Tackling Keeper League Picks
Alright, let’s talk about keeper leagues. Every year, around this time, the same question pops up: who the heck do I keep? It sounds simple, right? Just keep your best guys. But nah, it’s never that easy.
First thing I always do, gotta dig up the league rules. Seriously, you can’t make any calls until you know the specifics. How many players can I keep? What’s the cost? Usually, it costs you a draft pick, maybe the round they were drafted in last year, or maybe it goes up each year. Found our rules buried in the league chat history, typical.
So, got the rules figured out. Then, I pull up my roster from last season. I don’t just glance at the total points. That’s a rookie mistake. I look at each potential keeper one by one.
- How’d they actually perform? Were they consistent, or just have a few huge games?
- What’s their situation now? Age is a big one. Injuries? Changed teams? All that stuff matters.
- What’s the cost? This is the kicker. Keeping my stud Wide Receiver sounds great, but if he costs me a 1st round pick, maybe not. Compare that to keeping a solid Running Back for like, an 8th round pick. Now we’re talking value.
Then comes the messy part. I start comparing guys directly against their keeper cost. I basically ask myself, “If this guy was in the draft, where would I take him?” If I’d draft him way higher than his keeper cost, that’s a good sign. If his cost is about the same or higher than where I’d draft him, probably better to let him go back into the pool.
I usually make a rough list. Jot down the potential keepers, their cost, and maybe a quick thought or two. Helps to see it laid out.
Thinking About Strategy
You also gotta think about your team overall. Are you trying to win this year, guns blazing? Or are you maybe rebuilding a bit? If I’m going for the title, keeping proven stars, even at a higher cost, might make sense. If my team was kinda lousy last year, maybe I focus on keeping younger guys with potential for cheap, build for the future.
So, I look at my list, think about my team’s plan. Start crossing names off. Sometimes it’s obvious. That guy who tore his ACL? Yeah, probably not keeping him. The breakout rookie I got super late? Almost always a keeper.
But there are always one or two tough calls. Player A vs Player B. Similar value, different positions maybe. That’s where you just gotta go with your gut sometimes, after weighing all the factors.
Finally made my picks. Submitted them to the commish. Felt decent about it. Didn’t just throw darts at a board. I looked at the rules, checked the players, thought about the value, considered my team’s direction. It’s a process, takes a bit of time, but feels better than just guessing.
That’s pretty much how I handle it each year. No magic formula, just digging in and thinking it through based on your specific league and team.
