In previous articles, I have gone over the top three players you should target at every infield position. When it comes to roster positions in fantasy baseball, the outfield is not separated into right field, centerfield, and left field. Therefore, I will be including nine players in this fantasy baseball outfielders list.
When it comes to the outfield, you will want to target at least one player very early in your draft. According to the average draft positions, there will be six outfielders drafted in the first round of a ten-team league. There will be seven if you count Mookie Betts. However, I will not be including Betts in this list because I ranked him in my article of top second basemen.
1. Ronald Acuna Jr.– Atlanta Braves
The first outfielder and likely the first player selected will be Ronald Acuna Jr. in many fantasy baseball drafts. Acuna finished the 2023 season as the highest-ranking fantasy baseball outfielder in terms of fantasy points. He also finished second among all players behind only Shohei Ohtani. Acuna tallied 707 fantasy points in 2023. This is 133 points more than the next closest outfielder.
Last year Acuna finished first among outfielders in runs (149), hits (217), batting average (.337), home runs (41), total bases (383), stolen bases (73), on-base percentage (.416), and slugging percentage (.596). He also finished top five in runs batted in (106), and at-bats (643).
If you are hoping to draft Acuna, you will likely need a top-three pick in your draft. His current ADP is one meaning he will likely be selected with the first pick in many fantasy drafts. This will be the first of several outfielders to be selected in the first round.
He is currently working back from a surgically repaired knee. If this is not a lingering injury, He has ample opportunity to once again finish near the top scorers among fantasy baseball outfielders. He also has the potential to once again finish as a top scorer among all players in fantasy points.
2. Julio Rodriguez– Seattle Mariners
The next outfielder to be drafted is one of the most exciting young players in baseball. Julio Rodriguez is projected to be the next outfielder selected in the first round of fantasy baseball drafts. Rogriguez scored 431 fantasy points in 2023. This was good enough for fifth in points among fantasy baseball outfielders.
Rodriguez finished top ten among outfielders in runs scored (102), hits (180), doubles (37), home runs (32), runs batted in (103), total bases (317), and stolen bases (37),
The Seattle Mariners young centerfielder currently has an ADP of 6.4. An ADP this high means he will likely be selected in the middle of the first round. If you want to add him to your team you will likely have to use your first-round pick on him.
Julio’s increase in production from 2022 to 2023 is leaving fantasy baseball managers hopeful for the future of the young star. Many managers are hoping for another increase in production coming in 2024. An increase in production this season will see Julio Rodriguez firmly near the top of all fantasy baseball outfielders in fantasy points.
3. Corbin Carroll– Arizona Diamondbacks
The third outfielder to be taken according to the average draft position is another young star. Corbin Carroll has played one full season in the MLB so far. He finished 2023 as the fourth-highest-scoring fantasy baseball outfielder with 464 points. Because of his great season, Corbin Carroll was named an all-star and National League Rookie of the Year in 2023.
Carroll finished the 2023 season top ten among outfielders in runs (116), hits (161), batting average (.285), total bases (286), stolen bases (54), on-base percentage (.362), and slugging percentage (.506). He also led all outfielders in triples (10).
Corbin Carroll currently has an ADP of 6.4. This means he and Julio Rodriguez are basically interchangeable when it comes to where they will be drafted. Both will be going somewhere in the middle to the end of the first round. They will likely be drafted back-to-back in many drafts.
With such an impressive rookie season many fantasy managers are hoping for an increase in fantasy production in his second full season. Carroll managed to hit 25 home runs in 2023 and many people are expecting an increase in 2024. With his combination of power and speed, this young star is projected to be a top-tier fantasy baseball outfielder for years to come.
4. Kyle Tucker– Houston Astros
Following Julio Rodriguez and Corbin Carroll in the middle of the first round will be Kyle Tucker. The Houston Astros outfielder has increased his runs batted in and stolen bases in each of his first three full seasons in the MLB. His consistency over the last three years is a big reason he is being drafted so high in 2024. Tucker finished 2023 as the second-highest-scoring fantasy baseball outfielder with 524 points.
Tucker finished 2023 top ten among outfielders in runs scored (97), hits (163), batting average (.284), doubles (37), home runs (29), total bases (297), stolen bases (30), on-base percentage (.369), and slugging percentage (.517). He also finished first among outfielders in runs batted in (112).
While Rodriguez and Carroll are interchangeable in ADP, Kyle Tucker could also be included with those two. Tucker’s current ADP is 6.6. This means he will also likely be selected in the middle of the first round of most fantasy baseball drafts.
Tucker is currently projected to bat fourth in the Astros lineup. This will likely have him batting behind Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Alex Bregman. All three of the aforementioned players had on-base percentages of at least .360. This means Tucker will be coming to the plate with runners on base very often. His potential to drive in runs is a major factor in his fantasy production.
5. Juan Soto– New York Yankees
A few picks after Kyle Tucker’s ADP is Yankees outfielder Juan Soto. In 2023 Soto finished as the number three fantasy baseball outfielder in fantasy points scored. This will be Soto’s first year with the New York Yankees. With the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals, Soto has been consistently one of the most productive fantasy baseball players in the league. Playing on the Yankees should only help his fantasy production in 2024.
In 2023, Soto finished top ten among outfielders in runs (97), home runs (35), runs batted in (109), total bases (295), on-base percentage (.410), and slugging percentage (.519). Soto also led all players in the MLB in base on balls (132). Soto has led the league in walks each of the last three seasons. His ability to get on base is crucial to his fantasy production.
Juan Soto‘s current ADP is 8.2. This means he will likely be selected towards the end of the first round. There is a chance you can get him early in the second round, but if you really want him on your squad then be prepared to spend your first-round pick on him.
His ability to get on base will be more prominent than ever this year batting in front of Aaron Judge. In 2022, Judge hit a league-leading 62 home runs and drove in 131 runs. In 2023 Judge played in only 106 games and still managed 37 home runs and drove in 75 runs. With an elite hitter batting behind Soto and his ability to get on base, he has an opportunity to lead all players in runs scored in 2024
6. Aaron Judge– New York Yankees
Next on the list of top fantasy baseball outfielders for 2024 is Sotos teammate Aaron Judge. One of the most prolific hitters of this generation. While Judge did not finish very high in fantasy points among outfielders in 2023, many managers are hoping for a major bounce-back in production this season.
Judge played in only 106 games in 2023. This resulted in him not ranking very high in many statistical categories that translate to fantasy production. In those 106 games, he did still manage a top-five finish among outfielders in home runs (37) and base on balls (88).
His current ADP is nine. This means he will be selected at the end of the first round. There is a chance that you will be able to get him at the beginning of the second round. This could be a steal in your draft if he is able to stay healthy.
The Yankees added Juan Soto this offseason. Soto is elite when it comes to getting on base. This, paired with Judge’s unmatched power, there is a great chance that Aaron Judge will lead all players in runs batted in this season.
7. Fernando Tatis Jr.– San Diego Padres
The seventh outfielder to be drafted in 2024 will be the first one not taken in the first round. Fernando Tatis Jr. missed the entire 2022 season due to injury and PED suspension. However, this did not hinder him when he returned in 2023. Tatis was the eighth-highest-scoring fantasy baseball outfielder in 2023 with 369 points.
Tatis finished top 20 among outfielders in runs (91), hits (148), doubles (33), home runs (25), runs batted in (78), total bases (258), and stolen bases (29).
With a current ADP of 10.8, it is likely he will be drafted very early in the second round. However, if you really want to add him to your team I would not risk waiting. perhaps take him in the first round if Tatis is a player you are targeting. This way you do not face the possibility of missing out on him in your draft.
Tatis is projected to bat first in the Padres lineup. This would mean he is batting in front of Manny Machado who hit 30 home runs and drove in 91 runs in 2023. Batting in front of Machado should give Tatis plenty of opportunities to score runs in 2024.
8. Yordan Alvarez– Houston Astros
The wait between the seventh and eighth fantasy baseball outfielders in drafts will be roughly half a round. Yordan Alvarez has a current ADP of 15.6. This puts Alvarez in the middle of the second round. Yordan Alvarez was the 11th highest-scoring outfielder in fantasy baseball in 2023.
Yordan Alvarez played in only 114 games in 2023. This resulted in him not finishing very high in most statistical categories. However, in his 114 games, he did manage 120 hits. He also managed to hit 31 home runs and drive in 97 runs. He is elite when it comes to getting on base. In 2023 he finished with an on-base percentage of .407.
With his ADP of 15.6, I personally think it is a major risk to draft Yordan Alvarez this early. Should he play the entire season he will most likely finish as a top ten fantasy baseball outfielder. However, He has never played more than 144 games in his career thus far. I would personally look at other positions if Yordan Alvarez is the best available outfielder when it comes to your second-round pick.
9. Michael Harris II– Atlanta Braves
Rounding out my top nine fantasy baseball outfielders is the Atlanta Braves centerfielder Michael Harris II. The major reason behind him being taken so early is simply that he plays for the Braves. The Braves have a stacked lineup and many fantasy managers are hoping this will result in top-tier fantasy production for Harris.
Michael Harris II finished top 25 among outfielders in runs (76), hits (148), total bases (241), and on-base percentage (.331). He also finished top five in batting average (.293) among outfielders.
His ADP is currently 37.6. This means there is a long wait after Yordan Alvarez gets selected before another outfielder will be taken. I personally think his ADP is much more appealing than Yordan Alvarez.
Simply Batting in the same lineup as Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, and Matt Olson will give him plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. With such a high batting average he should end the 2024 season near the top of the list for runs batted in. The Braves also added a young outfielder in Jarred Kelenic who fans hope will add more versatility to the lineup. This will hopefully result in Michael Harris II scoring more runs this season.
Late round sleeper
My late-round sleeper at the outfield position is Toronto Bluejays George Springer. Springer finished 2023 as the 17th highest-scoring fantasy baseball outfielder. With an ADP of 100.6, He will likely be available in the 11th round. In his 153 games in 2023, Springer managed 158 hits, 21 home runs, 72 runs batted in, 20 stolen bases, 60 walks, 248 total bases, and an on-base percentage of .327. The big reason I am picking Springer as my late-round sleeper is due to the team he plays for. Whether he bats in front of Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. he should see plenty of opportunities to score and drive in runs.
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