How do you value draft picks in a keeper league? (1 Viewer)

[cpd90]

In most keeper formats, the draft picks are not as important as the keepers. This much is obvious. However, in order to maintain a top-notch team, it really helps to draft a lot in the upper half of your draft and deal off unnecessary depth for either roster upgrades or for more picks the following year.

So how do you value draft picks in a keeper league?

Answers will vary based on how many keepers your league has. My money league has 5 keepers each year so that takes the top 50 players off the board, give or take, each year. Consequently, anything beyond a 2nd rounder has little value since most (if not all) solid unkept players, high-upside young guys, and rookies are gone by then.

If you have extra depth that you're unlikely to use, but could start for other teams, do you hold on to that depth to safeguard for injury? Or do you deal it off to put yourself in a better position for the future?

 

[jbird]

14 team 4 player keeper league. The past few years I've been drafting at the end of the first round. Offseason I will not trade a player for anything less than a third round pick and most likely not lower than a second round pick. A quality player going back into the pool when I'm picking 10-14 is worth more than an extra 3rd or 4th round pick.

Inseason I don't trade so much. However, if there was a missing piece to my team out there and I felt that it made me a true championship contender then I wouldn't hesitate to give up a first rounder, which should be a late pick. If you are a contender with more than 5 potential keepers then you should be able to trade in the offseason for a somewhat equivalent pick.