eDraft will focus a lot more on keeper/dynasty leagues once the 2012 NFL seasons comes to a conclusion. We will get into positional rankings, utilize IDP ratings and even bring 2013 NFL draft prospects into the conversation.
For now, we thought it made sense to take a look at the top 10 keeper league players of the current season. Of course you are not going to see individuals like Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne or even Tom Brady on this list. Instead, the primary focus is going to be on youngsters that you can be guaranteed will help you out through the next five seasons or so. While I love those three players, they don't have that much shelf life left in the tank.
These 10 players do.........
1. Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Washington Redskins
RGIII, who was the No. 1 overall fantasy player for a vast majority of the season, has struggled a tad due to injuries recently. He now ranks fifth in total fantasy points as a rookie. Regardless of what RGIII does in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys, he is already a top flight fantasy quarterback option.
The rookie has tallied at least 17 points in 10 of his 14 games thus far this season. He adds that extra dimension in the running game (752 yards) as well. Equally as important, RGIII has turned the ball over just seven times in 489 touches this season. That's huge moving forward.
2. Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft is going to have to cut down on his turnovers in order to be considered an elite QB1 option in 2013. He has turned the ball over 23 times in 656 touches (one per 28.5) thus far as a rookie. Compare that to RGIII (69.9), Russell Wilson (35.2) and Colin Kaepernick (50.0) and you have a minor issue.
That being said, Luck now holds the rookie record for most passing yards in a season and is averaging over 17 fantasy points per outing. You can expect the young quarterback to cut down on his turnovers moving forward, which will make him one of the most targeted QB1 options in dynast leagues following the season.
3. Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions
Why have a wide receiver this high? After all, don't they come a dime a dozen when it comes to fantasy football. This is all true unless said wide receiver is Megatron, who is just stupid. By stupid, I mean stupid good, not "stupid is as stupid does." Okay, now that I have filled your mind with utter stupidity for a bit too long, let's focus on why he belongs No. 3 on this list.
Johnson has put up 313 receptions for 3,573 yards and 21 touchdowns in his last 31 regular season football games. To put that into perspective and make all of you who don't have calculator's at the ready, that is an average of 10 receptions for 115 yards per outing. In fantasy terms, 17 fantasy points per game.
No reason for me to continue this nonsense any further: Johnson is a top three dynasty leage player RIGHT NOW.
4. Adrian Peterson, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings
Some would say that at the age of 27 (will be 28 when 2013 season rolls around) Peterson is too old to be this high. Well, those unfortunate soles have been hiding under a cave this season waiting for the Mayan Apocalypse than never came or was delayed a great deal. What Peterson has done this season is nothing short of ridiculous.
Just think about the following stat for a second.
With 275 fantasy points through 15 games, Peterson is ahead of starting quarterbacks such as: Tony Romo, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson in fantasy points, all of whom are decent QB1 options this season. That just isn't supposed to happen.
Emmitt Smith, who was a couple inches shorter but weighed the same as Peterson during his playing days, didn't really start slowing down until he touched the ball a total of about 3,500 times. As of right now, Peterson has less than 1,900 touches under his belt. You can definitely expect another five or six strong years from the future Hall of Fame running back.
5. Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers
Surprisingly enough, Rodgers just turned 29 years of age. If you go by how long some of the best quarterbacks in the modern history of the league have performed at All-Pro levels, he has another decade left in that cannon of a right arm. Despite being so young, Rodgers has already tallied over 21,000 passing yards and 167 yards. In addition, the reigning NFL MVP is just starting to hit his prime.
Rodgers ranks third among quarterbacks in fantasy points and has tallied 27 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions in the Packers stretch of nine wins in 10 games. In total, Rodgers has put up a minimum of 20 fantasy points eight times this season. There is absolutely no reason to expect that he won't keep this performance up in the future.
6. Doug Martin, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The fact that Martin missed the Pro Bowl this season speaks volumes about just how much of a sham the selection process is. He ranks third among running backs in fantasy points and has gained nearly 1,800 yards in 15 games as a rookie this season. With the type of explosiveness and field vision that Martin possesses, there is no reason to believe his initial NFL season was just a fluke. Couple that with the fact that both Davin Joseph and Carl Nicks, two of the best interior lineman in the league, will be at full health next season and you have to believe Martin will be on top of his game once again.
The Boise State product is only 23 and has all the indicators for success moving forward. He has a solid offensive line, skill position players to help in the passing game and an offensive scheme that promises to feature his talents. Martin will be a top tier RB1 option for the next seven to eight seasons. Book on that!
7. Trent Richardson, Running Back, Cleveland Browns
Believe it or not, but Richardson's performance has been overshadowed by rookie quarterbacks as well as ##Doug Martin. He has, however, been a dominating running back for Cleveland this season. The Alabama product has over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns for a Browns offense that has been one dimensional this season.
What makes Richardson such an intriguing dynasty option is the fact that he appears to be a solid receiving running back. The rookie has tallied 51 receptions in 15 games this season.
8. Russell Wilson, Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks
What Wilson has done this season is nothing short of extraordinary. If I would have told you at the start of the season that he was going to be in an article like this in late-December I am pretty sure you would have spit up laughing at your computer monitor. In fact, it would have made absolutely no sense.
Now through 15 games, Wilson has been one of the most impressive overall quarterbacks in the NFL. Despite not finishing with a 300-yard passing game, the rookie quarterback is 12th in fantasy points among quarterbacks and has an itch for the end zone. He has tallied 20 overall touchdowns in his last eight games and is averaging over 20 fantasy points per outing during that span.
With a young offensive line, solid running game and great coaching staff, it is reasonable to expect that Wilson will improve upon his rookie season moving forward. That makes him a legit QB1 option in dynasty leagues.
9. Colin Kaepernick, Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
Kaeperick took over for Alex Smith as San Francisco's starting quarterback in Week 11 and hasn't looked back. Despite a couple rough outings, he has been as electric as any young quarterback in the National Football League since taking the reins with the 49ers. He is averaging 20 fantasy points in his first six NFL starts and has the No. 1 overall QBR for a quarterback making his initial six starts in the league since at least 2006.
Equally as important, Kaepernick has limited his turnovers and makes defenses pays on the ground. He is averaging just one turnover per 50 touches and has gained 300 rushing yards in six starts.
If you average his performance in these six games over the course of an entire season, Kaepernick would tally over 4,500 total yards (800 rushing) and 30 touchdowns. If those aren't QB1 numbers, I have no idea what are.
10. Matt Ryan, Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons
The one thing that worries me a bit about Ryan is the bad games that he seems to have earmarked on a yearly basis. Those two bad games came against such lackluster opponents as the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals this season. If you are going to be relying on a true QB1 option atop dynasty drafts you need him to be a consistent performer weekly.
That being said, Ryan still produces like a solid fantasy option, is still only 27, and has gotten better each and every season he has been in the NFL. The former top 10 pick from Boston College is going to compile over 4,700 yards and at least 31 touchdowns this season. Those are solid dynasty numbers right there. It also doesn't hurt that he will have Roddy White and Julio Jones to throw the ball to for the foreseeable future.
Just Missed the List
Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys, A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals, Cam Newton, Quarterback, Carolina Panthers, Rob Gronkowski, Tight End, New England Patriots, C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Buffalo Bills, Ray Rice, Running Back, Baltimore Ravens, LeSean McCoy, Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles