Many of you may be playing in keeper leagues. I know we’re all “playing for keeps” (grrr) but really the only ones of us playing for keeps are in keeper leagues. A lot of leagues just give you two keeper spots, some have complex systems where players cost incrementally more each year to keep, and some (legacy) leagues you keep your entire lineup. This is great if you are in love with Jackie Battle and want him on your team every year, but bad if all your players are bad and all the other teams are good. What to do?
Here’s a quick guide to some players that might be available in your league in the FA pool that *will not* help you this year (or will help you minimally), but could be fantastic keepers for next year. This is largely a list for the 3-7 teams of the world. Since you usually don’t have to declare keepers until the start of next season, a lot of these guys can get tossed onto the end of your bench and then you can make decisions about them next season.
TOP TIER: Injured Stars
Peyton Manning: Still probably owned in your league, probably by another 3-7 team. If he’s owned by a contender, try to make a trade b/c they don’t need him. He’ll be back and passing next year and in the top 10 QBs. He’s still probably got 3 or 4 good years left in him.
Jamal Charles: He’ll also be back next year, and there’s no one in the Chief’s suspect RB group that will challenge him for his job. Much more likely to be available in your league, as his injury was season ending and happened early.
Kenny Britt: Out for the season as well, the most likely to be around. He was tearing the league apart before he got hurt…but really the Titans are a team in flux. His value next year could be just about anywhere.
MIDDLE TIER: Up for a promotion
Matt Flynn: He’s definitely available in your league, and he’s going to be some team’s starting QB next year. I don’t know where he goes (Minnesota? Jacksonville? New Jersey? ) but he’s going to travel. If you’re in a 3 or 4 player keeper league and have QB problems, he’s a guy with a lot of upside.
Michael Bush: This dude is awesome and I doubt the Raiders can afford to keep him. He’ll be made the starter somewhere and then destroy the sun with his mind. Your immediate problem is that he’s probably already on another team, working as a bye-week fill in. I would make a trade offer, possibly even give away a guy (James Starks) that is getting points now but won’t come close to Bush next year.
James Jones: Oh wait that was last year. Last year Jones looked great, was at the end of his contract, and was poised to sign with a team like the Ravens and become their #2 wideout with lots of upside. Instead he re-signed with the Packers and is the #5 option in their offense. Just a friendly reminder that some players do not follow fantasy logic.
BOTTOM TIER: Wait really you’re going to carry that guy?
Matt Cassell, Matt Schaub, Knowshon Moreno: Hurt, so they’re available. Also not very good…but they’ll have starting jobs when they come back, which sometimes is enough.
Chad Henne: UGGG you’re carrying Chad Henne??? I’m only putting him here because he’s going to get cut and then signed as a starter for a new team. Please do not carry Chad Henne.
Tim Tebow: He’s 4-1 as a starter!?!? Why is he in the bottom tier with these losers? Tebow is a unicorn and magical and does whatever he wants like Napoleon Dynamite. I know. He gets rushing yards and passing yards and Jesus yards (10 jy/pt) like there’s no tomorrow because tomorrow is the rapture. He’s also very possibly floating around the FA pool or available for trade and he’s got a lot of upside. I say this because if they make the playoffs, they’ll spend an entire offseason making the I-OPTIONCAT offense a real thing and not something they’re reading off of napkins in the huddle. You could do worse.
HAM
Hamburgers & Pants Fantasy Footblog 