It’s been a slow off-season. Like, a really slow off-season. With the hot stove frigid, fantasy baseball players haven’t had many ways to quench their thirst, unless they’ve thrown themselves head-first into football, basketball, or hockey. January and February can be some of the darkest months of the year (figuratively and literally), but fear not, restless readers. The Dynasty Guru is here to the rescue.

While you were celebrating the holidays and ushering in the New Year, our brave group of writers has been ranking, debating, re-ranking, re-debating, and re-re-ranking over 600 players for dynasty leagues. The fruits of our efforts will be filling January, February, and even some of March with the deepest, most thoroughly and painstakingly selected dynasty baseball rankings on the internet. We have top-50s, top-125s, top-200s, top-500s (of course!), and even ultra-deep prospect rankings.

The Dynasty Guru’s hard-working staff has spent countless hours crafting these rankings, and we hope you enjoy and continue to support our efforts.

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Without further ado, it’s time to continue our 2018 consensus rankings by looking at rest of the league’s top-50 second baseman in dynasty leagues, kicking off with a player that… might eventually make the Hall of Fame?

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21) Ian Kinsler, Los Angeles Angels (Age: 35, Previous Rank: 11)

Kinsler had a disappointing year in 2017 as he watched his average, runs, and RBI significantly fall. Luckily, a closer look at the peripherals suggests we should see a rebound in 2018. A dismal .244 BABIP led to a low average despite an uptick in walk rate and a decreased strikeout rate. This year he bats in front Mike Trout, Justin Upton, and Albert Pujols. His short-term value could at a top-10 second baseman, but you’ll want to find a replacement to groom because father time is looming. (Mike Tanner)

22) Jonathan Villar, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 26, Previous Rank: 7th at SS)

Villar stole 63 bases and clubbed 19 HRs in 2016, vaulting his ADP to 32 overall in 2017. Owners were undoubtedly disappointed with the paltry return; Villar followed up his breakout season with just 23 SB and 11 HRs. His batted ball profile showed that luck ran out, as the 26-year-old swung at more pitches out of the zone after pitchers began to use more breaking balls against him. As a result, he walked roughly half as much and struck out nearly a third of the time. While Villar did his .338 over the final two months of 2017, he only stole three bases. Still young, he will be a popular, high-risk lottery ticket in 2018 with a floor of 10/20 and a ceiling of a 25/50 campaign. (Mike Tanner)

23) Scooter Gennett (Age: 28, Previous Rank: 35)

Gennett enjoyed a breakout season, becoming the Reds full-time second baseman in mid-July and hitting 27 bombs in just under 500 plate appearances. His hitting profile suggests that he will regress in at least two areas in 2018 – average & home runs – due to a slightly high BABIP and a likely unsustainable home run to fly ball rate.  Playing time may become an issue if Nick Senzel begins knocking on the door and Eugenio Suarez remains solid at the hot corner. (Mike Tanner)

24) Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh Pirates (Age: 30, Previous Rank: 23)

Harrison’s calling card the past few seasons is double-digit stolen bases and single-digit dingers. His power returned in 2017, belting 16 home runs and tallying 12 steals. Entering his age-30 season, owners can expect an average around .270, 10-15 stolen bases and 5-10 homers. Harrison is a solid MI/CR option in most formats, but expect his run total to suffer slightly with a Pirates club that is infusing young, unproven talent. (Mike Tanner)

25) Cesar Hernandez, Philadelphia Phillies (Age: 28, Previous Rank: 29)

A solid 3-category contributor (runs, average, steals), Hernandez had a solid 2017 doing what he does best as a lead-off hitter. His elite plate discipline elevates his value in OBP/points formats, but he still only finishes as a top 15-20 option. Playing time is a bit cloudy in 2018 with top prospect Scott Kingery ready to join the club, but it is likely Hernandez is leading off at some position for the better part of 2018. (Mike Tanner)

26) Brandon Drury, Arizona Diamondbacks (Age: 25, Previous Rank: 25th at 3B)

Drury did little to change his profile in 2017, again excelling at home and struggling on the road. He is facing an uphill battle for playing time in 2018, with Owings currently listed as the starter at second base. The underlying stats suggest that a drop off in luck could be devastating to his value as well. Still, he has a solid bat (with room for more pop) in a great lineup, which should lead to plenty of RBI opportunities. (Mike Tanner)

27) Kolton Wong, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 27, Previous Rank: 22)

A quick look at Wong’s 2017 stats may be disappointing, but he took several steps forward in 2017. He improved his walk rate, average, and had his best performance yet against left-handed pitching. Although he is slated to bat low in the order, we could see significant growth in a player who can contribute across the board. (Mike Tanner)

28) Raul Mondesi, Kansas City Royals (Age: 22, Previous Rank: 28th)

Mondesi spent most of 2017 in Triple-A, showing definite signs of growth after failing in his few brief appearances in the majors. He hit 13 HRs and stole 21 bases in the minors and now looks poised to be the everyday shortstop in Kansas City. Unfortunately, his path to playing time has been muddled by the Royals re-signing Alcides Escobar as the so-called “everyday shortstop”. Mondesi could still compete for a job at second base, though he’s more likely to return to the minors for further development. Barring injury, we may have to wait until 2019 to see Mondesi’s power/speed combination. He remains a long-term dynasty asset at only 22 years old. (Mike Tanner)

29) Devon Travis, Toronto Blue Jays (Age: 27, Previous Rank: 18)

62, 101, 50. These are the game totals for each of the past three years. In 2015-2016, Travis was battling a shoulder injury, and a knee injury requiring surgery ended his season early in 2017.  Travis is not slated to begin running until February of 2018, so a full season may already be in question. When Travis does play, he has a solid source of power, average, RBI, and runs. The problem is… just how often will he be on the field? (Mike Tanner)

30) Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox (Age: 34, Previous Rank: 13)

Pedroia enjoyed vintage success in 2016, but a left knee injury shortened his 2017 campaign. The problematic knee required surgery for the second time in 12 months and the recovery is expected to keep Pedroia out the first 2-3 months of the 2018 season. With four years remaining on his contract, a degenerative left knee, and declining skills, Pedroia best playing days and dynasty value are well behind him. (Mike Tanner)

31) Neil Walker, Free Agent (Age: 32, Previous Rank 15)

Minor knee, back, and hamstring injuries have limited Walker to 113 games or less the past two seasons. When on the field, Walker has 20 HR potential with solid counting stats. At the time of this writing, he is without a team but is expected to garner interest as a reliable option at the keystone with a decent floor but little upside. In 2018, Walker is a safe middle infielder option in 12+ team leagues. (Mike Tanner)

32) Logan Forsythe, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 30, Previous Rank 19)

After swatting 20 bombs in 2016, Forsythe’s bat was MIA and he contributed only 6 HRs to a disappointing stat line. In his contract’s final year with the Dodgers, he may have some trouble securing a full-time role with the versatile Chris Taylor and Austin Barnes available at second. Forsythe’s hitting profile suggests he was a little unlucky in 2017 and displayed excellent plate discipline, but… that’s really the only good news. A modest rebound isn’t terribly unlikely, but in a lineup that constantly changes he may fail to reach 500 plate appearances. (Mike Tanner)

33) Jurickson Profar (Age: 25, Previous Rank NR/22 at 3B)

Once regarded as the top prospect in all of baseball, Profar spent the better part of 2017 in the minors. While he’s mastered Triple-A pitching, that’s hardly a shock at 25 years old. Profar still has tools (we think), but he’s without a full-time position in Texas and doesn’t project to have a meaningful 2018 season barring a trade or an injury. He is in danger of being labeled a Quad-A bat if something doesn’t change soon. (Mike Tanner)

34) Jed Lowrie, Oakland Athletics (Age: 33, Previous Rank NR)

Lowrie played in over 150 games for only the second time in his career, setting a new career-high in runs scored while approaching highs in average, home runs, and RBI. His batted ball profile suggests his results are repeatable if he stays healthy, though that’s something which he has struggled to do over the past five years. Lowrie is slated to bat third for the Athletics and the opportunity is there for him to contribute in 3-4 categories as a solid, albeit slightly dull, middle infield option in 2018. That said, Oakland has several younger options ready to step in if Lowrie’s health becomes an issue, so it may be a good time to sell if you can get prospects from a win-now team in your league. (Mike Tanner)

35) Joe Panik, San Francisco Giants (Age: 27, Previous Rank 24)

Panik mostly returned to form 2017, hitting for a high average, 10 dingers, and a handful of stolen bases. He stayed healthy, save for a brief stint on the DL due to a head injury. He is projected to hit atop the order for an improved Giants lineup in 2018, which should lead to a boost in run production to go along with his good batting average. Still, barring an uptick in power or speed, he will only be relevant in deeper leagues.

36. Max Schrock, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 23, Previous Rank: NR)

Having a future MVP ranked at 36 shows how incredible the depth is at 2B. Schrock has never been considered a particularly good prospect by scouts, largely for his defensive limitations, marginal speed, and limited game power. The only consistently positive thing about Schrock is that he just simply hits: he slashed .321/.379/.422 in Double-A this past year. From a fantasy perspective, Schrock is essentially an off-brand version of Luis Urias. With Kolten Wong seemingly always in a state of losing his job, Schrock could get an opportunity in 2018. Either way, he just hits. (Kyler Jesanis)

37. Shedric Long, Cincinnati Reds (Age: 22, Previous Rank: NR)

The tool-Shed has both power and speed, making him an upside prospect target. He’s a converted catcher who has taken off these past two years in prospect circles. Long hit 15 home runs and stole 21 bases in 2016, and he followed it up with a decent 16/9 campaign last season. After starting off 2017 by crushing the ball in High-A, he moved to Double-A for the second half of the year and was, well, mediocre. Long was still young for the level, so there is reason for optimism. He could debut in 2019 and has the potential to be a 15/15 player who hits for a decent average and plays half his games in the bandbox of the Great American Ballpark. (Kyler Jesanis)

38. Ben Zobrist, Chicago Cubs (Age: 36, Previous Rank: 14)

Father time seemed to finally catch up to Zobrist, as he had his first career season with a sub-100 wRC+. He also had his fewest at bats since 2008. On the positive side, the main culprit for his declining value was a .251 BABIP. His xstats suggest his average should have been closer to the .255 range than the .231 he finished with. Zobrist is still eligible at multiple positions, has good run production, and Joe Maddon is still trying to adopt him. As a result, he will still be a valuable bench player/fill-in starter for fantasy teams this year, due to his versatility and useful production. (Kyler Jesanis)

39. Brad Miller, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 28, Previous Rank: 23 SS)

After Miller’s amazing 2016, most expected him to regress. Well,  regression hit Miller like a ton of bricks in 2017. He had the lowest ISO of his career, had a career-high strikeout rate, spent two months on the disabled list, and was just generally atrocious. Miller had significant surgery on his core in the offseason and is coming into 2018 with a good chance at winning the first base job. If his 2017 struggles had to do with his injuries, he could bounce back and be a valuable multi-position eligible player. (Kyler Jesanis)

40. Nick Solak, New York Yankees (Age: 23, Previous Rank: NR)

Solak is part of an incredibly deep Yankees system, hidden behind top infield prospects like Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar, and Thairo Estrada. That said, Solak has a lot of good things going for him: a strong hit tool, good plate discipline, and adequate power and speed. He doesn’t have a standout tool but is solid everywhere. He should open 2018 in Double-A and could be a very well-rounded, low-end fantasy option soon. (Kyler Jesanis)

41. Yolmer Sanchez, Chicago White Sox (Age: 25, Previous Rank: NR)

Yolmer Sanchez changed his name, and then went on to post his best season yet. He contributed nicely with 12 home runs, 8 steals, and a .267 average in 534 plate appearances. He has a decent chance at coming away with the third base job this year for the South Siders. He has the potential to improve on his 2017 numbers and serve as a solid across-the-board contributor for your fantasy team. (Kyler Jesanis)

42. Forrest Wall, Colorado Rockies (Age: 22, Previous Rank: 42)

Wall got off to a hot start in 2017 before injuring his shoulder and missing the rest of the year. He’s a speedy guy who could one day play half his games in Coors, showing the ability to hit double-digit home runs and steal 25 bases. The Rockies seem ready to move him to the outfield (17 games in center versus just two at 2B in 2017) and 2018 will be an important year for him. Players with a good hit tool and speed are always potential fantasy assets, particularly if they’re a Rockie. (Kyler Jesanis)

43. Wilmer Difo, Washington Nationals (Age: 26, Previous Rank: 27).

Wilmer Difo had a good season in 2017 in part-time play. He will enter 2018 as a utility player, but with this being the last year of Daniel Murphy’s contract, there’s a good chance Difo enters 2019 as the Nationals starting 2B. Difo has some sneaky pop, a good deal of speed, and could one day be a .275 average, 8-12 home run, 25-30 stolen base type of player. If you can wait a year, Difo is a good investment. (Kyler Jesanis)

44. Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 23, Previous Rank: NR)

Do you want an off-brand Nick Solak who hits from the left side? Well, Brandon Lowe is the guy for you. (Kyler Jesanis)

45. Brandon Phillips, Free Agent (Age: 36, Previous Rank: 33)

Phillips continues to ward off Father Time, once again hitting for a good average, produce solid runs, and double digits home runs and steals in 2017. The main thing working against him right now is that there aren’t many teams left where he could potentially start at either 2B or 3B. He might be a utility infielder for someone. If Phillips is able to find a starting role, he will still be a low-end asset. (Kyler Jesanis)

46. Dilson Herrera, Cincinnati Reds (Age: 24, Previous Rank: 31)

Good news: Herrera will be on the 25 man roster for the Reds this year. Bad news: he continued to struggle with his shoulder, finally undergoing surgery. He still has the look of a potentially solid hitter, but the Reds have a lot of depth and shoulder injuries can be really difficult to come back from. Keep an eye on Herrera, as the upside is still there. (Kyler Jesanis)

47. Adam Frazier, Pittsburgh Pirates (Age: 26, Previous Rank: NR)

Frazier is a low-end guy who, with a full season of at-bats, could hit for a good average with double-digit home runs and steals. In the second half, Frazier hit .304/.360/.462. He reminds me of a poor man’s Ben Zobrist; a guy who can play second and the outfield while doing a little bit of everything for your fantasy team. (Kyler Jesanis)

48. Tyler Wade, New York Yankees (Age: 23, Previous Rank: NR)

Wade could very well leap up this list next year. He was excellent in Triple-A this year, hitting .310/.382/.460 with seven home runs and 26 stolen bases while showing strong plate discipline. Unfortunately, he played poorly in his major league debut, somewhat negating his Triple-A breakout. Don’t fall into that trap, though. Yes, his major league debut looks abysmal. He also played incredibly inconsistently. After his first three starts when he was called up, he only started on back to back days one more time. Already working a small sample size, while learning new positions and playing inconsistently? It’s not shocking that he struggled. I would bet on Wade’s strong minor league track record and buy a well-rounded player who will have almost no acquisition cost in most leagues. (Kyler Jesanis)

49. Chad Pinder, Oakland Athletics (Age: 25, Previous Rank: 41)

Pinder showed power in 2017, hitting 15 home runs in 309 plate appearances with a .220 ISO. He also is eligible at multiple positions and is likely to be a utility player for the Athletics this year. He won’t help in average and won’t chip in more than a couple steals, but he should bring usable power to the table in the middle infield and outfield. (Kyler Jesanis)

50. Thairo Estrada, New York Yankees (Age: 22, Previous Rank: NR)

Thairo reminds me of a little of Ketel Marte, in that Thairo makes a lot of contact, is faster than his stolen base numbers would have you believe, and plays incredible defense. With an advanced bat, he’ll likely be a solid major league player who hits for a decent average. Still, his fantasy value will be dependent on him developing more power or greatly improving his stolen base acumen (8 for 19 in Double-A this year…yuck). He’s more of a deep league target but has a high floor due to the contact skills. If he can sneak into the Yankees lineup in the near future, keep a close eye on him. (Kyler Jesanis)