had a 19.7 K% in the majors compared to a 33.3 K% in 46 innings of Triple-A. As Williams adjusts to better talent, it is reasonable for the strikeouts to increase, even if he allows more runs. Far into the draft is a territory without bonafide aces, but Williams has the potential to be near the top of a fantasy rotation.
Cristopher Sanchez (SP – PHI) – 360 ESPN ADP vs. 278 Consensus ADP
Sanchez had a 3.44 ERA, 1.047 WHIP, and 8.7 K/9 in 99.1 IP in 2023. His third season was the best of his career, a vast improvement aided by a minuscule 4.0% walk rate. It will be exciting to see what the Phillies NLCS Game 4 opener can do after an offseason to work on his pitches, including his dominant changeup. The southpaw has been frequently mentioned and is no longer a deep sleeper, but he remains dirt cheap in ESPN and is a perfect target if he builds off his 2023 performance.
Other Undervalued Players: (ESPN ADP / Consensus ADP)
- Fernando Tatis (RF – SD): 19 / 11
- Francisco Lindor (SS – NYM): 38 / 27
- Luis Robert (CF – CWS): 72 / 38
- Randy Arozarena (LF – TB): 74 / 48
- Royce Lewis (3B – MIN): 101 / 64
- Nolan Jones (1B/OF – COL): 105 / 62
- CJ Abrams (SS – WSH): 138 / 62
- Jazz Chisholm (CF – MIA): 159 / 82
- Oneil Cruz: 174 / 89
- Josh Jung (3B – TEX): 194 / 128
- Zack Gelof (2B – OAK): 202 / 145
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