LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY KEEPER DECISIONS

Admittedly this convoluted.

This is an 8-team keeper (MAX 3) league that is expanding back to 10 teams, which is what it was since 2005. Had to kick some ne’re-do-wells to the curb 2 years ago.

It is NoPPR with 15 player rosters and all TDs = 6. We also have 1 any-injury slot.

Starting requirements are QB / RB / RB-WR / WR / WT-TE / TE / DST / K

Annual keeper choice is A or B – Keeper cost is based upon the round they were drafted in the previous year EXCEPT that continuously kept players ‘cost is set by ADP. The purpose of this is to emphasize the redraft while rewarding owners who do the homework.
A. Keep 1 with a cost of a pick between rounds 1-5 PLUS 1 with a cost of a pick between rounds 6-15
B. Keep 3 all with a cost or a pick between rounds 6-15 – This is usually what I shoot for.

We will hold an expansion draft a few days (maybe on August 11) before the final keeper decisions are due on August 15. Each current team will protect 1 player during the expansion draft, but will not lose more than 1 player

Draft is on August 17. Player / Draft Pick trading is allowed prior to final keeper declarations. I have sold players for picks or pick-bumps many times. I guess trading is allowed between the keeper declarations and the draft, but that has never happened and would be very complicated.

Because it was 8-teams last season the rosters are LOADED. Because it is NoPPR I rarely keep QBs, WRs or TEs unless their pick cost is between rounds 13-15. Because there is first-come-first-served free agency during the off-season, I always raid the free agent pool for any RB that is a potential keeper. I did not have 11 RBs last season.

Here is my current roster – Player / Keeper cost
Jordan Love / 15
Breece Hall / 4 – POTENTIAL EXPANSION DRAFT PROTECTION
Travis Etienne / ADP
Alvin Kamara / 7
Jonathan Taylor / 8 – POTENTIAL EXPANSION DRAFT PROTECTION
Zach Charbonnet / 9
Tyjae Spears / 9
De’Von Achane / 15
Zamir White / 15
D’Andre Swift / 15
Ty Chandler / 15
Keaton Mitchell / 15
Sam LaPorta / 15
Justin Jefferson / 1
Ja’Marr Chase / 2
Jordan Addison / 14

My first instinct is to protect JT and then keep 2 others from Achane, White, and LaPorta. I figure that if I leave Breece unprotected he will get taken in the expansion draft. 4th round value is probably too good to pass. That would leave me with all of my first 7 picks. I pick at 1.07 / 2.04

But now I am thinking about protecting Breece and then keeping only 1 from JT, Achane, White and LaPorta. If I protect Breece I will keep him at 4.04 UNLESS I can trade something else to bump down to 4.10. Possibly I can swap my 4.04 and 5.07 for 4.10 and 5.01

I don’t expect Jefferson to be taken in the expansion draft because the team that might take him would have to spend either pick 1.03 or 1.04. They don’t get picks 1.01 or 1.02 because those picks were won via a consolation playoff. This year the bottom 4 teams will play a 3-game round-robin tournament.

Assuming Jefferson is not taken in the expansion draft then I would try to sell him (before the final keeper due date) for a round 1 bump such as my 1.07 for a pick between 1.01 – 1.04 plus maybe a pick swap in a later even numbered round. Possibly I could sell JJ + 1.07 + 4.04 FOR 1.01 + 4.10 which is where I could keep Breece.

Chase might get taken in the expansion draft because his keeper cost would be either 2.07 or 2.08. Only way I see a pick swap there is in a later round.

I would try to sell all the players I don’t intend to keep probably for pick-bumps

Before you shout grandma league, Smitty, this is a league of long-time friends. Even with all my strategizing I have only won 2 Super Bowls

Overwhelmed? Am I talking to hear my head rattle?

Mostly looking for thinking about who to protect. Maybe who I could realistically sell before the final keeper declaration.