Draft Recap: 2QB Superflex League

Jeff Haverlack Posted On June 25, 2014

kaep

They’ve been all the rage of late.

Of course, it’s easy to guess that I’m talking about Two-Quarterback (2QB) leagues, also known as the Superflex format. In this format, a coach has the option of choosing flex players from not only the standard positions, but also the choice of starting an additional quarterback if he or she so chooses. While this may seem like just another simple option, make no mistake, it can drastically affect how a team is built, performs … and, most notably, drafted.

Why?

It’s relatively simple. Take a look at any standard PPR end-of-year scoring matrix to see how many of the top players are quarterbacks. Let me save you the time. In just one of my leagues, the number is 14. A quick check on another league shows the same number. In this format, quarterbacks are ultra-valuable and will change an inaugural draft landscape greatly. Treat the format like any other as you enter your draft and you could quickly find yourself on the outside looking in as the year unfolds – that’s not to say that you can’t build a competitive team by foregoing quarterbacks early, but you must have a plan of action BEFORE your draft begins.

For whatever reason, it seems that here within the virtual hallowed halls of DLF, superflex leagues have grown in popularity. I’m seeing an increasing number of forum posts, article comments and personal emails asking for a greater focus on the format, drafting strategies and general tips for being competitive out of the gate. It could be that dynasty has finally reached a maturation point such that seasoned players are looking to change things up for more variety, or it could simply be that as the format has gained in popularity in re-draft leagues, the spill over is natural to the dynasty format. For whatever the reason, let me offer a 2QB inaugural draft that recently completed for which I was a participant.

Let me start by saying this was my first foray into the format, at least in an official capacity. The league was started by DLF’s own Rob Pitzer, is a bit of a higher stakes league and consists of 14 teams. The number of teams alone portends a challenge for a rookie 2QB drafter like myself. But I’m here for you and decided I was going to take one for the DLF team … all of you. I’ll explain in a second. Without a doubt, the two most often questions I receive about this format are: When should I take my first quarterback and when should I add my second? Perhaps slightly behind is the question of: Should I draft quarterbacks back-to-back?

With those questions in mind, and fully knowing that I wanted to eventually use this draft as a recap content piece here on DLF, I went into this superflex draft with two primary goals:

1) Draft two quarterbacks with my first two picks
2) Make no trades involving my draft picks (unless I was offered something ridiculous)

As it relates to the back-to-back quarterback selections, it wasn’t a strategy I entered into blindly. I did a fair amount of research about scoring, team depth, scenario planning and overall results before setting on that plan. I had wanted to try that approach initially as it would make for a good article later. And here we are now. My desire for no trades was simply so all of you could see the end result from a clean draft through the most critical rounds.

I knew heading into the draft that securing two younger quarterbacks would be my goal which would leave me with choices to be made at other positions that would either lead me down a path of youth or established veterans to fill out my team. I decided to play the riskier game of youth and upside for my general strategy beginning in round three. Having two higher scoring quarterbacks can make up for a LOT of lesser production in other areas, but it will be important to still have production from players at other positions. Additionally, this draft also DOES include this year’s rookies.

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The league can be found here. Starting requirement is: 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 Flex. As noted, one of the flex positions may be a quarterback.

Below are the opening ten rounds of this draft. I will simply be recapping the picks without individual commentary. My selection will be in bold within each round and I’ll provide a brief summary at the end of each round followed by my final team and thoughts to wrap up:

Let’s get the party started:

Round One

Aaron Rodgers, QB GB
A.J. Green, WR CIN
Calvin Johnson, WR DET
Demaryius Thomas, WR DEN
Andrew Luck, QB IND
Dez Bryant, WR DAL
Josh Gordon, WR CLE
Matthew Stafford, QB DET
Julio Jones, WR ATL
Jimmy Graham, TE NO
Cam Newton, QB CAR
LeSean McCoy, WR PHI
Alson Jeffery, WR CHI
Jamaal Charles, RB KC

Firstly, I was hoping Luck would fall to me. As the draft started, I wasn’t surprised to see Rodgers go off the board first overall, but after pick 1.07 (Josh Gordon – oops), my initial strategy was in question. However, the stratification of player fantasy production showed quarterbacks score well above most other players. I remembered I was also performing this strategy for the good of DLF faithful so I trudged on. My selection of Matt Stafford was a play on Megatron and the addition of Golden Tate, to go with rookie Eric Ebron at tight end and Reggie Bush in the backfield. He’s young and the Lions will continue to air it out at a ridiculous pace.

Round Two

Russell Wilson, QB SEA
Drew Brees, QB NO
Giovani Bernard, RB CIN
Peyton Manning, QB DEN
Randall Cobb, WR GB
Rob Gronkowski, TE NE
Colin Kaepernick, QB SF
Eddie Lacy, RB GB
Nick Foles, QB PHI
Matt Ryan, QB ATL
Robert Griffin III, QB WAS
Andy Dalton, QB CIN
Adrian Peterson, RB MIN
Brandon Marshall, WR CHI

At the pace the quarterbacks were coming off the board in the second round, my resolve was steeled in as I knew I had to get my second one. Kaepernick had been a target for me all along as a high-ceiling play to go with Stafford’s more prototypical presence. Kaep’s mobility along with a fully healthy Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis and newly signed Steve Johnson, I believe, makes him very dangerous on Sundays. I now have two young quarterbacks to anchor my team for years to come and I can focus the next two years on developing talent around them. I was surprised with the selection of Wilson at 2.01.

Round Three

Keenan Allen, WR SD
Philip Rivers, QB SD
Doug Martin, RB TB
Le’Veon Bell, RB PIT
Matt Forte, RB CHI
Julius Thomas, TE DEN
Cordarrelle Patterson, WR MIN
Sammy Watkins, WR BUF
Ben Roethlisberger, QB PIT
C.J. Spiller, RB BUF
Jordan Cameron, TE CLE
Antonio Brown, WR PIT

Well, this will be interesting. I was a bit dismayed to see all the running backs flying off the board and was watching Doug Martin closely. My pick of Watkins could be a make or break for my team as it’s very early to go with an unproven rookie. But being a PPR league and with the fact that receivers selected in the first five picks of the NFL Draft are nearly always stud-level producers, I felt it was a worthy gamble. I remember thinking I could feel myself settling into a high-risk strategy. But seeing quarterbacks like Roethlisberger now coming off the board, I’m feeling relatively good about my two young guns.

Round Four

Ryan Tannehill, QB MIA
Michael Floyd, WR ARI
Tony Romo, QB DAL
Montee Ball, RB DEN
DeMarco Murray, RB DAL
DeAndre Hopkins, WR HOU
Trent Richardson, RB IND
Tom Brady, QB NE
Pierre Garcon, WR WAS
Mike Evans, WR TB
Marshawn Lynch, RB SEA
Victor Cruz, WR NYG
Zac Stacy, RB STL
Michael Crabtree, WR SF

Now I’ve done it!

This may be the riskiest pick in my dynasty fantasy career. The selection of Richardson was made because of the loss of Donald Brown coupled with the age of TRich. This is a straight risk-reward play on future development that, if it hits, could really help put my team over the top. At 22 years of age and with carry-the-load size, along with the dwindling available backs, I felt I had to make a move. I wanted to secure another young receiver in the mold of Victor Cruz or Mike Evans, but felt I needed to secure at least one well positioned running back. We’ll see ….

Round Five

Andre Ellington, RB ARI
Jay Cutler, QB CHI
Alfred Morris, RB WAS
Jordan Reed, TE WAS
Christine Michael, RB SEA
Johnny Manziel, QB CLE
Larry Fitzgerald, WR ARI
Shane Vereen, RB NE
Justin Blackmon, WR JAX
Alex Smith, QB KC
Ben Tate, RB CLE
Ladarius Green, TE SD
Arian Foster, RB HOU
Tyler Eifert, TE CIN

I had Arian Foster plugged in here before changing it to Vereen. When looking at Vereen’s production (when healthy) in a PPR format along with his relative youth (25), I felt he was a better fit for my team. I’m not completely sold on this pick in retrospect, but that could change if I see the production I’m expecting early in 2014. I really like the selection of Cutler at 5.02 and am surprised with the Manziel selection at 5.06.

Round Six

Eric Ebron, TE DET
T.Y. Hilton, WR IND
Vincent Jackson, WR TB
Jason Witten, TE DAL
Torrey Smith, WR BAL
Zach Ertz, TE PHI
DeSean Jackson, WR WAS
Ryan Mathews, RB SD
Kendall Wright, WR TEN
Jeremy Maclin, WR PHI
Marcus Lattimore, RB SF
Vernon Davis, TE SF

It’s obvious now that we’re entering our first round of real guessing-game picks. Coaches are just trying to fill holes now. I was really pleased to see some of the names going off before my pick, yet I still wasn’t excited about any of the players who were falling to me. I mostly considered Kendall Wright and Vernon Davis before my selection of Jackson. I think DJax fits better in the Redskin offense more than any other and not only can he pull down a good number of receptions, but I think he has a real potential for double digit touchdowns of the long variety. He’s one of those players who I’ve never owned until now and he’s always ripped me up on Sundays. I now have two of each skill position aside from tight end.

Round Seven

Odell Beckham, WR NYG
Kyle Rudolph, TE MIN
Joe Flacco, QB BAL
Reggie Bush, RB DET
Charles Clay, TE MIA
Carlos Hyde, RB SF
Tavon Austin, WR STL
Eric Decker, WR NYJ
Terrance Williams, WR DAL
Sam Bradford, QB STL
Brandin Cooks, WR NO
Blake Bortles, QB JAX
Joique Bell, RB DET
Dennis Pitta, TE BAL

I was hoping for Rudolph to fall but when he was off the board and my pick arrived, I figured I’d take who no one else really wanted to, Eric Decker. He’s 27 years old, scored 24 touchdowns in the last two years and he’s the WR1 for the Jets. I know, I know … Peyton Manning. And I buy into that as well. I swore I wouldn’t have any Jets on my team but he has the size and the role that I like. I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that he can produce to 75% of his previous two years of production over the next two years. I still have no tight end, but there’s no great reason to rush out and get one now.

Round Eight

Allen Robinson, WR JAX
Martellus Bennett, TE CHI
Julian Edelman, WR NE
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE TB
Teddy Bridgewater, QB MIN
Cody Latimer, WR DEN
Rueben Randle, WR NYG
Greg Olsen, TE CAR
Ray Rice, RB BAL
Isaiah Crowell, RB CLE
Cecil Shorts, WR JAX
Andre Johnson, WR HOU
Jordan Matthews, WR PHI
Toby Gerhart, RB JAX

I’m utterly shocked to see these rookies coming off the board so soon. At the same time, I’m really pleased. This is where I usually do my best draft work and I’m happy with the Randle selection here. This is not to say that I think he’ll be a WR1, but in the eighth round, I don’t need that. I need one of Decker or Randle to be WR3 for me and having two of this size and caliber, with an established role, makes me feel relatively confident about my last flex play.

Round Nine

David Wilson, RB NYG
Derek Carr, QB OAK
E.J. Manuel, WR BUF
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB NE
Dwayne Allen, TE IND
Jace Amaro, TE NYJ
Golden Tate, WR DET
Hakeem Nicks, WR IND
Geno Smith, QB NYJ
Mike Wallace, WR MIA
Bernard Pierce, RB BAL
Davante Adams, WR GB
Coby Fleener, TE IND
Tre Mason, RB STL

I’m again stunned at four of the first five picks of this round, those not named E.J. Manuel. I just couldn’t pass up Nicks in his new offense and now healthy. Not sure how long he stays healthy, but I now have a decent trio of WR3 players to choose from, a couple of which have WR2 ability. Still no TE, though.

Round Ten

Roddy White, WR ATL
Bishop Sankey, RB TEN
Markus Wheaton, WR PIT
Marvin Jones, WR CIN
Lamar Miller, RB MIA
Rashad Jennings, RB NYG
Knowshon Moreno, RB MIA
Lache Seastrunk, RB WAS
Chris Johnson, RB TEN
Donte Moncrief, WR IND
Ka’Deem Carey, RB CHI
Stevan Ridley, RB NE
Kenny Stills, WR NO
Wes Welker, WR DEN

Can I have a do-over please? I really wanted Chris Johnson here, but fell victim to the age game. I still think Moreno is more talented than is Lamar Miller, but this pick may end up costing me now that the news has broken about Moreno having some injury issues. I really like the selection of Marvin Jones at 10.04 here. He was on my short list and I’m very high on him for this year. I think he’s very undervalued.

Final Team

QB: Stafford, Kaepernick, Cousins
RB: Richardson, Vereen, McFadden, Moreno, Leshoure, Polk, Bolden
WR: Watkins, DeSean Jackson, Decker, Nicks, Randle, Streater, Boldin, Huff, Kearse, Patton
TE: Kelce, Garrett Graham, Finley

Summary

In a 14-team league, this may be passable, but it will all depend on how my two quarterbacks carry the load. My receivers are deep enough to keep me in games I believe, but my running backs are high risk, as are my tight ends. In retrospect, it may have been best to bypass quarterback in the second round and, instead, select a running back like Lacy, Martin or Bell. This would still have yielded Romo, Brady or Cutler, 2-3 rounds later potentially. But this is why I went through this drill. As it stands, Kaepernick had better be VERY good if this team is going to be competitive. If one of my quarterbacks falls to injury, I’m sunk. Either way, this draft was a play on youth and building over the next two seasons. I’ll have some work to do but I’ve got a nucleus to build from. If TRich can be the back the Colts traded for and my quarterbacks stay healthy, I may have a chance at the playoffs.

I hope you enjoyed this exercise and that you can use this draft for your own super-flex league!

Follow me on Twitter: @DLF_Jeff

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Jeff Haverlack

Co-Founder at Dynasty League Football

Appreciative husband and proud father who poorly attempts to balance family life with his passion for creating the largest, most helpful and most impactful fantasy community on the planet! DLF was created for the community and we're committed to each member within it! Hope anyone playing this great game will call DLF home in some way!

You can find Jeff on Twitter at @dlf_jeff

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