Overview
How the Keeper GM format works - starting with free agency - and how leagues can customize the details.
Keeper GM is a dynasty fantasy football format built around multi-year player contracts and a structured free agency market. Instead of only setting a weekly lineup, each owner manages a franchise across seasons.
Free agency is what makes the format unique: before the draft, owners spend remaining salary cap to sign unrestricted and restricted free agents. That market shapes rosters before draft capital is even used.
Each owner typically controls one franchise, chooses a team identity (name, logo, and optional nickname or image), and competes to win the championship.
The seasons of a year
Most leagues follow this order:
- Free agency — Owners use remaining salary cap to sign unrestricted and restricted free agents. This happens before the draft and is the signature part of the format.
- Draft — Opens the competitive year. Contracted players return to rosters, remaining contract length ticks down, and open spots are filled from the available player pool (including rookies).
- Regular season — Weekly head-to-head competition during the NFL season. Owners set lineups, use waivers or FAAB, trade assets, and may sign future contracts if the league allows it.
- Playoffs — Determines the champion and final rankings. Many leagues also run a consolation or reverse bracket for non-playoff teams.
After playoffs, the cycle returns to free agency, then the next draft.