Fantasy Football Keeper Calculator

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Reviewed and Verified by: David Chen, CFA (Certified Fantasy Analyst)

Deciding which player to keep for your fantasy football team is one of the most critical pre-draft decisions. Use this calculator to quickly determine the overall draft value you gain by keeping a player, helping you maximize your roster’s strength.

Fantasy Football Keeper Calculator

Fantasy Football Keeper Calculator Formula

$$\text{Keeper Value Score (KVS)} = \text{Keeper Cost (Pick \#)} – \text{Player ADP (Pick \#)}$$

Formula Source: Based on widely accepted value-based drafting (VBD) principles utilized by major fantasy platforms (ESPN Fantasy, CBS Sports Fantasy).

Variables Explained

  • Player ADP (Overall Pick #): Average Draft Position. This represents the player’s consensus value on the open market. A lower number indicates higher value (e.g., Pick 5 is better than Pick 50).
  • Keeper Cost (Overall Draft Pick #): The actual pick number you sacrifice in the current year’s draft to keep the player.
  • League Size (Number of Teams): The total number of teams in your league. Used to contextualize the Keeper Value Score.

What is the Fantasy Football Keeper Calculator?

The Fantasy Football Keeper Calculator is a vital tool for maximizing your draft capital. It calculates the **Keeper Value Score (KVS)**, which is the quantifiable difference between what a player is currently worth (their ADP) and what they cost you (your draft pick). A higher KVS means you are gaining more value on the keeper, effectively allowing you to draft a top player far later than the market dictates.

For example, if a running back has an ADP of 40 (the 40th pick overall) but your keeper rules allow you to secure them for the cost of a 10th-round pick (e.g., the 120th pick overall in a 12-team league), you gain 80 picks of value. This value gain can then be allocated to other positions, giving your team a significant advantage. The calculator helps you prioritize which players offer the best return on investment.

How to Calculate Keeper Value (Example)

  1. Determine the Player’s Value (ADP): Identify the player’s Average Draft Position. Let’s use **Pick 50**.
  2. Determine the Keeper Cost: Find out the specific draft pick you must sacrifice to keep them. Let’s say the cost is your 9th-round pick in a 12-team league, which translates to **Pick 108** overall.
  3. Calculate the Difference: Subtract the ADP from the Keeper Cost. $$ 108 – 50 = 58 $$
  4. Interpret the Result: The Keeper Value Score is **58**. This means you are receiving a player worth the 50th pick for the price of the 108th pick, gaining 58 spots of value compared to drafting the same player on the open market.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How high should my Keeper Value Score (KVS) be to justify a keeper?
Generally, a KVS of 50 or higher is excellent, as it represents gaining at least four or five rounds of value. A KVS below 20 might not be worth sacrificing the draft pick flexibility.
What if the Player ADP is higher (a lower number) than the Keeper Cost?
If your calculation results in a negative KVS (e.g., -10), it means you are paying a higher draft cost than the player’s current market value. For example, keeping a player with an ADP of 100 for a 50th overall pick. This is a bad keeper decision and should be avoided.
Does the calculator account for injury risk or positional scarcity?
No. This calculator is a purely quantitative tool based on ADP and cost. Positional scarcity (e.g., keeping an elite QB) and risk factors must be manually considered alongside the KVS.
Is it better to keep one player with a KVS of 100 or two players with a KVS of 60 each?
Two players with a KVS of 60 (total gain 120) are mathematically superior to one player with 100. Always choose the combination of keepers that maximizes your *total* draft pick value gained.
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