5 Fantasy Baseball Targets for Dynasty Leagues

Opening Day is just around the corner, but there's still time to research and prepare for your 2023 fantasy baseball drafts. Thankfully, The Duel is here to help with our annual fantasy baseball preseason prep as you can check out our top 100 fantasy baseball player rankings here.

There are a ton of different strategies to take when attacking your fantasy baseball draft, especially if you find yourself in a dynasty league. Dynasty leagues keep the same fantasy rosters or at least a set amount of players from year to year, meaning building a core around youth and upside is paramount.

With that in mind, here's a look at five of the top fantasy baseball targets for dynasty leagues.

2023 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Leagues

5. Alek Manoah, SP (Toronto Blue Jays)

Selecting a young pitcher that has already showcased growth in his career is crucial in dynasty leagues. Alek Manoah of the Toronto Blue Jays fits that mold to a tee. The 25-year-old made a great first impression in 2021 when he posted a 3.22 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 20 starts. Manoah then upped his game in 2022 by posting a 2.24 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across 31 starts. He also improved his walk rate, while staying level with his strikeout rate. The former West Virginia standout still seems to be on the rise and is backed up by a powerful Blue Jays offense. That's a great combination to have in your fantasy ace.

4. Michael Harris II, OF (Atlanta Braves)

No one thought much about Michael Harris II when he was promoted to Atlanta's major league roster early on in the 2022 season. He wasn't labeled as a top prospect and struggled with hot/cold streaks at the minor league level. However, the 22-year-old adjusted to major league pitching almost immediately as he slashed .297/.339/.514 with 75 runs, 27 doubles, 17 home runs, 64 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 114 games. He was named National League Rookie of the Year and showcased legitimate potential for 20/20 campaigns moving forward. Harris is surrounded by power hitters in Atlanta's lineup, too, giving him endless opportunities to fill up the stat sheet from a fantasy perspective.

3. Spencer Strider, SP (Atlanta Braves)

Harris won the race to be named NL Rookie of the Year, but it was one of his teammates on the mound that stayed right on his heels down the stretch. Spencer Strider finished second in voting after logging a 2.67 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 31 appearances (20 starts). The 24-year-old also finished with a dazzling 38.3% strikeout percentage, showcasing how he can make any batter swing and miss. Strider was rocked in the MLB Playoffs, but has been adamant throughout the offseason that he has learned from the experience. That is the mentality fantasy managers should want to see in their ace. Much like Manoah, the best is yet to come for Strider.

2. Bobby Witt Jr., 3B/SS (Kansas City Royals)

Right at the heart of the Kansas City Royals rebuild sits infielder Bobby Witt Jr. The 22-year-old lived up to the hype last season as he slashed .254/.294/.428 with 82 runs, 31 doubles, 20 home runs, 80 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 150 games. He was able to rack up those kind of numbers despite striking out at a 21.4% rate and walking at only a 4.8% rate. That means Witt's ceiling is sky-high if he can develop a higher sense of discipline at the plate. The former No. 1 overall pick can hit for contact, smack the ball out of the park and steal a base with his speed. That versatility makes Witt an anchor in fantasy lineups for years to come.

1. Julio Rodriguez, OF (Seattle Mariners)

Julio Rodriguez is the player every dynasty manager should want to have on their roster. The 22-year-old wasted no time making himself a household name last season as he was awarded the honor of American League Rookie of the Year. Rodriguez slashed an impressive .284/.345/.509 to go along with 84 runs, 28 home runs, 25 doubles, 75 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 132 games. The reliability and adaptability he brings to the table is rarely seen at the outfield position. Rodriguez is lined up to start in center at T-Mobile Park for at least the next seven seasons after signing a massive extension with Seattle last August, too, which makes him a perfect first-round selection.

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.