The truth is that most of us are done with 2024.

Maybe not you. Maybe you're fighting tooth and nail for a championship and will take whatever waiver wire recommendations or lineup advice you can get for the season's final week. Rest assured, we have you covered on that front.

But those of us just playing out the string need something to look forward to, and what we look forward to most of all is next season. Those preparations begin for me now with this first look at the first two rounds.

My biggest takeaway? I couldn't find room for all the hitters I wanted to include. Usually, those with a projectable stud outcome taper off toward the end of Round 2, which is about the point when pitchers flood the draft room, but I genuinely agonized over those last few spots this time. That's fairly surprising given that 2024 hasn't been an all-time great offensive season, but I think it speaks to a sort of transition that's taking place. Most often, II was torn between showing deference to obvious bounce-back candidates like Fernando Tatis and Julio Rodriguez and showing enthusiasm for emerging standouts like Jarren Duran and Jackson Chourio.

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One thing I can say for sure is that the pitchers can wait. I've managed to shoehorn in a couple here -- those who I consider to be the obvious top two -- but I probably have them lower than most people will just so I can gobble up as many of those stud hitters as I can. I don't think we'll be so thrilled with what comes after them, and I suspect that a number of quality pitchers will be pushed down as others come to the same conclusion.

Note that these rankings are for traditional Rotisserie leagues (i.e., 5x5 scoring). I address Head-to-Head points leagues further below. 

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Round 1
1
Shohei Ohtani Los Angeles Dodgers DH
In leagues where you can't take advantage of his two-way play, you almost hate to see Ohtani return to pitching next year. Having his undivided attention on hitting has made for a historic season, perhaps even the first ever with 50 homers and 50 steals.
2
Aaron Judge New York Yankees CF
There's an easy case to make for Judge at No. 1, given that two of his past three seasons have been among the top 30 all-time in OPS+, putting him up there with names like Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams. But in traditional 5x5 play, it's hard to dismiss the stolen base gap between him and Ohtani, who himself is capable of historic things at the dish.
3
Bobby Witt Kansas City Royals SS
It's kind of wild that Witt has slipped a spot from a year ago even though his 2024 represents his biggest leap yet, revealing him to be as much of a standout for batting average as home runs and stolen bases. He rounds out what figures to be a consensus top three.
4
Ronald Acuna Atlanta Braves RF
I'm taking a leap by ranking Acuna this high, coming off a second ACL surgery (albeit for the opposite knee), and I reserve the right to adjust down based on how things are looking next spring. But if I'm blessed with the fourth pick, I want to use it on someone with the potential to be as big of a league-breaker as the three drafted ahead of him, which Acuna unquestionably was with the first-ever 40-homer, 70-steal season in 2023.
5
Jose Ramirez Cleveland Guardians 3B
With Ramirez setting a career-high in stolen bases and very nearly home runs this year, you're at risk of overpaying here, but then again, he's been a first-round fixture for the better part of a decade. That level of security is deserving of an upcharge even if a small step back in production is most likely.
6
Mookie Betts Los Angeles Dodgers SS
Betts is losing his most valuable eligibility, second base, but will retain shortstop and outfield, making him the most versatile first-rounder still. He's no longer the base-stealer Ramirez is, which is why he slips a spot behind the Guardians third baseman, but he's a better source of batting average and is in a more bankable lineup.
7
Juan Soto New York Yankees RF
Soto's superlative on-base skills are wasted in traditional 5x5 play, which explains why he ranks three spots higher in Head-to-Head points (see below), but getting him out of San Diego has returned him to being a slam-dunk first-rounder regardless of format. If you can do without stolen bases, he's a surefire plus in everything else, particularly if he re-signs with the Yankees .
8
Kyle Tucker Houston Astros RF
Tucker's prolonged recovery from a stress fracture in his shin makes it easy to forget how studly he was before then, pacing for what easily would have been a career-high in home runs while continuing to steal bases at a nice clip. No reason why he shouldn't remain a first-round fixture.
9
Gunnar Henderson Baltimore Orioles SS
Henderson has made big strides in his second major-league season, reducing his strikeout rate and further optimizing his swing for power. It's possible he takes another step forward at age 24, but for now, I'll project him for Tucker-like numbers, only at a deeper position.
10
Elly De La Cruz Cincinnati Reds SS
Those who don't mind an exaggerated build will push De La Cruz up a few more spots for the outlier stolen base numbers, but as first-rounders go, he's an obvious liability in batting average and, provided the Reds lineup doesn't vastly improve, RBI.
11
Francisco Lindor New York Mets SS
Some recent back pains may prevent Lindor from delivering his second consecutive 30/30 season, but it's academic at this point. He's made it clear that stolen bases are back to being a central part of his game, and there isn't as much separating him from Jose Ramirez as the five spots in these rankings would suggest.
12
Yordan Alvarez Houston Astros DH
Alvarez's profile is perhaps even more bankable than Soto's, positioning him for a .300 batting average and somewhere between 30-40 home runs. But as he wraps up his healthiest season to date, a sliver of doubt remains that his body will break down and ruin all of your plans.
Round 2
13
Vladimir Guerrero Toronto Blue Jays 1B
That other-worldly potential that made Guerrero the top 5x5 player in 2021 lay dormant for two years, detectable only by the red on his Baseball Savant page, but it's erupted again over the past five months to put his batting average in rare company. He'd rank higher if not for, well, the previous two years.
14
Fernando Tatis San Diego Padres RF
Before you blame a second straight disappointing season on Tatis' PED suspension from 2022, note that his Statcast readings paint a much rosier picture. He ranks in the top 5 percent in the metrics that matter most and has no real strikeout concerns, so with better health in 2025, it's still reasonable to think he could perform like a top-five player.
15
Julio Rodriguez Seattle Mariners CF
A quick glance at Julio Rodriguez's Baseball Savant page reveals that he has basically the same xBA and xSLG (.275, .461) as a year ago (.274, .475), thus serving as a welcome reminder that his skills haven't actually diminished. His 2024 may have gone sideways, but a rebound at age 24 is to be expected for what was a consensus top-three pick last year.
16
Corbin Carroll Arizona Diamondbacks CF
Seeing as he went into June batting .197 with a .573 OPS, Carroll's turnaround has been a considerable one, and at this point, nobody's fixating on his multiple shoulder scares from 2023. But even post-turnaround, the batting average has been a little lacking and the stolen bases a little less frequent than during his 2023, giving Carroll a profile that seems better suited for points leagues, actually.
17
Trea Turner Philadelphia Phillies SS
Though he's been hitting fine, Turner has basically stopped running since returning from the hamstring injury that sidelined him for six weeks in May and June, which should raise some concern given that it's his most important contribution for Fantasy. He's probably just favoring the leg, which figures to be a non-factor next year, but heading into his age-32 season, some caution is warranted.
18
Tarik Skubal Detroit Tigers SP
You could make a case for the top pitcher in Fantasy to go earlier, of course -- and I will say, without equivocation, that Skubal is the top pitcher in Fantasy -- but I'd rather gobble up the stud hitters before they're gone. I suspect enough stud pitchers will be pushed into the fourth and fifth rounds to justify it.
19
Zack Wheeler Philadelphia Phillies SP
Wheeler has become the model of durability at starting pitcher as much of the old guard has faded around him, and while I could come up with at least half a dozen pitchers who outpace him pitch-for-pitch, actually being available to make the pitches is an essential quality for an ace. He and Skubal are Nos. 1 and 2 for me, with no clear No. 3.
20
Jarren Duran Boston Red Sox CF
Duran obviously doesn't have the track record of most of the other hitters on this list, but his 2024 was a logical step forward from his breakout 2023 and looks pretty unimpeachable from the underlying data. There may be little distinction between him and Carroll moving forward.
21
Bryce Harper Philadelphia Phillies 1B
We've seen Harper have better seasons than the one he's given us in 2024, but he's perhaps the most bankable first base option for 2025 and should still be capable of MVP-type numbers at age 32. If he falls short, like this year, it won't be by much.
22
Freddie Freeman Los Angeles Dodgers 1B
It's been a long time since Freeman ranked this low, which is partly a testament to how many hitters have put themselves in this discussion, but he deserves some blame too. There's now a three-year trend of him hitting fewer than 30 homers, including fewer than 25 twice. An uncharacteristic stolen base surge saved him the first two years, but it appears to have ended. He'll still excel in batting average, runs and RBI.
23
Rafael Devers Boston Red Sox 3B
Devers represents the point in the rankings when floor begins to trump ceiling. He's almost certainly not a top-10 player but is so reliably a top-30 player, making a significant contribution to everything but stolen bases, that there's virtually no chance you'll regret taking him.
24
Jackson Chourio Milwaukee Brewers LF
As has become the norm for high-profile rookies in recent years, Chourio needed a couple months to find his footing in the majors, but from June 1 on, he's basically been a stud. The end result will be a 20/20 campaign with the sort of strikeout rate that hints of even better days ahead.
Why not ____________?
Ketel Marte Arizona Diamondbacks 2B
Though he's the clear No. 1 at the weakest position, Marte's year-to-year inconsistencies and mild injury risk give the ultra-reliable Freeman and Devers the edge over him in the top 24.
Jackson Merrill San Diego Padres CF
Merrill rates so similarly to Chourio in terms of both rookie production and future trajectory that it's a shame to split them up, but Chourio edges out his fellow Jackson by virtue of being a slightly more dedicated base-stealer.
Austin Riley Atlanta Braves 3B
Riley and Devers run neck-and-neck in the preseason third base rankings every year and basically do for 2025, too, even though RIley's final numbers are askew. He was back to himself for the final three months he was healthy and probably would have brought his season numbers in line if not for a fractured hand in August.
Chris Sale Atlanta Braves SP
Though Sale has probably been the best pitcher in 2024, it feels like he's gotten away with something, doesn't it? He'll remain an injury risk at age 36 next year and will be at best my fourth-ranked starting pitcher.
Paul Skenes Pittsburgh Pirates SP
So who's my third-ranked starting pitcher? Why, this guy, of course, who's had as successful of a rookie season as any pitcher in recent memory. We can't be sure Skenes will hold up to an ace workload, though, like we can for Skubal and especially Wheeler.

For H2H points

Round 1
1. Aaron Judge, OF, NYY
2. Shohei Ohtani, DH/SP, LAD
3. Bobby Witt, SS, KC
4. Juan Soto, OF, free agent
5. Jose Ramirez, 3B, CLE
6. Mookie Betts, SS/OF, LAD
7. Ronald Acuna, OF, ATL
8. Kyle Tucker, OF, HOU
9. Gunnar Henderson, SS, BAL
10. Tarik Skubal, SP, DET
11. Zack Wheeler, SP, PHI
12. Yordan Alvarez, OF, HOU
Round 2
13. Vladimir Guerrero, 1B, TOR
14. Francisco Lindor, SS, NYM
15. Corbin Carroll, OF, ARI
16. Elly De La Cruz, SS, CIN
17. Bryce Harper, 1B, PHI
18. Freddie Freeman, 1B, LAD
19. Fernando Tatis, OF, SD
20. Julio Rodriguez, OF, SEA
21. Trea Turner, SS, PHI
22. Jarren Duran, OF, BOS
23. Rafael Devers, 3B, BOS
24. Jackson Chourio, OF, MIL