Drafting for a keeper league can be a little bit tricky, not just because there are different strategies involved but because there’s not as much coverage out there about that strategy. In other words, when you see a player’s ADP or ranking as determined by leading fantasy platforms, it doesn’t necessarily translate to anything but a standard league. A rookie quarterback like Baker Mayfield who may not start a game this season is essentially a non-factor in standard leagues. Case in point, Mayfield is ranked 30th at CBS Sports. But in a keeper league, he may have middle round value in a draft because of his enormous potential as a draft-and-stash player.
Where you draft players like this in a keeper league is to some extent a matter of personal strategy, rather than established precedent. Some people prefer to draft for the year ahead and take only late flyers on future prospects; others like the idea of grabbing some of the big names fairly early on, and playing to build a future juggernaut. That’s up to you, but without discussing ore recommending specific draft positions, here are some of my picks for top backups you should target in your Keeper League.
Baker Mayfield – QB, Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield was the example for this whole concept, so it feels only natural to include him in the list. He may not start a game in 2018 given that the Browns brought in Tyrod Taylor (who incidentally is one of the most sneakily solid fantasy QBs of the last three years). But Mayfield is the number one pick for a reason, and the Browns are finally trending up. We can expect him to take over the lead job in 2019, and possibly this fall if Taylor struggles or gets hurt. He’s a terrific stash candidate.
Rashaad Penny – RB, Seattle Seahawks
If you’re following the preseason, Penny may seem like a fairly obvious pick. The Seahawks took him with their first pick, and he’s a very gifted runner. Mike Clay of ESPN’s fantasy football crew has been obsessively comparing him to Kareem Hunt all summer. That said, Penny has a broken finger, is rumored to be a little overweight, and is watching Chris Carson perform extremely well in the preseason. Carson figures to be the starter, and may have the talent to hold down the job – but as with Mayfield, Penny was selected with the team’s first pick for a reason. Long-term he’s likely to be starting somewhere.
DJ Moore – WR, Carolina Panthers
DJ Moore is a little bit more of a gamble. The Panthers have a diverse group of pass catchers, and though there’s nothing even close to a star among them, it might be Cam Newton’s best corps ever. Moore, however – the team’s first round pick in the spring – may have the most talent in the group. It may take some time for him to assert himself behind Devin Funchess and Torrey Smith, but in time he could become a legitimate starting WR option in the league.
Mike Gesicki – TE, Miami Dolphins
At 6’6’’, 245 lbs with good hands and a nice pedigree from Penn State, Mike Gesicki was one of the most appealing TE prospects in the 2018 draft. He went in the second round to Miami, and with Julius Thomas being cut in March and now fully retired and working on his doctorate for the Dolphins, Gesicki appears to be a replacement. He’s gotten some preseason hype and could well end up factoring in to this offense.
Christian Kirk – WR, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals WR corps is difficult to figure. On the one hand, the team still has Larry Fitzgerald. The 35-year-old veteran is being tabbed to hit 1,000 yards yet again this season, and is one of the most consistent fantasy performers at the position. On the other hand, JJ Nelson and Brice Butler round out the receiving group and neither is particularly exciting. Christian Kirk meanwhile is a second round pick with the speed and talent to jump in and become the clear number two behind Fitzgerald.
Josh Rosen – QB, Arizona Cardinals
Rosen is in much the same situation as Baker Mayfield. He’s an immensely talented player who was coveted by half the league in the draft, and while he’s very unlikely to start early on with Sam Bradford in the fold, he’s the clear pick for the team’s future QB. You won’t exactly be sneaking up on anyone by attempting to stash Rosen, but he’s still an interesting idea with a later pick.
Sony Michel – RB, New England Patriots
The Patriots are always interesting where running backs are concerned. It’s almost always hard to draft one because the team’s offense is so unpredictable, but there’s also usually at least one New England back who’s a valuable fantasy commodity. This season the Pats boast an incredibly deep roster of reserve-caliber runners, and it’s even tougher than usual to tell which one is going to get the most work. Sony Michel is the youngest and most talented though, and while it’s tough to imagine any one person becoming a multi-year starter with this group, he’s the most promising runner they’ve had in years.
Calvin Ridley – WR, Atlanta Falcons
Calvin Ridley feels like the biggest talent no one is talking about in the NFL. Granted, he’s playing behind Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu, so he’ll need to do good work to assert himself. But he’s a legitimate college star with great size and athleticism for the position, he’s going to be playing with a QB capable of MVP-level performance, and at least one expert has called him the next Reggie Wayne. Ridley is on fantasy radars, but it feels like his potential as a breakout star is being drastically overlooked.
Anthony Miller – WR, Chicago Bears
Let’s just say the Chicago Bears are about due for a WR breakout. Allen Robinson has the lead job, and some are still waiting for Kevin White to turn into the player he was supposed to be. The team also brought in Taylor Gabriel, who could actually be a nice complement to Robinson. But Miller is a very quick option who may be able to play Gabriel’s role more effectively in time. Projections for second-year QB Mitch Trubisky are mixed, but if these two grow together, Miller will have fantasy value. He’s probably not going to be a star, but he’s got some flex potential.
Kerryon Johnson – RB, Detroit Lions
Once again we have a situation in which a team selected a runner with a high pick despite not having a clear plan to start him. The Lions are going to have a patchwork approach to the running back position, with Theo Riddick likely getting the most carries. That, plus LeGarrette Blount’s legacy as a legendary touchdown vulture, seems to limit Johnson’s potential for the 2018 season. Still, it’s hard to imagine he isn’t intended to be a lead back, possibly by year two. A late stash is probably worth it if you have the chance.
