Jeff McNeil won the batting title in 2022, but his batting average dropped by 56 points to .270 last year, so one year makes a huge difference. Completely eliminate the possibility of current batting champions Luis Arraez and Yandy Diaz being fantasy baseball candidates in 2024, as Tim Anderson is also one of the former batting champions who struggled a year ago. I can't. Arraez has two batting titles on his resume, which puts him ahead of Diaz, who hit .330 in 2023 as a career .278 hitter. With average power (22 home runs last year) and no speed, is Diaz worth drafting in the 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft?
He's a top-10 first baseman, according to the latest 2024 Fantasy Baseball ADP, and was drafted ahead of players like Josh Naylor and Rhys Hoskins. Does last year's fluke season make him a player to avoid drafting in fantasy baseball in early 2024, or can he repeat his success in 2024? Before you complete your 2024 fantasy baseball draft preparations , be sure to check out SportsLine's 2024 Fantasy Baseball rankings and cheat sheets from proven computer models.
Last season, SportsLine's projection model identified some of fantasy baseball's top sleepers, breakouts and busts, including Blue Jays outfielder Dalton Varsho.
Varsho set career highs in doubles (23), triples (3), home runs (27), RBIs (74), and stolen bases (16) in 2022, and fantasy baseball managers believe he will be in 2023. It was expected to take another step forward in 2020. They drafted him at No. 73 overall. However, the model noticed some holes in his game and predicted him to be a 2023 Fantasy Baseball failure who doesn't live up to his Fantasy Baseball ADP.
As a result, Varsho's OPS dropped from .745 to .674, and his home runs (20) and RBIs (61) also decreased, but he was unable to take advantage of the new base running rules (his stolen bases were again 16). Anyone who followed this model's advice and avoided Varsho in their fantasy baseball draft avoided a major headache.
The SportsLine model was designed by the same people who drive the projection of all three major fantasy sites. And that same group is sharing 2024 Fantasy Baseball Rankings and Cheat Sheets on SportsLine to help you find fantasy baseball sleepers, breakouts, and busts long before the competition. Cheat sheets available for leagues on many major sites are updated multiple times daily.
As more MLB news regarding MLB free agent signings and fantasy baseball injuries emerges, the SportsLine team will update our predictions. Visit SportsLine now to see his proven fantasy baseball cheat sheet.
Top Fantasy Baseball Busts of 2024
One of the 2024 fantasy baseball busts, the model, is disappearing: Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena. After breaking out in the 2020 postseason and being drafted by Al Roy in 2021, Arozarena appears to have stagnated. His batting average declined each season, hitting a career-worst .254 in 2023. His speed asset was not utilized under last season's new base running rules. Arozarena, who led the AL in catches in both 2021 and 2022, was ejected the third-most times last year, but also stole 10 fewer bases than last season.
This basepath inefficiency could limit Tampa's stealth opportunities going forward, which would further erode his fantasy value. Additionally, extra-base hits seem to be limited to home runs. A season ago, he hit 19 doubles and didn't even rank in the top 50. SportsLine puts Arozarena outside of the top five fantasy right fielders, behind the likes of Christian Yelich and Bryan Reynolds, even though both of those players were drafted after Arozarena in the 19th. ,average.
Another model project for a 2024 fantasy baseball bust that won't live up to ADP: Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy. He's becoming an all-or-nothing hitter after hitting .212 last season and hitting below .215 for three straight seasons. But his power numbers add to his fantasy baseball appeal: 36 home runs, 105 RBIs, and 95 runs scored.
He's 33 years old and will turn 34 this season, so there are questions about how long he can maintain his success at that power. Muncy had a productive season with an .808 OPS, ranking seventh among third basemen, but given his age and low average, there are better options at third base than Muncy in the 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft. The model believes that there is. See more busts on SportsLine.
How to check proven 2024 fantasy baseball rankings
SportsLine's model also dilutes the presence of surprising starting pitchers who will go down in the average third round in early 2024 fantasy baseball drafts. The model predicts the ace will suffer a setback and finish outside the top 15 at his current position. Avoiding him until later could be the difference between winning the league and going home empty-handed. Only here can you see who is who.
So which 2024 fantasy baseball mistakes should you avoid in the upcoming draft? Visit SportsLine now to see 2024 for every position based on a model that predicted Dalton Varsho's decline in 2023 Get and check out fantasy baseball rankings.
