The Case for the SuperFlex (2 QB fantasy leagues)
Quarterback is the most important position in all of sports. The quarterback has the ball in their hands at the snap of every offensive play, their decision making and leadership is generally the difference between winning and losing. Its the most coveted, compensated and valuable position in any sport. To prove this point look at the current 2018 NFL franchise tag figures (defined as avg of top 5 player salaries at their positions in the NFL); the QB tag is $23.1M, the next highest is cornerback at $14.9M, a 60% premium for the quarterback position.
Then why is the default fantasy football league setup devalue the quarterback position, reducing the importance of the games most visible and active position behind one of the least valuable (running back)?
There are many factors, the most common are human tendencies to mimic a real NFL team (1 QB starter, 2 Running Back’s, 2 Wide Receivers’s, 1 Tight End, 1 Kicker, etc.), it’s how we’ve always “done it” and fantasy leagues that typically are comprised of between 10 & 12 teams. Thus 32 NFL teams equates to 32 starting QB’s, RB’s and approximately 64 WR’s. The standard fantasy league setup results in the scarcest commodities being running backs (one of the least valuable positions in the NFL as evidence by the franchise tag @$9.6M) and the most available being quarterbacks, tight ends and kickers.
The solution to making the quarterback position valuable is simple, enable the Super Flex for your league. This rule change enables teams to also start a QB in the flex spot (along w/ RB, WR and/or TE).
Here are the reasons why:
1)QB are Most Valuable - The most valuable position in any sport; quarterbacks have a greater impact on their teams record than any other, and in the NFL the positions outcome is far more significant than any other.
2) Fantasy Enjoyment - Fantasy gameplay, first and foremost, is about enjoying watching your players perform in the real games. The quarterback is handling every offensive snap, whereas a running back on their best day is only touching the ball 50% of the snaps and a wide receiver or tight end likely less than 25%.
3)Increasing Player Pool - with adding QB as an option in the flex spot, you’re adding more starting options to the pool, making lineups more fun and flexible.
4) Strategy — adding QB to the flex position forces teams to be thoughtful about that pass catching back or the QB2 playing a tough defense.
No NFL team can start 2 quarterbacks but this is fantasy for a reason, and every NFL team values it’s QB the most, so why would you hold a fantasy league that results in the best quarterbacks not breaking the top 30 most valuable players?
In short the most valuable and important position in any sport, quarterback, should be the same in fantasy football as well. By enabling the super flex, the quarterback position takes its rightful place in the top 20 player rankings. It increases the number of viable starting options (eg in a standard 12 team league; adding super flex adds 12 additional high point scoring options) and ensures the players with the most tv time, importance to their real NFL team and general fan interest are most valuable fantasy performers as well.
