Opinions of keeper leagues change from year-to-year. If you have good keepers, it’s definitely a fun way to participate in fantasy football … if you don’t, entering a season feeling as if you’re already at a disadvantage isn’t fun.

With that being said, I remember thinking my shot of winning my big-money keeper league a few years ago wasn’t that great. It’s a two-player keeper league and even though I had Stephen Jackson, my number-two guy was between Domanick Davis and Randy Moss. I tried to keep Davis, but his injury forced me to eventually go with Moss. With Brian Westbrook as my first round pick and Drew Brees as my third quarterback taken very late, the rest, as they say, is history. I won the league!

I learned a lot from that 2006 season in winning and I’m trying to take the same philosophies into this year’s drafts.


Use 4for4.com
If you’re reading this article you already know that 4for4.com is the way to go for your fantasy football information.

I love the ADP vs. 4for4.com

The pcDrafter is also a must for any fantasy football fan. What’s better than practicing mock drafts as you prepare for your big day?

Also check out keeper rankings

By way of comparison, the fantasy football magazine should be obsolete. The rankings and information is months old by the time your draft day comes around. Then again, the good news is if you see an opponent with one you know you have big advantage.


Know your league rules
While this may sound silly, it’s half the battle. One of the biggest keys is point values for quarterbacks. You have to play to the strengths of your league’s point system. Quarterback is a big key when it comes to this. Some leagues offer just four points for a passing touchdown, while other go with six. If your league gets six, you definitely will want to take a QB a little earlier.

Another popular fantasy stat is a point per reception - which turns certain running backs into a gold mine. Steven Jackson, Brian Westbrook and Reggie Bush all come to mind.

Know who is protected
For the most part, you’re going to know the players your opponents are keeping, but the more important thing to take note of is how their needs fall in the draft.

A lot of GMs just keep track of their own teams throughout the draft, but a little extra effort to keep track of every team can really pay off for you - enter pcDrafter. It tracks league needs and all team needs. It’s always nice to have the PC tracking you opponents for you while you mainly focus on your roster.

Seeing what other teams need and don’t need allows you to be smarter with your picks. And with a little luck, you’ll be able to visualize a few players that will slip. That allows you to address other needs first, making you a much deeper and better team.


Stack up on running backs
You’ll see me say this a lot over the course of my 4for4.com articles. I’ve always believed there is no other strategy to have in any league. But, in a keeper league, it’s huge to enter a draft in a good situation with your running backs, especially if you’re picking late.

While the struggle begins at the top of the draft for teams who didn’t have two running backs, chances are some top-quality talent is going to fall to you at wide receiver, quarterback and tight end. In a lot of one and two player keeper leagues, top receivers can be yours for the taking, which will look pretty nice if you already have your backs in place.

Another reason I like to take my backs early is because of the talent you can often find on the free agent wire at wide receiver. The waiver wire should be used as a tool to improve your team. It’s a tough call between being the first to grab every one-week wonder and a player who’ll will able to help you week after week. That’s the chance you take though. You gotta spend a little to make the big bucks at the end of the season.


Tight ends are receivers too
If you use my strategy of stacking up on running backs, there’s a good bet you’re not as strong at receiver. One way to make up for that is to grab a stud tight end. Tight end is a very deep position these days, unlike a few years ago. So far this season they seem to be getting drafted in rounds 4-6, which translates into rounds 3-5 if you’re in a two-player keeper league.

Still, you want to get one that puts up receiver-like numbers. There are typically about four each year. It might be more worth your while to take TEs like these instead of middle-of-the-road WRs with little upside.


Know the NFL schedule
As Greg Alan often says, "You must get hot at the end of the season to win it all."
SEE: http://www.4for4.com/members/2008schedule.php


Injuries
Be aware of injuries the day of and during your draft. Most draft hosts have wireless networks these days so if you have a laptop take it along and always have the latest information at your fingertips. If that’s not possible, be sure to check out 4for4.com News before you leave and take note of any key names you may have targeted.


Have a plan
Overall, you should have a plan of attack. There are always going to be surprises, some players will go undrafted until late and someone will get taken too early. Chances are you’ll have to alter your opening plan as you go, and if you use pcDrafter, it should help you find the best values on-the-fly.

Study the 4for4.com ADP and take a look at when positions are getting taken in large amounts.


My Rule of Thumb
I like to go running back in the first two rounds. In round three, if one of the top-5 QBs were on the board, I’d think about one of those, if not, take the best receiver. Round four and five could be receivers or a quarterback with round six going for a tight end.