RealGM

So, I know it's only 6 days post-XLV but I am already missing the NFL and fantasy football. I don't know what I'm going to do if there isn't a season next year

My buddies and I are probably evolving our redraft league into a keeper league this year. I am currently trying to find the best system that keeps it fun and interesting but still gives crappy teams a chance to rebuild and not lose interest. My question I open to you all is this- do any of you play in a keeper league and if so, what are the rules like? Have they been successful? What would your ideal league setup be?

Thanks!

Kick the commish out, IMO.

I'm dropping out of a keeper league to start one with my high school friends. I'm probably going to make it a 4 player keeper league. I like 4 because you get to keep the nucleus of your team but you still have to draft a few starters every year. I'll probably let any and all future draft picks to be traded as well, makes it more interesting for the teams that are eliminated from playoff contention. FleaFlicker.com is a good website for keeper leagues.

We're also going to do the buy-in differently. People will have to pay $100 in the first year, but $50 of it will be applied to the second year of the league. Then every year the fee will be $50 and will be applied to the following season. This way everyone will always be paid for the following season and will limit the amount of turnover from year to year. If someone does drop out then they are basically forfeiting the $50 they already paid. This will also help fill the new opening because the new GM will get the first year for free, which might be a necessary attraction if the team is absolute crap.

How are you penalizing keeping the guys? Can you keep anyone from any round?

Yeah, it's going to be a pretty basic league. There won't be any penalties according to the round the player was drafted. Once you draft a player you can keep them forever if you want.

I've been a keeper league for two seasons now. We have it so that you forfeit three rounds of status in the next draft from where they were drafted the previous year. For example if someone was drafted in the 5th you would have to give up your 2nd in next year's draft to keep that player. We are allowed to keep 2 players with first round status and 2 players with any other status. Our first year we did 2 players with first round status, any other player and an optional 4th player if they started half or less of your team's games. I think either format is decent, I would suggest people being able to keep a maximum of 4 players and that the penalty in next year's draft be around 3 rounds. This allows you to keep players without a severe penalty and rewards people who nabbed waiver steals or late draft steals. We are also allowed to trade for picks in next year's draft. This keeps teams that are struggling in the race. In our second year a few teams that bottom fed the first year were the best the second year. The first year I tied for first and kept MJD, Steven Jackson, Steve Smith (NYG), and Vernon Davis. I started this year 1-5 and traded away Sjax, LT, Burress for a 3rd, 4th and two 5ths in next year's draft. I ended up making the playoffs but now I have a ridiculous amount of picks at the beginning of next years draft. This is a good way to keep teams that are not very good interested and get them back into contention. Hope this helps you get your league set up, good luck.

Thanks man, looks like a huge draft coming up!