Fantasy baseball rankings 2024: Top 300 cheat sheet, tiers, sleepers, draft strategy and more

It takes a special kind of person to get involved in fantasy baseball.

It's a serious commitment. There's 162 games during the regular season. Replacements for injuries aren't always as simple as looking down the depth chart — sometimes it takes going into the minors.

It helps to have a deep set of rankings, even if your draft doesn't run that far. Everyone knows they should have stars like Ronald Acuna Jr. or Bobby Witt Jr. at the top of the draft. But down the stretch of the season, it's just as important to have a well-rounded pitching staff and some youngsters who could be the future stars of the league. Do that, and you'll survive injuries and get on top of the elite prospects before they become household names.

That's why Sporting News is breaking down the top 300 players in fantasy baseball, along with a few sleepers and some tips on draft strategy.

Here's what you need to know.

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Fantasy baseball rankings 2024

Fantasy baseball tiers 2024

There are certain players that rise up to the top of the list. Here's a look at the players considered to be in the top 5-10 of their respective positions:

Catchers

First base

Second base

Third base

Shortstops

Outfielders

Starting pitchers

Relief pitchers

Fantasy baseball sleepers 2024

Wyatt Langford, OF, Rangers

Prospects are often the best place to find fantasy sleepers. Everyone is going to jump at the chance to draft Jackson Holliday or Jackson Chourio. But Langford might quietly be in for the best rookie season of the bunch.

Yes, he was just drafted last year. But in the second half of the season, he sped all the way to Triple-A, crushing every level of the minors. He has a discerning eye at the plate, tons of raw power and is a savvy base-runner who should steal some bags. There could be some batting average issues early as he gets adjusted, but the raw tools highlight a player with tons of upside.

Langford might not make the MLB roster to start the season, which could help lower his ADP. But it won't be long until he reaches the majors, and has explosive potential when he does.

Luis Campusano, C, Padres

It wasn't that long ago Campusano was considered among the top prospects in the game. But injuries and inconsistent performance have dimmed the shine on his profile a touch over the years.

It's therefore hard to believe he's only heading into his age-25 season, and is coming off a mini breakout toward the end of 2023. He slashed .319/.356/.491 with a strikeout rate of 12.1 percent and seven home runs in only 49 games. With Austin Nola off to Kansas City, Campusano will head into the year as the clear starter behind the plate.

The catching position is shallow in terms of premium offensive talent. Campusano has the skills to take that next step as one of baseball's top sluggers at catcher, combining a contact-oriented approach and standout power. Provided he can stay healthy, it wouldn't be hard to envision him rising well into the top-10 among catchers in 2024.

Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates

Hayes is another former top prospect who has battled injuries during his career, limiting him to only 136 games in 2022 and 124 games in 2023. He's been most acclaimed when healthy for his defense, but his bat has shown plenty of promise.

Hayes' slugging percentage jumped from .345 in 2022 to .453 in 2023, and his home runs went from just seven in 2022 to 15 in 2023 despite playing in 12 fewer games. The stolen base numbers took a slight dip, falling from 20 to 10, but there was still more than enough speed to make him a threat on the bases.

The 27-year-old third baseman blisters the ball (93rd percentile in average exit velocity) and improved his launch angle in 2023, allowing him to turn his line drives into more home runs. Hayes adds solid plate discipline with low whiff rates, and figures to bat in the middle of an improving Pittsburgh lineup. Third base is a deep position, but Hayes could combine rare speed at the position with some pop to make him a unique producer at the hot corner.

Spencer Steer, 1B/2B/3B/OF, Reds

It often helps to have a player on the roster capable of playing multiple positions. Steer might have the chance to qualify at nearly every position except catcher and shortstop in 2024. Oh yeah, and the bat is not too shabby either.

He launched 23 homers, swiped 15 bases in 2023, and managed a strikeout rate of only 20.9 percent to a walk rate of 10.2 percent. He also posted a .271 batting average, which wasn't far off from his expected batting average of .252 from Baseball Savant. Steer figures to hit in the middle of a lineup that will have high-OBP bats like T.J. Friedl and Matt McLain ahead of Steer, giving him plenty of chances for RBI.

Steer will only be 26 this season and has a solid track record to support what he did in 2023. Throw in his positional versatility, and he figures to be among the most valuable super-utility bats in fantasy in 2024.

Bryce Miller, SP, Mariners

The Mariners have become a pitching factory in recent years with Logan Gilbert and George Kirby developing into stars, and Luis Castillo leading the rotation. That's why it's easy for Miller to get lost in the mix and fall under the radar among his standout teammates.

Last year, Miller ranked eighth in Stuff+ among pitchers with at least 130 innings, putting him ahead of annual Cy Young contenders like Dylan Cease, Sandy Alcantara, Zack Wheeler, Justin Verlander and Blake Snell. That stuff comes with a walk rate of 4.8 percent and control that has been praised as advanced throughout his professional career.

Don't let the 4.32 ERA scare you off. He's a rising pitcher in the sport, and could have a major breakout in his second year in the big leagues.

Best fantasy baseball draft strategy

New to fantasy baseball? There are a few strategies important to consider when drafting.

Early in a draft, it's important to take the best players available. Unlike in fantasy football, when the quarterbacks don't fly off the board until the middle of the draft, the highest-valued position players should be the first to go. 

It's often a decent strategy to wait on drafting pitchers. Hurlers tend to be more injury prone, and while position players can hit the injured list and miss over a week, that represents only a fraction of the full season. Pitcher injuries are more likely to cost them extensive parts of the season, particularly when they only have around 30 starts to make in a season to begin with.

Catcher is the weakest position from an offensive standpoint, and if you miss out on drafting the top catchers — like Adley Rutschman, Will Smith or J.T. Realmuto — it is best then to wait on landing another catcher until later. 

Closers, like pitchers, are fickle. Missing the star closers can mean landing in an uncertain situation in which you have to keep a close eye out for shifting bullpen situations and available pitchers on the waiver wire.