If you are a participant of fantasy football, you know that having top durable performers are the key. These performers must also put up decent numbers against any team, nit just the cellar dwellers.
The following are the top 10 offensive players that have proven their durability on my fantasy teams during the past six going on seven years.
First up is Arizona Cardinal wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald is kind of a fluke on my list because I first used him last season and I only played him two times.
But in those two fantasy appearances he scored a total of 79 fantasy points for a 39.5 fantasy point average.
Last year, Fitzgerald scored 12 touchdowns and only had one fumble.
I believe that stats like that make him a fantasy keeper.
Second on my list is Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning.
I have selected Manning 51 times through the years and he has scored me a total of 1,068 fantasy points for an average of 20.94 fantasy points per game.
Last season Manning averaged 19 fantasy points per game in 13 selections. This despite battling back from knee surgery.
This season there is no surgery so Manning should be 100 percent. The one negative I can find is no Marvin Harrison. But I have confidence that Manning will have a successful targets on the field despite that setback. And for this reason I believe he is a fantasy keeper.
Third on my fantasy keeper list is Panther wide receiver Steve Smith.
I have selected Smith 18 times and he has scored my teams a total of 374 fantasy points for an average of 20.77 fantasy points per game.
I was only able to select Smith one time last year, and despite the fact he didn’t make or surpass the 20.77 average, he did manage double digits, scoring 12 points.
Last year, Smith played in 14 games and put up 1,421 yards.
I believe his ability to play in most games makes him a fantasy keeper.
Fourth on my list is Patriot’s quarterback Tom Brady.
I have played Brady 35 times and he scored 724 fantasy points for an average of 20.68 fantasy points per game.
Brady missed the majority of last season because of injury. Reports he is eager to go. Whether he will be rusty or not in the first few weeks remains to be seen.
But I’m positive that most fantasy football players will regard him as a fantasy keeper.
Fifth on my keeper list is Brady’s mate Randy Moss. Because of the fact that Moss is usually a somewhat expensive choice, I have only selected him 12 times through the years. During those selections he scored 247 points for an average of 20.58 fantasy points.
Moss was a factor in all 16 games last year and managed to haul in 11 touchdowns and rack up 1,008 yards.
With Brady returning those numbers have a good chance of increasing therefore making Moss a fantasy keeper.
Sixth on my keeper list is Cardinal quarterback Kurt Warner. Last season was my first season selecting Warner and in 13 selections he scored 262 fantasy points for an average of 20.15 fantasy points per game.
Warner is an aging quarterback, but if health can stay in his favor, there should be no reason why he can’t match, surpass of come close to his 30 touchdown mark that he made last year.
Warner also threw for 4,583 yards. I believe this makes him a fantasy keeper.
Seventh on my list is Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
I have selected Culpepper 24 times through the years and he scored 482 points for an average of 20.08 fantasy points per game. Now I admit most of those selections were when he was a part of an explosive Minnesota Vikings team. And I did not select him last season after his NFL return to the Detroit Lions.
In five games he managed four touchdowns with the Lions. Things could improve this year or go down hill. I believe he has the talent and he his fantasy salary should be affordable which I believe makes Culpepper a fantasy keeper.
Placing eighth on my list is Eagle’s running back Brian Westbrook. In 27 selections, Westbrook has scored me 533 fantasy points for an average of 19.74 fantasy points per game.
I did not select Westbrook last season but he played in 14 games and scored a total of 14 touchdowns.
Westbrook can run and catch the ball which makes him in my opinion a fantasy keeper.
Ninth on my keeper list is popular running back Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints.
Bush has played on my fantasy teams 20 times and has scored 386 fantasy points for an average of 19.3 fantasy points per game.
Last year Bush fell victim to injury but was on my team nine weeks. During that time he scored 187 fantasy points for an average of 20.77 fantasy points per game which was second only to Larry Fitzgerald on my team.
If he is able to put the injuries behind him he should be able to maintain or improve his fantasy averages and be considered a fantasy keeper.
Rounding out my keeper list in the 10 place is Buffalo Bills new wide receiver Terrell Owens.
Owens has made limited appearances on my fantasy teams because of high salaries. However in nine selections he has scored 170 fantasy points for an average of 18.88 fantasy points.
This year Owens has a new team and very well could become the team leader.
I think these are reasons to make Owens a fantasy keeper.
