Top Fantasy Baseball First Basemen for 2024: Freddie Freeman, Matt Olson, Bryce Harper, Pete Alonso, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and More

The 2024 MLB season is closing in quickly, so it’s time to start putting together your rankings for every position to make sure you’re lined up for your fantasy baseball draft.

The first base position is stocked full of talented players. Let’s discuss where some of the better options are being drafted and then determine if that’s a good spot to take them at.

We already covered some of the top starting pitchers and catchers, so be sure to check those out. We’ll cover other positions in stories to come, so check back for those.

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The Best of the Best

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman is the consensus top fantasy first baseman (at least on all the lists I’ve seen). Atlanta Braves’ Matt Olson, Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper, New York Mets’ Pete Alonso and Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are ranked inside the top 30 on most lists.

I’m not sure what I could say about Freeman that hasn’t been said before. He’s an absolute monster at the plate.

Freeman hit .331 a season ago and had a .410 on-base percentage. He clubbed 59 doubles and 29 homers, while driving in 102 runs and scoring 131 times. He had career highs in plate appearances (730), runs, hits (211), doubles and stolen bases (23). It seems he’s just entering his prime, although he should really be on his way out of it at 34 years old.

He’s going to hit near the top of an absolutely stacked Dodgers’ lineup, so there’s not only protection around him, but also should be ample opportunities to put up huge numbers. 

He’s picked anywhere from 6-10 in most drafts, and he will probably outperform that mark by the end of the season. I’d be comfortable taking him starting at pick 6, and if you get him in the double digits, it’s a steal in my book.

Olson narrowly outperformed Freeman a season ago in points leagues. 

Olson had a .283 average, .389 on-base percentage, 54 home runs, 27 doubles, 139 RBIs, 127 runs scored and 172 total hits a season ago. What he lacked in average he made up for with power and run production.

He’s in another loaded lineup in Atlanta and is in the heart of his prime at almost 30 years old. I’ve seen him ranked between 15-20, which honestly seems kind of low. 

Of course, there’s some talented players ranked ahead of him, but we’re talking about the No. 4 fantasy hitter from last year (No. 3 if you take out Ohtani). If he’s healthy this season, I don’t see a way he finishes any lower than 12th overall. So if you can land Olson between 15-20, consider yourself lucky. I’m personally OK taking him starting around pick 12.

Harper had a second straight season impacted by injuries last season, so he’s fallen a bit in the rankings. He played 126 games last year after playing in 99 the year prior.

Harper hit .293 and got on base at a .401 clip. He finished with 29 doubles, 21 homers, 72 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, 134 total hits and 84 runs scored.

He’ll hit in the heart of a less-talented Phillies’ lineup (when comparing them to the Dodgers or Braves), but the couple guys before and after him will protect him and give him plenty of chances to have a big fantasy season. 

I’ve seen him ranked between 15-20 most often, sometimes going before Olson. His injury woes are definitely a concern, but they won’t make me pass on him if he’s on the board when I am drafting. I definitely am taking Harper after Olson, and would be fine with Harper starting at pick 18. Getting him in the 20s is where I’d feel most comfortable.

Alonso is coming off a down season in terms of his average (.217) and on-base percentage (.318), but he made up for those numbers by clubbing 21 doubles and 46 home runs. Alonso drove in 118 runs, scored 92 times and posted 123 hits total.

He’s one of my favorite bounceback candidates for the upcoming season. I like him to hit closer to his career .251 average while still providing plenty of homers, RBIs and runs scored.

I typically see him ranked in the 20s, which seems appropriate after last season’s numbers. I’m most comfortable taking him later in the 20s, but because I think he’s going to revert back to a better average, I’m also OK taking him in the early 20s.

Guerrero, who was recently named the cover athlete for MLB The Show, had a solid season last year. He had a .264 average, .345 on-base percentage, driving in 94 runs on 159 hits overall. He scored 78 runs and clubbed 30 doubles and 26 homers.

By his career averages, it was actually a bit of a down season for the youngster. He’s another one I expect to put up a little bit better numbers, although not as extreme a jump as I expect for Alonso.

Guerrero typically goes in the late 20s or early 30s. I have him just a touch behind Alonso because of the home run numbers, so I’m most comfortable taking Guerrero in the late 20s/early 30s.

Other Guys Worth Mentioning

After those guys come off the draft board, there will be a little wait before any more first basemen are likely selected.

Free agent Cody Bellinger (who could possibly lose 1B eligibility depending on where he lands) and St. Louis Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt tend to be picked next. 

Bellinger bounced back in a big way last season, but also only played 130 games. His ADP could fluctuate quite a bit depending on where he lands for the upcoming season.

Goldschmidt is starting to slow down a bit, but still put up good numbers a season ago and played just about every day. He could end up being a steal if he improves his RBI numbers.

Both guys are usually ranked between 50-60, which makes them both solid value picks in my book (if you are drafting now or soon). I like Bellinger just a touch more coming off his bounceback season.

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker, Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Daiz, Boston Red Sox’s Triston Casas, Detroit Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson, Cincinnati Reds’ Spencer Steer and Cleveland Guardians’ Josh Naylor are in the next wave of first basemen off the board.

I mentioned a couple of these guys (Diaz, Walker) as value picks in this story. Walker is a big power threat in a talented Arizona lineup, while Diaz is one of the best-hitting first basemen out there (behind only Freeman last year).

Casas doesn’t have a great average (.263) but did club 24 homers and drove in 66 runs across 132 games. A full season’s worth of games with similar production could vault him into the top five at the position.

Torkelson was another big power threat, with 31 homers and 88 RBIs last year. He hit just .233, which helps him fall this late in the draft.

Steer is still a pretty unknown guy. He had a .271 average, 37 doubles, 23 homers, 86 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and 74 runs scored a season ago. He’s another guy who could place inside the top five if he continues to improve as a hitter.

Naylor had a .308 average and 97 RBIs last season, but was limited to 121 games after playing 122 the season before. His numbers are great when he’s on the field, but missing so many games is definitely a downside to his fantasy outlook.

I like Diaz the best of the bunch, especially if you land him near or even a touch before his typical 90-100 ranking. I’d roll with Walker after that, and am fine taking him anywhere from 70-80 like he is in most rankings. Steer is who I like the most after that, especially when he’s being ranked between 100-115 and has position versatility.

Torkelson, Naylor and Casas are all pretty close in my book, but I’d take them in that order. I like Torkelson at a later pick (something close to the high end of his 95-115 ranking). Naylor is usually ranked between 115-120, and I’d prefer to take him a couple picks after that because of the games played concern. I see Casas going anywhere from 80-105 in rankings, and would prefer to probably take him a round or two after that - I’m just not sold on him yet and the Red Sox lineup might not be a very good one to help boost Casas’ fantasy numbers.

We’ll cover more first basemen in stories to come, so keep checking back!