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Jakkers

Author: Jakkers

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Jakkers

Up-and-Coming Dynasty Players – Zach Neto

March 23, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Keepers, Keeper Leagues | 14 Comments

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When the Los Angeles Angels drafted shortstop Zach Neto in 2022 with the 13th overall pick, some people may have thought it was a nice story of a kid being drafted out of Campbell University – a school that is not exactly known for sending players to the majors.

But Neto is not just a nice story – and no team would waste a first-round pick on a nice story. Neto was a star for the Camels, finishing his three-year career with a .403/.500/.751 slash line with 27 homers, 108 RBI and 31 steals in 100 games and 475 plate appearances and helping lead the team to the NCAA tournament in 2021 and 2022.

Little did people know, however, that within a year of being drafted, Neto would be playing shortstop for the Angels.

The Fast Track

After being drafted and signing with the Angels, Neto was assigned to High-A Tri-City, where he played in a total of seven games before moving up to Double-A Rocket City, where he slashed .320/.382/.492 with four home runs, 23 RBI and four steals. Neto started the 2023 season at Rocket City but was there for only seven games as he slashed .444/.559/.815 with three home runs and 10 RBI.

Neto didn’t even have time to find a place to sleep while at Triple-A Salt Lake City as his stint there lasted only four games before he was recalled to the majors by the Angels.  Less than a year after the draft, he was starting for the Angels after entering the season ranked as the 53rd best prospect by Baseball America, 89 by MLB.com and 47th by Baseball Prospectus

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Jakkers

Up-And-Coming Dynasty Players: Chas McCormick

March 16, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Keepers, Keeper Leagues | 2 Comments

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The beauty of dynasty baseball is that one player can be viewed in multiple ways. This is why rankings tend to get wonky for players once they are outside the top 50 or so.

One of the players who is ranked all over the place is Chas McCormick of the Houston Astros. In my Dynasty rankings I have him at No. 112. CBS comes in with a ranking of #165 for McCormick while the good folks here at Razzball ranked him at #220 and ESPN comes in at 248. So four rankings with a variance of 126 spots.

I can understand the wide difference. McCormick has never been a fulltime player as the most games he has ever played in is 119 and the 457 plate appearances he had last year were a career high. Former Astros manager Dusty Baker refused to put him into the lineup every day last season, limiting his playing time and numbers.

But I think McCormick is being overlooked by a lot of dynasty owners. He isn’t going to carry your team, but he is a solid player who will put up good numbers and be a reason why you win.

So let’s take a look at this week’s Up-and-Coming Dynasty Player.

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Jakkers

Up-And-Coming Dynasty Players: Kutter Crawford

March 9, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball | 8 Comments

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When it comes to playing in a dynasty league, the difference between winning and losing is knowing which under-the-radar players to add to your team – either now before the season or once the season is underway. It’s easy to know you should have Ronald Acuna or Julio Rodriguez in your lineup or go after Geritt Cole or Spencer Strider when putting your staff together.

But for you to win, you have to know who the Up-and-Coming Dynasty Players are. They aren’t the stars everyone wants, but they are often the players who are the difference between winning that title and finishing out of the playoffs altogether.

So welcome to the first week of the 2024 Up-and-Coming Dynasty Players. Throughout the year I’ll feature a player (or two) each week who I think is going to be solid dynasty player, whether that is right away or starting next season. 

Well, I think we have had enough of the small talk. Let’s dive into the player I want to focus on this week – Kutter Crawford of the Boston Red Sox.

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Jakkers

2024 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 25-1

March 2, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Keeper Leagues | 14 Comments

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Spring training is in full gear and fantasy drafts are rolling out. So that means it is time for the final installment of the 2024 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings. This week we feature the top 25 players.

Here is a look at the breakdown of this week’s grouping:

6 players between the ages of 30-34
14 players between the ages of 25-29
5 players between the ages of 20-24
12 infielders
10 outfielders
1 starting pitchers
1 starting pitcher/designated hitter
1 infielder/outfielder

There are, once again, 25 players who I broke down into my three age categories. Leading the way by a large margin is the group of players between the ages of 25 and 29. These are the players you expect to build your team around. There are still some great players who are in their 30’s, but do you want a player with maybe a three-year window of excellence or a player who a seven-year window, or greater? I don’t. I want the player who is approaching or at the start of their prime years to maximize their production I expect from them.

And as you will see, there is a reason why so many people consider the Atlanta Braves to be a dominant team for years to come. Of the 25 players listed in this group, six play for the Braves. The next closest team is the Dodgers with three players, with the Astros, Blue Jays, Phillies and Yankees coming in with two players apiece.

Anyway, for the final time this year, let’s get to the 2024 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: Players 25-1…

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Jakkers

2024 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 50-26

February 24, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball, Featured | 2 Comments

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Another week in the books means another installment of the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty rankings. This week we feature the players ranked 50-26 on our way to the top-ranked group.

Here is a look at the breakdown of this week’s grouping:

8 players between the ages of 30-34
9 players between the ages of 25-29
8 players between the ages of 20-24
11 infielders
6 starting pitchers
5 outfielders
2 infielders/outfielders
1 catcher

If you have been following this series, then you know I have favored younger players with upside over a more established player who may be slightly better right now but likely won’t be in two or three years. That is because I am building a dynasty team – one that will compete now and into the future.

However, there comes a point where I want the best players right now and then weigh how long they will be at their best. In a standard 12-team league, the group of players in today’s rankings are slotted in the third and fourth rounds of drafts (auction leagues are a completely different beast). However, if two players are close in talent, I will still take the younger one with more upside.

In this group of players there are eight who are 30-years-old or greater and then nine more between the ages of 25-29. I’m not going to build my team around 33-year-old players such as Jose Altuve or Marcus Semien, but I sure do want them on my team in order to win now. I will load up on younger players later in a draft who will take the place of older players I take earlier.

Now on to the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 50-26…

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Jakkers

2024 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 75-51

February 17, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 12 Comments

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Another week in the books means another installment of the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty rankings. This week we feature the players ranked 75-51 on our way to the top-ranked group.

Here is a look at the breakdown of this week’s grouping:

3 players between the ages of 30-34
17 players between the ages of 25-29
5 players between the ages of 20-24
11 infielders
8 starting pitchers
4 outfielders
2 catchers

If you have been reading this counting over the past few weeks, you will know that the ages of the players listed are getting younger and younger. The reason for this is obvious. If you are building a dynasty team, you want the best young players so you can win for a longer period of time. Seeing only three players in this group 30-years-old or older is not a shock at all.

As for the eight starting pitchers, six of them are in what I consider the sweet spot when it comes to their age: 25-29 years old. They have been in the majors for at least a few years and learned how to find success at this level. But the two pitchers not in that age range are 24 and 30, so it’s not like they are super young or too old. And as far as the catchers, some people shy away from them until the very end of the team building process as they simply don’t play every day. I used to do that.

But if you can get a great hitting catcher, especially in two-catcher leagues, then I say do it. It will give you an advantage at a position that struggles to have great offensive players.

Now on to the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 75-51…

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Jakkers

2024 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 100-76

February 10, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 11 Comments

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Welcome back another installment of the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty rankings. This week we feature the players ranked 100-76 on our way to the top-ranked group.

Here is a look at the breakdown of this week’s grouping:

5 players between the ages of 30-34
14 players between the ages of 25-29
6 players between the ages of 20-24
9 infielders
7 starting pitchers
7 outfielders
2 catchers

If you are surprised by the number of players who are 29 or younger – a whopping 20 of the 25 players ranked in this group – you shouldn’t be. It stands to reason that the best way to build or maintain a winning dynasty team is do that is with the best young players in the game. The older players are great to fill a hole, but not build around.

More and more of the top hitters are starting to get ranked as well as I skew my rankings in favor of the young hitters, though I don’t ignore starting pitchers as much as I used to. But if picking between a pitcher and a hitter who are close in the rankings, I will go with the hitter this point.

Now on to the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 100-76…

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Jakkers

2024 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 125-101

February 3, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 8 Comments

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Welcome back to the fifth installment of the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty rankings. As we count down toward the top group, we first hit the players ranked 125-101.

Here is a look at the breakdown of this week’s grouping:

7 players between the ages of 30-34
13 players between the ages of 25-29
5 players between the ages of 20-24
11 starting pitchers
7 outfielders
4 infielders
1 outfielder/infielder
1 catcher

The breakdown for the players when it comes to their age should not be surprising at all. As we get closer to the top-ranked players, the older players are players are fading away and being replaced by players who will be the building blocks of your team. These are the players you will have for five years or more – not those who fill a void in your team.

The number of pitchers in this grouping make sense as I build my teams around offense and go after the top hitters before going for the top pitchers. You can’t ignore them, but there always seems to be pitchers who come out of nowhere and become studs compared to hitters. Usually, if you can hit, you hit in the minors and carry it over to the majors. But for many pitchers, the early struggles you see in the minors or early stages of their MLB career isn’t always a good indicator of what their career will become.

Now on to the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 125-101…

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Jakkers

2024 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 150-126

January 27, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Keeper Leagues | 18 Comments

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Welcome back to the fourth installment of the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty rankings. As we count down toward the top group, we first hit the players ranked 150-126.

As we get closer to the more coveted players, the breakdown of this group is logically different from last week’s overall group. The biggest change is the age of this grouping skews younger, with 19 players in their 20s, including seven who are 24 years old or younger. Here is a look at this week’s players:

6 players between the ages of 30-34
12 players between the ages of 25-29
7 players between the ages of 20-24
8 infielders
6 starting pitchers
6 outfielders/DH
5 catchers

The one position that stands out is the number of catchers. Some owners will avoid catchers like the plague. There are a lot of good, young catchers in the majors, so why avoid catchers if you are going to have to start them? And in two catcher leagues, there is no way you can ignore them. In fact, you can make that a position of strength of you snag two young catchers who will produce for the next five years.

And now my weekly reminder: if a top prospect hasn’t reached the majors yet, they won’t be in these rankings. Itch has been running down the top prospects per team and will continue his great work. No need for me to repeat what he says.

Now on to the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 150-126…

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Jakkers

2024 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 175-151

January 20, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Keeper Leagues | 2 Comments

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Welcome back to the third installment of the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty rankings. As we count down toward the top group, this week we cover players ranked 200-176.

Whether you are building your dynasty team from scratch this year or you are in year 10 with a team, there is always going to be a mix of young and old players. The players in this grouping are more on the older side and the catcher position is starting to come into play. Here is the breakdown of this week’s group:

1 player over 35 years old
9 players between the ages of 30-34
13 players between the ages of 25-29
2 players between the ages of 20-24
9 infielders
7 starting pitchers
5 outfielders
4 catchers

The older players in this group should be able to produce solid numbers for at least another three years, that is why I have them ranked this high. And the reason for the 10 players in their 30s makes sense to me since the deeper we go into the rankings, the more the dominant the young players are going to be.

And now my weekly reminder: if a top prospect hasn’t reached the majors yet, they won’t be in these rankings. Itch has been running down the top prospects per team and will continue his great work. No need for me to repeat what he says.

Now on to the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 175-151…

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Jakkers

2024 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 200-176

January 10, 2024 | 2024 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 5 Comments

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Welcome back to the second installment of the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty rankings. This week we cover players ranked 200-176.

A quick overview of the group produces these stats:

6 players are 30- or 31-years-old, but no one is older than 31
3 players are 24 or younger
3 players are infielders
10 players are outfielders
12 players are pitchers – five starters and seven relievers

The number of pitchers should not be surprising. I don’t have any relievers ranked in any future groupings because I can get closers and setup men pretty easily throughout the season. As for the starting pitchers, there is always the need for depth to cover for injuries or ineffective starts throughout the week.

And a reminder – if a top prospect hasn’t reached the majors yet, they won’t be in these rankings. Itch has been running down the top prospects per team and will continue his great work. No need for me to repeat what he says.

Now on to the Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 200-176…

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Jakkers

2024 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings: 300-201

January 3, 2024 | Fantasy Baseball Keepers, Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 17 Comments

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installment of the 2024 Dynasty Rankings, with players No. 300 to 201 being unveiled.

When it comes to putting your dynasty team together, you want to build and then maintain a squad that can contend for years. The formula to do this, however, varies from person to person.

For me, when evaluating players for dynasty leagues, the formula for success is a dash of gut instinct mixed in with past experience and a whole lot of what the eye sees. You know a good player when you see him. But a good 34-year-old player is not the same as a good 24-year-old player. Thus, for my dynasty teams I try to follow these simple guidelines:

Youth over Age
You will need veteran players, but you don’t want a whole team of veteran players. If there is a “tie” between a young player and the player four or five years older, I’ll take the younger player.

Hitters over Pitchers
As a whole, young hitters perform better than young pitchers, and veteran hitters are more consistent than veteran pitchers. Basically, I trust my gut when it comes to hitters versus pitchers. Unless a starting pitcher is superior to a solid hitter in the round I am drafting, I will wait on the starting pitcher and go with the hitter.

Starting Pitchers over Relievers
This is pretty easy to understand why. As a group, relievers are so up-and-down it is maddening. Without fail, there will be five or six closers you can pick up in the middle of the season. DO NOT DRAFT A CLOSER EARLY. I will fill out 90 percent of my starting staff before I add my closers/relievers. In my rankings, you won’t see a reliever ranked in the top 150.

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