Keep Them if You Can

I know there's plenty to watch yet in the 2005 VUFSA football season, but with many late trades, the keeper situation for next year is already shaping up. Here's a look at the top keeper situations each owner has at their fingertips.

1. Madd Skillz. Not only is he the best team in this year's league and odds-on favorite for the championship, he has also set himself up to rule the next year as well. If Viano is the Billy Beane, Schillinger is Al Davis, throwing his immense power around while tending to blondes a third of his age and keeping his hair frizzy. I suppose the blondes would be illegal at this point. Anyway, with an extra first round draft pick coming his way and some monster keepers, Ed can already be considered the 2006 favorite. LaDainian Tomlinson is the no-brainer to end all no-brainers, with Larry Johnson sure to provide a terrfiying 1-2 RB punch. Chad Johnson is one of the premier receivers in the league, Steve Smith is up there as well and Rudi Johnson would make for the best fifth option anyone could ask for. Jeremy Shockey and Domanick Davis appear, for now, to be regrettable throwaways back into the general pool.

2. Cellar Dwellars. I criticized his lineup last year, mainly because I wasn't sold on LaMont Jordan, but Andrew Stem clearly has the second-most enviable running back situation with the Raiders ground game and Shaun Alexander at his disposal. Plaxico Burress and Larry Fitzgerald have both broken out as star wide receivers, and young enough to have a long term impact, while a guy like Jerry Porter could fill the five slot. Jake Delhomme and Roy Williams are also candidates, both keepers from last year's roster. If he keeps Kevin Jones or Neil Rackers, I will bump him down to No. 6.

3. Sex Panther. Running backs are the absolute name of the game, and Eli Gieryna has a host of them, though my guess is that he would only take three out of the four studs he has: Tiki Barber, Clinton Portis, Steven Jackson and Willis McGahee. Maybe he could keep all four, however, if he determined Torry Holt to be expendable. With Antonio Gates likely sticking around as his fifth, his options are very supple. Like a breast.

4. The Octagon. The most pressing of questions is the running back corps, with only Cadillac Williams likely to be kept for next season. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne will continue to be highly regarded wide receivers, and Wayne could end up being the main man elsewhere given that he is a free agent. Tony Gonzalez is a risky keep after a so-so year but he remains a premier threat. Marc Bulger's late-season acquisition appears to have him as the fifth man, though Mike Anderson's status could be interesting depending on what Denver commits to in the offseason. There's a very good chance he'll keep Brad Miller as well, and possibly Jorge Cantu.

5. Big Fat Guys. Last year, it was Lincoln Souzek who put himself in position to have a solid crew of keepers, and this year it was Baron Brendel, who most clearly pulled the feat when he acquired Carson Palmer for running back Brian Westbrook, who he later re-acquired at the expense of a first round pick. While that decision will hurt his ability to expand in talent next year, at least initially, he also possesses a fine first or second running back in Deuce McAllister, and will need to choose two out of a pool including Thomas Jones, Ahman Green and Chris Chambers. Chambers almost certainly has the inside track to be one of those two.

6. Fred Lane's Wife. Anyone who starts his keeper discussion with Peyton Manning earns Brownie points, and Hines Ward will make for a suitable top option at receiver. Ronnie Brown has upside and potential to be a top running back, but he remains unproven, and Corey Dillon had a rough year with injuries. Those two, along with the likes of injured wideout Javon Walker, Pittsburgh running back Willie Parker, Seattle receiver Darrell Jackson, tight end Todd Heap and suddenly-good Bucs man Joey Galloway will make for tough decisions ahead.

7. Blaine Browns. It starts off just fine, with Randy Moss and Edgerrin James sure to be rock solid performers, and Warrick Dunn is likely to be an excellent second running back. From there, owner Drew Wolf is thin (probably because he weighs like 90 pounds), with choices such as T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Reuben Droughns, Donald Driver and Chris Brown. Drew Brees is likely to be a de facto keeper, since he did nothing to hurt Drew's team even if he wasn't a can't miss fantasy option.

8. Father Abraham. Bad luck cost Lincoln Souzek mightily, as the status of 2004 late-season snag Priest Holmes is now in doubt for the 2006 season, and injury ruined most of 2005. If he can return and Donovon McNabb is himself all the way through 2006, then this keeper crop has far more potential. Anquan Boldin is one of the most exciting receivers in the game, Stephen Davis can be serviceable, and Jamal Lewis may still be worth hanging onto despite a disastrous 2005. Muhsin Muhammad and Joe Horn will also enter the equation.

9. ChamPeons. Brent Whitlock will rely almost exclusively on players to have bounceback years, with folks like Terrell Owens and Andre Johnson and Cedric Benson having injury, ineffectiveness or suspension cloud their ability to work wonders this season. Daunte Culpepper is the biggest question mark of them all, as he may not be immediately available next season, and Julius Jones is the only front line running back in his hands.

10. Who is Ron Mexico? There isn't much here to work with, without a single definite fantasy stud in the midst. Eli Manning might come close if Dave Tomke chooses to keep him over Michael Vick, and DeShaun Foster will get a big paycheck playing for someone else (or even Carolina) as the featured back net year. JJ Arrington is a major question mark until he proves he can be a starter, and folks like Ashley Lelie and Braylon Edwards fluctuate between showing their complete potential and looking lost. Heath Miller had a well-documented standout rookie season. And of course, there is surefire keeper Brandon Lloyd.