Top 6 AFFL teams Ranked by Keepers

They say the early bird gets the worm. In the case of fantasy football, sometimes that worm came out a year early.

Each new league year, AFFL teams are allowed to keep two players from last season's roster in exchange for draft picks in various rounds for the upcoming year.  Planning ahead, managers could have a significant advantage over the field if they chose the players whom have high upside and cost low draft picks. Having a keeper in the 5th round that is actually worth a 1st round grade like David Johnson (applause for HBK) is the makings of an indestructible team on paper.

Of course, there is no guarantee that any player kept will pan out, and many times there have been players who looked to be of great value on paper (Zac Stacy, Joseph Randle) who weren't even worth their weight in salt.

That said, this years AFFL keeper deadline brought about some interesting decisions and created a few "super cores" that will be difficult for managers around the league to overcome.

Below are the top 5 teams ranked by their keepers, their relative draft cost, and the player itself. (sorry Cobra Kai and Jaj Cousteau, no keepers means you weren't included.)

6. BDiddy

Keepers: Tom Brady (7th) Amari Cooper (3rd)

Draft pick spot: 4 of 12

Possible four: Brady, Cooper, Elliot, Cj Anderson

The Diddy did the right thing last season, salvaging a poor 2015 by drafting Amari Cooper and trading for Tom Brady. At the time, there was significant risk with taking Cooper in the 4th round, a rookie on a team with a young erratic quarterback. A year later, the move has paid off, giving Diddy a top 24 player for a late 3rd round price. Add to that a late season trade for Tom Brady who will cost a mere 7th round pick, and B meister begins the season with a strong QB/WR tandem. They had the option to keep Brandon Cooks for a 2nd round pick (at 15th overall) but opted instead to wait out Brady's suspension.

Armed with two early round picks before giving up their 3rd for Cooper, Diddy is in position to draft a solid RB/WR or double up on RB's. Adding an Ezekiel Elliot and Cj Anderson for example will give the squad a solid core to build off in the later rounds.

5. Awesomeness

Keepers: AP (1st) Deandre Hopkins (3rd)

Draft pick spot: 10 of 12

Possible four: AP, Hopkins, Aaron Rodgers, Arian Foster

Awesomeness wound up finishing 3rd last season and himself entering the 2016 season comfortably with two top tier players in AP and Hopkins. Adrian Peterson may be advanced in age, but he has hardly slowed down in his production. Still a true workhorse RB1, AP is a good, not great value at the 10th overall pick. Where Awesomeness really did well is keeping Hopkins for a 3rd rounder. A top 5 overall talent, Hopkins has the potential to end up the years best WR. Getting him in the 3rd is exceptional.

With two players at the key positions locked down, the Awesome one has the ability to go against the grain if he so chooses and solidify top talent at other positions. Nabbing Rodgers in the 2nd round (or Wilson) along with an upside but risky RB like Foster later in the 4th would give Awesomeness a strong start to building a very formidable roster.

4. Grabbers United

Keepers: Cam Newton (7th) Brandon Marshall (4th)

Draft pick spot: 9 of 12

Possible four: Cam Newton, Brandon Marshall, Jamaal Charles, Carlos Hyde

We must give it up to Grabbers. He's done a masterful job the last few years being calculating in what he does. The proof is in the keepers. The projected number 1 QB for a 7th round pick is exceptional value. Marshall is also a top 15 player that merely costs a 4th round pick. Well done. With these two players and 3 picks available before having to sit out in the early rounds, Grabbers has the makings of a championship contender. 

With a first round pick still open, Grabbers can go in many directions, but the keeper selections say he'll go RB. Jamaal Charles carries some risk, but there is much reward in getting him that late. Carlos Hyde can also be nabbed in the 2nd round to form a strong RB core and compliment the two keepers nicely.

3. Atomic Bomba

Keepers: Devonta Freeman (6th) Jordy Nelson (8th)

Draft pick spot: 8 of 12

Possible Four: Dez Bryant, Jordy Nelson, Devonta Freeman, Doug Baldiwin

With two top 20 players kept in the 6th and 8th rounds, the Bomba enters the 2016 season with an exceptional start. Freeman finished last season as the RB1 overall, and while the numbers may drop off in the upcoming year, there is little doubt that he should out play his 6th round tag barring health. With his pass catching ability, Freeman offers a safe bet for a high floor, giving the Bomba plenty of room to be risky.

Nelson is a question mark coming off an injury plagued 2015 season. However, should he return to his 2014 form where he caught over 90 balls and scored 13 tds, the 8th round value may be the best in the league.

With 5 early round picks, the Atomic one can elect to go WR/RB or any position of his choosing. A WR like Dez wouldn't be bad at all, and electing to grab an upside WR1 like Baldwin in the 2nd would give the squad a great core of talent and value.

2. Hartan

Keepers: Todd Gurley (3rd), Odell Beckham (4th)

Draft pick spot: 12 of 12

Possible Four: Gurley, Charles, Beckham Jr, Luck

Sometimes life is not fair. I bring you the Hartan. Last years champs enter the 2016 season with two top 5 players AND their two first picks still intact. Wow. Taking a huge risk in drafting Gurley last season as their number 2 RB despite the injury concern, Hartan has the Rams stud at a 3rd round value this year. That is an amazing pull. Couple that with the second season of keeping Odell Beckham with a 4th round price tag, and this team is the preseason prohibitive favorite to repeat as champion. 

With Gurley and ODBJ locked down, Hartan can grab the best player available at any position. If draft history is any guide, he will like to grab a top tier Rb along with a top QB. Jamaal Charles and Gurley would make a fine tandem, and Andrew Luck would give the team a top scoring QB that should finish the year in the top 6. Things are looking bright for the "tahn."

1. HBK Shant Michaels

Keepers: David Johnson (5th) Matt Jones (8th)

Draft pick spot: 6 of 12

Possible Four: David Johnson, Matt Jones, Aj Green, Eddie Lacy

Heading into Monday's draft, no team has a better set up than HBK when it comes to keepers. David Johnson is the consensus #1 RB and at a 5th round price tag, the best player to value bargain in the league. Matt Jones carries much upside going into the 2016 season and despite a slight nick-up in his first preseason action on Friday, he has the potential of RB1. Many questioned the Jones keeper selection, and HBK may have been a victim of his own loyalty to the Redskin Rb being that he kept him all last year for this purpose. Lamar Miller could have been had for a 3rd round pick and may have been the better choice. None-the-less, Jones should out perform his 8th round value barring health

Drafting from the 6th spot in the draft order gives HBK the chance to nab a few high quality players. Aj Green would give the team the WR1 they need to go along with DJ, and should Lacy be there in the second, we think that HBK will cover his butt at the 2nd RB position and take him. If that happens, that would be a great start for the famed Michaels.