Whether you're playing in a rotisserie, points, head-to-head, or other type of fantasy league, your goal is always the same: to maximize the production you're getting from your players and out-perform your opposing teams. The best way to do this is to find players that contribute across multiple categories. 

 

 

 

Howard Bender already broke down 2024's top single-category contributors to target elsewhere in our Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide. Today, we're looking at the opposite: players that can help you take down your opponents in all categories.

2024 Fantasy Baseball Multi-Category Contributors

Last year's MLB rule changes resulted in a stolen-base boom. We saw 51 players swipe at least 20 bases and 70 players swipe at least 15 bags.

When it comes to adding home runs to the stolen base upside, that list gets a bit shorter. Only 18 players hit at least 20 home runs while also stealing 20 bases.

But when we talk about multiple categories in fantasy baseball, we need to expand beyond the normal thinking of just home runs and stolen bases. After all, there are usually five categories for offense and five categories for pitching in a standard league - regardless of the scoring formats you use. 

With that said, here are my favorite fantasy baseball multi-category targets, including a few breakout and under-the-radar options.

Michael Harris, OF Atlanta Braves

It's not that we don't already think of Harris as an elite ballplayer. He was the 2022 Rookie of the Year and is being drafted among the Top-10 outfielders right now according to the latest Fantasy Baseball ADP. But he has yet to hit 20+ homers and has topped out at 20 stolen bases in each of his first two season.

However, the reasons to target him are simple. First, he has yet to play more than 138 games in a seson. Second, he plays for the elite Atlanta Braves offense.

Third - and most importantly - Harris is only 22-years old and is coming into what is considered to be the “power prime” years. He is one of my favorite targets in fantasy baseball drafts this year, and I don't think its too much of a leap that he not only hits for his first 20-20 season, also potentially closes in on a 30-30 year if he can play a full 162-game season.

He's also a player than could find himself scoring 90+ runs as well, depending on where in the lineup he's hitting. Regardless, he's a strong multi-category contributor and a great way to get fantasy exposure to the elite Atlanta offense.

Matt McLain, SS Cincinnati Reds

While everyone was swooning over Elly De La Cruz, it was another rookie shortstop who had a great season for the Reds: Matt McLain.

In just 89 games last year, McLain hit .290 with 16 homers and 14 stolen bases. Playing in the Great American Ballpark usually does wonders for power numbers and he is certainly capable of hitting the 20 stolen base plateau.

This is another player, that with a full season under his belt, should be approaching 25 homers and 25 stolen bases this year. So, we have a good batting average, power, speed and someone that should score some runs given his spot in the Reds batting order. 

McLain checks all the boxes for someone you want to draft on your fantasy teams.

Josh Naylor, 1B Cleveland Guardians

What a year for Naylor, huh? He came out of nowhere to hit .308 with 17 homers  and 97 RBI while playing just 121 games.

When it comes to fantasy baseball ADP, there is no real respect being put on his name as he is coming off the board around pick 123 and as the 17th first basemen drafted. 

Naylor's numbers last year weren't overly egregious when it comes to underlying stats, so while a slight downtick in batting average could be in order, I'd also say we we can lock him in for 20+ homers and 90+ RBI if he can play in 150 games this year.

Bryson Stott, 2B Philadelphia Phillies

Stott is being drafted outside the Top 100 players, let alone outside the Top 10 second basemen. This is despite him coming off of a season where he hit .280 with 15 homers and 31 stolen bases

I understand that stolen bases are no longer at a premium, but for a player that is entering his third season in the MLB within his “power prime,” there is certainly room for a breakout. Only his spot in Philadelphia's batting order would prevent him from reaching his full run-producing upside.

Ha-Seong Kim, SS San Diego Padres

When Kim first came to the Padres, he was coming off of a 30-homer season in the KBO. The power came along with .306 average and an OPS of .921.

Yes, the adjustment to the MLB has taken a few years, but last season we saw the beginning of the breakout. Kim hit .260 with 84 runs, 17 homers and 38 stolen bases. 

Kim is projected to be the Padres leadoff hitter this season as well, which means he could approach 100 runs in addition to the power and speed potential. Public perception doesn't seem to have yet caught up to his multi-category fantasy baseball upside.

Jarren Duran, OF Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox are in yet another rebuild, but an exciting player for them this season is going to be Jarren Duran.

A post-hype prospect, Duran struggled with his early taste of MLB pitching but figured things out last season. In 2023, he hit .295 with eight homers and 24 stolen bases before suffering a season-ending injury after 102 games.

The speed is elite and Duran was on pace to lead the American League in doubles before getting hurt. He is coming off the board as OF48, but is expected to hit at the top of the Red Sox lineup this season.

If he can carry over the strides he made last year, then this is another player with power, speed and run scoring potential who should be on your fantasy baseball draft list as a multi-category contributor.