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Athletes who will dominate 2018
Kamil Krzaczynski / USA Today Sports Images

Athletes who will dominate 2018

The 2018 calendar year should be a great one for sports with the Winter Olympics and FIFA World Cup, in addition to the four major U.S. sports ramping up. Thanks to the two added spectacles that only take place every four years, sports fan will get familiar with more than just the stars of the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB.

Here are 25 athletes who are primed to dominate next year.

 
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kamil Krzaczynski / USA Today Sports Images

Currently the Vegas favorite to win the NBA MVP, the Greek Freak has taken another giant leap forward this season, averaging nearly 30 points per game. While the Bucks might not be realistic title contenders just yet, they're getting closer with Antetokounmpo as the driving force.

 
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Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Arenado has driven in at least 130 runs in three straight seasons for the Rockies, and he also has won five straight Gold Gloves and three straight Silver Sluggers. He's a superstar in a sport that has been hungry for more, and he's also climbed the NL MVP voting over the last two years, peaking at fourth in 2017.

 
Marvin Bagley III
Rob Kinnan / USA Today Sports Images

A top recruit for Duke this year, Bagley III has been truly dominant early in the season. After fellow top freshman Michael Porter Jr. suffered a back injury, Bagley III could be the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He's showing all the makings of an elite NBA power forward.

 
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Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley
Aaron Doster / USA Today Sports Images

Barkley is likely to be the first running back taken in the 2018 NFL Draft after an amazing career at Penn State. He's rushed for more than 1,000 yards in three straight seasons and has become a bigger threat as a receiver this year with 47 receptions for 594 yards.

 
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Joey Bosa

Joey Bosa
Mark J. Rebilas / USA TODAY Sports

Bosa is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year in his sophomore season, ranking among the league leaders with 11.5 sacks through 12 games. He already has one more sack than he did in his rookie season over 12 games and continues to improve.

 
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Tom Brady

Tom Brady
Stew Milne / USA Today Sports Images

There's been no stopping Brady at age 40, so we why should we expect any different at age 41? New England proved it's in it with Brady for a long haul after trading Jimmy Garoppolo, while Brady leads the league in passing yards.

 
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Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown
Phillip G. Pavely / USA Today Sports Images

Ben Roethlisberger's future could be up in the air, but there seems to be no stopping Brown. He leads the league in receiving yards through Week 13, on pace to get back to the otherworldly level he showed in 2015.

 
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Carlos Correa

Carlos Correa
Dan Hamilton / USA Today Sports Images

Correa shined in the MLB playoffs en route to his first World Series, and his production could give the Astros staying power. He hit .315-24-84 in only 109 games in 2017 at age 23.

 
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Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

Crosby is trying to help the Penguins to their third straight Stanley Cup as one of the front-runners for the Hart Trophy. To his disappointment, NHL players won't compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics, however.

 
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Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry
Kyle Terada / USA Today Sports Images

The Warriors are looking to repeat as NBA champs, led by Curry and Kevin Durant. Through November, Curry ranks fourth in points per game and remains the most marketable player in basketball.

 
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James Harden

James Harden
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

Harden leads the league in points per game in the early going, bolstered by a Rockets team that's on fire with the addition of Chris Paul. Harden has attempted a staggering 11 3-pointers per game.

 
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Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper
Brad Mills / USA Today Sports Images

Harper was having a great year until a knee injury during the second half. He now heads into his walk year, and agent Scott Boras is eyeing the biggest contract in MLB history. If Harper can stay healthy this year, he will likely get it.

 
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Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts
John Reed / USA Today Sports Images

Hurts quietly had an excellent 2017 season at quarterback for Alabama, finishing the regular season with 15/1 TD/INT in an offense that ran the ball more often than last season. Entering his junior year, Alabama could take the reins off.

 
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LeBron James

LeBron James
Dale Zanine / USA Today Sports Images

Not only is James still dominant on the court, but his pending free agency in 2018 could make him even more dominant off of it. Could he leave Cleveland for a second time? We'll soon find out.

 
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Dustin Johnson

Dustin Johnson
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

The top-ranked golfer in the world, Johnson failed to win a major tournament in 2017 after winning the U.S. Open in 2016. There is still reason to be optimistic heading into next year.

 
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DeMarcus Lawrence

DeMarcus Lawrence
Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports Images

Lawrence has emerged as a top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year in his fourth season, recording 13.5 sacks in only 12 games so far this year. It's likely that Jerry Jones will soon pay Lawrence handsomely, and he's very deserving as a truly elite player.

 
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Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid
Timothy T. Ludwig / USA Today Sports Images

The defending Hart Trophy winner, McDavid is off to a fabulous start for the Oilers. He won't turn 21 until January and is becoming one of the NHL's most marketable stars.

 
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Evgenia Medvedeva

Evgenia Medvedeva
John E. Sokolowski / USA Today Sports Images

The likely favorite to win big in women's figure skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Medvedeva has won consecutive gold medals at the World Championships and just turned 18 in November.

 
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Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal
Robert Deutsch / USA Today Sports Images

The No. 1-ranked men's tennis player in the world, Nadal won both the French Open and U.S. Open in 2017. While past his prime at age 31, Nadal should still have plenty of time to dominate the men's circuit.

 
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Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil
Witters Sport / USA Today Sports Images

Ozil leads the German National Team into the 2018 World Cup, where the Germans are the slight favorites over Brazil and France. The Arsenal star has played on the national team since 2009.

 
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Mike Trout

Mike Trout
Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports Images

Trout remains the best baseball player in the world, evident by his fourth-place finish in the AL MVP voting despite playing only 114 games in 2017. The two-time MVP is just entering his age 26 season and has already had one of the best six-year runs in baseball history.

 
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Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson
Joe Nicholson / USA Today Sports Images

Watson is out for the rest of the 2017 season with a knee injury, but up to that point he took the league be storm in his rookie debut. Over a five-game span as a starter, he had 18/7 TD/INT as the Texans scored at least 33 points in all five games. Texans fans can't wait for 2018.

 
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Carson Wentz

Carson Wentz
Jeremy Brevard / USA Today Sports Images

The favorite to win NFL MVP this season, Wentz has been terrific in his sophomore season for the Eagles. The organization has built an imposing offense for the long term with an excellent offensive line and the addition of Jay Ajayi at running back.

 
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Shaun White

Shaun White
Guy Rhodes / USA Today Sports Images

White is America's most marketable Winter Olympian, and he's set to compete in snowboarding once again in 2018. He failed to make the podium in 2014 but did win Olympic gold in the half-pipe in 2006 and 2010.

 
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Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson
Joe Nicholson / USA Today Sports Images

Wilson has been one of football's most underappreciated players this season, throwing for more than 3,200 yards through 12 games despite poor offensive line play and musical chairs at running back. He's on pace to set a career high in passing yards, and the Seahawks should be prepared to get him more help in the offseason.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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