We take a look at the top six Atlanta Braves players in ESPN’s top 300 fantasy rankings.
When you are preparing for your fantasy baseball drafts, it’s important to know where your Atlanta Braves are and where you should plan on drafting them.
A lot of this depends on roster construction, but if you want any of the top three offensive talents on the Braves, you’ll have to spend early draft capital on these studs.
Pitching looks to provide the real value for the Braves as the first starting pitcher doesn’t appear in the ESPN rankings until the 131st place.
Two of the top 15 ranked fantasy players at ESPN.com’s top 300 are Atlanta Braves. Three of the top 45 wear the Tomahawk.
1.    (2) Ronald Acuna Jr. OF2
2.    (15) Freddie Freeman 1B2
3.    (45) Ozzie Albies 2B3
4.    (95) Will Smith RP8
5.    (131) Mike Soroka SP29
6.    (171) Max Fried SP37
Ronald Acuna Jr.
He’s the second coming of Mike Trout and some places have him ranked as the number one overall choice in fantasy drafts. He showed off the power/speed combo last season as he attempted to achieve a 40/40 season. He came up just a few steals short, finishing with 41 HRs and 37 SBs.
Acuna adds a high average and great on-base (for those playing in OBP leagues). He finished first in the NL in runs scored, first in the NL in stolen bases, fifth in homers, and still drove in 101 runs. He didn’t just contribute in every category, he was dominant in every category and he’s only getting better.
There isn’t a whole more to add. Take him with the first two picks or you won’t get him. He’s a stud.
Freddie Freeman
Freddie is a model of consistency. He is ranked as the second-best first baseman, just behind Cody Bellinger and just ahead of Mets’ rookie sensation, Pete Alonso.
It can be quite a challenge to find hitter that will provide you with power and a high batting average.
Consistently being a source of both power and a high average makes Freddie’s stability highly sought after in fantasy baseball.
During his nine seasons in the Majors, Freeman has accumulated a .293 average and hit .295 last season. For those in on-base leagues, Freeman had an OBP of .389 in 2019 and has exceeded .400 twice in his career.
In a loaded Braves’ offense, Freeman set a career-mark in RBI (121) and runs scored (113). His 113 runs were good for fourth in the NL. Despite being listed as the fifteenth ranked player, Freeman finished fourth on ESPN’s player rater last season.
Let’s face it, having an impact bat like Josh Donaldson hitting behind Freeman makes a huge difference.
Despite getting on-base at a .388 clip in 2018, he scored nearly 20 fewer runs without the former MVP at his back.
Freeman doesn’t NEED Donaldson to be an effective fantasy option, he’ll produce no matter what. He’s too good of a hitter, but it doesn’t hurt to see the Bringer of Rain on deck when Freddie is up.
Draft him with confidence regardless of who the cleanup hitter is.