Two QB or not Two QB: A look into two Quarterback and Super flex Leagues

  • The two quarterback and Superflex format has gained popularity over the years. When it comes to these types of leagues the approach to drafting your team drastically shifts. Before we get into the strategy of these leagues lets explain how they work. In a two QB league, as the name illustrates, you are required to start two quarterbacks instead of the traditional format of one. In a superflex league you are not required to start a second quarterback, but you have the option to start a second quarterback in your flex position. I would highly recommend using that Superflex spot on a quarterback. Overall the shifts you will see are more quarterbacks are drafted, quarterbacks are drafted earlier and quarterbacks play a larger role in your team’s week to week success.

    Regarding Superflex leagues, there are a plethora of reasons that you want to start a QB in your flex spot when possible. The first is simply they score more points. Last season there were 16 qualified quarterbacks who averaged over 17 PPR points per game. Comparing that to running backs and wide receivers combined there were only 15 qualified players who averaged over 17 PPR points between the two positions. Keep in mind that is in PPR formats, the divide becomes even greater when using half PPR or non PPR formats. Not only do they score more they are more consistent on a week-to-week basis. While wide receivers must rely on getting targets and certain running backs can be game scripted out, quarterbacks will touch the ball every play. Additionally, in general QBs will miss less games compared to other positions due to injuries. With all those factors considered you will want to be putting a QB in your flex spot, essentially making Superflex leagues 2QB leagues with slightly more roster flexibility. The one difference here is that it is not as critical to get a backup as it is in 2QB leagues since you can get by starting other positions in the flex during bye weeks.

    Now despite the higher scoring potential and more consistent nature from the quarterback position, they typically fall in standard fantasy drafts simply due to supply and demand. If you only have to start one quarterback there is no rush to draft one, however the two QB league changes that dynamic entirely. This is partially due to there only being 32 starting QBs in the league. For positions like wide receiver and running back some teams may have more than one relevant fantasy option, however with quarterbacks that is not the case. This means that in a 12-team league 24 of the 32 QBs will be started on a weekly basis and 4 teams will not even have a back up for bye weeks or in case of injuries. That is why in two quarterback leagues the ideal draft strategy is to go QB early and often.

    If you are in a two QB league you will want to draft a QB with your first pick. In fact, I think the first five picks off the board should all be QBs with these settings. Grabbing a Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Pat Mahomes or even Anthony Richardson will give you an every week start that you can count on. An even bigger benefit of going QB early and often in these drafts is it takes away the ability of your league mate to grab one. If you happen to be one of the teams that does not have a back up QB in these settings you are either waiting for an injury or to snag someone off waivers, forced to make a desperation trade for a QB, or just taking the loss on a week when your starters are on bye. In fact the best strategy here is to take a QB with your first pick and then come back for another in the fourth round. After that you should look into filling out your other positions. However, you do want to make sure you have a back up at the position. If you go early on QB you can wait for that final one since you will likely not be starting him most weeks. But snagging a high-upside backup like a Justin Fields (who should start by midseason) or an unknown rookie QB could pay off.

    Some people may advise waiting on QB and stacking your roster at running back and wide receiver. While having Christian McCaffrey and Johnathan Taylor on the same team does sound enticing it will put you at a disadvantage in the long run. I think you can get away with not selecting a QB in the first round, however I would not recommend it. As long as you come back to draft two within the first four rounds. The reason round four is critical is because that is typically when the mid-tier of QBs are selected. According to FF Calculator ADP in 2022, 16 of the 32 starters are drafted before pick 50 (12-team leagues). Comparing that to standard leagues where typically only 4 were selected before pick 50.

    Another important consideration when drafting is the QBs injury history. In these leagues you will not have many or any options off the waiver wire so drafting the right back up for your team is critical. What that means is if you draft say Anthony Richardson who constantly puts his body on the line you may want to go with a safer back up like Baker Mayfield instead of an upside play like Justin Fields. It also works the other way as well. If you splurge early on a QB like Mahomes or Dak Prescott you may want to pair that with an upside play like Fields since you know what you are getting from those two each week.


    Want to get access to Max’s article? You’ll need to have a SportsEthos NFL FantasyPass membership. Click here to learn more and sign up!  

    Click here to join us on Discord! And Follow us on Twitter by clicking here

    Come join us at SportsEthos by filling out an application by clicking here