Braves Project to Dominate Fantasy Baseball in 2024

Ladies and gentlemen, your #1 overall pick is Ronald Acuña Jr. 

On average, seven outfielder go within the first twelve picks of most drafts, but none before Ronald Acuña Jr. 

The dynamic leadoff man hit a new gear in 2023, leading the league in hits (217), runs (149), steals (73), on-base percentage (.416), and total bases (383) while also leading the National League in plate appearances (735) and at-bats (643), OPS (1.012), and OPS+ (168) en route to his first MVP trophy. 

He's the only player in the first round that's a perennial 40/40 candidate, with other first rounders such as Aaron Judge, Juan Soto (steals) or Corbin Carroll (homers) either missing one of the elements to Ronald's game or just plain doing it at a lesser level. 

Strider, who led all of baseball last season in wins (20), winning percentage (.800), strikeouts (.276) and strikeout rate (13.5 K/9) is not only one of just two pitchers to go in the first two rounds (Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees is the other), but Strider's the only to be taken in the first round, with an average draft position of 8.49. 

The betting favorite for NL Cy Young in 2024, Strider's the perfect workhorse for a fantasy baseball staff, getting you wins and strikeouts at an unmatched pace while keeping ratios low. 

Atlanta's infield trio are consistently all taken in the 2nd round of most drafts, as the 2nd first baseman (ADP = 16.49), 2nd third baseman (ADP = 20.31) and 2nd second baseman (ADP =22.78) off of the board behind Freddie Freeman, José Ramirez, and Mookie Betts, respectively. 

The trio combined for 124 homers last season, with Olson's 54 leading all of MLB. 

In a welcome change, the paragon of consistency in Michael Harris II is receiving significant respect with his late-3rd round draft positioning. Coming in at an ADP of 34.63, Harris is usually the 10th outfielder off of the board and is notable for being only one of two outfielders to be the second outfielder picked from their own team, with Juan Soto (ADP = 11.92) coming off of the board soon behind Aaron Judge (ADP = 11.30). 

Harris has two seasons with batting averages in the .290s, with a /297 in 2022 and a .293 in 2023, twenty stolen bases in both years, and a combined 37 homers between the two seasons. 

Both Fried (ADP = 64.47) and Iglesias (ADP = 69.79) have been coming off of boards in the 6th round, with Fried the 16th starting pitcher off of the board and Iglesias the 7th reliever. 

Fried, who is heading to free agency after the 2024 season, was a beacon of consistency prior to his injury marred 2023, coming in 19th in innings from 2019 through 2022 and with only two pitchers putting both a better ERA and more innings than him during that span. 

Iglesias went 33/37 for Atlanta in save opportunities, collecting five wins and sporting a 2.75 ERA in his 55.2 innings on the season.  

The rest of Atlanta's starters and rotation, plus key backup Travis d'Arnaud, are all being drafted by the 31st round in NFBC leagues. 

12th - Sean Murphy (142.43)
13th - Marcell Ozuna (153.42)
14th - Chris Sale (166.41)
19th - Jarred Kelenic (223.14)
20th - Charlie Morton (239.78)
29th - Orlando Arcia (412.45) & Travis d'Arnaud (422.57)
31st - Bryce Elder (464.59)

Of special note here is prospect AJ Smith-Shawver, going in the 33rd round (ADP of 502.10) despite not being guaranteed a rotation spot to open 2024. It's a sign of confidence from the fantasy baseball community in his ceiling, with him being picked within two rounds of 2023 All-Star Bryce Elder. 

Did you win your fantasy baseball league thanks to an Atlanta Braves player last season? Let us know! 

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