13 years, gents.
If the league were a person, it would be old enough to be a student in Mr. Shimer’s classroom.
We’re roughly 60 days out from the time I’m writing this, as of right now the league waters are calm. We don’t have any men overboard. We don’t have storms on the horizon. We’ve just got three Carey’s. Two Wilson’s. And one…
As for the article at hand, we’re going to do a little recap of 2022, my V2 of keeper predictions, as well as outline some potential investment keepers and buy it now keepers. “Investment” keepers are your cheap-price, great-talent types. And your “Buy It Nows” are great players at a higher, but still discounted keeper price.
A strategy I deployed last year with SPECTACULAR results.
Now let’s get the most consistent man in the DVFFL, our three-peat Sacko winner…
----
#14 Cody (5-9) $203
2022 In A Nutshell: From the 2022 Team Preview article:
“[Discussing rules put in place because of Cody] Perhaps a third rule is needed, just to help Cody out: Any three-time Sacko winner gets their team auto-drafted for them.
Honestly, it might make a better team.”
Cody. Cody. Cody. If you say his name three times in the mirror, Nick Chubb’s draft price goes up another $5. I found it quite amusing that last year was a team full of Cody’s guys: Four or five Steelers, an idiotic WR corps, Russell Wilson, a putrid rotation of Defenses, Nick Chubb…and through all that perceived enjoyment, it still brought Cody great pain.
Let’s see who could do that again this year…
Roster / 2023 Keeper Price
QB:
R. Wilson $28
K. Pickett $2
RB:
N. Harris $130
N. Chubb $86
J. Warren $2
WR:
A. Thielen $34
H. Renfrow $16
C. Samuel $10 (FA)
G. Dortch $10 (FA)
R. Shaheed $10 (FA)
J. Meyers $6
R. Gage $6
TE:
P. Freiermuth $4
D/ST:
Cardinals D/ST $10
Steelers D/ST $2
K:
M. Gay $4
Investment options:
K. Pickett $2
J. Meyers $6
P. Freiermuth $4
Buy It Now options:
J. Meyers $6
P. Freiermuth $4
I don’t know about you all, but Jimmy G and/or Kenny Pickett being responsible for my fantasy keeper success makes me feel as confident as a toilet paper parachute. For the Meyers case, you could argue that the Raiders suck so bad, they trade Adams midseason??? Idk. Okay, well for the Freiermuth case, it could be that he finally finishes in the top 10 in scoring? That’s worth $4 bucks right? Right?
Your TE13 on the year:
P. Freiermuth $4
#13 Zach (5-9) $250
2022 In A Nutshell: Well Old Chap, it was bound to happen one day. After 11 straight seasons of the playoffs, I found rock bottom. In hindsight, it was a pretty talented team. Just a decade of injuries found their way to me. From Pookie’s ACL, to Breece’s ACL, to Tua’s multiple concussion game(s), to Jerry Juedy, to the mental effects of having to rely on Kirk Concuzzins on a week-to-week basis – life sucked. To top it all off, I lost to Cody in Week 1 by 2 tenths of a point. .2!!!! That was an omen.
Roster / 2023 Keeper Price
QB:
J. Fields $16
RB:
T. Etienne* $20
S. Perine $10 (FA)
R. Freeman $10 (FA)
K. Gainwell $10
T. Allgeier $6
E. Benjamin $6
J. McKinnon $4
R. Jones $2
WR:
D. Johnson $28
J. Jeudy $24
C. Olave $20
R. Bateman $16
G. Wilson $4
TE:
D. Schultz $20
D/ST:
Eagles D/ST $10 (FA)
K
C. Dicker $10 (FA)
Investment options:
T. Allegier $6
R. Jones $2
G. Wilson $4
Buy It Now options:
J. Fields $16
T. Etienne $20
C. Olave $20
While other teams have players who have a keeper price way north of $100 dollars – the most expensive keeper on my team is no-TDs, Diontae Johnson for $28. This is a budget friendly team construction. The Buy It Now options are really intriguing players. And Fields for $16 could prove to be a steal after what he showed us all last year. However, seeing the success of Christian and Jadon for their locked-in, cheap WR investments. The answer here is quite obvious:
Either a fantasy WR1 or just a WR1 on the Jets :( :
G. Wilson $4
#12 Brian (4-10) $250
2022 In A Nutshell: Last year, 868 players were picked up by the DVFFL in free agency. 15% of that number was just Brian. This man was searching for answers and finding Ls. He was tied for the 4th longest winning streak in the league last year, but had to wait 6 weeks from his 3rd win to get his 4th. It goes without saying, the QB play was the reason this was so god awful. Brian only got 18 touchdowns on the ENTIRE season from his QB. Just 1 more than Davis Mills got by himself on the lowly Texans.
Player / 2023 Keeper Price
QB:
A. Rodgers $12
RB:
K. Hunt $38
J. Cook $14
I. Pacheco $12
Z. White $12
G. Edwards $10
WR:
T. McLaurin $40
K. Toney $14
T. Marshall $10 (FA)
G. Davis* $8
C. Watson $4
Jame. Williams $2
TE:
N. Gray $10 (FA)
G. Dulcich $10 (FA)
D/ST:
Chargers D/ST $4
K
M. Prater $4
Investment options:
J. Cook $14
I. Pacheco $12
G. Edwards $10
G. Davis* $8
C. Watson $4
Jame. Williams $2
Buy It Now options:
K. Toney $14
Though there are some juicy prices here, I think Brian has to lower expectations across the board. Instead of telling yourself you’re drafting a potential RB2 or WR2. I think it’s best looked at like you’re getting a cheap Flex. If that’s the state-of-mind, then Pacheco is very interesting. Watson seems like the highest chance of success after his little run, but need we forget Week 15-17 where he was playing more and turned into a Green and Yellow gord.
Then there’s Toney… There’s always Toney.
Week winning weeks left on the bench:
Watson $4
#11 Garrett (2-12) $250
2022 In A Nutshell: You know we all enjoyed the 2nd straight year of Gare not making the playoffs. What we all did NOT enjoy was the social hiatus that has come with it. Even Ghost Ships are spotted more than Gare.
Either way, Gare’s season sucked. He too has done an about-face and has gotten more money than he’s ever had before. He did the inverse Cody draft strat, where his RBs sucked but WR good. And without the Brian, hype-fueled trade that netted him Jamaal Wiliiams, I think it would be fair to say Gare could have finished worse than the 2nd worst record of all time. And that’s saying something.
Player / 2022 Keeper Price:
QB:
G. Smith $10 (FA)
RB:
L. Fournette $96
B. Hall $52
C. Akers* $20
Jam. Williams $8
WR:
DJ. Moore $48
M. Williams* $36
C. Claypool $8
R. Doubs $4
M. Hardman $2
D. Peoples-Jones $2
J. Dotson $2
W. Robinson $2
TE:
C. Kmet $4
I. Likely $2
D/ST:
Ravens D/ST $4
K
H. Butker $4
Investment options:
R. Doubs $4
J. Dotson $2
Jam. Williams $8
I. Likely $2
Buy It Now options:
C. Akers* $20
Eww. What’s fluky, cheap and gross all over? These selections. Do you want:
A) The unknown option on the Love lead Packers.
B) The unknown option on the [Googles starting QB of Commanders] Sam Howell?? lead Commies?
C) The hoping for a suspension on a backsliding Saints team?
D) A TE that is two years away from being two years away?
E) C.Akers?
A horcrux of negative results:
Jam. Williams $8
#10 Brandon (7-7) $185
2022 In A Nutshell: HEY! Would you look at that! This is the first time since 2020 that Brandon hasn’t finished 13th! Arrow. UP. Season wise, it was… depressing. Brandon started the season 6-1. But once the auto-draft wore off, from Week 8 on he finished… wait for it…1-6. It’s kinda beautiful. But like Cody being hooked on Chubbs. Brandon can’t wait to fire up another SaSquad Barkley year.
Player / 2023 Keeper Price:
QB:
J. Herbert $30
RB:
S. Barkley $104
R. Mostert $10
Z. Knight $10 (FA)
T. Johnson $10 (FA)
J. Wilson $4
WR:
C. Kupp $108
J. Smith-Schuster $26
B. Cooks* $24
T. Lockett $12
M. Hollins $10 (FA)
P. Campbell $10 (FA)
D. Slayton $10 (FA)
TE:
T. Hockenson $22
M. Gesicki $6
D/ST:
Rams D/ST $2
K:
E. McPherson $2
Investment options:
The Miami backfield?
Buy It Now options:
T. Lockett $12
T. Hockenson $22
I feel like it’s safe to say Cooks is not going to be the keeper this year. It’s going to be someone even more uninspiring. Similar to Brian, if Brandon can lower his expectations on what his keeper can do, then maybe grabbing J. Wilson or Mostert as a keeper isn’t the worst idea. OR Brandon just gets Hock. Who should be better next year? The price might be at the top of the chart, but TE hell is hell.
On IR by Week 3:
Mostert $10
#9 Jesse (5-9) $204
2022 In A Nutshell: Like the Rams last year, Jesse’s team of established “names'' just ran its course. Yes there were still star moments, yes Jesse was 4th in scoring with a record tied with Cody and I. It just wasn’t going to be the title defense Jesse wanted. Just like the Rams.
Player / 2023 Keeper Price:
QB:
J. Allen* $16
D. Jones $10 (FA)
RB:
D. Cook $122
K. Herbert $20
J. Robinson $10
A. Mattison $8
R. White $4
WR:
C. Sutton $60
J. Waddle $34
A. Lazard $24
Z. Jones $2
D. Duverney $2
TE:
M. Andrews $72
J. Johnson $10 (FA)
D/ST:
Seahawks D/ST $10 (FA)
Saints D/ST $2 (FA)
K:
J. Sanders $10 (FA)
Investment options:
A. Mattison $8
R. White $4
Z. Jones $2
Buy It Now options:
J. Allen $16
If someone doesn’t approach Jesse for a trade and if Jesse doesn’t make one, it will be a super bummer. I legitimately think that Jesse could consider not keeping Josh Allen this year. The price isn’t hard to swallow, in fact it’s probably a $20 dollar discount. It’s just that Jesse might have a cheaper, productive, position of need option. Allowing him to operate like Danny Ainge if he wanted to and recoup some cash. Jesse is never one to be under the 200 mark, but for teams that can swallow sending 5-9 bucks Jesse’s way for one of these RBs or Allen? I think Jesse is listening. Either way, I think Jesse plays the longer game here with a potential boom/bust pick.
OFFSEASON HYPE MVP:
R. White $4