Draft Analysis from Local Keeper League

I drafted in my local league this Saturday. It is a minimal Keeper League where you can keep two players from the previous year if you held them the entire year and then only if you pay a 4 round “keeper” penalty. Only players drafted in the 9th round or later are eligible for Keeper status. Once a player is kept he can be kept until the 1st round but then the following year cannot be kept.

So essentially it is a small keeper league where having the foresight to draft potentially great players pays off in the long run. I drafted Chris Johnson and Steve Slaton last year in the 15th and 17th rounds, so I am keeping them and give up a 11th and 13th round pick to do so.


It is a PPR league with fairly standard scoring (4 pts PTD, 6 pts Ru/Rec TD, 1 pt per 10 Ru/Rec Yards/20 Pa Yds, 1 PPR). The starters are 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 Kicker, 1 DEF/ST and 1 Flex (Either RB/WR/TE).

However, in order to keep the draft easier for new owners we have mandatory roster requirements for the main draft (2 QB/3RB/3WR/2TE/2K/2DEF/ST) and then have a supplemental draft where any owner can get 4 additional players at any position. So the Main Draft is 14 rounds and you have to have 2 QB/3RB/3WR/2TE/2K/ and 2 DEF/ST at the end.

Here is my team and some thoughts:

1 (4) Steven Jackson-With my 2 Keeper RBs I have 3 RBs in top 10.
2 (25) Steve Smith-Best WR left on the board
3 (32) Jason Witten-Best TE in league, all the top WRs were gone
4 (53) Chad Ochocinco-Like his upside
5 (60) Eddie Royal-My third and final WR in this format, huge upside w Marshal
6 (81) Carson Palmer-Most of the good QBs are gone, since 13 RBs were kept
7 (88) Matt Hasselbach-Love his complimentary schedule with Palmer
8 (109) San Diego-MIN and PIT gone so went with next best, Merriman returns!
9 (116) Jeremy Shockey-Another player with potential if healthy
10 (137) Lawrence Tynes-Not getting love in rankings but kicks for NYG, come on
11 (144) Chris Johnson (Keeper from 15th in 2008)
12 (165) Arizona-Good Fantasy Playoff schedule
13 (172) Steve Slaton (Keeper from 17th in 2008)
14 (193) Ryan Succop-Just wanted to have a player called Suck Up.
-----------End of Main Draft----------------------------------------------
Supplemental Draft
15 (200) Lesean McCoy-Keeper potential in 2010
16 (221) Chris Henry-I Like him to be Top 30 WR in 2009
17 (228) Michael Bush-Lots of upside
18 (249) Nate Burleson-Best WR left


Sam Hendricks, Author:
Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)