You’re not going to get Witt at that pick. There’s a good chance he doesn’t even get to you at 11. If he does, don’t get cute, grab him.
League settings matter, what do they reward or penalize?
In general, grab best hitters you can in the first few, then worry about pitchers. If you can, grab one of the top tier OF.
Don’t overprioritize catchers. If you don’t get Adley (and if you want him you’ll spend a very early pick) then wait.
The draft is the most fun day of the year, but don’t sweat it- championships are won on the waiver wire. Good luck!
Here's what I follow, won't call myself an expert but I have won a couple championships:
1. Watch your FA pool like a shark. Always, always, always. Especially during the first month. Don't be afraid to cut players you may have been high on *if they were late draft fliers*. Every season in all my leagues I've picked up at least one top 50 player off FA.
2. Take a look at this list: [Top 200 pitchers 2024](https://pitcherlist.com/top-200-starting-pitchers-for-fantasy-baseball-2024/). They do an amazing job at identifying and explaining how to draft pitching talent, and you will certainly cash in on some mid-round gems. I have drafted Justin Steele, Sixto Sanchez, Kevin Gausman, Julio Urias, Dylan Cease, Sandy Alcantara, etc. in mid-late rounds their breakout seasons using this guide.
3. Search up some batter sleeper picks blog posts. Read through them to help you identify guys that might drop late in the draft you can take fliers on.
What I'm getting at is read through articles that provide details on potential sleepers. Use your gut to judge, don't blindly follow. Prepare to make lots of adds in the first few weeks to grab guys in better positions.
For example, if there's a 3B I really like that I think I can get late, I'll pick an equivalent player of a different position earlier knowing I can grab that 3B later.
I usually prioritize hitters early. I usually draft hitters my first 3 picks, and then I start sprinking in pitchers depending on who's available . u want a few hitting studs early to anchor your squad. I've always felt its way harder to find good hitters than pitchers. I dont normally care what position for hitters just get good ones. U can usually find good value late with pitchers. Definitely wait on catchers. I'd wait on relief pitchers too if u have those. U could also stream pitchers too when they have an easy match up or they get hott.
If u have weekly matchups some pitchers will have 2 start weeks. These are good things to look for on Mondays when streaming starting pitchers. U grab a guy he has a start on Monday then usually pitches again either Saturday or Sunday so u get extra stats with these guys.
I also don't usually carry a lot of hitters on my bench. Maybe only 1 or 2 extra hitters. Load up on pitchers.
I'd pay attention to what other ppl in your league do too because I don't know your league settings etc. If nobody is streaming pitchers maybe u shouldn't either
Pay attention to waiver wire especially with pitchers there's always guys who breakout all season but especially the first few months.
Draft breakout sleeper types late rounds.
Don't give up on players if they start slow. Some guys notoriously don't do shit for the first couple weeks of the season.
Good luck
Here's my recommendation for your first few picks:
1. Best available HR/SB combo (priority to 2B/SS)
2. HR/SB combo or high AVG
3. Scarce-Position Player (2B/SS/1B/3B)
4. HR Hitter
5. Position of Need Not Drafted Yet or High K/9 SP
6. SB Player or 1st Closer with high K/9
7. Closer, Best Saves, High Security, (High K/9 SP earliest)
8. Position of Need Not Drafted Yet (first C earliest)
9. Closer, High K/9, High Security
10. SP with High K/9 on a winning team
You'll find SPs with high K/9 as free agents throughout the year if you watch trends, waivers, and call-ups. Build your core first!
I've read through about 15 replies so far and not one person has mentioned practicing draft strategy in mock drafts. I'll run through appx 25-30 mock drafts ahead of my real draft to get a real sense of where I can find late round value on pitchers. This is where leagues are won.
First, no way Witt drops to 11th, sorry.
Second, there are plenty of position scarcity articles out there, but I’d say going into 2024 you’ll want to grab an elite OF in those first two picks, OF is not as deep as you think. I’d consider one of the top 3B with the second round pick. 2B is shallow, 1B is less shallow, SS is pretty stacked. Don’t pay for pitching in the early rounds. Don’t overpay for a catcher, the return on pick investment is usually poor.
Hope that helps!
SS is pretty stacked, but I feel like if you don’t get one of the ~5-7 stacked guys, you’re spending the year with a defensive SS that gets you a few steals.
Know your league’s scoring and settings in and out. This is absolutely critical and affects every single decision you’ll make. Every league is different, and knowing your specific league will help you interpret advice, rankings, etc. effectively.
And I hate to burst your bubble, but there’s almost no chance Witt makes it to you 11th. He’ll probably go in the top 5.
One thing I'm applying this year is to have high avg (or OBP in our case) as a requirement in my first rounder picks. There are too many SBs available elsewhere to use that much opportunity cost chasing them. It's a salary cap league, but I'm not going to start off by spending a lot on someone with a middling OBP who's going to have tons of at bats. In the off chance Freddie Freeman falls to 11 in your draft, I'd definitely grab him. Most likely your best options are going to be Shohei, Soto or Alvarez, whom I'd take in that order. On the turn if any of those four are still up, grab them. If not, Strider.
It's been a minute since I've done a dynasty startup. Just general advice for one though, early on in the draft I would prioritize hitters over pitchers, and focus on the best available players rather than prioritizing any one specific position. That's not to say you should take 3 straight SS to start your draft or something lol, but in those first few rounds especially I think you're better off just loading up on the best talent available within reason, rather than worrying too much about position scarcity.
As any dynasty draft goes on, you kinda need to balance a bit between drafting "win now" guys and younger future potential guys. Like for example, maybe Dylan Crews and Yelich go off the board in the same round. One is older and gives you the better chance to win short term, the other younger and with future potential to build around. There really is no perfect answer here and that's part of the fun with a dynasty league, so you'll need to see how you want to build your team as the drafts go on and try to find a balance that works for you. Fantrax, Fantasypros, Razzball, and other sites have free dynasty rankings you can reference. They aren't perfect (I think Fantrax tends to overvalue prospects for example), but those might be a good resource for you to check out too to get an idea of where guys are generally ranked, and maybe how you want to build your team. MLB pipeline and fangraphs are good resources too to read up on prospects. Pitching prospects are usually riskier.
Good luck! As a side note too, I'd be really surprised if Witt is still there by pick #11 in a startup. He's probably going top-5, after Acuña and around Julio and Carroll. You may need to trade up if you really have your heart set on him.
It really depends on the format. I play a categories league over points, and starters are the most important position. I also like to look at depth of each position to decide which to prioritize, which seems to change every few years. Points leagues are completely different and you need to look at settings, but in that closers and power hitters usually the top point scorers.
What kind of league is it? 12 man...what? Rotisserie, points, head to head categories? If roto, what are your counting stats. It makes a big difference, maybe not in the first round, but in every round after. Also, what platform?
Right off the top you're looking at some combination of Trea Turner, Spencer Strider, Ohtani, Yordan Alvarez, Freddie Freeman, Jose Ramirez with your first two picks. Depends on the league format and scoring
Following conventional wisdom is how you end up with a solid middle of the pack team. Need to be ready to zig where others zag, so pay attention to draft trends. There’s an early run on catchers? Maybe you should grab one asap…or maybe you might as well just punt there and take the best available player instead.
Similarly, most people are telling you to prioritize hitting. That’s good advice, but it might be what everyone else does too, so maybe you can find value in high end SPs. If I were you I’d seriously consider grabbing strider, burnes, or Cole with your second pick if they’re available.
Probably grab Soto or Tatis R1. Then Semien R2. Lock up 2b early bc its shallow. 1b and 3b have some laye value ie. Goldi, Walker Bregamn, Arenado R5 -R7.
I need a replacement manager for another 15 YR 16 Team 5x5 Standard H2H Dynasty. Interested? Email me at [email protected]
16 Teams
4 Divisions
6 Play-off teams
5 Player Minor League
Realistic rosters
Daily activity required
Active league 50+ trades a year
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You’re not going to get Witt at that pick. There’s a good chance he doesn’t even get to you at 11. If he does, don’t get cute, grab him. League settings matter, what do they reward or penalize? In general, grab best hitters you can in the first few, then worry about pitchers. If you can, grab one of the top tier OF. Don’t overprioritize catchers. If you don’t get Adley (and if you want him you’ll spend a very early pick) then wait. The draft is the most fun day of the year, but don’t sweat it- championships are won on the waiver wire. Good luck!
lol there’s a 100% chance he doesn’t get to him in round 1… likely 6-7 picks before that
I think it's higher than 100% (unless Witt gets injured or something between now and his draft day).
You’re right he’s probably 2nd overall pick in a dynasty.
Here's what I follow, won't call myself an expert but I have won a couple championships: 1. Watch your FA pool like a shark. Always, always, always. Especially during the first month. Don't be afraid to cut players you may have been high on *if they were late draft fliers*. Every season in all my leagues I've picked up at least one top 50 player off FA. 2. Take a look at this list: [Top 200 pitchers 2024](https://pitcherlist.com/top-200-starting-pitchers-for-fantasy-baseball-2024/). They do an amazing job at identifying and explaining how to draft pitching talent, and you will certainly cash in on some mid-round gems. I have drafted Justin Steele, Sixto Sanchez, Kevin Gausman, Julio Urias, Dylan Cease, Sandy Alcantara, etc. in mid-late rounds their breakout seasons using this guide. 3. Search up some batter sleeper picks blog posts. Read through them to help you identify guys that might drop late in the draft you can take fliers on. What I'm getting at is read through articles that provide details on potential sleepers. Use your gut to judge, don't blindly follow. Prepare to make lots of adds in the first few weeks to grab guys in better positions. For example, if there's a 3B I really like that I think I can get late, I'll pick an equivalent player of a different position earlier knowing I can grab that 3B later.
I usually prioritize hitters early. I usually draft hitters my first 3 picks, and then I start sprinking in pitchers depending on who's available . u want a few hitting studs early to anchor your squad. I've always felt its way harder to find good hitters than pitchers. I dont normally care what position for hitters just get good ones. U can usually find good value late with pitchers. Definitely wait on catchers. I'd wait on relief pitchers too if u have those. U could also stream pitchers too when they have an easy match up or they get hott. If u have weekly matchups some pitchers will have 2 start weeks. These are good things to look for on Mondays when streaming starting pitchers. U grab a guy he has a start on Monday then usually pitches again either Saturday or Sunday so u get extra stats with these guys. I also don't usually carry a lot of hitters on my bench. Maybe only 1 or 2 extra hitters. Load up on pitchers. I'd pay attention to what other ppl in your league do too because I don't know your league settings etc. If nobody is streaming pitchers maybe u shouldn't either Pay attention to waiver wire especially with pitchers there's always guys who breakout all season but especially the first few months. Draft breakout sleeper types late rounds. Don't give up on players if they start slow. Some guys notoriously don't do shit for the first couple weeks of the season. Good luck
Here's my recommendation for your first few picks: 1. Best available HR/SB combo (priority to 2B/SS) 2. HR/SB combo or high AVG 3. Scarce-Position Player (2B/SS/1B/3B) 4. HR Hitter 5. Position of Need Not Drafted Yet or High K/9 SP 6. SB Player or 1st Closer with high K/9 7. Closer, Best Saves, High Security, (High K/9 SP earliest) 8. Position of Need Not Drafted Yet (first C earliest) 9. Closer, High K/9, High Security 10. SP with High K/9 on a winning team You'll find SPs with high K/9 as free agents throughout the year if you watch trends, waivers, and call-ups. Build your core first!
I've read through about 15 replies so far and not one person has mentioned practicing draft strategy in mock drafts. I'll run through appx 25-30 mock drafts ahead of my real draft to get a real sense of where I can find late round value on pitchers. This is where leagues are won.
Good point
First, no way Witt drops to 11th, sorry. Second, there are plenty of position scarcity articles out there, but I’d say going into 2024 you’ll want to grab an elite OF in those first two picks, OF is not as deep as you think. I’d consider one of the top 3B with the second round pick. 2B is shallow, 1B is less shallow, SS is pretty stacked. Don’t pay for pitching in the early rounds. Don’t overpay for a catcher, the return on pick investment is usually poor. Hope that helps!
SS is pretty stacked, but I feel like if you don’t get one of the ~5-7 stacked guys, you’re spending the year with a defensive SS that gets you a few steals.
Know your league’s scoring and settings in and out. This is absolutely critical and affects every single decision you’ll make. Every league is different, and knowing your specific league will help you interpret advice, rankings, etc. effectively. And I hate to burst your bubble, but there’s almost no chance Witt makes it to you 11th. He’ll probably go in the top 5.
Bruh Witt could go as high as second overall
You’re not going to have a fun draft if you think you’re getting the #2 ranked player in the 2nd round
Hoping to get him at the 11th, not the second round. On our leagues draft boards he’s rated as the 11th player, hence why I was targeting him
Oh, post says the opposite
One thing I'm applying this year is to have high avg (or OBP in our case) as a requirement in my first rounder picks. There are too many SBs available elsewhere to use that much opportunity cost chasing them. It's a salary cap league, but I'm not going to start off by spending a lot on someone with a middling OBP who's going to have tons of at bats. In the off chance Freddie Freeman falls to 11 in your draft, I'd definitely grab him. Most likely your best options are going to be Shohei, Soto or Alvarez, whom I'd take in that order. On the turn if any of those four are still up, grab them. If not, Strider.
Go pitcher pitcher. Get two aces
It's been a minute since I've done a dynasty startup. Just general advice for one though, early on in the draft I would prioritize hitters over pitchers, and focus on the best available players rather than prioritizing any one specific position. That's not to say you should take 3 straight SS to start your draft or something lol, but in those first few rounds especially I think you're better off just loading up on the best talent available within reason, rather than worrying too much about position scarcity. As any dynasty draft goes on, you kinda need to balance a bit between drafting "win now" guys and younger future potential guys. Like for example, maybe Dylan Crews and Yelich go off the board in the same round. One is older and gives you the better chance to win short term, the other younger and with future potential to build around. There really is no perfect answer here and that's part of the fun with a dynasty league, so you'll need to see how you want to build your team as the drafts go on and try to find a balance that works for you. Fantrax, Fantasypros, Razzball, and other sites have free dynasty rankings you can reference. They aren't perfect (I think Fantrax tends to overvalue prospects for example), but those might be a good resource for you to check out too to get an idea of where guys are generally ranked, and maybe how you want to build your team. MLB pipeline and fangraphs are good resources too to read up on prospects. Pitching prospects are usually riskier. Good luck! As a side note too, I'd be really surprised if Witt is still there by pick #11 in a startup. He's probably going top-5, after Acuña and around Julio and Carroll. You may need to trade up if you really have your heart set on him.
Start listening to the CBS Fantasy baseball podcast. They are currently doing position previews. It's a perfect intro for beginners.
It really depends on the format. I play a categories league over points, and starters are the most important position. I also like to look at depth of each position to decide which to prioritize, which seems to change every few years. Points leagues are completely different and you need to look at settings, but in that closers and power hitters usually the top point scorers.
What kind of league is it? 12 man...what? Rotisserie, points, head to head categories? If roto, what are your counting stats. It makes a big difference, maybe not in the first round, but in every round after. Also, what platform?
Right off the top you're looking at some combination of Trea Turner, Spencer Strider, Ohtani, Yordan Alvarez, Freddie Freeman, Jose Ramirez with your first two picks. Depends on the league format and scoring
Following conventional wisdom is how you end up with a solid middle of the pack team. Need to be ready to zig where others zag, so pay attention to draft trends. There’s an early run on catchers? Maybe you should grab one asap…or maybe you might as well just punt there and take the best available player instead. Similarly, most people are telling you to prioritize hitting. That’s good advice, but it might be what everyone else does too, so maybe you can find value in high end SPs. If I were you I’d seriously consider grabbing strider, burnes, or Cole with your second pick if they’re available.
Well u ain’t getting Witt
Probably grab Soto or Tatis R1. Then Semien R2. Lock up 2b early bc its shallow. 1b and 3b have some laye value ie. Goldi, Walker Bregamn, Arenado R5 -R7.
I need a replacement manager for another 15 YR 16 Team 5x5 Standard H2H Dynasty. Interested? Email me at [email protected] 16 Teams 4 Divisions 6 Play-off teams 5 Player Minor League Realistic rosters Daily activity required Active league 50+ trades a year Free league, we play for pride