So you just got into your uncle’s start up league and are taking on the brain trust of Cousin Jed, Aunt Loretta, and Grandpa Joe. So you are pretty sure these will be easy pickings and there are inheritances to win, but for some reason Uncle Red set it up as a 2 QB league and now you have to actually think about what you are doing. So I’m going to try to do some thinking for you and maybe you can do a little and then I’ll do some and we’ll just pass the thinking around until we are all hopped up on thinking.
So when facing a league with a roster or scoring you aren’t used to, you’ve usually got to reprogram your fantasy brain. The good thing is that your league mates are also 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 often the case, but even if it is, don’t worry too much. Unless you are just a worrier and then I’m not qualified to assist you.
The only reason I like to wait on quarterbacks in your standard leagues is because when you draft just 12 starters you know you are going to get a solid quarterback even if you wait. Your league mate isn’t going to draft Brees in the third round and then screw you up by drafting Manning in the 4th. That person is dunski with QBs for a long while. But if s/he drafts a RB in round 1 there is nothing stopping this wo/man from drafting another in round 2 and quickly narrowing the RB player pool way down. I will feel great getting Tony Romo in the 5th round in a 1 QB league and going about my business, but all of this stuff I’ve just talked to you about? It goes right out the window in 2 QB leagues.
Let’s take a look at the top scorers from each position and where the points drop off:
QB: 1. Michael Vick 300, 12. Matt Cassell 217, 24. Jason Campbell 148
RB: 1. Arian Foster 313, 12. Maurice Jones-Drew 186, 24. Tomas Jones 126, 36. Marshawn Lynch 103
WR: 1. Brandon Lloyd 203, 12. Mike Williams (TB) 151, 24. Derrick Mason 117, 36. Michael Crabtree 103
You can see that the drop off after the top 12 QBs is a little 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 the 24th drafted QB outplaying the 24th drafted 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 down field 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 5 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 McFadden/Forte/McCoy/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 Vick, Rodgers, Brees, Manning, but if you have the choice between say McFadden and one of those three, I’m leaning toward the elite QB.
In this kind of league you have to pay attention to the QB runs (gross). I hate reaching for a position just because everyone else is, but with this set up I am much more inclined to because I do not want to get stuck with John Beck 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, Sam Bradford and TIm Tebow as well, but you just don’t see Arian Foster, Brandon Lloyd and Peyton Hillis 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!
