The 2014 regular season is in the books, but owners in keeper and dynasty formats still have significant decisions to make regarding the futures of their franchises. Perhaps the year didn't go as planned, and as a manager, you found yourself in a position to sell your assets in favor of younger players. On the other hand, maybe you made (or won) the playoffs, and need to decide which key pieces will be held to keep the reign going.
The rules and penalties for keeping players can vary greatly from league to league, but a handful of players who stood out from 2014 need to be considered regardless of format. In RotoWire's inaugural column geared toward dynasty formats, I'll highlight players who greatly outperformed their ADP this season, making them excellent candidates for dynasty formats. Several leagues require forfeiting the draft pick in the round the player was originally drafted, so I'll also suggest which round would be a fair price for surrendering your pick and keeping the player.
Feel free to discuss these picks and ask keeper league questions in the comments section.
Disclaimer: Recommendations are based on standard, 12-team formats.
QUARTERBACK
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Depending on the intricacies of the quarterback scoring in your league, there's a reasonable chance that Andrew Luck slightly edged out Aaron Rodgers to be the top fantasy scorer. Although Luck cost many owners a fantasy championship with his dismal Week 16 performance against Dallas, there's no denying that he was one
The 2014 regular season is in the books, but owners in keeper and dynasty formats still have significant decisions to make regarding the futures of their franchises. Perhaps the year didn't go as planned, and as a manager, you found yourself in a position to sell your assets in favor of younger players. On the other hand, maybe you made (or won) the playoffs, and need to decide which key pieces will be held to keep the reign going.
The rules and penalties for keeping players can vary greatly from league to league, but a handful of players who stood out from 2014 need to be considered regardless of format. In RotoWire's inaugural column geared toward dynasty formats, I'll highlight players who greatly outperformed their ADP this season, making them excellent candidates for dynasty formats. Several leagues require forfeiting the draft pick in the round the player was originally drafted, so I'll also suggest which round would be a fair price for surrendering your pick and keeping the player.
Feel free to discuss these picks and ask keeper league questions in the comments section.
Disclaimer: Recommendations are based on standard, 12-team formats.
QUARTERBACK
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Depending on the intricacies of the quarterback scoring in your league, there's a reasonable chance that Andrew Luck slightly edged out Aaron Rodgers to be the top fantasy scorer. Although Luck cost many owners a fantasy championship with his dismal Week 16 performance against Dallas, there's no denying that he was one of the main assets that got them there in the first place. The 22 turnovers are a bit concerning, but Luck threw for career-highs in passing yards (4,761) and passing touchdowns (40), in addition to posting the best completion percentage (61.7) of his career. Although the futures of weapons Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks are uncertain, Luck should be more than capable of getting by with T.Y. Hilton, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen as his top targets, with Donte Moncrief poised for a breakout season as well. Any semblance of a running game would also greatly help his case. For me, Luck is the No. 2 quarterback heading into 2015, just behind Aaron Rodgers.
When to keep him? - 3rd round or later.
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Wilson was likely drafted as a QB2 or platoon-mate entering the 2014 fantasy season, but he quickly emerged as an everyday starter, finishing as the No. 3 quarterback in most standard formats. His numbers passing may be mediocre, but he changed the game with 849 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. The Seahawks will surely look to get him some better weapons for 2015 (Doug Baldwin was his top target), and although he might be without Marshawn Lynch, a Robert Turbin/Christine Michael rushing combination is still respectable. If you're an owner looking to hang on to your early round draft picks, the former Wisconsin Badger is a strong value piece to build your team around in 2015.
When to keep him? - 7th round or later.
RUNNING BACK
Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bell (knee) was ruled out for Saturday's wild-card game, but as long as he doesn't suffer additional complications in the real-football playoffs, he's the top fantasy player in all formats entering 2015. The former Michigan State Spartan took the NFL by storm in his sophomore season, finishing as the top overall scorer in PPR formats and falling just behind DeMarco Murray in standard ones. Murray may be on his way out of Dallas this offseason, and considering his heavy workload and durability history, I'd have a very tough time hanging on to him in dynasty formats. Bell, on the other hand, was likely drafted in the second or third round due to off-the-field concerns heading into the season (remember that cruise with LeGarrette Blount?). There's also little reason to think Bell's role as the "featured" back in Pittsburgh will be in jeopardy, as Dri Archer and Josh Harris don't pose a serious threat to cut into his carries. Bell should be the No. 1 overall pick in all formats for 2015, so keep him wherever you can.
When to keep him? - Any round you can.
Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals
Hill took a while to come on in 2014 but helped carry many owners to fantasy championships after emerging as the Bengals' top back in the final weeks of the season. The rookie was a trendy sleeper pick in the late rounds of drafts and proved to be a difference-maker for owners who punted running backs early. This should make his price incredibly affordable as a potential RB1 who can be kept for the cost of a 10th-round pick or later. Giovani Bernard likely will take away many of his third-down snaps, but this shouldn't stop Hill from flirting with double-digit touchdowns and his second consecutive 1,000-yard season in his sophomore campaign.
When to keep him? - 4th round or later.
Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams
Zac Stacy was arguably the biggest fantasy bust of 2014, but the handful of owners who saw this coming were able to get Mason at a dirt-cheap price in drafts - he was the No. 52 back in NFFC ADP. The 21-year-old back proceeded to rack up 179 carries, despite not seeing the field until Week 6. The Auburn product has clear RB2 potential and makes for an excellent keeper for owners looking to save their early-round picks.
When to keep him? - 8th round or later.
C.J. Anderson, Denver Broncos
Anderson likely wasn't drafted in your leagues this season, so this pick strongly depends on the rules for selecting keepers in your specific format. However, if you can keep free-agent pickups at the cost of one of your final picks, the third-year player is potentially one of the best values to be had entering his age-24 season. Anderson scored nine total touchdowns in the last six weeks of the season, finishing the year with a solid 4.7 yards per carry. He does run the risk of being spelled by the likes of a healthy Montee Ball or Ronnie Hillman, but Anderson produced more rushing yards and touchdowns in 2014 than Ball has in his career. We'll see what happens during camp, but Anderson should be penciled in as the starter entering a contract year.
When to keep him? - 10th round or later.
Wide Receivers
Odell Beckham, New York Giants
Perhaps the most obvious choice, Beckham is one of the few options on this list who should be kept in all formats regardless of penalty. Even without keepers taken out of the player pool, Beckham likely will go in the first round of next year's fantasy drafts, so owners who got a share of him early enough will be poised to gain a major profit. He fell down draft boards quite a bit due to a hamstring injury in camp, but evolved into one of the most complete receivers in the game, as Eli Manning looked his way to move the chains, for big plays down the field and in the red zone. In just 12 games, the former LSU Tiger collected 90 catches (on 130 targets), 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in what should be a Rookie of the Year season. Even though Victor Cruz (knee) expects to be back for the start of 2015, it does little to take away from the fantasy potential of one of the game's most dynamic receivers.
When to keep him? - Anywhere you can.
Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles
Fantasy owners shied away from Maclin in this year's drafts, as a torn ACL that forced him to sit the 2013 season left a red flag up on many draft boards. Those who took a gamble cashed in on the Missouri product, as Maclin put up career highs in receptions (85), yards (1,318) and touchdowns (10). His production suffered a bit when a collarbone injury to Nick Foles forced the Eagles to turn to Mark Sanchez, but a strong season gave the sixth-year veteran something to build on heading into 2015. He will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so this clarification could change if he lands in a less-favorable offensive scheme. If he ends up walking, the emerging Jordan Matthews could well take his place in this column in the high-powered Philadelphia offense.
When to keep him? - 6th round or later.
Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
Brown finished 2014 as the top fantasy receiver in both standard and PPR formats, but what is likely to be a high price knocks him down slightly in the wideout keeper rankings. If no penalty is imposed for keepers, however, Brown is right up there with teammate Le'Veon Bell in terms of must-keep players entering 2015. The 26-year-old Brown shattered career highs in receptions (129), yards (1,698) and touchdowns (13) this season, while adding a punt return score in Week 17. He'll have yet another season to work with Ben Roethilisberger in offensive coordinator Todd Haley's scheme, so a repeat season certainly isn't out of the question.
When to keep him? - 2nd round or later.
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If it weren't for the breathtaking emergence of Odell Beckham, Evans may have taken home Rookie of the Year hardware in 2014 after posting 68 catches for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 6-foot-5 frame makes him a reliable target in the red zone, while he still has the speed to beat opposing defenders down field, racking up 20 catches of 20-plus yards this season. Quarterback play may be the biggest threat to Evans' fantasy production in 2015, but even if a rookie is at the helm in Tampa Bay, the 21-year-old will still be a top target with potential to creep into WR1 territory.
When to keep him? - 5th round or later.
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts
Hilton finished his 2014 campaign with 82 catches for a career-high 1,345 yards, despite being a non-factor over the season's final two games. He'll once again see an opportunity to be the top receiving threat for the Colts, as both Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks are set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason. Hilton may see increased attention from opposing defenses if both those players walk, but he'll remain a major big-play threat and likely will be the team's undisputed targets leader. There's WR1 potential here, so owners who can keep him at the price of a WR2 must surely take advantage.
When to keep him? - 3rd round or later.
Tight Ends
Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
Gronkowski shed his "injury-prone" label by re-emerging as a major force in 2014 and will undoubtedly be the top-ranked tight end over Jimmy Graham entering next season. After catching 82 passes for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns in his age-25 season, Gronk arguably warrants a top-5 fantasy draft pick and is almost surely a first-rounder. Due to an injury plagued 2013 season, he fell down draft boards a bit this year, as owners looking to secure a top tight end reached for the likes of Graham or Julius Thomas instead. This leaves plenty of room for profit with Gronk as a keeper, as the touchdown machine should be universally kept in leagues that allow it.
When to keep him? - 2nd round or later.
Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
It took Ertz a while to reach his potential in 2014, but he broke out in a big way with a 15-catch performance in Week 16 against the Redskins. The speed of the Philadelphia offense should give him plenty of opportunities for targets, and if the team is unable to retain unrestricted free agent Jeremy Maclin this offseason, even more balls could be thrown his way. Brent Celek, who took away significant snaps from Ertz this year, is set to turn 30 later this month, putting the cards in place for 2015 to be the year the youngster takes over. Ertz may not be as attractive as some of the aforementioned options, but as a low-price option with potential to be a top-10 tight end, he at least warrants some consideration.
Check out our NFL Keeper Cheat Sheets as an additional resource when deciding on next year's keepers.
