Which players are we avoiding this year, and why?  Are they over-valued, playing in a difficult environment, or on the precipice of a steep decline?  Whatever the reason, the Dynasty Guru writers have identified a few players whom we are avoiding at the trade value or draft capital it would take to obtain them.

Luis Robert, Jr., Chicago White Sox (Ranked 33)

I fully acknowledge that it is not a hot take to say avoid Luis Robert, Jr. Yet, a fantasy manager may be tempted by the hope that Robert will replicate his 2023 production or by the relatively improved performance in the second half last year (.298 average, but only 5 home runs), but my strong advice is to resist that temptation. Since his career year in 2023 (.264/.319/.542 slash line, 38 home runs, and 20 stolen bases), Robert has posted consecutive sub-par performances (84 wRC+ in 2024 and 2025). Many of his underlying statistics have been consistent throughout his career, including contact rates, exit velocities, and hard-hit rates. With five years of data, it’s becoming increasingly clear that 2023 is the outlier, not the expected outcome. Robert has been the subject of trade rumors for the past two years, with no movement. If other major league teams aren’t willing to take a chance, then neither should a fantasy manager. 

Cody Bellinger, Free Agent (Ranked 19)

Advising fantasy managers to avoid Cody Bellinger is definitely a spicier take than the Luis Robert Jr. advice, until you apply the phrase at the price it would take to get him. Bellinger just had his best year since his MVP year of 2019, posting a 2025 slash line of .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs and 13 stolen bases. His hard hit rate jumped from 32% in 2024 to 38%, with a similar increase in fly ball rate and, to a lesser degree, pull rate. For a left-handed hitter in Yankee Stadium, that was a recipe for success (.302 average, 18 HR at home; .244 average, 11 HR away). A fantasy owner who currently rosters Bellinger should hold or even sell high, but a manager drafting or trading for him now will pay a premium for the 2025 production with no guarantee that it will be repeated. 

Bonus cautionary tale:

Player A:
2024 1st half: .131, 3 HR, 4 SB
2024 2nd half: .296, 6 HR, 5 SB

Player B:
2025 1st half: .265, 25 HR, 27 SB.
2025 2nd half: .216, 6 HR 8 SB

You probably can guess that Player B is Pete Crow-Armstrong. Player A is Parker Meadows. This isn’t the best player comparison you’ll ever see, but if you think back to a year ago, Meadows’s second-half performance boosted him to the top 50 in our 2025 rankings. Even though there’s no doubt that PCA is better than Meadows, keep in mind that we’re basing that on one half-season of high-level major league production.  Just sayin’…

(Drew Klein)