Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999

Hold on

Early keeper-league returns

By Robert Neely, Associate editor

This season the CFFL went to a keeper-league format for the first time. Here’s how it works: Each of the eight players drafted in the first round took on a value of four keeper points; second- and third-round picks are worth three points; fourth- and fifth-round picks are worth two; everyone else is worth a point.

Before next season’s draft, each team will get five keeper points to spend however it wishes. I decided to take a look back this week at the draft and see who the players most likely to be kept might be. Here’s a breakdown of the bargains and busts in each category:

First round (four points) — Injuries have made a mockery out of this category. Terrell Davis and Jamal Anderson are out for the year, and Fred Taylor has been on the sideline more than the guy who holds the coach’s headset cord. Keyshawn Johnson and Terrell Owens have been disappointing because their quarterbacks are down. The other three first-rounders (Randy Moss, Antonio Freeman and Dorsey Levens) can’t be considered sure-fire keepers at a four-point value.

Second and third rounds (three points) — Brett Favre and Marvin Harrison are the most productive out of this group. At this point, they look like good keeper values. Rookies Ricky Williams and Edgerrin James have shown enough potential to merit some consideration, although the rest of the season will do a lot to determine whether they are worth three points. Eddie George is one of the top four backs right now in terms of fantasy points per game under PFW’s scoring system, so he probably merits keeper consideration as well. Emmitt Smith is directly ahead of George in the RB point rankings, but his age may be a concern when next year rolls around. Anyone else in this category who has been only somewhat productive (including Curtis Martin, Terry Glenn, Ricky Watters, Eric Moulds, Cris Carter, Jimmy Smith) probably isn’t worth keeping, at least right now. Glenn is on that list because of his injury history.

Fourth and fifth rounds (two points) — This is where a little gambling is OK. The really good value is Peyton Manning, who may soon rival Favre as the top fantasy quarterback. Running backs such as Marshall Faulk, Natrone Means and Corey Dillon also will merit keeper consideration at a moderate price. Among the do-not-keeps here are Jerome Bettis, who appears to be nearing the end, and Vinny Testaverde, who will be coming off a severe injury. Isaac Bruce at two points is like Terry Glenn at three — the injury history is a reason for concern.

Everyone else (one point) — This is where the real bargains are. They start with the first player picked in this category, Michael Westbrook. If he keeps anything close to the pace he’s on, he should be kept. Drew Bledsoe, who is in the Favre-Manning class, is also a steal. He’s as sure a thing as there is in fantasy football this side of Favre. Running backs such as Mike Alstott and Curtis Enis may not be complete backs who can pile on the yardage, and Tshimanga Biakabutuka, Cecil Collins and Stephen Davis may be four- or five-game wonders at this point, but they’re worth one point. Other steals: Brad Johnson, Jon Kitna, Tony Martin, Muhsin Muhammad, Curtis Conway and Kevin Dyson. If a player will start, he’s worth a keeper point under this system.

In-season pickups such as Kurt Warner, Errict Rhett and Charlie Batch also have one-point values. Depending on how things go the rest of the season, they may throw their hats into the keeper ring.

The Archives
1999 - 2000 Season