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For decades, the gold standard for fantasy football has been the one-quarterback format. Dating back to the very first fantasy football league started by Benjamin Franklin, our forefathers have devalued the quarterback position by choosing to start just one QB per fantasy team. This was an understandable strategy in fantasy football’s infancy, as electricity was new and football didn’t exist, but the one-quarterback format is quickly becoming history… much like Ben.
More and more fantasy football addicts are gravitating towards the Superflex format because it properly values the most important position in sports. When you start just one passer, knowledgeable managers often choose not to roster a backup passer. As a result, the supply of good passers on waivers balloons. By switching to Superflex, the demand goes up and supply drops down. Suddenly, fantasy managers start valuing the position like it deserves to be valued.
For those who have always been a fan of this format and those considering making the switch, we here at Rotoballer have conducted our annual staff Superflex mock for redraft leagues. Below, you will find the results of that draft, with team-by-team breakdowns and analysis. This is your traditional PPR scoring league, so keep that in mind as you peruse the reviews below.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024 fantasy football drafts:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Fantasy football rookie rankings
- Best ball fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
Format Options
Let's break down some of the other key characteristics of this draft and define terms that will be used throughout the rest of the article. Each of the following should be strongly considered when devising a draft strategy.
Redraft - When you enter a draft focused solely on the season ahead, you can ignore the long-term outlook of certain players and consider the situation they are in for the next year. While age and injury history are still factors to keep in mind when making your selections, they are not weighted nearly as heavily as they are in dynasty leagues.
Superflex - A format that allows you, but does not require you, to start two quarterbacks. Because quarterbacks generally average more fantasy points than other positions, it is usually the right decision to start two of them every week if possible. Since there are only a maximum of 32 starting quarterbacks on a given week, they are often the most valuable assets in 12-team Superflex formats.
Four-point passing touchdowns - In superflex leagues that award just four points per passing touchdown as opposed to six, quarterbacks with elite rushing upside may sometimes be preferred. This is because rushing output is scored the same for all positions, meaning six points are given to quarterback rushing touchdowns and one point is given per 10 rushing yards.
Full-PPR - When a full point is awarded for every reception, wide receivers and pass-catching running backs become more essential in starting lineups. In leagues such as this one where three wide receivers must be started every week, you will see many teams opt to draft more players at that position than any others.
Stacking - Stacking, although considered far more crucial in best ball formats, is a great way to maximize weekly fantasy output. When you pair a quarterback with a wide receiver or tight end on the same team, you give yourself access to a higher ceiling on weeks in which both players combine for a lot of points.
Taking all of these factors into account, here is the draft board, showing each manager's selections for the first 11 rounds. Full results can be found here.
Fantasy Football Draft Board
Team #1 (Jorden Hill)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | Josh Allen | Bills | 1.01 | |||
RB | Najee Harris | Steelers | 7.1 | |||
RB | Tony Pollard | Titans | 8.12 | |||
WR | Marvin Harrison Jr. | Cardinals | 2.12 | |||
WR | Mike Evans | Buccaneers | 3.01 | |||
WR | D.J. Moore | Bears | 5.01 | |||
TE | T.J. Hockenson | Vikings | 13.1 | |||
Flex | Amari Cooper | Browns | 6.12 | |||
Flex | Jonathon Brooks | Panthers | 9.01 | |||
SF | Kirk Cousins | Falcons | 4.12 | |||
Bench | ||||||
WR | Brian Thomas Jr. | Jaguars | 10.12 | |||
WR | Daniel Jones | Giants | 11.01 | |||
RB | Ty Chandler | Vikings | 12.12 | |||
TE | Dalton Schultz | Texans | 14.12 | |||
WR | Ricky Pearsall | 49ers | 15.1 | |||
WR | Denzel Mims | Broncos | 16.12 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
4 | 12 | Just Miss the Playoffs | ||||
Is Josh Allen QB1 in 2024?: Josh Allen has been fantasy's top-scoring QB in three of the past four seasons. The one year he wasn’t first overall, he finished second. Allen also has a short track record of elite production under his current offensive coordinator, Joe Brady. After Brady took over as the Bills’ offensive coordinator last year, Allen’s rush attempts, yards, and touchdowns nearly doubled.
Unfortunately, Allen’s passing stats went down across the board under Brady. After Ken Dorsey’s exit, Allen’s pass attempts per game, passing TDs, and completion rate decreased. This dip in passing is especially concerning when you consider it happened with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Those two have since been replaced by a rookie (Keon Coleman) and a journeyman (Curtis Samuel). Allen’s lack of reliable weapons and his drop in passing volume are both concerns.
While the Wyoming alum remains an elite fantasy asset, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts are just as talented and carry fewer concerns. Allen has just one wide receiver on his roster who has caught an in-game pass from him. Meanwhile, Hurts has years of experience with his top pass catchers and has just as much rushing upside. With that in mind, it's tough to say Allen has a higher ceiling or a safer floor than Hurts in 2024.
Josh Allen’s rushing production spiked under Joe Brady
Week 11 on (9 games)
• 9.2 att/game
• 47.1 yards/game
• 1.2 TD/game17 game pace: 156 att / 800 yards / 20 TD (lols) pic.twitter.com/1H1phQbT6c
— Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT) July 19, 2024
Too Many Risks for Zero RB: Jorden executes a Zero RB build here, waiting until round seven to draft his first running back. By doing that, Jorden commits to starting two low-end RBs (RB18 and RB22 in this mock) every week. That puts him at a disadvantage in both spots, meaning he has to dominate multiple other positions to contend. Unfortunately, the number of risks Jorden took at those other positions suggests he won't get what he needs.
Now, in Jorden’s defense, Jonathon Brooks is the ideal choice for a Zero RB build. The rookie has the talent and opportunity to become a workhorse back for Carolina; the only question is when that could happen. Unfortunately, there is a real chance that Brooks could be limited in or miss multiple games to start this season. If that happens, it creates a hole in Jorden's flex. It also forces Jorden to rely on the underwhelming Harris and Pollard as starters, with few other options at RB available.
If RB were the only risk he took, Jorden would be okay. It wasn't his only risk, though. Jorden's starting TE (T.J. Hockenson) isn't expected to play until November. Worse, Kirk Cousins is still recovering from a torn Achilles and Mike Evans is 31. Plus, D.J. Moore has significant target competition and could fall behind Rome Odunze in the Bears’ pecking order by the fantasy playoffs. You simply cannot afford to take this many risks when punting the RB position.
Overall Outlook: Jorden’s team is the definition of a lottery ticket. If everything goes right, he could be very good. However, the number of longshots that must come to fruition for this team to reach its potential is daunting. He needs father time and injuries to all work out perfectly. Jorden also needs Najee Harris to have a career year and D.J. Moore to maintain a high target share with a new quarterback and added competition. Odds favor this squad struggling.
Team #2 (David Ventresca)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | Jalen Hurts | Eagles | 1.02 | |||
RB | Zamir White | Raiders | 9.02 | |||
RB | Javonte Williams | Broncos | 10.11 | |||
WR | Drake London | Falcons | 2.11 | |||
WR | DK Metcalf | Seahawks | 5.02 | |||
WR | Diontae Johnson | Panthers | 6.11 | |||
TE | Trey McBride | Cardinals | 4.11 | |||
Flex | Christian Kirk | Jaguars | 7.02 | |||
Flex | Rashee Rice | Chiefs | 8.11 | |||
SF | Jordan Love | Packers | 3.02 | |||
Bench | ||||||
WR | Tyler Lockett | Seahawks | 11.2 | |||
RB | Jaleel McLaughlin | Broncos | 12.11 | |||
QB | Aidan O'Connell | Raiders | 13.2 | |||
RB | J.K. Dobbins | Chargers | 14.11 | |||
RB | Ray Davis | Bills | 15.2 | |||
RB | Bucky Irving | Buccaneers | 16.11 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
2 | 14 | Contender | ||||
Quarterbacks Cover Warts: David started this mock strong, securing two quarterbacks with top-tier upside. Jalen Hurts is a strong contender to be the first player selected in most Superflex drafts, while Jordan Love’s impressive close to the 2023 season has many expecting a top-ten fantasy finish this year. There is a world where David has two top-five fantasy quarterbacks by the end of the 2024 season.
If Love can replicate the second half of his 2023 season over a full year, and Hurts returns to his 2022 form, then David is virtually guaranteed a playoff spot regardless of what goes wrong with the rest of his roster. Getting two top-shelf QBs in Superflex will cover up a lot of warts on any roster, especially when you can add a top TE like Trey McBride with your fourth selection. David should win at least three positional matchups most weeks.
Reasons Jordan Love should be having a terrible season:
• NFL’s youngest skill players
• WR1, RB1, TE1 all missed significant time
• $40M Rodgers dead cap = No FA signings
• No All-Pro LT
• 31st ranked defense DVOA*Yet, he’s Top 10 in QBR, TDs and keeps getting better pic.twitter.com/m0b6588XVP
— Soren Sodergren🧀🏈 (@Soren_Sodergren) December 26, 2023
Fallout from QB-Heavy Start: Drafting two passers in your first three picks means you will have a weakness or two at other positions. That’s okay in Superflex leagues, as long as you grab bona fide stars early and target upside with later picks. If you do that, then weaknesses can quickly turn into additional strengths.
Here, David's first position player was a bit of a reach. He took the upside of Drake London at 2.11 when several safer options were available. While London has the talent and opportunity to ascend, he hasn't done enough to merit going over Saquon Barkley, Jordan Love, Davante Adams, Sam LaPorta, or Travis Kelce. London was my WR1 in the 2022 NFL Draft class, but there are enough questions surrounding him that he should drop to the third or fourth round of Superflex drafts.
While London was a bit of a reach, David collected a strong group of receivers to complement the London lottery ticket. In London, Christian Watson, and Rashee Rice, David took pass catchers with the upside to finish top-ten at their position and the downside to finish as a WR4 or WR5. He balanced that risk with two of this year’s safer pass catchers, getting great value in Christian Kirk and Diontae Johnson. This is what calculated risk looks like.
Overall Outlook: David attacked the Zero RB strategy incredibly well. He drafted two top-end quarterbacks, which is key for Superflex. David also nabbed a top-tier TE in McBride while drafting a well-balanced receiver corp. He capped the strategy by getting a screaming deal on Zamir White, the exact type of cheap high-volume RB you look for with this build. This team should make the playoffs, and it will go far if White and London hit their ceilings.
Team #3 (Andy Smith)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | Patrick Mahomes | Chiefs | 1.03 | |||
RB | Saquon Barkley | Eagles | 3.03 | |||
RB | Alvin Kamara | Saints | 6.10 | |||
WR | Garrett Wilson | Jets | 2.10 | |||
WR | Michael Pittman Jr. | Colts | 4.10 | |||
WR | Terry McLaurin | Commanders | 7.03 | |||
TE | David Njoku | Browns | 11.3 | |||
Flex | Jordan Addison | Vikings | 8.10 | |||
Flex | Raheem Mostert | Dolphins | 9.03 | |||
SF | Aaron Rodgers | Jets | 5.03 | |||
Bench | ||||||
QB | Bo Nix | Broncos | 10.10 | |||
RB | Ezekiel Elliott | Cowboys | 12.10 | |||
WR | Mike Williams | Jets | 13.3 | |||
WR | Roman Wilson | Steelers | 14.10 | |||
RB | Tyler Allgeier | Falcons | 15.03 | |||
TE | Ben Sinnott | Commanders | 16.10 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
3 | 13 | Brittle Contender | ||||
Father Time: Andy's selection of Aaron Rodgers in the fifth round was almost necessary, given how many teams drafted their QB2 before that point. That said, a 40-year-old coming off a torn Achilles is always a risk, especially when they are skipping mandatory workouts. While there's not much arguing with the upside of this choice or the necessity of it, this outcome shows you why so many managers are eager to get their QB2 by the third round of Superflex drafts.
Hadn’t seen this angle of the Aaron Rodgers injury but here’s its clear as day.
This is the example of a calf “tremble”, or “flutter”, or “twitch/tremor”.
Descriptions of the Achilles tendon rupturing & calf reverberating.
pic.twitter.com/gUC31QmDFm— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) September 12, 2023
Rodgers isn’t the only age risk Andy took, either. Outside of Barkley, who is right on the age fence, nearly all of this team’s running backs are past their expiration date. Alvin Kamara and Ezekiel Elliott will be 29 this year, the typical deadline for RB decline, while Raheem Mostert is 32. Throw in Barkley's age and injury history, plus Atlanta’s claims that Bijan will be a workhorse this year, and Andy’s RBs all carry significant question marks.
Balanced Build: Age aside, Andy was the first team not to use a Zero RB plan in this mock. He started out getting the safest quarterback in fantasy this year (Patrick Mahomes) at 1.03 before adding a true WR1 in Garrett Wilson and a true RB1 in Saquon Barkley. Andy should have a top-tier option at each of these key positions, and his choice to select Barkley gave him flexibility with his later choices.
After securing a top-tier option at three different positions, Andy added two potentially high-volume receivers in Michael Pittman Jr. and Terry McLaurin. Of particular note is the McLaurin pick, who was 18th in YAC/RR last year and has earned 130+ targets in three of the past four seasons. It is not out of the question that the former Buckeye sets career highs across the board with Jayden Daniels, who throws with very good ball placement and touch on deep throws.
Overall Outlook: Andy's build has only two concerns. The first is its age. Odds favor at least half of his running back room hitting a wall this year, while Rodgers is no spring chicken himself. The other concern is the lack of elite volume that everyone on his bench and several on his starting roster possesses. In particular, Jordan Addison and David Njoku have concerns with their quarterbacks and target competition.
If Andy’s roster can stave off age for one more season, it will be a true contender. If Father Time catches up with just two of his older contributors, he could be in trouble. That’s why the safe money would be on Andy’s squad making the playoffs, but losing in the first round.
Team #4 (Brant Hanson)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | Caleb Williams | Bears | 3.04 | |||
RB | Christian McCaffrey | 49ers | 1.04 | |||
RB | Derrick Henry | Ravens | 4.09 | |||
WR | Puka Nacua | Rams | 2.09 | |||
WR | Tank Dell | Texans | 6.09 | |||
WR | Keenan Allen | Bears | 7.04 | |||
TE | Brock Bowers | Raiders | 9.04 | |||
Flex | James Conner | Cardinals | 8.09 | |||
Flex | Nick Chubb | Browns | 11.04 | |||
SF | Matthew Stafford | Rams | 5.04 | |||
Bench | ||||||
QB | Russell Wilson | Steelers | 10.09 | |||
WR | Romeo Doubs | Packers | 12.09 | |||
WR | Troy Franklin | Broncos | 13.04 | |||
RB | Kimani Vidal | Chargers | 14.09 | |||
RB | Jaylen Wright | Dolphins | 15.04 | |||
WR | Adam Thielen | Panthers | 16.09 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
5 | 11 | Boom or Bust | ||||
The Boom: Expectations are high when your first pick is the reigning Offensive Player of the Year. While Christian McCaffrey is hitting the worrisome age of 28 and the 49ers are talking about dialing back his touches, the Stanford alum's playstyle and talent suggest he has at least one more elite fantasy year in him. CMC scored 101 more PPR points than the second-highest RB last year, and only four WRs came within 100 points of his total PPR output.
Christian McCaffrey’s 391 PPR Points were the most scored at the position since…….Christian McCaffrey in 2019 (471!)
CMC now has three of the last five highest PPR RB scoring totals- 2023, 2019 and 2018 (385)
Fantasy legend.
— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) January 4, 2024
On top of McCaffrey, this team secured three players capable of massively outperforming their current ADP. Despite career lows in several efficiency metrics while running behind a bad offensive line last year, Derrick Henry was still RB8 in PPR. His metrics and blocking should be better in Baltimore, as should his touchdown opportunities. Throw in the WR6 (Puka Nacua) and WR19 (Tank Dell) in fantasy ppg last year, and this team has considerable upside.
The Bust: While the upside with this team is tantalizing, the bust factor is even higher. Brant is relying on two rookies to fill key starting positions, making Caleb Williams his QB1 and Brock Bowers his TE1. Both have the talent to become stars immediately, but quarterback and tight end are two of the hardest positions for a rookie to master and thrive at in their first year. Even if Williams and Bowers are destined to be fantasy darlings, it may not happen this year.
On top of the concerns about those rookies, one has to wonder about Brant’s running backs hitting the wall. Worries over CMC are moderate, but Henry is 30 years old and James Conner is 29. Both have mobile quarterbacks who can steal rushing touchdowns, plus they have younger backs behind them. Throw in the severity of Nick Chubb's knee injury, the competition Tank Dell faces for targets, and the possibility that Puka regresses, and there is considerable downside to this build.
Overall Outlook: Ultimately, Brant took a similar draft strategy to the one I usually employ in redrafts. In the famous words of Ricky Bobby, “If you’re not first, you’re last.” With this kind of strategy, you do not shy away from risk. Instead of filling holes with sturdy players with capped ceilings, like Christian Kirk or Diontae Johnson, you attack upside and embrace risk. It's the perfect way to ensure you have a shot at a title, but it’s also the formula for finishing last.
Team #5 (Chris Gregory)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | Lamar Jackson | Ravens | 1.05 | |||
RB | Jahmyr Gibbs | Lions | 2.08 | |||
RB | Josh Jacobs | Packers | 5.05 | |||
WR | Malik Nabers | Giants | 4.08 | |||
WR | George Pickens | Steelers | 6.08 | |||
WR | Rome Odunze | Bears | 8.08 | |||
TE | Travis Kelce | Chiefs | 3.05 | |||
Flex | Ladd McConkey | Chargers | 9.05 | |||
Flex | Jameson Williams | Lions | 11.05 | |||
SF | Baker Mayfield | Buccaneers | 7.05 | |||
Bench | ||||||
QB | J.J. McCarthy | Vikings | 10.08 | |||
WR | Jerry Jeudy | Browns | 12.08 | |||
RB | MarShawn Lloyd | Packers | 13.05 | |||
RB | Tyrone Tracy Jr. | Giants | 14.08 | |||
WR | Jermaine Burton | Bengals | 15.05 | |||
WR | Javon Baker | Patriots | 16.8 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
8 | 8 | If You’re Not First, You’re Last | ||||
Zigging When Others Zag: Nearly every team in this mock followed the current "meta" in fantasy football, which is to target WRs early and often. Receiver is the highest-scoring position in fantasy outside of quarterback, and the most popular strategy is to hoard those positions early. While this is the ideal plan, the value at WR and QB can dry up fast in Superflex leagues. That can leave managers like myself targeting the top players at other, thinner positions.
When I came on the clock at 2.08, there were three receivers available worthy of that selection: Puka Nacua, Garrett Wilson, and Marvin Harrison Jr. All of those players have elite upside, but none stands out from their position group like Jahmyr Gibbs or Travis Kelce do. Specifically, the drop in potential from WR8 to WR18 isn't as great as from RB4 to RB9. When you realize this, drafting an elite RB or TE instead of a second-tier WR starts to make sense.
I bet Jahmyr Gibbs is excited to matchup with the Los Angeles Rams LBs again in Week 1.
Part 2 pic.twitter.com/KXvEe1isbt
— Al Karsten (@FootballGuy_Al) July 17, 2024
A Zero WR Strategy: When you wait to draft a WR until the fourth round, options can be limited. You are left looking at mid-tier WR2 options with relatively safe floors, or you can take volatile weapons with a wide range of outcomes. That said, the best bet when you wait this long on WR is to chase the upside of volatile weapons. That is why I took Malik Nabers and George Pickens, despite both selections coming well ahead of their ADP.
Nabers and Pickens both have elite talent, with Nabers grading as one of the five best receiver prospects in the past decade of the NFL Draft. Both receivers also project for massive target shares, considering neither has an established WR2 or prolific TE on their roster. Even better, Daniel Jones ranked 1st in PFF's Adjusted Completion Percentage in 2022, and Russell Wilson was 4th in 2023. In other words, Jones and Wilson’s throws are typically more accurate than people think.
For those doubting Nabers’ ability to thrive as a rookie, consider that a rookie has finished top-six at his position in PPR scoring in three of the past four seasons. In 2020, three rookie wide receivers finished top-28 at their position in PPR. The next year, three rookies finished in the top 13. Heck, the 2023 NFL Draft was supposed to be a down year for WRs, yet three rookies finished top-20 in PPR points per game.
Overall Outlook: There is a ton of upside to this roster. If healthy, my team should have an edge at the QB1, RB1, RB2, and TE positions most weeks. The real questions come at WR and flex, where the floor is astronomically low if Nabers, Pickens, and Rome Odunze don’t produce near their potential. I drafted the #1 target on three teams (Nabers, Pickens, and Ladd McConkey). If that translates to great volume, this team is a contender. If not, it's in trouble.
Team #6 (Ellis Johnson)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | Anthony Richardson | Colts | 1.06 | |||
RB | Jonathan Taylor | Colts | 2.07 | |||
RB | De'Von Achane | Dolphins | 4.07 | |||
WR | Davante Adams | Raiders | 3.06 | |||
WR | Nico Collins | Texans | 5.06 | |||
WR | Calvin Ridley | Titans | 8.07 | |||
TE | Dalton Kincaid | Bills | 6.07 | |||
Flex | Zack Moss | Bengals | 9.06 | |||
Flex | Brian Robinson Jr. | Commanders | 10.07 | |||
SF | Geno Smith | Seahawks | 7.06 | |||
Bench | ||||||
WR | Courtland Sutton | Broncos | 11.06 | |||
WR | Adonai Mitchell | Colts | 12.07 | |||
QB | Sam Darnold | Vikings | 13.06 | |||
WR | Jahan Dotson | Commanders | 14.07 | |||
RB | Braelon Allen | Jets | 15.06 | |||
TE | Luke Musgrave | Packers | 16.07 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
2 | 14 | Miss the Playoffs | ||||
Collecting Colts: If you were to project Anthony Richardson’s two full games from 2023 over a full season, he would have finished as fantasy's top-scoring QB last year. Of course, that was just two games. It’s hard to trust anything or anyone you’ve only seen for two full games. The Florida alum's film continues to suggest he's a raw but improved passer who derives much of his value from running through contact. So, drafting him over Joe Burrow and C.J. Stroud is risky.
Anthony Richardson 30 yard dot
— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) July 18, 2024
Ellis further compounded the risk of Richardson by taking his teammate, Jonathan Taylor, at 2.07. Drafting a QB and RB duo on the same is always risky, especially with a running quarterback. 33% of Richardson’s fantasy value came from rushing touchdowns last year, while Taylor’s best fantasy seasons came when he scored double-digit rushing touchdowns. The chance that Richardson and Taylor cannibalize each other, or alternate good games, makes them a risky duo.
Forgetting the Flex: The flex is another concern for this squad. Generally, you want your flex positions filled with WRs in a PPR league. Instead, Ellis filled his flex with two timeshare running backs who may not see many targets. The top flex options he could replace those backs with are a veteran in a contract conflict (Courtland Sutton) and a rookie aspiring to finish second on his team in targets (Adonai Mitchell).
Suffice it to say both flex spots on this roster are incredibly volatile. If Brian Robinson Jr. and Zack Moss both secure strangleholds on their backfields, Ellis will be fine. If Austin Ekeler and Chase Brown play a lot on passing downs or get even more work, the flex becomes a weakness for this team.
Overall Outlook: Ellis drafted some of the best breakout candidates of 2024. Anthony Richardson, Dalton Kincaid, and De’Von Achane all have the physical ability to finish as the top scorers at their position. They also carry injury concerns and questions about volume or consistency. Factor in concerns with Ellis’ flex, bench depth, and the possibility that Nico Collins' hyper-efficient 2023 can't be repeated, and this team has the feel of a rollercoaster that ends before the playoffs.
Team #7 (Brad Camara)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | Dak Prescott | Cowboys | 2.06 | |||
RB | Travis Etienne | Jaguars | 4.06 | |||
RB | Kenneth Walker | Seahawks | 6.06 | |||
WR | CeeDee Lamb | Cowboys | 1.07 | |||
WR | Deebo Samuel Sr. | 49ers | 5.07 | |||
WR | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seahawks | 9.07 | |||
TE | Jake Ferguson | Cowboys | 8.06 | |||
Flex | Rhamondre Stevenson | Patriots | 7.07 | |||
Flex | Tyjae Spears | Titans | 10.06 | |||
SF | Brock Purdy | 49ers | 3.07 | |||
Bench | ||||||
QB | Derek Carr | Saints | 11.07 | |||
WR | Jakobi Meyers | Raiders | 12.06 | |||
WR | Rashid Shaheed | Saints | 13.07 | |||
WR | Brandin Cooks | Cowboys | 14.06 | |||
RB | Tank Bigsby | Jaguars | 15.07 | |||
TE | Cole Kmet | Bears | 16.06 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
0 | 16 | First Round Exit | ||||
Stackable: Those looking for "stacks" hope to double-dip on big games by pairing a QB and WR on the same team. Perhaps the most popular stack in Superflex this year is the Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb combo. The top-scoring receiver from last season, Lamb can typically be had with a late first-round pick in Superflex, while Dak can be had in the second. Adding Jake Ferguson to the fantasy hydra makes sense, too, given the cost.
Pay CeeDee Lamb today pic.twitter.com/QLoT3Zy9VT
— Ernie The Cowboys Fan (@es3_09) July 17, 2024
After starting with a Dallas double-dip, Brad tripled down on the stacking strategy later. He paired his QB2 (Brock Purdy) with Deebo Samuel, his backup QB (Derek Carr) with Rashid Shaheed, and for good measure, he is starting two Seahawks. It’s a strategy that can pay off some weeks but hurt badly in others. For example, if Deebo is gimpy, then he hampers Purdy, too. If Dak is out, it drops Lamb’s output significantly. None of that matters if they all hit in the playoffs, though.
Bench Issues: Brad’s starting roster is good enough to make a playoff run and win it all if his stacks hit at the right time. He will need those starters to stay healthy, though. Rashid Shaheed is most valuable in leagues that reward kick returns, which this isn’t. Meanwhile, Tank Bigsby is a backup coming off an abysmal rookie season, Brandin Cooks is last year’s WR39 going into his age 31 season, and Derek Carr was QB29 in ppg.
In total, Brad drafted six wide receivers. Two (Rashid Shaheed and Jaxon Smith-Njigba) are boom-or-bust players whose production will likely be inconsistent week-to-week. Two others (Jakobi Meyers and Brandin Cooks) are low-ceiling plays. That leaves Deebo and Lamb to carry this team's water while Brad plays two part-time running backs in his flex.
Overall Outlook: Brad went with another balanced build, securing an elite WR1, two quality quarterbacks, and two quality starting RBs. If those key players all see a full season, there's little reason this team shouldn't make the playoffs. The lack of upside at Brad's flex and bench spots should keep him from a championship, though. Instead of adding rookies and high-upside players to his bench, he filled it mostly with low-upside vets.
Team #8 (Alex Ciulla)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | Joe Burrow | Bengals | 1.08 | |||
RB | Isiah Pacheco | Chiefs | 5.08 | |||
RB | James Cook | Bills | 6.05 | |||
WR | A.J. Brown | Eagles | 2.05 | |||
WR | Jaylen Waddle | Dolphins | 4.05 | |||
WR | Jayden Reed | Packers | 8.05 | |||
TE | Kyle Pitts | Falcons | 7.08 | |||
Flex | Marquise Brown | Chiefs | 9.08 | |||
Flex | Austin Ekeler | Commanders | 10.05 | |||
SF | Tua Tagovailoa | Dolphins | 3.08 | |||
Bench | ||||||
QB | Drake Maye | Patriots | 11.08 | |||
RB | Jerome Ford | Browns | 12.05 | |||
WR | Josh Downs | Colts | 13.08 | |||
WR | Dontayvion Wicks | Packers | 14.05 | |||
WR | Demario Douglas | Patriots | 15.08 | |||
TE | Cade Otton | Buccaneers | 16.5 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
1 | 15 | Contender | ||||
Strong Start: Alex nailed his first four picks. Getting Joe Burrow and A.J. Brown in the first two rounds assured him a safe but talented core before he chased the title with a volatile but exciting Dolphin stack (Jaylen Waddle and Tua Tagovailoa). Waddle is one of the better values in drafts right now, considering his ADP is WR16. Remember, the Alabama product finished WR13 in PPR ppg as a rookie in 2021 and WR8 in a healthy 2022.
Alex didn’t stop the good times from rolling after his first four picks, either. In Kyle Pitts, Alex got incredible upside at a thin position for a discounted price. Pitts isn’t one of the top TEs off the board because he carries inherent risk, but he is also a year removed from the injury and coach that limited him the past two years. No TE in football has more fantasy potential than the Florida product, especially considering he is now playing with the best passer of his career.
Kyle Pitts is back. The footwork is impressive & the Cuts show the knee is fully healed coming in year 4. The Falcons are expecting Pitts to play TE & WR in the new offense. Expect a big year from Pitts with Kirk in the Fold. 8-10 TDs with 1300 yards in 24 . #RISEUP #NFL pic.twitter.com/7I4cOGVaqr
— Terry Bolden (@TwistedTorchTv) July 17, 2024
Risky Finish: While I loved how Alex's team looked after his first seven choices, there were questions afterward. Specifically, trusting Austin Ekeler and Marquise Brown in the flex. Hollywood may be the fourth-best receiving option on this team by Week 5 if Rashee Rice's suspension isn't bad and Xavier Worthy is healthy. Meanwhile, Ekeler looked over the hill last year and is past the expiration date for most running backs.
It wasn’t all bad in the second half of Alex’s draft, though. While Drake Maye could be a reach who never sees the field, Jerome Ford has a good chance to be the starting running back for the Browns to start this season. Josh Downs and Dontayvion Wicks are also talented bench players with the potential to outperform their ADP if another receiver on their team goes down. It helps that since this mock, Wicks’ quarterback has also sung his praises.
Overall Outlook: Alex came out of this draft with a good mix of safety and upside. Burrow, Brown, Waddle, Tua, Cook, and Pacheco should all be good starters with the potential to be great. Meanwhile, Pitts, Jayden Reed, and Ekeler are all calculated risks whose price means they won’t tank this team’s chances if they disappoint.
Team #9 (Scott Engel)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | C.J. Stroud | Texans | 1.09 | |||
RB | Bijan Robinson | Falcons | 2.04 | |||
RB | D'Andre Swift | Bears | 8.04 | |||
WR | Chris Olave | Saints | 3.9 | |||
WR | Cooper Kupp | Rams | 5.09 | |||
WR | Tee Higgins | Bengals | 6.04 | |||
TE | Evan Engram | Jaguars | 7.09 | |||
Flex | Keon Coleman | Bills | 10.04 | |||
Flex | Devin Singletary | Giants | 11.09 | |||
SF | Trevor Lawrence | Jaguars | 4.04 | |||
Bench | ||||||
QB | Bryce Young | Panthers | 9.09 | |||
WR | Khalil Shakir | Bills | 12.4 | |||
RB | Rico Dowdle | Cowboys | 13.9 | |||
TE | Pat Freiermuth | Steelers | 14.04 | |||
WR | Quentin Johnston | Chargers | 15.09 | |||
RB | Roschon Johnson | Bears | 16.4 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
1 | 15 | Contender | ||||
The Second Best Start: Only one team started this mock better than Scott. His first two picks were a killer duo, nabbing C.J. Stroud at 1.09 and Bijan Robinson at 2.04. Despite a slow Week 1 and a miserable Week 14 marred with injury, Stroud still finished as QB10 in fantasy ppg as a rookie. Now he’s added Stefon Diggs to a potential sophomore leap, meaning 30 passing TDs is a conservative estimate. Stroud and Bijan should both finish in the top five at their positions in 2024.
Scott followed up an elite first two picks with several more quality plays. While Derek Carr will frequently throw passes to Olave that hit the Gatorade bucket on the sideline, and then scream at Olave for not catching it, it’s hard not to like the Buckeye at pick 3.09. It’s also hard to argue with Tee Higgins in round six since Higgins is heading into a contract year fully healthy. Neither receiver profiles for anything less than a WR2 this season.
Tee Higgins Returns to High WR2
🏥Struggled w injuries & chemistry w Browning but 2 1,000+ seasons w JB
💥Averaged 71.7-1000-6.7 w Burrow over his first 3 seasons
💥Contract Year could see an explosion back to Top 15 w 10 TD upside pic.twitter.com/mci6AueKXN
— Dynasty Dad (@DynastyDadFF) July 17, 2024
Target Upside Late: The biggest key to chasing a title is identifying undervalued prospects in the later rounds. Whether it be a seemingly underwhelming talent with a path to elite volume or a supremely gifted player with questions about his role or health, Scott found several late-round values for his bench.
While some buzz surrounds Curtis Samuel ascending in Buffalo, he hasn’t cracked the 900-yard receiving mark in seven seasons, and he's only topped 105 targets once. There is a skill to earning targets as a receiver, and Samuel doesn’t seem to have it. Keon Coleman also has buzz, but he’s a raw rookie who profiles as a boom-or-bust weekly option. As a result, Khalil Shakir is one of the best bench stashes in redraft leagues. Getting him at 12.4 is a bargain.
In addition, Scott also added an interesting dynamic to his bench, though it’s unclear if it was purposeful. The Dallas Cowboys continue to have a glaring need for RB talent, making them prime candidates to trade for someone like Khalil Herbert during the pre-season. If Herbert does become a Cowboy, then Roschon Johnson is immediately one of the most valuable handcuffs in fantasy. If Herbert isn’t in Dallas, Rico Dowdle’s value skyrockets. Scott drafted for both contingencies.
Overall Outlook: My projections have Stroud finishing as QB5 overall this season, while Bijan is RB2 and Trevor Lawrence is QB13. Throw in that Cooper Kupp was projected to have 135 targets over a full season last year, and this roster might have top-10 talents at four different roster spots.
The downside of this roster is that it relies heavily on injury/regression candidates. While Evan Engram was the TE2 overall in PPR last year, injuries to Calvin Ridley and Trevor Lawrence played a big part in his volume. Don’t expect Engram to finish top-five this year. Meanwhile, three of Scott’s starters (D’Andre Swift, Kupp, and Higgins) carry serious injury risk. These risks are enough to expect Scott to make the playoffs but fall short of a championship.
Team #10 (Jackson Sparks)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | Kyler Murray | Cardinals | 2.03 | |||
RB | Aaron Jones | Vikings | 7.10 | |||
RB | Jaylen Warren | Steelers | 10.03 | |||
WR | Tyreek Hill | Dolphins | 1.10 | |||
WR | Brandon Aiyuk | 49ers | 4.03 | |||
WR | Stefon Diggs | Texans | 5.10 | |||
TE | Sam LaPorta | Lions | 3.10 | |||
Flex | Zay Flowers | Ravens | 6.03 | |||
Flex | DeAndre Hopkins | Titans | 9.10 | |||
SF | Will Levis | Titans | 8.03 | |||
Bench | ||||||
RB | Gus Edwards | Chargers | 11.10 | |||
RB | Blake Corum | Rams | 12.3 | |||
RB | Kendre Miller | Saints | 13.10 | |||
RB | Chuba Hubbard | Panthers | 14.3 | |||
RB | Elijah Mitchell | 49ers | 15.10 | |||
QB | Michael Penix Jr. | Falcons | 16.03 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
2 | 14 | Just Miss the Playoffs | ||||
Head Scratcher at WR: Drafting Tyreek Hill at 1.10 makes plenty of sense, especially for a Zero RB build. After all, he was WR2 in PPR points per game last season, and he's finished third in the NFL in targets in both seasons with Miami. After Hill, there are questions in Jackson's receiver room, though.
Perhaps Jackson's most puzzling move was selecting Brandon Aiyuk over Jaylen Waddle. Consider that Aiyuk scored just 1.4 PPR ppg more than Waddle last year, despite Waddle playing injured. In the two previous years, Waddle led Aiyuk by more than double that margin. Now factor in Aiyuk’s contract dispute, the fact he’s never ranked higher than 36th in the NFL in targets, and San Fran’s addition of Ricky Pearsall. None of that suggests Aiyuk’s value will go up in 2024.
Brandon Aiyuk’s routes are art 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/OBSDQDW21r
— Footballism (@FootbaIIism) January 10, 2023
Everything, from metrics to logic, suggests Waddle is the safer and higher ceiling fantasy option than Aiyuk. Thus, Jackson's decision to take Aiyuk was a headscratcher… even though it happened before Aiyuk requested a trade.
Quantity Over Quality: While Aaron Jones is a fine Zero RB target on paper, there were a lot of better options available when Jackson took him. Consider that Zamir White, David Montgomery, D’Andre Swift, and Jonathon Brooks were all available when this team took Jones. All of those players have more youth, opportunity, and upside. Meanwhile, Jones enters his age 30 season with a history of nagging injuries and competition from a back (Ty Chandler) the coaching staff likes.
Beyond the Jones pick, this team largely went with a shotgun approach at RB. Every single back on this team is in a timeshare, with its most talented player (Jaylen Warren) being an undersized back with a coordinator (Arthur Smith) who is likely to rotate his backs even if Najee Harris goes down. Gus Edwards is arguably the highest upside back on this roster, and that's concerning since Edwards has little to no potential in the passing game.
Overall Outlook: With a combination of Hill, Kyler, and LaPorta, Jackson put himself in a position to win three position battles every week. Unfortunately, he could be at a distinct disadvantage at most other spots.
Will Levis as his QB2 is particularly risky, given the Kentucky alum averaged just 6.3 rushing yards per game. Throw in serious doubts about his RBs and the likelihood that both Aiyuk and Stefon Diggs see fewer than 110 targets, and this roster has more holes than it should.
Team #11 (Joey Pollizze)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | Justin Herbert | Chargers | 4.02 | |||
RB | Breece Hall | Jets | 1.11 | |||
RB | Kyren Williams | Rams | 3.11 | |||
WR | Amon-Ra St. Brown | Lions | 2.02 | |||
WR | DeVonta Smith | Eagles | 6.02 | |||
WR | Xavier Worthy | Chiefs | 9.11 | |||
TE | George Kittle | 49ers | 8.02 | |||
Flex | Rachaad White | Buccaneers | 5.11 | |||
Flex | Curtis Samuel | Bills | 10.02 | |||
SF | Deshaun Watson | Browns | 7.11 | |||
Bench | ||||||
QB | Justin Fields | Steelers | 11.11 | |||
RB | Chase Brown | Bengals | 12.02 | |||
WR | Joshua Palmer | Chargers | 13.11 | |||
WR | Ja'Lynn Polk | Patriots | 14.02 | |||
TE | Dallas Goedert | Eagles | 15.11 | |||
WR | Darnell Mooney | Falcons | 16.02 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
2 | 14 | Boom-or-Bust | ||||
Waiting on QB: Joey was one of three drafters who waited to draft a quarterback, which is a risky strategy in Superflex. However, it’s a strategy that can pay off if you get a good value on a high-upside thrower. Herbert is a player many analysts, including myself, immediately faded upon the hiring of Greg Roman. Roman offenses rarely average over 30+ pass attempts and he is vocal about wanting to run the ball. Roman also readily admits he hasn’t had a passer like Herbert, either.
The bigger problem with Joey's decision to pass on QB isn’t the volatility of Herbert, though. It’s that Deshaun Watson is a key starter for this team, with Justin Fields the only backup. On a per-game basis, Watson was QB27 in fantasy points in 2023 and QB26 in 2022. Worse, Watson hasn’t looked like a good quarterback in three years. With Justin Fields a backup on his own team, it’s hard not to question Joey taking Kyren Williams over Jayden Daniels in the third round.
Bonafide Bench: At least three players on Joey's bench possess the potential to become high-end fantasy starters by mid-season. At the top of that list is Justin Fields, who is still an elite fantasy asset because of what he can do with his legs. Few QBs make more sense for a Zero QB build than Fields, given what he could become as the starter in Pittsburgh. However, there is at least a 50/50 chance Fields never plays more than a handful of snaps in any game this year, too.
Teams should also follow Joey's lead by adding high-upside flyers like Chase Brown and Ja’Lynn Polk to their bench. Brown was one of my favorite rookie sleepers in 2023, and he could end up the RB1 on a very good offense with a good camp or an injury to Zack Moss. Meanwhile, Polk is a big receiver with polish, and the Patriots prioritized him in the Draft. He could easily be New England's top weapon by mid-season.
The Bengals need to get RB Chase Brown more involved in the passing game.
In a small sample size last season - Brown put up:
🟠 14 Receptions
🟠 156 Receiving Yards
🟠 11.1 YPR
pic.twitter.com/TQXXXaSOfb— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) July 8, 2024
Overall Outlook: There are two glaring issues on this roster. One is at QB2, where Watson will be a liability until he proves he isn’t. The other is Joey’s second flex spot, where Curtis Samuel is slotted to start. It's unlikely that Samuel will finally become a consistent target earner after seven seasons of inconsistency. Samuel is better suited as a bench stash than an automatic starter.
Aside from those two glaring weaknesses, this roster has the potential to contend. It has elite upside at QB1, RB1, RB2, and WR1. Players like George Kittle, Xavier Worthy, and DeVonta Smith all possess the potential to win your week, too. Kittle is particularly interesting, considering his fantasy production spikes every time Deebo Samuel is off the field. If the unlikely happens and Brandon Aiyuk gets his trade, a healthy Kittle could contend for TE1 overall.
Team #12 (Dan Fornek)
Pos. | Player | Team | Pick # | |||
QB | Jared Goff | Lions | 3.12 | |||
RB | Joe Mixon | Texans | 5.12 | |||
RB | David Montgomery | Lions | 7.12 | |||
WR | Justin Jefferson | Vikings | 1.12 | |||
WR | Ja'Marr Chase | Bengals | 2.01 | |||
WR | Chris Godwin | Buccaneers | 8.01 | |||
TE | Mark Andrews | Ravens | 6.01 | |||
Flex | Christian Watson | Packers | 9.12 | |||
Flex | Trey Benson | Cardinals | 10.01 | |||
SF | Jayden Daniels | Commanders | 4.01 | |||
Bench | ||||||
RB | Zach Charbonnet | Seahawks | 11.12 | |||
QB | Gardner Minshew | Raiders | 12.01 | |||
WR | Xavier Legette | Panthers | 13.12 | |||
RB | Antonio Gibson | Patriots | 14.01 | |||
WR | Gabe Davis | Jaguars | 15.12 | |||
RB | Khalil Herbert | Bears | 16.01 | |||
Rookies | Vets | Outlook | ||||
3 | 13 | Championship | ||||
Best Draft of the Mock: Our hats must be tipped to Dan, who nailed this mock with several staggering picks. He would be the hands-down favorite to win this league if it were to be played out.
Dan secured two of the top three fantasy receivers on my board by waiting on a quarterback. Any fantasy team that starts Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase in the playoffs will be a difficult out. The sheer potential for both players to score 30+ points in multiple playoff matchups is tantalizing.
Dan's great picks didn't end with his first two selections. He added a high-end TE1 in Mark Andrews, who was on pace to finish second in TE fantasy scoring before he was injured last year. On top of that, Dan added elite upside with Christian Watson and Trey Benson in his flex. Both players are major risks, but they have the talent and opportunity to finish the season as high-end starters. This team will be in real trouble if Watson stays healthy and James Conner doesn't.
Best Pick of the Best Draft: Obviously the best players taken by Dan were Jefferson and Chase, but they weren’t his “best pick.” That award goes to Jayden Daniels.
As we stated earlier, teams that wait on QB in Superflex drafts must target upside at the position. Daniels has plenty of that. While there are legitimate concerns about Daniels’ durability and velocity throwing into tight windows, he will start immediately and he will run the ball. In fact, a conservative projection for Daniels' rushing output would be 700 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Add his polish as a passer, and the LSU alum has a true top-five upside.
Watching Jayden Daniels' college tape/clips. This run always gets me.pic.twitter.com/4qNTxNEDUb
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) July 19, 2024
Overall Outlook: It's hard to bet on any other team in this mock to win the championship over Dan's squad. He drafted with a perfect mix of risk and reward. The combination of Chase and Jefferson is terrifying on a weekly basis. The upside of Daniels at QB2 is immense, while the stability of Jared Goff nicely balances the downside of the rookie. Add in the upside of Watson, plus the high floor of Joe Mixon and David Montgomery, and this team could be dominant.
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