Next up in our 2024 fantasy baseball Team Sleepers and Busts series, we will focus on the Chicago Cubs. As a rising team, the Cubs have some rather intriguing sleeper options to consider for your fantasy baseball draft. Because of this, let’s discuss two of their top sleeper candidates and also discuss their biggest possible bust now.
Chicago Cubs Sleepers & Busts for 2024 Fantasy Baseball
Draft Day Steals
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Seiya Suzuki is one Cubs sleeper that fans should be keeping an especially close eye on this season. The 29-year-old quietly had a strong second season as a Cub in 2023, and he has the potential to improve further. In 138 games, he had 20 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a .285 batting average. This was a nice improvement from his 14 home runs, 46 RBIs, and .262 batting average in 2022.
Suzuki seemed to adjust significantly to the majors this past season. One has to wonder if he will take another big step forward in 2024 because of it. If he can get his batting average up to the .290s and hit 25 to 30 home runs, he would be a steal of a pick for your fantasy club. Due to this, he’s a player to seriously consider as the big-name stars start coming off the board.
Jordan Wicks, SP
Another Cubs sleeper who is worth some consideration for your fantasy baseball roster is pitcher Jordan Wicks. The 24-year-old appeared in his first seven MLB starts this past season and held his own for the most part. He posted a 4-1 record to go along with a 4.41 ERA. Now, the 2021 first-round pick will be looking to take another big step forward in his development and be a high-impact starter for Chicago in 2024.
Wicks is expected to compete for a spot in the Cubs’ starting rotation this season. Given how he performed in his small sample size last season, the Cubs would be wise to give him a bigger shot in 2024. This is especially so when noting that he had only one tough start on Sep. 30 against the Milwaukee Brewers. In 1.2 innings, he allowed six earned runs, and that naturally led to his ERA heightening. Yet, besides that start, he showed immense promise. Thus, don’t be afraid to take a chance on him this year in fantasy baseball.
Draft Day Bust
Christopher Morel, OF/DH/2B
Christopher Morel had an impressive season with the Cubs last season. In 107 games, he set career highs with 26 home runs, 70 RBIs, and a .247 batting average. It was a nice step in the right direction for the 24-year-old, and his goal is to build on it in 2024. However, there are some red flags to be aware of before selecting him for your fantasy baseball team.
While he showed solid promise with his power this season, he struggled to hit for contact. He had a notable 133 strikeouts on the season, and his average steadily decreased from August to the end of the campaign. As a result, his struggles with consistency make him a risky player to bring in this season, especially with your early to middle-round picks.
Nevertheless, the Cubs have some pretty interesting players to pay attention to this season. Suzuki is looking to build on his strong 2023 season, Wicks is a breakout candidate, and Morel’s goal is to find consistency. Let’s see how this trip performs from here.
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.