Keeper Rankings

If you play in a keeper league, the offseason might provide you with one of your biggest challenges as a fantasy owner: choosing which players to invite back for next season, and which to let go.

While you obviously shouldn’t drop Priest Holmes, the decision-making soon gets harder, starting with MVP Rich Gannon. Can he play another stellar season at the age of 37? Is a young up-and-comer such as William Green worth holding on to? How about injury risks such as Edgerrin James?

Keeper league owners will have a lot of tough decisions to make. We’ll be talking about keepers often during the offseason, particularly in the forums; for starters, the following list ranks players who shouldn’t be dropped unless you really, really have to…

1 Priest Holmes - RB, KC

Yes, his hip injury is cause for concern, but with MVP-caliber numbers at the shallow RB position, Holmes is undoubtedly a keeper. When healthy, Holmes can carry a team all by himself.

2 Marshall Faulk - RB, StL

Faulk was the consensus #1 draft pick going into the season following several monster campaigns. Then, of course, the Rams unraveled, and with them the hopes of many Faulk owners. Don’t worry; he’ll be back. Look for a great 2003 season from Marshall Faulk.

3 Ricky Williams - RB, MIA

Another top back, Williams clearly likes his new home in Miami and will continue to blast through oppoing defenses and shine like the Florida sun for your fantasy squad.

4 Donovan McNabb - QB, PHI

McNabb fully deserves to be the first quarterback listed. He’s young, a great runner and has a good supporting cast which should provide you with a top passer for many years to come.

5 Marvin Harrison - WR, IND

Receivers are more unpredictable than running backs, but Harrison had yet another great season and will keep getting plenty of looks from Manning. Harrison is one of the best fantasy players around, regardless of position. Hold on to him.

6 LaDainian Tomlinson - RB, SD

Tomlinson burst onto the scene in 2001, and his 2002 campaign was even better. He’ll continue to provide your team with great offense in 2003… and 2004… and 2005… you get the idea.

7 Shaun Alexander - RB, SEA

Alexander’s inconsistency gave his owners fits this season, but he has to be considered one of the best backs available. Look for improvement in 2003, when he should get more support from his teammates.

8 Peyton Manning - QB, IND

Manning’s star has fallen a bit, but the young gun has a top receiver and a solid ground game to aid him in his upcoming sixth season and beyond.

9 Ahman Green - RB, GB

Green should have the starting job locked up for the next few years. Playing alongside Brett Favre means defenses won’t be able to focus only on Green, opening up holes for some long runs.

10 Deuce McAllister - RB, NO

McAllister tore the league apart when given a chance to start, and could be even better in 2003. If the Saints stay focused, they’ll put up a lot of points.

11 Michael Vick - QB, ATL

It’s hard to leave him off the top ten, as he’s easily one of the best runners at his position, and his passing game should improve in his second full season as a starter. If you’re looking beyond 2003, Vick might even be the number one keeper available.

12 Travis Henry - RB, BUF

Henry is a young, talented runner on a team that’s looking to take the next step up. More experience should bring Henry into the top tier of running backs and onto your short list of must-keep players.

13 Randy Moss - WR, MIN

Moss may be the most frustrating football player on the planet, but don’t let his behavior make you forget either his skills or his youth.

14 Terrell Owens - WR, SF

Look for T.O. to keep putting up huge numbers, with or without a sharpie tucked in his sock.

15 Clinton Portis - RB, DEN

Another year, another stellar Denver rookie back… Portis should definitely be considered as a keeper, even if the Broncos have made a habit of pulling a new feature back out of their hats on a yearly basis. Portis, unlike his predecessors, is here to stay.

16 Jeff Garcia - QB, SF

Garcia had a somewhat disappointing year, but there’s no reason he can’t regain the form that made him the MVP of many fantasy leagues two seasons ago. Garcia is young and talented, and will be leading San Francisco’s offense for a long time.

17 Hines Ward - WR, PIT

Ward achieved fantasy stardom this season. Even inconsistent quarterback play couldn’t prevent him from becoming a top three receiver. His playoff performance only confirms his status among the league’s elite.

18 Tiki Barber - RB, NYG

Thunder and Lightning are no more, which makes starting a Giants RB a viable fantasy option again. Barber should continue to be the feature back, propeling him from questionable draft pick to solid keeper.

19 Aaron Brooks - QB, NO

Brooks will rebound from a sub-par end to the 2002 season and return to dominant form. And with the offense surrounding him, he’ll be poised to outperform his younger cousin - at least for now.

20 Tampa Bay Defense

Keep a defense? Absolutely. The Bucs’ D dominated nearly every game it played this year, and has the talent (not to mention the right contract structure) to do so again in 2003. If your league scores a lot of points for defense you should definitely think about holding on to this unit.