What is a keeper league in fantasy football?
A keeper league is a redraft format where you carry over a small, fixed number of players each season — usually at the cost of a draft pick.
A keeper league sits between redraft and dynasty: you draft fresh each year but get to keep one to a few players, typically in exchange for the draft pick that matches their value.
A common rule lets you keep a player at the round you drafted him minus one — so a player taken in the 10th round costs your 9th-round pick to keep next year. That makes late-round breakouts valuable keepers and creates a fun in-season hunt for cheap players you can stash for next season.
Keeper rules vary widely by league, so always confirm how many keepers are allowed, what they cost, and how long you can hold the same player before strategizing.