Cubs Fantasy Baseball Draft Preview | Nico Hoerner, Justin Steele, Cody Bellinger, Adbert Alzolay, Ian Happ and More
Discussing the top fantasy players from the Chicago Cubs as the 2024 season approaches.
The fantasy baseball season is closing in quickly. FantasySP has published a number of articles relating to 2024 fantasy baseball draft prep and will continue to do so through the start of the MLB season.
Recently, we’ve been looking at things on a team-by-team basis. Those articles can be found at the links below:
American League - Texas Rangers (hitters and pitchers), Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros (hitters and pitchers), Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays (hitters and pitchers), Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays
National League - Los Angeles Dodgers (hitters and pitchers), Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves (hitters and pitchers), Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks (hitters and pitchers), San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals
Now, we’ll take a look at the Chicago Cubs.
Get ready for draft season! Check out our Mock Draft Simulator, Average Draft Position list and Draft Genius!
Top Fantasy Hitters
The top Cub off the FantasySP Average Draft Position list is second baseman Nico Hoerner.
He played in 150 games in 2023, posting a .283 average, .346 on-base percentage, 175 total hits, 68 RBIs, 43 stolen bases and 98 runs. Hoerner homered nine times among his 40 extra-base hits.
Hoerner doesn’t have much power to his game, but makes up for it with runs and stolen bases. He placed sixth at the position in points leagues last year and is the fifth guy off draft boards this season. I think that’s a good spot for him to be going. If I take him, I try to load up with more power hitters around him.
Cody Bellinger ranks 62nd with a mark of 69.69.
Bellinger had a huge bounceback season in 2023, posting a .307 average and .356 OBP. He clubbed 26 homers among his 56 extra-base hits and 153 total knocks. Belli drove in 97 runs, stole 20 bases and scored 95 times.
This is fantastic value if Bellinger can replicate his 2023 season. Because he’s been up and down over the past few years, there’s definitely some risk involved with taking him around his ADP. He should have 1B and OF eligibility, which helps his fantasy stock. As long as you have a good backup plan in case Belli regresses, I’m fine with taking him around his ADP, but would prefer him several picks later.
Ian Happ is next up, ranking 113th with a mark of 119.98.
He appeared in 158 games last season, posting a .248 average and .360 on-base percentage. Happ had 144 total hits, 60 of which went for extra bases (21 homers), drove in 84 runs, stole 14 bases and scored 86 times.
I’m a bit surprised to see Happ going as late as he is, although the low average probably has a lot to do with that. He was still a top-15 fantasy OF last season, so I’m fine taking him near his ADP, and even a bit before it in some cases.
Seiya Suzuki is ranked 127th with a mark of 131.62.
He played in 138 games last season, posting a .285 average and .357 OBP. Suzuki had 147 total hits, 74 RBIs, six stolen bases and 75 runs scored. He homered 20 times among his 57 extra-base hits.
Suzuki is another Cub who has a lower ADP than I expected. I get he missed a handful of games, but he had pretty well-rounded numbers a season ago. If he can get close to a full season in, most of those hitting numbers should improve, and you’ll have a pretty big draft steal on your hands. I like him as a final starting outfielder.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson is ranked 143rd with a mark of 142.1.
Swanson appeared in 147 games last season, finishing with a .244 average and .328 OBP. He had 138 total hits, 80 RBIs, nine stolen bases and 81 runs. He homered 22 times among his 50 extra-bases hits.
Swanson’s average dropped 33 points from the previous season, but being a career .253 hitter, I don’t expect a huge bounceback season. It’s hard to find everyday starters this late in drafts that are decent fantasy options. Even if Swanson replicates his numbers from last season, I think this ADP is fair, and there’s a chance he improves, which means you have a draft steal on your hands. He’s a backup SS option who can start at an infield/utility spot and maybe be a big trade chip if he excels at the plate.
Christopher Morel is next up, ranking 255th with a mark of 214.8. He played at several positions in 2023, so check his availability in your league.
Morel appeared in 107 games last season, posting a .247 average and .313 OBP. He homered 26 times among his 46 extra-base hits and 96 total knocks. Morel drove in 70 runs, stole six bases and scored 62 times.
His average isn’t great, but he hits for good power and has some position versatility. He’s another guy that’s a backup option at several positions but could start at a utility/infield/outfield spot most days. If he plays a full season, he could be a draft steal.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is ranked 277th with a mark of 229. He’s a top-100 prospect, but is expected to open the season in Triple-A.
With that in mind, I’d like to wait a few additional rounds before considering Crow-Armstrong. It might not take too long before he gets the call, but you’d be better off drafting someone else and then adding Crow-Armstrong from the waiver wire when he’s called up.
Michael Busch and Mike Tauchman are projected starters, but in platoons with Garrett Cooper and Patrick Wisdom. Busch is another top-100 prospect, so keep a close eye on him.
Yan Gomes is the team’s catcher, with Miguel Amaya as the top backup. Nick Madrigal is another option off the bench.
Top Fantasy Pitchers
Justin Steele is the team’s top pitcher off draft boards, ranking 75th with a mark of 77.08.
He was great in 2023, going 16-5 with a 3.06 earned run average. Steele struck out 176 batters over 173 1/3 innings and 30 starts.
He’s just 28, so there’s a chance he’s able to improve some of those numbers in 2024. I like him as a second starter, and really like him as a third option. I’d also be OK taking him a round or so earlier than he’s currently going.
Adbert Alzolay is set to be the team’s closer. He ranks 175th with a mark of 161.04.
Alzolay had 22 saves and a 2.67 ERA across 58 appearances and 64 innings pitched in 2023. He went 2-5 and struck out 67 batters.
I’m not one who drafts closers early, so Alzolay is a guy I target several rounds after the top closers go. He has a chance for 30 saves this season if he can stay healthy, which would put him in contention to be a top-five fantasy closer.
Shota Imanaga is the next pitcher going, ranking 187th with a mark of 169.79. He had a career 2.96 ERA across eight Nippon Professional Baseball seasons.
There’s always a bit of a learning curve in the MLB, but for his current ADP, I like the value Imanaga could provide fantasy teams. I’d take him if I feel good about the top of my fantasy rotation.
Jameson Taillon is next up, ranking 279th with a mark of 229.5.
Taillon went 8-10 last season with a 4.84 ERA. He struck out 140 batters over 154 1/3 innings in 30 appearances (29 starts).
He’s got a career 4.00 ERA, so he’s a decent bounceback option. This late in fantasy drafts, there isn’t a ton of risk involved either. Again, he’s a guy I’d target if I felt really good about the top SP on my team.
Jordan Wicks is ranked 315th with a mark of 248.5. He’s the projected No. 5 starter for the Cubs.
Wicks got his first taste of the MLB in 2023, going 4-1, but with a 4.41 ERA across seven starts. He struck out 24 batters over 34 2/3 innings.
He was a highly-regarded prospect, so that explains his ADP this season. There’s not much risk involved at his high ADP, so I’m fine taking a chance on him - just don’t be expecting massive things from him.
Reliever Hector Neris is next up, ranking 327th with a mark of 257.17.
Neris comes over from the Houston Astros, where he went 6-3 with a 1.71 ERA across 71 appearances in 2023. He struck out 77 over 68 1/3 innings.
Neris will be the setup guy for Alzolay, and could take over the closer role if Alzolay struggles. Right now, Neris is one of the better fantasy options among non-closer relievers.
Kyle Hendricks ranks 371st with a mark of 346.5.
Hendricks made 24 starts in 2023, going 6-8 with a 3.74 ERA, striking out 93 over 137 innings.
Hendricks is an inning-eater, and still posts pretty good numbers when he’s out there. Durability is an issue, but with this late a pick, I’m fine taking a chance on Hendricks. If he slips through the draft, he’s a solid streaming option against weaker-hitting teams.
Caleb Kilian is another starting option, although he’s out until at least mid-July. Cade Horton is a top-100 prospect who could also factor into things this season.
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