Keeper League Rankings

Updated: 1/10/08

Note: Rankings are for the next 2-3+ seasons, and not for 2007. U = player has upside potential to finish higher on list and D = player has the downside to finish lower. We will be producing extensive player writeups on these players in February.

R	QUARTERBACKS	TM	U/D	COMMENTS
1	Peyton Manning	IND		In his prime and has young weapons around him.
2	Tom Brady	NE		The only question is how long does he have Moss and Stallworth?
3	Carson Palmer	CIN		He has a chance to go down as one of the best ever.
4	Drew Brees	NO		Slow start in 2007 a distant memory after final two-thirds of '07.
5	Tony Romo	DAL		Sampling is big enough to be very optimistic on future.
6	Jay Cutler	DEN		Has some issues to clear up but elite talent and nice weapons.
7	Matt Schaub	HOU		Looked very good and w/ Johnson and others there will production.
8	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT		Good NFL player and better than expected for fantasy these days.
9	Matt Hasselbeck	SEA		Looking solid in 2007 so viable keeper for 1-2 more years.
10	Marc Bulger	STL	D	Effects of ugly '07 a concern but signed for long-term and has weapons.
11	Donovan McNabb	PHI	D	Might not be in Philly for much longer but should have some good yrs left.
12	Derek Anderson	CLE	U	Looks very strong and should stick as a starter here or somewhere else.
13	Eli Manning	NYG		Improved this year but still up and down. But a safe choice this low.
14	Vince Young	TEN		Potential still there but needs to improve as a passer now/get help at WR.
15	Brett Favre	GB		Things went very well so should play again in 2008.
16	Jon Kitna	DET	D	No Martz will hurt a lot plus he may be gone by 2009.
17	JaMarcus Russell �	OAK	U	Elite talent so all he has to do is prove he'll do what it takes to excel.
18	Jake Delhomme	CAR	D	Actually looking better with Fox likely back and back as starter in '08.
19	Jason Campbell	WAS		Looks like a nice player but still rough around the edges.
20	Philip Rivers	SD		Future as solid starter is officially up in the air after shaky '07.
21	Matt Leinart	ARI	D	Limited talent so prob. won't be anything special but will get opportunity.
22	David Garrard	JAC		Very decent player and should stick as the starter 2+ more years.
23	Kellen Clemons	NYJ	U	Has the talent to be a difference-maker but didn't show much in '07.
24	Kevin Kolb �	PHI	U	They love him and should be the guy no later than 2009, maybe 2008.
25	Trent Edwards �	BUF	U	Good prospect and will be their guy but not a lot of upside.
26	Brodie Croyle	KC	U	Has good arm but needs work & no lock to be starter long-term.
27	Brady Quinn �	CLE	U	Interesting prospect here if Anderson is gone; will otherwise have to wait.
28	Kurt Warner	ARI		Still playing at a high level but they probably want Leinart in 2008.
29	John Beck �	MIA	U	Future is up in the air with Parcels and shaky play but still good prospect.
30	Daunte Culpepper	OAK	U/D	He can still throw the ball pretty well so could find a new home as starter.
31	Tarvaris Jackson	MIN		Very uneven season and sloppy mechanics could continue to dog him.
32	J.P. Losman	BUF		It's all Edwards now so will need to find a new home.
33	Aaron Rodgers	GB	U	Looked much improved this year which breeds confidence for long-term.
34	Alex Smith	SF		Doesn't look like a legit top-end NFL starter so very limited upside.
35	Jeff Garcia	TB	D	Might have 1-2 decent years left but not much of a keeper prospect.
36	Rex Grossman	CHI	D	Career is off track for sure but still young enough to rebound.
37	Kyle Orton	CHI		Might actually have a chance to start here in 2008 and decent player.
38	Matt Moore	Car	U	Has a long way to go but he can throw the ball and has a chance.
40	Kyle Boller	BAL		Could get another chance to start in 2008 but will never be much.
41	Troy Smith	BAL		Limited size hurts but might have a chance to start here still.
42	Chad Pennington	NYJ	D	Future a little up in the air but could be back and challenge for job in '08.
43	Josh McCown	OAK	D	Future is up in the air as he can't seem to find a good home.
39	Drew Stanton �	DET	U	Interesting prospect if Mike Martz is still here but on IR for 2007.
44	Cleo Lemon	MIA		They like him but they do want Beck to be the guy.
45	Shaun Hill	SF		Played well down the stretch so will have a chance but not a good arm.
46	Byron Leftwich	ATL	D	He hasn't shown he can play most likely because he cannot.
47	Joey Harrington	ATL	D	Probably not the guy here but a decent fit for their system at least.
48	Billy Volek	SD		He could get a chance if Rivers flops next 1-2 years.
49	Brian Griese	CHI		A backup for the rest of his career and nothing more.
50	Steve McNair	BAL		He could be calling it a career - at least he should be.
R	RUNNING BACKS	TM		COMMENTS
1	Adrian Peterson �	MIN		Health is the only issue because he is beyond special.
2	LaDainian Tomlinson	SD