2024 Fantasy Baseball: Players to Target in OBP Leagues

In the story of Moneyball, we learned that the best predictor of player contributions to team wins begins by simply getting on base. This point was further emphasized in the classic scene where Jonah Hill, who plays Peter Brand, repeatedly states the appeal of several of the new offseason target players as being, “He gets on base.” This new focus around elevating on-base percentage led to a revolution in player evaluation that still exists today.

This OBP revelation also spurred many fantasy baseball players to adjust their league scoring settings to use OBP in place of the traditional batting average. Not only does this league format introduce new scoring scenarios, but it completely changes the player rankings for those leagues. To help you find the right players to target from our recent top 500 OBP player rankings in your upcoming drafts, we’ve identified key players to prioritize in your draft queue.

Top Fantasy Baseball OBP League Players to Target

Early Round OBP Anchors

There are usually several players that are usually drafted in the first few rounds that see their draft position rise by several spots in OBP leagues. The players listed below all provided OBP levels last year that were astronomically above the league average of .320. It’s almost a given that to contend in an OBP league a team would need to have at least one of these players on their roster, if not multiple.

With so many early round OBP risers there are also several players that fall in the rankings. The list below shows those early round players who don’t provide meaningful OBP category contributions. In fact, this creates heightened risk for unpolished hitters like Abrams and De La Cruz.

Mid-Round OBP Risers

Introducing the .100 club! This is a special set of players that have an OBP over 100 points higher than their batting average. While this comprehensive list includes several of the early-round risers mentioned above, several new mid-round players also appear. These players will often jump several rounds up in draft position in OBP leagues.

Late Round OBP Saviors

The late rounds of drafts can feel hopeless for those who failed to address the category early on. Yet, there is still hope in the late rounds with several players sporting high OBP. Take caution, however, as several of these players are not full-time regulars on their team. In daily leagues players like Joe, Pederson, and Wade Jr. all offer immense value to keep OBP rates afloat. For weekly leagues, playing time should be monitored to ensure enough plate appearances to help with counting stats.

OBP Leagues Widen the Gap Between Subpar and Superstar Players

The range of outcomes for a player’s OBP is significantly larger than for batting average, sometimes by up to .150 points. Typically teams that win this category have an overall team OBP of around .350, which is far above the league average. That’s why player contributions to OBP in these leagues are vital to properly address. Make sure to master your drafts in this format by prioritizing our target players in your draft queues.

I hope these player targets help you best address your OBP drafts with precision. Let me know what you think by reaching me on X at @TheToddMpls.

For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.