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We asked RotoBaller Fantasy Football experts Evan Okulanis and Matt Hartman to give their analysis on the best keepers and dynasty player for 2014 Fantasy Football. Their keeper picks and analysis for 2014 are presented below.
We chose to exclude all new rookies from this particular article, and focus instead on players drafted in fantasy leagues in 2013 who would make good keepers in 2014, so a guy like Sammy Watkins isn't going to be listed here.
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Top 2014 Fantasy Football Running Back Keepers
Early Rounds
Matt Forte, CHI - After being a late first round pick for a few years, Matt Forte’s ADP fell to 16 in 2013 due to concerns that he wasn’t catching as many passes, his age and the new Chicago offense. However, the new offense ended up doing wonders for Forte’s value, as he went on to have his best season by a wide margin. Marc Trestman’s offense is dynamic and explosive, and the Bears' offensive weapons on the outside limit defenses to the amount of players they can use in run defense. While Forte is not as great of a keeper as LeSean McCoy or Jamaal Charles, he is one of the safest, and is almost a sure bet to finish as a top 10 running back, if not top 5. Forte’s game relies less on speed and toughness, and more on vision and the system, so we can expect Forte to put up RB1 numbers for at least 2 more years. - Evan Okulanis
LeSean McCoy, PHI - Under Chip Kelly's belt last season McCoy flourished with a solid season racking up a career high 1,607 yards rushing. Since this is only the first season under Kelly's offense McCoy will only get better with more experience. McCoy is currently 25 and has at least another 4 or 5 seasons of solid football ahead of him with 2-3 elite years.
If you are looking for a RB to build a dynasty team around McCoy is a great option, probably the best. I prefer McCoy over Jamaal Charles for two reasons 1. Age 2. Injury history...Charles has a lot and McCoy has less. - Matt Hartman
Mid-Rounds
Giovani Bernard, CIN - Bernard had what was probably the best run of the season against the Miami Dolphins, running left, right, up, down, underground and anywhere else you can think of en-route to a 35 yard touchdown. If you watched that run, then you have 35 reasons why to keep Bernard next year. Many analysts regarded him as the top running back prospect in the draft, and he proved he has the talent to be an elite back in this league.
Last year, he was stuck behind BenJarvus Green-Ellis for most of the season, and Bernard himself battled consistency issues throughout the year. However, the talent is there, and the new coaching staff in Cincinnati, including Hue Jackson, will utilize Gio’s talent correctly. With the Bengals bringing in Jeremy Hill, they will most likely cut BJGE and use Hill as the primary red zone back. Even if he doesn't get a lot of red zone looks, Bernard will greatly exceed his 65 ADP of last year. He has high end RB1 potential for the next 5 years. - Evan Okulanis
Later Rounds
Zac Stacy, STL - Stacy was, on average, the 56th running back taken off the board in the 2013 season, taken behind the likes of Jonathan Dwyer, Vick Ballard, and Jacquizz Rodgers. Considering he finished 17th in ESPN’s rankings while not even playing the full season, it is justifiable to keep Stacy no matter what.
With the return of Sam Bradford and Jake Long, the progression of the Rams wide receiver corps, and the infusion of talent on the offensive line, Stacy is a prime breakout candidate as a tough between the tackles runner. On more than one occasion last year he completely destroyed solid defenses in Seattle and New Orleans. Stacy is a good bet to finish in the top 10 in the final running back rankings, and could become a model for consistency in the coming years. - Evan Okulanis
Zac Stacy, STL - Last season the Rams started the season saying that Daryl Richardson was going to be their starting RB. Well after 4 games that decision started to be questioned greatly and head coach Jeff Fisher started to give his other RB options a chance. When Zach Stacey got the call he took it and ran with it! Last season Zach Stacy's ADP was 214 (which is 17th rd for 12 team league). This is a steal for a RB who will most definitely cross the 1,000 rushing mark next season if he stay healthy. I highly recommend you keep Stacey and lose your bench draft pick. - Matt Hartman
Other Notable Keepers: LeSean McCoy - Round 1, Shane Vereen - Round 8, LeVeon Bell - Round 9
Editor’s Note: If you’re looking for a new, awesome, very customizable and free option for year-round commissioner & dynasty leagues, play free fantasy football with our friends at Fleaflicker.
Top 2014 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Keepers
Early Rounds
Calvin Johnson, DET - This goes without saying but the number 1 WR with a bullet is Calvin Johnson. Let's explain his last 3 seasons to come to my recommendation: 1. Over the last 3 seasons his average is 100 catches, 11 TDs, & 1,712 yards. 2. He's still in his prime, with 8 pro seasons under his belt. The only concern with him is the fact that last season he started to face injury woes.
Over time his body will wear down but it won't be happening any time soon. 3. In Detroit's offense, for the past 3 seasons, they've thrown the ball on average of 674 times in a season. If you are looking for a WR with target opportunities this is the team and player to have on your team. My only concern (not with Johnson) is that Detroit has a new head coach so that mgith change their offensive game plan a bit. - Matt Hartman
AJ Green, CIN - AJ Green is a 'baby' mega-tron who is only held back by inconsistent QB play. In the 3 seasons Green's played in the NFL he's got better each season in total yards with 1,057, 1,350, and 1,426. If he continues on this pace he'll be very close to Calvin Johnson's 1,712 3-year average. The plus side to Green is he is only 25 vs Johnson's 28. If you are looking for a solid WR contributor on your dynasty for years Green is a great choice. Keeping him even with a 1st or 2nd round pick is solid decision. - Matt Hartman
Randall Cobb, GB - Many people may overlook Cobb because of his brutal leg injury last year, but if you are starting a dynasty this year, or can't decide who to keep between Cobb and another receiver, I'm probably going to recommend Cobb. Before his injury, he was emerging as a truly dynamic, game breaking receiver in possibly the most explosive offense in the NFL. Cobb became Aaron Rodgers go to receiver early in his career, and when Cobb and Rodgers saw the field at the same time after they both were healthy, the connection was still there. Cobb could emerge as a 100 catch receiver with touchdown potential in a wide open offense. With James Jones leaving via free agency, those red zone looks will be his and Nelson's for the taking. - Evan Okulanis
Mid-Rounds
(Editors Note: The analysis of Josh Gordon was written pre-substance abuse violation, but we wanted to leave it in here to give you a feel for how much our experts love Gordon (when he's on the field).
Josh Gordon, CLE - The most obvious pick of the bunch, Josh Gordon proved to the most gifted and truly dominant receiver in the NFL outside of Calvin Johnson. After missing the first 2 games due to a suspension, he still managed to lead the league in receiving. He was on average the 38th receiver drafted, a non-starter in most leagues, however he proved to be an asset for anyone who owned him. The QB situation is bleak in Cleveland, and there is no telling what could happen come draft time, but Gordon will almost certainly be the #1 option for any quarterback, which is a good enough reason to keep him for such great value. He is not completely polished, as he still has problems with drops and off the field issues, but we will be hearing this name for a long time to come. - Evan Okulanis
Josh Gordon, CLE - Down the stretch this past season you would be hard pressed to say there was a hotter player than Josh Gordon. Regardless of who was the QB in Cleveland, Gordon continued to dominate on the field. With just two seasons under his belt Gordon has already has shown on-field maturity at the age of 22.
Last season Gordon had 1,646 yards and 87 catches...with 3 or 4 different quarterbacks during the season! Imagine if he had the same QB throughout the season and could build chemistry with him. The upside and possibilities are tremendous with Gordon. - Matt Hartman
Later Rounds
Keenan Allen, SD - If you are looking for a fantastic keeper player look no further than Keenan Allen. Last season he had a coming out party and had over 1,000 yards receiving and 8 TDs. Last season his ADP was 297 (which is rd 25 for a 12 team league)...which is basically the kicker spot. I expect that Allen will continue to get better next year and his value will continue to skyrocket. My advice would be to lose the late draft pick and keep Allen who would be worth at least a draft spot in the first 5 rounds. - Matt Hartman
Julian Edelman, WR - I've said this before and I'll say it again: Julian Edelman is the new Wes Welker in New England. Last season Edelman had an ADP of 234 (which is the middle of the 19th rd) and rewarded those who drafted him. He finished the season with over 1,000 yards and 6 TDs. If you are playing in a dynasty auction league that awards PPR points Edelman is the perfect player to keep. I expect next season he'll repeat what he did this season (if he stays healthy) and will be well worth the loss of the 19th rd draft pick. - Matt Hartman
Alshon Jeffery, CHI - Last season Alshon Jeffery exploded with over 1,400 receiving yards and 7 TDs which lead him to a pro-bowl season. Throughout college Jeffery was known to have the talent but it did not translate to results. The good news is Marc Trestman found the magic potion to take Jeffery's talent to its full potential.
Jeffery's ADP last season was 119 (which is the 10th rd). Currently Jeffery is ranked in the top 10 WR fantasy draft boards for 2014. So if you were one of those teams who used a late draft spot for Jeffery...lose it and keep Jeffery on your team. - Matt Hartman
Michael Floyd, ARI - I recently wrote an article regarding breakout players on Michael Floyd. He was one of the best receivers in the country at Notre Dame, and proved to be just as deadly in the NFL. Vertically, almost no one could stop him last year, as he ran through and jumped over the competition more and more as the season progressed, and Palmer began to show just as much if not more trust in him than a hobbled Larry Fitzgerald. It's exciting to think that Floyd will continue to grow, as he's in just his third season. He was stopped within the 5 yard line on multiple catches last year, so expect his TD number to greatly increase from 5, possibly all the way to 10. The value here is tremendous, as he was the 45th wide receiver selected in most fantasy leagues. He could finish in the top 15 this year if Palmer stays healthy. - Evan Okulanis
Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN - Patterson is a size speed freak that needs a lot of polish before becoming an elite receiver in the NFL. Many people are going to overdraft him based on his potential, and he may not produce at that draft level. However, in a dynasty league, he is one of the best sleepers you can take in the early/middle rounds, and he is a tremendous keeper if you grabbed him as the 49th receiver in last years draft (his average ADP). I don't expect a top 10, or even top 20 season from Patterson given that the Minnesota offense is a work in progress.
He remains the #3 receiving option in a mediocre offense, but as he grows, he will almost definitely emerge as one of the best receivers in the league. Him and Teddy Bridgewater have a chance to help each other develop and create a nice tandem over the next few years. - Evan Okulanis
Other Notable Keepers: Jordy Nelson - Round 4, Antonio Brown - Round 7, Justin Blackmon - Round 14, Kendall Wright - Round 17
Editor’s Note: If you’re looking for a new, awesome, very customizable and free option for year-round commissioner & dynasty leagues, play free fantasy football with our friends at Fleaflicker.
Top 2014 Fantasy Football Quarterback Keepers
Early Rounds
Andrew Luck, IND - Luck seems like an obvious choice, but I just want it to be known here here that you can't understate the value that he can be had for in the draft. Currently, he is ranked #6 in quarterback rankings on ESPN, a fair assessment. He ranks behind Manning, Brees, Rodgers, Newton, and Stafford. With that being said, he finished as the #4 scoring quarterback last year, in just his second season!
With new toys at his disposal in Hakeem Nicks and Donte Moncreif, along with returning players in Reggie Wayne and Dwayne Allen, the Colts offense looks like it's going to be just as, if not more explosive than it has been in the last 5 years. Pep Hamilton has promised to focus more on a vertical passing attack this year, which should only bring more value to Luck, while his running ability will certainly help pad his stats even more. It's not outrageous to think that the fantasy season will end with him among the likes of Manning, Rodgers and Brees. - Evan Okulanis
Mid-Rounds
Russell Wilson, SEA - Wilson makes for one of the safest selections in fantasy football. He's an instinctual quarterback with legs, a drive to win, and an above average arm and he finished 8th in quarterback rankings last year. Seattle has built an impressive group of talent around Wilson, and we could be looking at his coming out party as an elite quarterback this year. His primary knock in the first two years is that he has never truly put a game on his shoulders, but in reality he has never had the chance.
His defense has been so tremendous and the running game with Marshawn Lynch has been so good that there hasn't been a need to throw as much. We still expect the Seahawks to not throw that much, but with an aging Marshawn Lynch missing some time this year, we don't expect them to lean as heavily on Lynch, and Christine Michael will most likely be slowly thrown into the offense as they don't have a pressing need to get him out there just yet. Wilson will not put up truly elite numbers, but with a healthy (for now) Percy Harvin, Paul Richardson, Doug Baldwin, and slowly emerging Luke Willson, expect the Seahawks to give Wilson more chances to throw. Don't forget those running stats also! - Evan Okulanis
Later Rounds
Nick Foles, PHI - The most surprising fantasy asset of the year, along with the likes of some young wide receivers, was Nick Foles. After Vick was benched in due to his hamstring injury, Foles came on strong to deliver some truly dominant fantasy, and real life, performances. Considering he was on average the 37th drafted quarterback, there’s a lot to love for him. Foles will almost certainly be a top 10 quarterback in Chip Kelly’s speedy offense. Even if he struggles more than last year, his volume will more than make up for anything lost. With the return of Jeremy Maclin and the rise of Zach Ertz, look for more to be put on the weight of Foles shoulders this coming year. As long as Chip Kelly is the coach, keep Foles in your starting lineup. - Evan Okulanis
Top 2014 Fantasy Football Tight End Keepers
Early Rounds
Jimmy Graham, NO - Since I don't want to talk about wide receiver options only I'm going to mix it up and pick Jimmy Graham as my last choice. Jimmy is currently 27 which limits him slightly. However due to his position, Graham is the top TE, and by a wide margin from a Dynasty point of view. Graham has not had a colorful injury history and I don't even need to mention all his stats to state his awesomeness...but I will share one important value of Graham...TDs! Last year he had 16 touchdowns which is a career high...so far. This is a tremendous value for his position...his statistics are so good he's arguing (contract wise) that he's a WR. - Matt Hartman
Later Rounds
Jordan Cameron, CLE - What a breakout year for Cameron. Many experts predicted he would become a solid receiving tight end due to his raw but athletic ability, but not many people predicted that he would be one of the biggest mismatches in the NFL. Under Norv Turner, Cameron quickly evolved into one of the most feared tight ends in the league, becoming the top option in the red zone for the carousel of quarterbacks in Cleveland.
With Brian Hoyer and Johnny Football under center, and without Josh Gordon, Cameron becomes the only true dangerous weapon on the outside this year. Even if he gets double covered on a lot of plays, the volume will be there for Cameron. Not having Norv Turner hurts, but you should still expect a top 10 season, if not top 5, for Cameron, one of the best dynasty tight ends you can own. - Evan Okulanis
Zach Ertz, PHI - Ertz didn't make much of an impact his rookie season. He played under 50% of snaps due to having Brent Celek being the primary tight end. Celek will become more of traditional blocker next year, and we expect the same as Kelly devotes most of his offense to the run game. When Ertz did get playing time, he showed that he has what it takes to be a difference making tight end in the NFL. He has above average speed and great route running ability, helping him get open in any part of the field, including vertically. He only had one huge game as a rookie against the Cardinals, the worst tight end covering team in the league, but it still shows Kelly's trust in Ertz as he designed an entire gameplan around the dynamic tight end. The Philadelphia offense will be a difficult one to follow, as the likes of Maclin, Matthews, and the occasional Cooper will probably be hauling in a lot of catches, but expect Ertz to be close to the top of the team when the season ends as he sees more looks in the slot as well as the red zone. - Evan Okulanis
Other Notable Keepers: Julius Thomas - Undrafted, Ladarius Green - Undrafted
