When you think of dynasty leagues, you think of prospects. That's pretty much why they exist, right? I like to think some prospect hound somewhere realized it was a quick way to gain an advantage over his less studied opponents, and voila, the dynasty league was born.
Safe to say his advantage has narrowed in recent years. Prospect evaluation is now standard practice among Fantasy analysts. Why, I've spent the better part of the offseason breaking down the best at each position for SportsLine.com - check the related links box to the right for more.
But to build an actual dynasty, which is the stated goal in a dynasty league, you have to win, like, all the time. And the only way to do that is to balance your present with your future.
Which is a less-than-straightforward task, to say the least. It's something even real-world GMs struggle with, if the prevalence of full-scale strip-down rebuilds is any indication. Prospect rankings leave out half the equation. Traditional redraft rankings leave out half the equation. You want the full equation, darn it.
So here it is, my top 100 players for dynasty leagues based on three factors:
- Immediate value: What a player is expected to be in 2019
- Long-term value: What his peak looks like and how much peak he has left
- Confidence rating: How confident I am in him meeting his immediate and long-term value
Each factor is measured by a 1-to-5 score, with five being the best. These rankings are primarily the result of adding those three scores. Ties typically go to the younger player, but personal preference plays a role as well. The distinctions become less evident further down the list, so at some point subjectivity has to reign.
As a general rule, though, I'm shooting for upside and longevity. You can't expect to win all the time unless you have the best players for a long time, so yes, these rankings reflect my willingness to wait a little for the bigger impact.
So in the end, it is all about the prospects. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
| Rank | Player | Age (as of opening day) | Immediate value | Long-term value | Confidence rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mike Trout
LAA CF
| 27 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 2 |
Mookie Betts
BOS RF
| 26 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 3 |
Jose Ramirez
CLE 3B
| 26 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 |
Francisco Lindor
CLE SS
| 25 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 5 |
Nolan Arenado
COL 3B
| 27 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 6 |
Alex Bregman
HOU 3B
| 24 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 7 |
Bryce Harper
WAS RF
| 26 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 8 |
Manny Machado
LAD SS
| 26 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 9 |
Trea Turner
WAS SS
| 25 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 10 |
Jose Altuve
HOU 2B
| 28 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| 11 |
Chris Sale
BOS SP
| 29 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| 12 |
Ronald Acuna
ATL OF
| 21 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 13 |
Juan Soto
WAS LF
| 20 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 14 |
Aaron Judge
NYY RF
| 26 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| 15 |
Christian Yelich
MIL LF
| 27 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| 16 |
Blake Snell
TB SP
| 26 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| 17 |
Aaron Nola
PHI SP
| 25 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| 18 |
Vladimir Guerrero
TOR 3B
| 20 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 19 |
Carlos Correa
HOU SS
| 24 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 20 |
Jacob deGrom
NYM SP
| 30 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 21 |
J.D. Martinez
BOS RF
| 31 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| 22 |
Paul Goldschmidt
STL 1B
| 31 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| 23 |
Andrew Benintendi
BOS CF
| 24 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 24 |
Freddie Freeman
ATL 1B
| 29 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 25 |
Giancarlo Stanton
NYY RF
| 29 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 26 |
Anthony Rizzo
CHC 1B
| 29 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 27 |
Anthony Rendon
WAS 3B
| 28 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 28 |
Trevor Story
COL SS
| 26 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 29 |
Noah Syndergaard
NYM SP
| 26 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 30 |
Luis Severino
NYY SP
| 25 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 31 |
Gerrit Cole
HOU SP
| 28 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 32 |
Trevor Bauer
CLE SP
| 28 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 33 |
Kris Bryant
CHC 3B
| 27 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 34 |
Corey Seager
LAD SS
| 24 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 35 |
Rhys Hoskins
PHI 1B
| 26 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 36 |
Walker Buehler
LAD SP
| 24 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 37 |
Cody Bellinger
LAD 1B
| 23 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 38 |
Shohei Ohtani
LAA SP
| 24 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 39 |
Eloy Jimenez
CHW RF
| 22 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 40 |
Javier Baez
CHC 2B
| 26 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 41 |
Xander Bogaerts
BOS SS
| 26 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 42 |
Max Scherzer
WAS SP
| 34 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| 43 |
Corey Kluber
CLE SP
| 32 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| 44 |
Charlie Blackmon
COL LF
| 32 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| 45 |
Clayton Kershaw
LAD SP
| 31 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 46 |
George Springer
HOU RF
| 29 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 47 |
J.T. Realmuto
MIA C
| 28 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 48 |
Gary Sanchez
NYY C
| 26 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 49 |
Edwin Diaz
NYM RP
| 25 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 50 |
Ozzie Albies
ATL 2B
| 22 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 51 |
Gleyber Torres
NYY SS
| 22 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| 52 |
Patrick Corbin
WAS SP
| 29 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 53 |
Victor Robles
WAS CF
| 21 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| 54 |
Fernando Tatis
SD SS
| 20 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| 55 |
Jack Flaherty
STL RP
| 23 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 56 |
Carlos Carrasco
CLE SP
| 32 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| 57 |
Justin Verlander
HOU SP
| 36 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| 58 |
James Paxton
NYY SP
| 30 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 59 |
Stephen Strasburg
WAS SP
| 30 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 60 |
Khris Davis
OAK LF
| 31 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| 61 |
Whit Merrifield
KC LF
| 30 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 62 |
Starling Marte
PIT CF
| 30 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| 63 |
Carlos Martinez
STL SP
| 27 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 64 |
Willson Contreras
CHC C
| 26 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 65 |
Adalberto Mondesi
KC SS
| 23 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 66 |
German Marquez
COL SP
| 24 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 67 |
Zack Greinke
ARI SP
| 35 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 68 |
Madison Bumgarner
SF SP
| 29 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 69 |
Eugenio Suarez
CIN 3B
| 27 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 70 |
Scooter Gennett
CIN 2B
| 28 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 71 |
Rafael Devers
BOS 3B
| 22 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| 72 |
Jose Berrios
MIN SP
| 24 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 73 |
Jameson Taillon
PIT SP
| 27 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 74 |
Jurickson Profar
TEX SS
| 26 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 75 |
Gregory Polanco
PIT RF
| 27 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 76 |
Matt Chapman
OAK 3B
| 25 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 77 |
Nick Senzel
CIN 2B
| 23 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| 78 |
Kyle Tucker
HOU RF
| 22 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| 79 |
Craig Kimbrel
BOS RP
| 30 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 80 |
Chris Archer
PIT SP
| 30 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 81 |
Michael Conforto
NYM LF
| 26 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 82 |
Mitch Haniger
SEA CF
| 28 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 83 |
Wil Myers
SD RF
| 28 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 84 |
Jose Abreu
CHW 1B
| 32 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| 85 |
Mike Clevinger
CLE SP
| 28 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 86 |
Forrest Whitley
HOU SP
| 21 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| 87 |
Alex Reyes
STL SP
| 24 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| 88 |
Joey Gallo
TEX 3B
| 25 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 89 |
Nicholas Castellanos
DET RF
| 27 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 90 |
Eddie Rosario
MIN LF
| 27 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 91 |
Miguel Andujar
NYY 3B
| 24 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 92 |
David Dahl
COL CF
| 24 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 93 |
Luis Castillo
CIN SP
| 26 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 94 |
Matt Carpenter
STL 3B
| 33 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| 95 |
Joey Votto
CIN 1B
| 35 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| 96 |
Jean Segura
PHI SS
| 29 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 97 |
Aroldis Chapman
NYY RP
| 31 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| 98 |
Blake Treinen
OAK RP
| 30 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 99 |
Roberto Osuna
HOU RP
| 24 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 100 |
Miles Mikolas
STL SP
| 30 | 3 | 3 | 3 |