Top 200 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings - Eric Cross' May 2026 Update

June 1, 2026

Eric Cross' updated top 200 dynasty fantasy baseball rankings, updated for May 2026. His top MLB players to target in dynasty leagues for 2026 and beyond.

The weather is heating up, and so are dynasty rankings. As we fly past the one-third mark of the season, some of these early season breakouts start to feel more legitimate. As you'll be able to see below, there were some notable jumps for a few names this month.

However, the same is true on the other side, with some big names who are currently struggling. For example, how on Earth does Fernando Tatis Jr. still not have a home run this season?

Below, you'll find my top 200 Dynasty Rankings for May 2026, with notes on notable risers or fallers in my May update. Check out my Patreon for my full top 500 Dynasty Rankings, plus plenty of additional content.

What Factors Into My Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings

Many elements go into dynasty rankings, but I primarily weigh the following:

• Current/Recent Performance
• Expected future short-term performance (Next 2-3 years)
• Expected future long-term performance
• Profile/metrics analysis
• Durability
• Team Context (it matters a little bit)

Top 200 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Rankings

Updated: May 2026. For the full Top 500, along with additional rankings, analysis, and more, check out Eric's Toolshed Fantasy Patreon.

Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Rankings Notes

Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers

Watching Jacob Misiorowski pitch has become must-see television. In his first 11 starts this season, Misiorowski has dominated to the tune of a 1.83 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and a ridiculous 40.3% strikeout rate.

He currently leads the majors in strikeout rate by 4.6% and K-BB rate by a whopping 7.1%. On top of that, Misiorowski had dropped his walk rate from 11% last season to 7.7% this season, while also improving his ground-ball rate from 34.9% to 44.4%.

Jacob Misiorowski currently leads MLB in:

🔵 Strikeouts (100)
🔵 K% (40.3)
🔵 K-BB% (32.7)
🔵 K/9 (14.06)
🔵 AVG (.152)#ThisIsMyCrew x @MLBPS_US pic.twitter.com/DYrjzhhMmK

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 26, 2026

Everywhere you look in Misiorowski's profile is going to impress the pants off you. His four-seamer is better than any pitch you could create with the sliders maxed out on "MLB The Show," currently sporting a .187 BAA and 45.2% whiff rate. A whopping 68 of his 100 strikeouts have come on the four-seamer, and Misiorowski also has a 42% whiff rate on his curveball. And overall, all four of his offerings have a BAA under .200.

You can make a case for a few other arms as the No. 3 for dynasty starting pitcher rankings, but I'm going with the Miz.

Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves

While he's unfortunately on the IL at the moment with an oblique strain, Drake Baldwin has been a force to be reckoned with at the plate this season. After an impressive rookie season where he slashed .274/.341/.469 with 19 home runs in 46 plate appearances, Baldwin has cranked up the heat with a .303/.389/.543 slash line and 13 home runs in 216 plate appearances this season.

Drake Baldwin crushes a leadoff homer! pic.twitter.com/QK8vAwi1zd

— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2026

The metrics under the hood are just as impressive. Baldwin currently has an elite 18.6% barrel rate, 92.8 mph AVG EV, and a 53.8% hard-hit rate, while also being above-average in zone contact (84.8%) and overall contact (76.9%). He's also walking at an 11.1% clip while keeping the strikeout rate in check at 20.4%.

There's not really any area you can nitpick in Baldwin's offensive profile, and his .305 xBA and .587 xSLG back up his performance. With Ben Rice likely losing catcher eligibility following the season, Baldwin is the top dog at this position moving forward.

Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals

As a longtime Jordan Walker fan, I'm ecstatic that he's finally breaking out. I just wish I had more shares in dynasty leagues.

In 226 plate appearances, Walker is already up to 15 home runs, seven steals, 42 RBI, and 38 runs scored with a .300/.367/.576 slash line. He's already more than doubled his home run total from last season (six) in 170 fewer plate appearances. So what has changed?

Well, Walker has trimmed the whiff rate by 4.5% and his strikeout rate by 7%, which is a nice place to start. While he's still below average in zone contact (77.2%) and overall contact (68.9%), his elite quality of contact means those rates can work. Walker is currently running a 15.5% barrel rate, 52% hard-hit rate, and a 94.2 mph AVG EV, all of which rank near the top of the major league leaderboard.

But with all of that said, the most important improvement for Walker this season has been trimming the ground-ball rate and driving the ball in the air more consistently.

Walker has always run higher ground-ball rates, but he's trimmed the ground-ball rate by 7.6% this season, now sporting a 60.1% air rate, 39.2% pull rate, and 14.9% pull-air rate. All of those are career-best marks. If he can maintain these batted ball angles, Walker could be here to stay as an elite outfielder for fantasy.

Miguel Vargas, Chicago White Sox

While I don't have many Walker shares, I thankfully have several Miguel Vargas shares across my redraft and dynasty leagues this season. With the low price tag entering the season, anyone who drafted Vargas in redraft leagues or acquired him in dynasty has to be pretty darn happy with his production so far this season.

Yes, the average is lower at .231, but Vargas has racked up 12 home runs, nine steals, 31 RBI, 37 walks, and 40 runs scored, along with a .364 OBP, .467 SLG, and .236 ISO. He's currently on pace for 35 home runs, 26 steals, 90 RBI, 107 walks, and 116 runs scored.

BACK-TO-BACK GAMES FOR MIGUEL VARGAS 😤

SOX STRIKE FIRST💪 pic.twitter.com/poqiBBIxkq

— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) May 16, 2026

I'm sure there are plenty of skeptics out there due to Vargas' production entering this season, and honestly, I don't blame you. But he's been much better since getting out of playing time jail with the Dodgers. Vargas' metrics ticked up last season with the White Sox, and that trend has continued this season. It's funny what consistent playing time can do for a talented young player. Michael Busch is another example of this.

When you pop the hood on Vargas' profile, you find a 14.8% barrel rate, 90.1 mph AVG EV, and 45.8% hard-hit rate, along with a solid 81.8% zone and 80.3% overall contact rate. His approach is one of the best in the league as well, with a 17.1% chase rate, 15.5% walk rate, and a 17.6% strikeout rate.

If you enjoyed these rankings and want to see the full Top 500, along with additional rankings, analysis, and more, check out Eric's Toolshed Fantasy Patreon.

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