It’s good to be the champ, right?
If you happen to be the chump, then you’re already thinking about loading up for next season. And when you look up and down your roster you can’t help but speak Shakespeare, sort of: To keep or not to keep, that is the question.
Keeper leagues have a lot of appeal and a lot of different rules. Some are based upon a player’s value or draft order, while some get to keep any number of players, no matter their value or when they were taken.
When it comes to quarterbacks, Peyton Manning (Colts), Drew Brees (Saints), Matt Schaub (Texans) and Tom Brady (Patriots) fulfilled their preseason billing, but Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Philip Rivers (Chargers), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Brett Favre (Vikings) and Tony Romo (Cowboys) will all be drafted much higher in 2010 after fantastic seasons.
Who’s on the drop? Jay Cutler (Bears), Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks), Eli Manning (Giants), Kurt Warner (Cardinals) and Matt Ryan (Falcons).
Will Chris Johnson (Titans) go higher than Adrian Peterson (Vikings) next year? Hard to argue against it. Other running backs on the rise: Ray Rice (Ravens), Thomas Jones (Jets), Ricky Williams (Dolphins), Jonathan Stewart (Panthers), Jamaal Charles (Chiefs), Cedric Benson (Bengals) and Jerome Harrison (Browns).
DeSean Jackson (Eagles), Miles Austin (Cowboys), Sidney Rice (Vikings) and Steve Smith (Giants), welcome to the club of top receivers.
Hold on to any one of these guys and your team is already looking good. For 2010, that is.
FIVE WHO ARE HOT
Brent Celek, Eagles, TE Four catches, 121 yards, TD
Santonio Holmes, Steelers, WR Five catches, 86 yards, TD
Zach Miller, Raiders, TE Nine catches, 110 yards
Jonathan Stewart, Panthers, RB 28 carries, 206 yards, TD
Wes Welker, Patriots, WR 13 catches, 138 yards
FIVE WHO ARE NOT
Donald Driver, Packers, WR Three catches, 33 yards
Fred Jackson, Bills, RB 13 carries, 39 yards, fumble lost
Brandon Jacobs, Giants, RB Six carries, 1 yard
Peyton Manning, Colts, QB 14 completions, 192 yards, benched early
Jason Snelling, Falcons, RB 15 carries, 68 yards
