SuperFlex Fantasy Football Mock Draft

The Gridiron Scholar and a team of Fantrax analysts share their thoughts on the 2020 Fantrax Superflex Mock Draft

In AP United States History, one of my favorite units to teach is the reform movements of the 1830s. In class, the scholars analyze a primary source document presented to the Massachusetts legislature on the state of asylums and prisons by Dorothea Dix. Her report shocked legislators and citizens, and sparked public pressure for improved inmate conditions across the country. Just like Dix, my goal is to lead a reform movement in fantasy football.

The goal of reform is not to overthrow the existing paradigm but make improvements. When I started playing fantasy football over thirty years ago, most leagues implemented touchdown-only scoring formats. Eventually, points for passing, rushing and receiving yards were added, and finally, ppr-scoring changed the game about a decade ago. The hobby has evolved for the better, but once again, it is time to renovate our beloved obsession.

Fantasy fanatics love points on the scoreboard: It is our passion and preference. As former Eagles’ QB Ron Jaworski eloquently stated, chunk plays and points come out of the passing game, which are triggered by the quarterback. In NFL history, the prodigious dynasties were led by memorable quarterbacks: Bart Starr in Green Bay, Terry Bradshaw in Pittsburg, Joe Montana in San Francisco, Troy Aikman in Dallas, and Tom Brady in New England.

In the NFL Draft, front offices extort desperate organizations huge ransoms to acquire a franchise-changing signal-caller. Arguably, it is the most important position on the field. Yet, many astute fantasy footballers ride the waiver wire carousel at the position throughout the season. Why do fantasy zealots devalue quarterbacks? Why do they tolerate playing in leagues with only one starter?

When drafting fantasy teams, the industry orthodox is the late-round quarterback strategy, and it is so incredibly predictable and boring. The vast majority of experts and diehards (myself included) wait patiently until the double-digit rounds to select the most important player on the field. Any time a game develops a consensus on strategy, it is time to tweak the rules and amend the game.

I avoid leagues that remain stuck in the past. Will you join me in the rebellion against outdated creed and silliness? Let’s inflame the SuperFlex Revolution in fantasy football.

Say what?! Your fantasy football league didn’t use Fantrax last year? Unthinkable! Check out all the features Fantrax has to offer, and we think you’ll be singing a different tune for the coming season.

The Move to SuperFlex

I have banged the drums for years to convert all leagues to SuperFlex. It is by far the best method to play. Now, the industry must embrace the superior set-up, which allows an owner to start two quarterbacks in their lineups. It drastically increases the value of elite signal-callers and forces everyone to research all 32 starters in the NFL. Who is a better SuperFlex asset: Sam Darnold or Gardner Minshew? It is not an existential question in SuperFlex: Fantasy owners must evaluate all 32 field generals to maximize roster capital.

SuperFlex Starting Lineup Construction:

• 1 Quarterback
• 2 Running Backs
• 3 Wide Receivers
• 1 Tight End
• 1 SuperFlex (QB, RB, WR or TE)
• 1 Kicker
• 1 Team Defense

In order to inspire alternative-reality dogmatists to change their starting lineup requirements and/or join a SuperFlex league, I assembled an All-Pro team of Fantrax teammates and completed a Mock Draft. The participants were asked four fiery questions afterward to provide insight for readers.

The Fantrax SuperFlex Dream Team:

• Mick Ciallela, @themick23
• Nathan Dokken, @NathanDokken
• Taylor Lambert, @TaylorSLambert
• John Laub, @GridironSchol91
• Ron Rigney, @therealmaday
• Meng Song, @FFA_Meng

Superflex Mock Draft Results

Below are the mock draft results. You can sift through all 16 rounds by using the navigation arrows at the bottom of the table. A look at the full draft board can be found at the end of this post.

Four Fiery Inquiries

What is your quarterback strategy in a SuperFlex Draft?

Mick Ciallela:

“In general, I like to draft three starting quarterbacks in a SuperFlex league. This allows me to start two every week. I usually try to ensure that one of my quarterbacks is a Top-6 player at the position. That figured to be a difficult task in this draft once Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson were taken with the top two overall selections. But I was very happy to secure Kyler Murray in the third round. I think he has massive upside this season. After that, I do not put as much emphasis on securing another top-tier signal-caller. I just want to find value, and I believe I did so in Kirk Cousins and Derek Carr. Each was drafted outside the Top 20 quarterbacks in this draft despite finishing as Top-18 options last year.”

Nathan Dokken:

“I definitely want to nab an elite quarterback right away if my draft position makes it possible. Those consistent difference-makers can really buoy your roster. I also want to make sure my second QB is more than a bottom-of-the-barrel type. Otherwise, you aren’t really getting ahead at that position. I will always draft at least two signal-callers, and usually three. In this particular mock, there wasn’t a great third option when I was ready to take one, but I was able to wait really long on my second one.”

Taylor Lambert:

“My entire quarterback draft strategy changes in a SuperFlex league, as it should. Personally, I’ll still take Christian McCaffrey with the 1.01, but Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are the next two picks for me. This year, I’ve been trying to grab one of my Top-6 guys (Mahomes, Jackson, Prescott, Murray, Watson, and Wilson) in the first three rounds. If I miss on one of those players, I’m content waiting until the middle rounds of the draft to take someone in the 7-10 range of my rankings.

Once I have my first quarterback, I wait until at least Round 9 to grab my second one. Typically, I look for guys like Big Ben, Jared Goff, Ryan Tannehill, and Matt Stafford if he doesn’t go too high. Lastly, I prefer to have depth at the position in case of injury, so I’ve been looking in Nick Foles’ direction with the last pick I use before taking a defense and kicker. Not only is he dirt cheap, but he’s going to win the starting job in Chicago at some point, if not right out of the gate. I love his weapons and familiarity with the coaching staff. He’s a great third option to stash in this format.”

John Laub:

“SuperFlex drafts progress organically and challenge the participants. Usually, quarterbacks come off the board quickly and value falls at wide receiver. At the end of five rounds, I would like to own two signal-callers, two runners and a receiver. Nevertheless, I do not have a steadfast strategy to follow.

In this draft, I observed signal-callers coming off the board and watched value fall to me at running back. In the fifth round, my roster construction demanded that I invest in the wide receiver position after selecting three runners among my first five selections. With Russell Wilson on my squad, I postponed acquiring a second quarterback. In Round 13, I could wait no longer and selected Sam Darnold, who I believe is undervalued in fantasy drafts. Finally, I always grab a third starter and wait until only a few remain available. I seized Gardner Minshew in Round 14 and am confident he can fill in during bye weeks.”

Rich Maletto:

“My quarterback strategy is to hold off as long as I can. I really didn’t want to take a signal-caller too early, but I was kind of surprised by how many went so quickly. I will never fault anyone for going 1-2 with Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, but I can’t pass up loading up on running backs and wide receivers while I can.”

Ron Rigney:

“It depends upon where my first-round pick is, and also how many teams are in the league. Here, I was lucky enough to be in the top two selections, so I knew one of the top quarterback options would be mine. I could wait a bit on my second signal-caller since there are 12 teams. In that format, if I’m picking in the mid-to-late rounds, I postpone a bit and grab a lower end quarterback No. 1, and finish it off with a high upside quarterback No. 2. In a 15-teamer, a first-round QB is a must no matter your draft spot.”

Meng Song:

“I generally prefer to come away with one rock-solid quarterback in the first round or two of the draft; in drawing 1.01 in this mock, Patrick Mahomes was the easy choice. After that, it really depends on how the draft is going. In leagues where many quarterbacks start going in the first three or four rounds, I’ll make sure to grab a reliable QB No. 2 early. If the draft is heavy on running backs and wide receivers in the early rounds, as it was here, then I’ll join in and forgo a second signal caller and more quarterback depth until Rounds 7 or 8 depending on how my roster is shaping up. Flexibility is key in SuperFlex drafts since each one is so unique depending on the owners.”

Identify the team with the strongest roster that is not yours?

Mick Ciallela:

“Everyone did a really good job, and several teams look stacked. But I was especially impressed with what Taylor Lambert was able to do considering he had the final pick in the first round. I think he was able to put together a solid foundation with his first five picks. He has two solid running backs, two receivers with extremely high ceilings, and Deshaun Watson at quarterback. I considered taking Watson over Murray in the third, so I thought Watson was a solid value here. I also thought John Laub did a solid job of hammering wide receivers in the middle rounds to help him build on his early base of Ezekiel Elliott, Aaron Jones, Russell Wilson, and Jonathan Taylor.”

Nathan Dokken:

“I’m going to shout out Mick Ciallela here. Being able to snap up both Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs and still getting Kyler Murray is a tremendous start. He drafted a nice balanced team from there on out, and Kirk Cousins is a serviceable SuperFlex option.”

Taylor Lambert:

“Wow, this is a tough decision. Even as I’m beginning to write this, I’m going back and forth. When I look at Meng Song’s team, I see an endless amount of upside. Pairing Mahomes and Brady already gives him a leg up on the competition, and Jimmy Garoppolo is stashed on his bench should he need him. He’s also got Mark Andrews, who’s going to be an absolute stud. I have him as my tight end No. 3 for 2020. However, I also see a lot of risk here.

RB James Conner’s injury concerns scare me a bit, and until we see whether or not the Eagles bring in a veteran to take carries away from Miles Sanders, his value is uncertain. Both players offer Top-10 upside though, and they’ll push his team over the top if they pan out. Overall, the risks he took are ones I would be willing to make as well, so my hat goes off to him and his team.”

John Laub:

“When drafting with sharks, it is always hard to pinpoint a standout roster. I will give a shout out to Rich Maletto. He opened with two stud runners (Dalvin Cook and Nick Chubb) and pounded the receiver position for the next three rounds (Kennedy Golladay, Courtland Sutton, and DeVante Parker). In a SuperFlex, his patience paid off when he acquired quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Drew Lock in Rounds 9 and 10. I would be happy to battle with Rich’s roster this season.”

Rich Maletto:

“There were two that caught my eye, but I think I have to give the nod to John Laub, who has one of the best backfields in my opinion. Nevertheless, it is the second-best backfield behind To the House (Alvin Kamara, Kenyan Drake, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire). The Gridiron Scholar also landed some solid wide receivers to fill out the roster, and I really liked the two tight ends he drafted late…two VERY high upside playmakers.”

Ron Rigney:

“Mick Ciallela did a great job of building balance on his roster. He was able to add two starting running backs that will be Top-5 runners if healthy in Barkley and Jacobs. Kyler Murray will contribute rushing yards and a few TD’s on the ground as well. I really like the Chris Carson flex pick. Getting a potential workhorse runner in one of your flex spots is tough to do. If he can stay somewhat healthy, it will be a huge boost to Mick’s team.”

Meng Song:

“Of course, I like my team best as the No. 1 seed following this mock, as I’m sure most fantasy players do. However, I like both Mick and Nathan’s rosters. Both took a Top-5 quarterback in Kyler Murray and Dak Prescott in the early rounds, and each added some upside depth behind them in Carson Wentz and Kirk Cousins. Both also took reliable starting tight ends in George Kittle and Hunter Henry, which is how I prefer to build my teams. I generally find that with smart roster management, values at running back and wide receiver depth can be found later in the draft and on the waiver wire, so drafting a top tight end early can be a big positional advantage.”

After the eighth round, who is the preeminent value pick not on your team?

Mick Ciallela:

“I cannot narrow this down to one selection. There was a lot of value to be had in the later rounds of this draft. This is just another example of why SuperFlex leagues are so exciting. When everyone simply waits to draft a quarterback late, fewer values at other positions can emerge. This byproduct adds another layer of strategy to the overall draft process. Matthew Stafford is one of my favorite values at quarterback this season. I was thinking about taking him, but he went right before my pick in the ninth round. J.K. Dobbins is a solid running back No. 3 for Meng and has a lot of upside in a potent Ravens rushing attack. There were also a handful of solid tight end options drafted after the eighth round. However, I believe wide receiver is where most of the value was in this draft.

First, John Brown went in the ninth round. He was a Top-20 wide receiver last season. Sure, he may lose some value due to the presence of Stefon Diggs, but I do not expect him to completely fall off the map. After that, there were solid PPR players like Jamison Crowder, proven vets like Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, and young wideouts with major upside, including Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, Mecole Hardman, Justin Jefferson, Michael Pittman, Allen Lazard, and others. There was value galore to be had in the second half of this SuperFlex draft, which made for a lot of fun.”

Nathan Dokken:

“I definitely cursed out the Scholar for stealing Diontae Johnson from me in Round 8, but my favorite value pick is Ron Rigney’s 12th rounder, Michael Pittman, Jr. The former Trojans’ star is going to start immediately in the X position in that offense and see plenty of targets, making for some nice profit potential.”

Taylor Lambert:

“This one is difficult to answer, and not because there isn’t an obvious answer to me. I’m still getting over the bitterness I felt when Anthony Miller went off the board just four picks ahead of me in Round 13. He went as the WR No. 57 in the draft! I know it was a small sample size, but have we all forgotten the Week 11-15 stretch where he was the receiver No. 9 in PPR? He’ll be on every single one of my rosters if this is his price come draft season.”

John Laub:

“In early fantasy drafts this year, I am not targeting Patriots. Yet, it has become crystal clear to me that New England’s playmakers are undervalued in the fantasy community. Last I looked, coach Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are still the dynamic duo in charge of the offense. If I am investing in penny stocks, I’ll invest in a coach with eight Super Bowl rings (Patriots, 6 and Giants, 2). In Round 11, RB Sony Michel remained on the board, and I had to purchase the third-year ball carrier. In the first two seasons in the league, the former Georgia product has 456 carries for 1,843 yards and 13 touchdowns…The price is right at current ADP.” Full disclosure: I know that I bent the rules when answering the question.

Rich Maletto

“By far Alshon Jeffery in Round 13. In fact, I wish I took the Eagles’ veteran. That was the one pick I really wanted back right after I made it.”

Ron Rigney:

“Meng Song was able to snag Mecole Hardman in Round 12, which is a few rounds past his current ADP. Hardman showed the ability to hit home runs, and is in an ideal situation in Kansas City for his skill set. He will fit nicely into that FLEX spot. I also like Rich Maletto’s Drew Lock pick in Round 10. Lock slots into his SuperFlex spot and could pay huge dividends. John Elway got Lock some weapons both in the backfield and in the passing game. He may not follow in the footsteps of his Hall of Fame QB-General Manager, but he has too many weapons to be a total flop. Especially as a second field general.”

Meng Song:

“I really like Hayden Hurst and Rob Gronkowski in Round 12. Both would’ve been targets had they fallen to me at pick 12.12, as these are guys with Top-5 tight end upside this year. Despite having taken Mark Andrews in Round 5, either Hurst or Gronkowski could be start-able in the Flex spot or serve as trade bait and would’ve been great value picks. I’m also a bit salty about Ke’Shawn Vaughn being selected before my pick in Round 8, and Ron really sniped me in taking the Tampa Bay defense one pick before me in Round 14. I’m very high on the Buccaneers in all aspects this year.”

In the first four rounds, pinpoint the most overpriced selection in the draft?

Mick Ciallela:

“I did not think there were any egregious errors early in the draft. If I must nitpick, I will say that I was not a fan of Meng and Romina not backing up James Conner and Melvin Gordon, respectively. I do not necessarily mind either of those selections on their own—I would just prefer to double-tap the running back position there. If they had grabbed, say, Chris Carson and Le’Veon Bell with their fifth-round picks, they would probably be my two favorite teams in this draft.”

Nathan Dokken:

“Derrick Henry doesn’t belong in the first round of a SuperFlex PPR. In other formats, particularly a non-PPR, I wouldn’t argue. However, his lack of versatility in the passing game really lowers his week-to-week consistency in this type of format.”

Taylor Lambert:

“I have to go with Keenan Allen. I compared him to some of the wideouts in his range, and I would rather have each of the next 12 receivers who went after him on my team. He’s a solid PPR guy, but his upside is very limited.”

Rich Maletto:

“To be fair, I didn’t see anyone taken in the first four rounds that just seemed way off. I thought three quarterbacks in the first four picks was ‘overpriced’ but it is a SuperFlex so some see those values being fair. I think Dak Prescott, at fourth overall, would be WAY too rich for my blood, but I wouldn’t take a quarterback in the first round.”

John Laub:

“At the beginning of Round 4, I’m a little surprised that tight Zach Ertz went off the board. Philadelphia invested heavily in the receiver position in the NFL Draft and have two rising stars in RB Miles Sanders and TE Dallas Goedert, who both demand additional targets in 2020. While I have enjoyed Ertz as a high-end fantasy asset for the past two seasons, I foresee a decline in targets and receptions, which limits his upside fantasy production.”

Ron Rigney:

“I have a very hard time paying the first-round price for Davante Adams. After being a high pick heading into 2019, Adams finished just twenty-ninth in total points. He is just 27, so there’s plenty of optimism for him to get back to 2018 form. I just don’t want to pay that price to find out. I would have gone with either of the two picks that went just after: RB Derrick Henry, or WR Julio Jones.”

Meng Song:

“Cooper Kupp at 3.02 as the eighth wide receiver off the board feels like a big reach to me. There are a number of wide receivers that went in later rounds that I would’ve preferred over Kupp, including Adam Thielen and fellow Ram Robert Woods in Round 4. There are a lot of question marks about how the Rams’ offense will operate in 2020, and Kupp could see far fewer snaps and targets than he has in prior years. His production really dropped off in the back half of the 2019 season, though his decline was masked by an absurd and unsustainable late-season touchdown rate.”

Full Superflex Draft Board

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