Superflex is quickly becoming the league format of choice for new fantasy football leagues. While it might look a lot like a 2QB league, the extra flexibility really does make a difference. In today’s article, I’m going to introduce you to the Superflex format and try to impart some wisdom for those of you who are joining your first Superflex league this season. In this intro to Superflex strategy, I’m going to give you some tips and tricks and try to show you what’s different about it to help you win it all eventually.
Intro to Superflex Strategy
It all starts at the draft…
In SF leagues, the quarterback position is king. No matter if it’s redraft or dynasty, you need at least one stud QB in your starting lineup every week. Due to the scarcity at the position, it’s best to leave the draft with at least three QBs in shallower redraft leagues (15 players) and up to six QBs in deeper dynasty rosters (30+ players). This is primarily due to the fact that you want a second quarterback in your Superflex slot at all times since they have the highest chance of scoring 20+ points each week. In shallower leagues, you just need to make sure your bye week is covered, but in deeper leagues, the quarterbacks on your bench can become valuable trade chips, which we’ll talk about later on.
Even more specifically, you want to take two quarterbacks in the first four rounds if you can, even using your first-round pick on one depending on who is available. You might see a quarterback run between your picks that could wreck you if you don’t have at least a solid QB1 option. If you pass on QB for a stud RB in the first round, it could hurt watching 15 quarterbacks go off the board before your next pick. If you’re picking at the end of the round, say picks 10-12, you might be tempted to take a WR or RB there since it’s highly likely that one of the studs at those positions will still be there. This could work as long as you decide to take a QB with one of your next two picks.
But let me repeat, you want to avoid starting the QB15 and the QB29 as your two QBs in this format, if at all possible. In the recent SF dynasty mock draft that I was a part of, the guy at pick 11 waited until the 8th round to draft his first QB and got Gardner Minshew. He then picked Ben Roethlisberger and Ryan Fitzpatrick in the 9th and 10th rounds. Sure, he got Dalvin Cook, Davante Adams, and Julio Jones in the first three rounds, but now he might have to try to trade one of them for a QB upgrade down the road.
Not saying it can’t work, but it makes it tougher, especially since QBs are so valuable. This makes them difficult to trade for after the draft, so get them when they’re the cheapest and don’t stress about the other positions early. You can always grab a running back or wide receiver that still has starting potential in the 8th round, so don’t freak out if you miss on the top tier guys right away.
And like I said, this also means you need to read the room you’re drafting in. If you’re playing in a league full of first time SF players, it’s somewhat likely that everyone will be waiting at QB since they don’t get the value. As I always say when it comes to a draft, be liquid. Don’t go in with a strategy that’s too rigid and feel forced to stick with it. See if everyone is valuing quarterbacks correctly or not and use that knowledge to your advantage. This can pay off huge later on, both while still in your draft and throughout the season.
…But it doesn’t end at the draft
As I’ve said a couple of times already: quarterbacks are the most valuable of any position in SF leagues, by far. In a single QB league, you might be able to deploy a “late-round QB” strategy and get by just fine with starting someone like Jameis Winston in the 13th round or Ryan Fitzpatrick who you picked up off of waivers in Week 2. In SF leagues, they will likely both be gone by the 10th round and will likely be the third or fourth QB on a team.
So what does this mean for you after you drafted your team? Well, it means drafting more quarterbacks can give you more options for trading down the road. It’s all too common to see someone miss the run and decide to punt the position during the draft, planning on picking up the scraps in the later rounds or hoping to find a diamond in the rough from the list of backup QBs on waivers. If you leave your draft with six or more QBs, those teams are your prime trade targets. See if you can toss them your worst QB for their WR4, or try to trade one of your QBs for a package that helps you in multiple places. Either way, get creative and know that your chips are the most valuable on the table.
Even if you don’t find a trade partner right away, odds are good that you will eventually. Injuries happen all the time. Football is a contact sport, after all, so don’t be afraid to hold your guys until Week 3 when other teams are hurting and use the leverage you drafted to give you a leg up. Other teams will inevitably leave the draft with a position of weakness, and QB is the hardest one to overcome, so make sure that’s your strongest position throughout the season. We’ll cover more of this down the road, but since this is just an intro to Superflex, keep it in the back of your mind for now.
When to play non-QBs in the Superflex spot
When it comes to Superflex strategy, one thing that’s different is having to decide: “Do I start Jamison Crowder or Taysom Hill in my Superflex position?” These decisions are ultimately a coin flip, but it’s generally better to lean toward the QB when you can. Obviously, if you have five QBs, you should have options there, but if you trade one away early, a couple of guys get injured, and bye weeks hit you, you could be faced with a dilemma. So what do you do?
The easy answer here is that it depends on the rest of your roster. If you’re starting studs in the other positions that all have generally high floors, then put in the guy that gives you the highest ceiling, even if that’s a receiver or running back. If your league has a premium on tight end scoring, then starting a second TE might even be the best option. There is no single answer for every team, but the goal in any fantasy football league is to have a good balance in your starting lineup. You don’t want everyone to be safe players that can’t score 40 points, but you also don’t want all upside guys who get you two points each. You can use the Superflex spot as a bigger swing if you want. Other teams will likely be starting a QB, so shoot for the moon. Ultimately, having more quarterbacks on your roster will help with these decisions, but even if you drafted well, don’t be surprised if you’re between a rock and a hard place from time to time.
There is a ton more to cover, but this is a pretty good intro to Superflex strategy for now. What questions do you have about your own Superflex league? Are you nervous about passing on known talent to take a riskier option like Cam Newton as early as the 6th round? We’re here to help, so hit us up on Twitter @PFNDynasty when your draft comes up. Also, continue to visit the Pro Football Network for NFL news and in-depth analysis like the PFN OSM data while also visiting our Fantasy Football section for more coverage.
Andrew Hall is a writer for PFN covering Fantasy Football. You can follow him on Twitter: @AndrewHallFF