Let’s be honest. When draft day rolls around, no one fights tooth and nail over Philles 3B Alec Bohm and Atlanta's Jurickson Profar. They do not have the muscle-bound power of Yankees OF Aaron Judge, the elite speed of D'Backs OF Corbin Carroll, or the must-have hype of some hotshot rookie. However, what they do have is the ability to quietly rack up Runs and RBIs, and in fantasy baseball, that is the sneaky sauce to winning your league.
While everyone is reaching for home run kings and stolen base merchants, it is easy to forget that Runs and RBIs are actual categories. And guess what? You do not need to be a 40-home run slugger to rack them up. You just need to be in the right spot in the lineup, have a good health record, and be on the right team.
So, who are the underrated Run and RBI collectors that your league mates are sleeping on? Let’s break it down.
Run Sleepers: The Lineup Placement Kings
Jurickson Profar
It only took a dozen years, but Profar finally broke out. The former consensus number-one prospect from 2012 and 2013 had his career year and turned it into a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta had a nightmare season last year with injuries and player disappointments but still boasts an immense amount of talent. I would bet on their players rebounding and having better injury luck heading into 2025.
Profar projects to bat at the top of a lineup that will be one of the league's top-run producers. All he has to do is get on base, and that is one thing he has a long track record of doing. Even during his (mostly disappointing) career, he has always had a good on-base percentage. His career OBP mark of .331 is quite impressive considering his career batting average is only .245. If he can continue last year’s career-best .380 on-base percentage, he could see an extreme run production increase.
A bonus? The Braves do not seem to subscribe to the once-a-week day off that most teams enforce for their regular starters. Unless injured, Braves hitters play every day. As a switch hitter, Profar should be in the lineup daily, scoring runs for one of the best offenses in baseball. I believe his breakout season will continue due to his underlying stats. He was in the 88th percentile or higher in chase rate, whiff rate, strikeout rate, and walk rate, and increased his hard-hit rate to 44.4% with an average exit velocity of 91.1 MPH, compared to 31.8% and 86.5 MPH the year before. If you need runs, Profar could be a sneaky goldmine.
Jonathan India
At first glance, you might think India leaving Cincinnati would hurt his production, but that is not the case. While Cincinnati is great for home runs, Kansas City ranks fourth in park factor for hitters, favoring doubles and triples. This makes it an ideal fit for India. He is set to lead off for an above-average offense, putting him in prime position to score plenty of runs.
Like Profar, India has consistently shown a strong ability to get on base, boasting a career on-base percentage of .352. His disciplined approach is evident in his excellent 18.6% chase rate and 12.6% walk rate from last season. Additionally, hitting in front of superstar Bobby Witt Jr. along with quality bats like Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez will only boost his scoring opportunities. He is also a sneaky contributor in steals, swiping at least 12 bags every full season he has played. There is even talk of him getting reps in the outfield, which could add valuable dual eligibility. Expect the former Rookie of the Year to fit in seamlessly with his new team.
Ian Happ
If you have not noticed, I like guys with great walk rates to produce runs. Happ posted a 12.2% walk rate last season, putting him in the 94th percentile of qualified hitters. He is slated to bat leadoff right in front of newly acquired star Kyle Tucker, setting him up for a great season in the Cubs lineup.
Happ is a very consistent player, posting a triple slash line of .243 /.341 /.441 in 2024, which is right in line with his career averages. He has also produced stolen base totals in the teens over the last two seasons and has hit 20 or more home runs in three of the last four years. Additionally, he is a well-balanced player who has played 153 or more games in the last three seasons. Expect him to be a reliable source of runs and overall production.
RBI Sleepers: The Right Spot, Right Team Guys
Alec Bohm
Let us start with someone I mentioned in the introduction. Bohm might not have the eye-popping power of some of his third-base counterparts, but he has been a consistent run producer in the heart of a Phillies lineup that knows how to score. Despite never surpassing 20 homers in a season, he has driven in 97 runs in each of the last two years. That is no accident. He has high on-base percentage guys like Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber hitting in front of him, setting the table for easy RBI opportunities. Despite offseason trade rumors, he remains locked into a prime run-producing spot in a strong lineup. Expect another near 100 RBI season with a solid batting average as well.
Eugenio Suarez
I will be honest. Suarez is not my favorite real-life hitter. His plate discipline is rough, and he can go ice-cold for long stretches. But credit where credit is due, the man produces. Despite a horrific first half last year, he still finished with 101 RBIs, proving that if you can stomach the cold streaks, the result is worth it. Additionally, He is locked into a premium lineup spot behind high on-base percentage hitters like Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll, and newly acquired Josh Naylor. He is also heading into a contract year, which could give him extra motivation to perform, and his solid defense will keep him in the lineup for the team that scored the most runs per game last year. As a bonus, durability is not a concern, as he has played 158 and 162 games over the past two seasons. If you need RBIs, he is a strong bet once again.
Michael Toglia
I am adding Toglia as an RBI contributor, but to be honest, I see him as much more than just that. I am all in on Michael Toglia, and you will continue to see me gushing about him during draft-prep season. He is a 6-foot-5 switch-hitting former first-round pick who I believe could be a truly elite hitter primed for a breakout. There were only three players last year who ranked higher than Toglia in average exit velocity, barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and walk rate. Those three? Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Juan Soto……..
His whiff rate and strikeout rate are concerning, but his other qualities offset that for me, and I believe his flaws will only improve. If they do not? So be it. Essentially, with his other talents he is at worst the Coors Field version of Kyle Schwarber. Also, Toglia already had the 22nd-highest XWOBA in baseball last year. While he was a bit unlucky based on his quality of contact and didn’t play a full year, he is still under the radar (even though that probably won't last for long).
Like the other hitters I outlined, Toglia will have a great place in the lineup to rack up RBIs and should not have any serious threat to his playing time. He does not have a great lineup around him, but playing at Coors Field should help offset that. I love Michael Toglia. I REALLY love him.
In the fast-paced, home run-heavy world of fantasy baseball, it’s easy to forget the importance of consistent contributors in runs and RBIs. By targeting players like Jurickson Profar, Jonathan India, and Alec Bohm, fantasy managers can secure hidden gems that provide steady, often overlooked value. It’s not just about hitting home runs or stealing bases—being in the right lineup and position can lead to big rewards in these two key categories. So, next draft day, don’t just chase the flashiest players; make sure to grab those who can consistently rack up those runs and RBIs.
