Two QB Fantasy Football League Strategy
August 29, 2010
Category: 2010 Fantasy Football, Chet Gresham
When facing a league with a roster or scoring you aren’t used to, you’ve got to reprogram your fantasy brain. The good thing is that your league mates are usually in the same boat or at least the majority of them are. Take our subject today, how many of your run of the mill leagues have 2 QBs? Not many. Yes, you could be getting into a league that has been playing with 2 QBs for the last 20 years, but that isn’t usually the case, but even if it is, don’t worry too much.
The only reason I like to wait on quarterbacks is because when you draft just 12 starters there just isn’t a huge difference between the #1 guy and say the #8 guy. If you can predict the #8 guy and grab him in the 7th round you get a running back/wide receiver who hold a lot more value for you since you need to find 2-4 of them. But in 2 QB leagues that flies out the window.
Let’s take a look at the top scorers from each position:
QB: 1. Aaron Rodgers 327, 12. Jay Cutler 216, 24. Mark Sanchez 119
RB: 1. Chris Johnson 329, 12. Jamaal Charles 177, 24. Willis McGahee 136, 36. Julius Jones 103
WR: 1. Andre Johnson 205, 12. Wes Welker 155, 24. Anquan Boldin 121, 36. Lee Evans 97
You can see that the drop off after the top 12 QBs is steeper than the drop off after the top 12 RBs, but the biggest reason I want 2 of the top 12 QBs in my 2 QB league is that the chance of a 24th ranked QB outplaying the 24th ranked RB isn’t likely. I much rather take 2-3 backup RBs with the chance one will finish in the top 12, than do the same with low end QBs.
You know what you are getting with the top QBs. Even with the erratic play of some, you know they have the ball in their hands all of the time and even if they are getting shellacked they can start heaving the ball downfield and have an average to good game fantasy wise. They are also protected as if they are wee baby children. Yes, they are exposed and can get hurt, but the league continues to make it harder to beat one down like they need and should be. Running backs don’t quite get that luxury.
I’ve tried playing this out with the, you zig and I zag approach, but I can’t make it work. I still want my top 4 RBs, but after that, I’m ready to throw down QB style. Most of your league mates will be in the same frame of mind so you could see Gore/Turner/SJax/AJ, etc… fall to where you just have to grab one, and that is fine. Take value. It’s not like QB TD’s are worth 100 points each, but if you do, you know where your next pick needs to come from. That fleshy, sweaty, ego driven, quarterback pool.
The main goal I have in 2 QB leagues is to have 2 upside, top 12 QBs. That doesn’t automatically mean you have to have Rodgers, Brees, Manning, but if you have the choice between say SJax and one of those three, I’m leaning toward the elite QB.
And as an aside, Ben Roethlisberger makes for an interesting pick as your second/third QB, which could give you a little more leeway in grabbing a later upside QB to pair with him. Usually Big Ben goes fairly quickly as a backup QB in 1 QB leagues, but people can’t risk grabbing him until after they have 2 QBs that will play the first 5 games. I could see grabbing him with a Matthew Stafford or even Alex Smith who both have pretty good early schedules.
In this kind of league you have to pay attention to the QB runs (I think it usually has something to do with Mark Schlereth’s Stinkin Good Chiles). I hate reaching for a position just because everyone else is, but with this set up I am much more likely to because I do not want to get stuck with Derek Anderson as a starting QB. It is easier to make up for missed RBs and WRs than QBs. Yes, there are upside QBs out there, but not many. Matthew Stafford comes to mind, Chad Henne and Vince Young as well, but you just don’t see Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles and Sidney Rice type sleepers in QB circles all that often.
So, don’t be afraid to strike the QB fire while it’s hot. I know it goes against muscle memory, but fight through it! You can do it!
August 29th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
10 teamer, drafting from #2
C.Johnson (Brees went #2), Miles Austin, and Greg Jennings are my top 3 so far…
None of the top 7 QBs are coming around to me in the 4th.
August 29th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
I guess I’m punting QB for awhile, but I’ll have a chance at Finey/Gates/Clark for my 4th rounder, and then J-Stew, Beanie or McCoy for my 5th
@Howie Met Your Mother: Nice start!
August 29th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Clark went one pick ahead of me, so I took Finley, and then I took NYG’s Smith as my 3rd WR (we start 3). Praying Wells, McCoy, Forte or Moreno slip to me….
August 29th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
@Doc:
I’m already second guessing the Smith pick.
August 29th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Got Forte and Foster with my 6th and 7th.
August 29th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
I’m losing my mind. Either my #4 WR (Mike Wallace) or my #4 RB (Harrison, Bush, Bradshaw). Thoughts Doc?
@Howie Met Your Mother: I like Bradshaw there
August 29th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Got Wallace AND Bradshaw. Boom. This draft is going great. Thanks Doc!
August 29th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Got Flacco in the 8th and Kolb in the 11th. One of those guys HAS to hit, right?
@Howie Met Your Mother: Yeah, I like them as a combo. They do have the same bye, but I wouldn’t sweat it too much. Just start keeping an eye on the week 8 matchups and possible sleepers to start.
August 29th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Yeah, the same bye thing worries me, but I’m sure someone on my team will be put on IR by week 8. That’s just my luck. Anywho, in case anyone cares, here is what I ended up with. 10 team, 3WR, 2RB + FLEX.
QB: Joe Flacco, Kevin Kolb
RB: Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Arian Foster, Ahmad Bradshaw, Donald Brown, Montario Hardesty
WR: Miles Austin, Greg Jennings, Steve Smith (NYG), Mike Wallace, Mike Williams (TB)
TE: JerMichael Finley
DEF: Cincinatti
K: Nate Kaeding
Overall, I’m fairly happy, particularly with the sleeper upside in guys like Williams and Foster. Looks like it will be somewhat competitive right?
August 29th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Just want your opinion on a team I just drafted in a 12 Team H2H Keeper to see if you think I have any holes that need to be addressed. It’s 0.5 PPR and has some bonuses for passing, rushing, receiving yards, as well, but the rest is pretty standard Yahoo fare. I started off loving my team, but some of my late round picks didn’t fall like I wanted them to, and I’m a little worried about Moreno, but here it is:
QB: Cutler
WR: Wayne
WR: Austin
WR: Ward
RB: Wells
RB: Moreno
TE: Celek
W/R: Bradshaw
K: Akers
D: Cincy
BN: Dez
BN: Breaston
BN: Bess
BN: Sproles
BN: Alex Smith
@Howie Met Your Mother: Looks really good. CJ, Austin, Jennings, Finley are a great core and then you have a lot of upside backups. Looks built for a long season.
@Wilsonian: Yeah, Moreno is a little scary right now. Keep getting reports that he is still hurting. But I think he’ll be ok. May be cautious with him early. Would like to have a top RB, but the .5 ppr should help you.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Not a lot out there regarding 2 QB drafts. Our draft was a couple of weeks ago. Tell me what you think – it’s 10 teams snake draft – standard score – no keeper – no PPR. I had 1st pick
QB1- Flacco
QB2- M Ryan
RB1 CJ
RB2 P Thomas
RB3 McCoy
WR1- H Ward
WR2 D Bowe
TE O Daniels
K Vinateri
Reserves – Garcon, B Jacobs, Breaston, J Freeman, T Edwards, Shockey, Ringer
Especially – where do you rank M Ryan this year in QBs?
August 29th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
This is my draft result in a 10-team, standard scoring weighted a bit more to QBs (all players get 1 pt per 20 yards rush/receiving), non-PPR league:
QB – Brees
RB – Turner
RB – R. Matthews
WR – S. Smith (Car.)
WR – Crabtree
RB/WR/TE – TBD
TE – Finley
K – Tynes
D – Cowboys
bench:
Bradshaw
M. Bush
B. Scott
Dez Bryant
Meachem
G. Olsen
Bengals
There was a huge run on WRs so I didn’t end up with a top 10. I was thinking M. Bush as my flex but am leaning to Bradshaw/Meachem.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Also, backup QB is Big Ben
@Jim Parkey: Yeah, I think you’ll be able to play the flex with those guys. Finley has #1 TE upside. Smith has top 10 upside. Crabtree should be steady. Love your RBs. Brees is Brees. For a 10 teamer it’s not blow you out of the water great, but I’d say you have to be in the top 3.
@Dnice: I was a little higher on him earlier, but I’ve moved Flacco ahead of him recently. I think he is solid and will put up decent numbers, but his ceiling isn’t really high. I just worry about you facing a team with 2 stud QBs. But you can’t pass on CJ and he helps. For a 10 teamer your WRs and #2/#3 Rbs are fairly weak. I really like McCoy and PT, but more in PPR leagues than non.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
@Doc: thanks! It was a keeper so the top backs were gone. I kept Wayne and Wells and went with Austin and Moreno with my first two picks (I was 5th last season so I ended up with the 8th overall selection). My one real regret is being an idiot and taking Ward and then immediately noticing Welker was still available. Do you think it would be worthwhile to keep an eye on Buckhalter or another Denver backup?
@Wilsonian: Yeah, keep an eye on Buckhalter. He’s hurting too unfortunately.
Yeah, Welkers upside is greater than Wards for sure, but I do like Ward for his stability and he should play up to that ADP at least.
August 29th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
@Doc: I thought he was hurt, too. I’m already scrounging for some random RB depth. Although hopefully Bradshaw remains the feature back in NYG and if all else fails I could plug him into my RB2 and put one of Bess/Dez/Breaston into my flex position. Thanks again for the input.
August 29th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Our league has very knowledgeable drafters. For me, CJ-P Thomas-McCoy are 3 top 20 RBs, so I dont agree with them being weak. I do know my WR’s are weak – but thats what was left. Maybe I can pick up someone on waivers to help me in the WR department. Hard to be strong at every position.
August 30th, 2010 at 7:18 am
Man, I wish I read this sooner. Had 2 QB draft yesterday. Pulled a WR bonanza, but otherwise have some concerns. Would you look to trade some of my stud muffin WRs for QB?
QB- Cassel
QB2 – Bradford, with Rotless Burger waiting to not be a douche and get off my bench
WR1- AJ
WR2 – Reggie Wayne
WR3 – Greg Jennings
RB1 – LeSean McCoy
RB2 – CJ Spiller
TE – Zach Miller
Flex 1 – Matt Forte
Flex 2 – Malcolm Floyd
K – Need to add one
D – Denver
BENCH
Cadillac Williams
Dexter McCluster
Owen Daniels (couldn’t help myself in the 13th round)
Jabar Gaffney
Leon Washington
@Omnificent: is this PPR or no?
I think Cassel has some upside and Ben is fine after he comes back. Bradford is going to be tough. He has looked good, but he’ll be inconsistent with that line and WRs. I might throw a few trades out there. I wouldn’t worry about grabbing a top QB. Look for value, Stafford, Cutler, Flacco
August 30th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Doc, dubious that I could make a run at one of the ones you listed due to the makeup of those teams. On wire I could grab, Anderson/Lienart, Delhomme, or Matt Moore. Would you take any of those over Bradford?
August 30th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Just drafted a 2 QB league yesterday, start 2 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 flex, 1 TE, what are your thoughts?
QB: Peyton, Schaub, Delhomme
RB: Best, Forte, Bradshaw, Run DMC
WR: Steve Smith (CAR), Hines Ward, Johnny Knox, Jacoby Jones, Mike Williams (TB), Dexter McCluster
TE: Jermichael Finley
I want to try to use Delhomme to improve my RB position, but still looking for trades.
@Omnificent: Hmm, not much bench space. I’d keep them on your radar, but I don’t see much of a difference.
@Da’Mon: I like it. You got two studs, but managed to fill the rest of your starters with good value. If it’s PPR I’m putting my money on you right now. If not I still think you must be near the top.
August 30th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Ok now wait a minute Doc. My team- who you stated was weak on RB and WR you gave a kinda negative review to and DaMon team you gave a strong review to. Lets compare:
Damons QBs: Manning/Schaub/Delhomme
MY QBS: Flacco/Ryan/Freeman or Edwards
He wins this one. Manning and Schaub are clearly better than my guys.
RBS – Me: CJ, P Thomas, McCoy Damon: Best, Forte, Bradshaw –
I win this hands down. CJ alone is better than these three fartknockers put together. You said my #2/#3 RB were weak but Id take them over any of those guys PPR or no.
WRs: Me – Bowe, Garcon, Ward, Breaston Him: S. Smith (car), Ward, Knox, J Jones (both have McCluster)
Id say this is about what and what.
So he gets strong edge in QB. I get strong edge in RB with WR about a tie.
CMON MAN! Where’s the love Doc!
@Dnice: I agree on the surface it looks that way, but in 2 QB leagues you’ve got to put a lot of weight on those QBs. Manning is nearly equivalent to CJ in 2 QBers and then stack Schaub on top of that and you have a big old Thor hammer. But I did qualify my love for the team. If it’s PPR Bradshaw/Forte/Best are all high upside picks. Non-ppr they drop some and your 2 teams would be closer in my opinion.
August 30th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Well, there are different ways to look at it.
Manning VS Flacco #2-3 QB to #8-10ish QB
Schaub VS Ryan #4 QB vs #12 ish QB
CJ vs J Best #1 RB vs #18-20 RB
P Thomas vs Forte #15sih vs #20ish
McCoy vs Bradshaw #15ish vs #30ish
The discrepancy in QBs isnt as wide as the RB discrepancy in my opinion. Comparing apples to apples here, I like my team. Bradshaw/Forte/Best as high upside picks…meh, we will see, but I think at least one of those turds sinks to the bottom of the bowl this year (Im looking at you Forte). Schaub/Manning are a Thor hammer – but CJ and Company have the strength of Hercules and the flexibility of Gumby. I call them Gumbercules and we all know Gumbercules would defeat Thor without breaking a sweat.
@Dnice: Gumbercules has to be a mutant and I’m guessing his brain is underdeveloped. Thor the God of War would step on Gumbercules and then use his hammer to scrape the goo off!
August 30th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Thor is the God of Thunder and is no match for Gumbercules. The big hammer is to make up for his small weiner and lack of RB strength. I will grant you that any mixture of RB’s with CJ in it may result in an underdeveloped brain. Good thing you dont need to be smart to run fast.
August 31st, 2010 at 11:50 am
In 2 QB PPR leagues (or 0.5 PPR), is it smarter to take an elite WR or QB with one of your first two picks? I’ve got 6th pick (of 10) and I’m seriously considering AJ over Gore/Turner in the first round, hoping to snag Charles or Mendy in Rd. 2 and the best available QB in round 3. Am I better off going with Rodgers or Brees in round 1? It seems like a crap shoot either way.
@gregsauce: I would lean toward Rodgers/Brees unless Rice falls.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:52 am
Here’s the results of my 8 team 2QB league draft (TD passes are 4pts). I had the #2 pick. Round and pick # are in parenthesis.
QB–Brady (2.15)
QB–E. Manning (5.34)
RB–AP (1.2)
RB–B. Wells (4.31)
WR–C. Johnson (3.15)
WR–Bowe (8.63)
TE–Celek (9.66)
RB/WR–Foster (6.47)
WR/TE–Sims-Walker (13.98)
DEF–San Francisco (15.114)
K–Gostowski (17.130)
BENCH:
Stafford (QB) (12.95)
P. Thomas (RB) (7.50)
Forte (RB) (10.79)
Sproles (RB) (16.127)
M. Floyd (WR) (11.82)
J. Jones (WR) (14.111)
M. Williams (WR) (18.143)
Critical draft decision: selecting Calvin Johnson over Matt Schaub in the 3rd round (3.18). The rest of the top 7 QBs went in the 3rd and 4th rounds and I reached for E. Manning with my 5th pick (5.34) in order to have 2 top 10 QBs. Stafford (12.95) provides nice insurance, particularly for a round 12 selection, but I think I’d do rounds 3 and 5 differently if given the opportunity. What say ye, Doc?
@NOLA: Yeah, I like Stafford a lot as a back up here. Always tough to judge a 8 teamer. I like PT as a backup for sure. No real holes that I can see.
September 1st, 2010 at 8:15 am
Just reviewed the draft again and discovered that Schaub had been taken @ #16, which better explains why I took C. Johnson @ #18 and Eli @ #34. My gut tells me I’ll be using Stafford more than Eli. Gotta listen to that gut!
September 1st, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Here was my drafted team for the 1st time ever doing this. I am thinking of dumping Jones and picking up McCluster from KC to play my flex. Any thoughts:
Qb: P Manning with Flacco on the bench
RBs: Beanie Wells, A Bradshaw Sproles and Julious Jones on the Bench
WRs: Welker, Greg Jennings, Garcon currently in flex Mason, Meachem, Berrian on the bench
TE: Witten
Def.: Saints
Kicker: Tynes
Any thoughts? Should I have different starters for receiver? Is getting McCluster a good deal for Jones?
@Dan: I would drop Julius for McCluster, but i wouldn’t start him over Garcon. Is Sproles starting? I would like an upgrade there unless it is a return yardage league.