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FBG Futures

  Posted 12/5 by Jeff Pasquino, Exclusive to Footballguys.com


Here at Footballguys we know that there are a lot of Fantasy Football players that play in Keeper Leagues. For those unfamiliar with that idea, it is just like it sounds - you get to keep a certain number of players for the next season for your 2008 fantasy team. So right about this time of year, many fantasy team owners start to look forward to next year and try and figure out who is worth keeping.

The variations of Keeper Leagues that are around make a straight list very difficult to produce. Some leagues just have a list of one or more players you keep for 2008, while other leagues make you "pay" to keep a player in some way (either by giving up a draft pick or salary cap room or something else). Regardless of how your league breaks it down, the following chart should hopefully help you out in determining what players are worth holding on to for 2008 or trading to another team for a draft pick or a better player.

Footballguys Futures: The 2008 Keeper List

Grade "A" Players
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Brady, Tom - NE
Tomlinson, LaDainian - SD
Moss, Randy - NE
Gates, Antonio - SD
Peterson, Adrian - MIN
Owens, Terrell - DAL
Westbrook, Brian - PHI
Grade "A-" Players
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Manning, Peyton - IND
Addai, Joseph - IND
Houshmandzadeh, T.J. - CIN
Winslow Jr, Kellen - CLE
Romo, Tony - DAL
Wayne, Reggie - IND
Witten, Jason - DAL
Palmer, Carson - CIN
Fitzgerald, Larry - ARI
Edwards, Braylon - CLE
Johnson, Andre - HOU
Grade "B+" Players
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Brees, Drew - NO
Parker, Willie - PIT
Smith, Steve - CAR
Gonzalez, Tony - KC
Anderson, Derek - CLE
Jackson, Steven - STL
Williams, Roy - DET
Cooley, Chris - WAS
Hasselbeck, Matt - SEA
Johnson, Larry - KC
Johnson, Chad - CIN
Clark, Dallas - IND
Roethlisberger, Ben - PIT
Gore, Frank - SF
Boldin, Anquan - ARI
Shockey, Jeremy - NYG
Kitna, Jon - DET
Bush, Reggie - NO
Colston, Marques - NO
Favre, Brett - GB
McGahee, Willis - BAL
Barber III, Marion - DAL
Brown, Ronnie - MIA
Lynch, Marshawn - BUF
James, Edgerrin - ARI
Portis, Clinton - WAS
Lewis, Jamal - CLE
Jones-Drew, Maurice - JAX
Grade "B" Players
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Bulger, Marc - STL
Maroney, Laurence - NE
Burress, Plaxico - NYG
Heap, Todd - BAL
Manning, Eli - NYG
Jones, Kevin - DET
Harrison, Marvin - IND
Miller, Heath - PIT
McNabb, Donovan - PHI
Henry, Travis - DEN
Holt, Torry - STL
Davis, Vernon - SF
Cutler, Jay - DEN
Jacobs, Brandon - NYG
Holmes, Santonio - PIT
Lee, Donald - GB
Schaub, Matt - HOU
Johnson, Rudi - CIN
Walker, Javon - DEN
Daniels, Owen - HOU
Young, Vince - TEN
Jones, Thomas - NYJ
Ward, Hines - PIT
Campbell, Jason - WAS
Foster, DeShaun - CAR
Welker, Wes - NE
Garrard, David - JAX
Turner, Michael - SD
Marshall, Brandon - DEN
Grant, Ryan - GB
Galloway, Joey - TB
Taylor, Chester - MIN
Jennings, Greg - GB
Driver, Donald - GB
Coles, Laveranues - NYJ
Henry, Chris - CIN
Grade "B-" Players
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Leinart, Matt - ARI
Norwood, Jerious - ATL
Johnson, Calvin - DET
Watson, Ben - NE
Russell, JaMarcus - OAK
Benson, Cedric - CHI
Evans, Lee - BUF
Crumpler, Alge - ATL
Garcia, Jeff - TB
White, LenDale - TEN
Branch, Deion - SEA
Warner, Kurt - ARI
Graham, Earnest - TB
Bowe, Dwayne - KC
Rivers, Philip - SD
Williams, Cadillac - TB
Cotchery, Jerricho - NYJ
Quinn, Brady - CLE
Taylor, Fred - JAX
Rice, Sidney - MIN
Jordan, LaMont - OAK
Fargas, Justin - OAK
Grade "C+" Players
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Jones, Julius - DAL
Hackett, D.J. - SEA
Williams, DeAngelo - CAR
Berrian, Bernard - CHI
McAllister, Deuce - NO
Chambers, Chris - SD
Dunn, Warrick - ATL
Stallworth, Donte - NE
Watson, Kenny - CIN
Engram, Bobby - SEA
Young, Selvin - DEN
White, Roddy - ATL
Smith, Kolby - KC
Curtis, Kevin - PHI
Keith, Kenton - IND
Peterson, Adrian - CHI

The chart is broken into "Letter Grades" for each position, with mostly "A" and "B" grade players appearing on the list. Running backs and wide receivers are typically more valuable in most leagues, so the "C+" level was also included. Here is a summary of the list:

Footballguys Futures: The 2008 Keeper List - Positional Summary

Pos
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
Tot
QB
1
3
6
8
6
0
24
RB
3
1
13
10
8
9
44
WR
2
5
5
13
6
7
38
TE
1
2
4
5
2
0
14
Tot
7
11
28
36
22
16
120

As for how to intertwine the groups, I leave that to each owner to determine based on their own leagues and scoring. Take a look at your 2007 league and see where each position lines up for the scoring for the year. For example, is the 20th RB about even with the fifth QB and the 25th WR? Then those tiers should be about the same value.

With multi-year leagues such as Keeper Leagues, the football season really never ends. Whether you missed the 2007 fantasy playoffs in your league or even if you made them, it is never too early to look at 2008. I hope that this helps you out and makes your team much better for next year.

As always, feedback is welcome at pasquino@footballguys.com.