Fantasy Football Mock Draft Review: Strategy for a 2-QB League

The first eight picks of this 12-team draft were all quarterbacks. Here’s how each team built its roster.

The summer months are here, and fantasy football mock drafts are running wild across the world wide web. We’re part of the party, too, as the Sports Illustrated fantasy team has already held a traditional PPR mock and a 10-team mock, which you can find in our in-depth 2023 draft kit. For our latest mock, our squad and some industry pals got together for a 12-team, 13-round mock two-quarterback league. We utilized a basic scoring system with a full point for all receptions (PPR). The starting lineup includes two quarterbacks, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end and a flex (RB/WR/TE). There were no kickers or defenses in this mock.

As you’ll see below, many of our managers put a greater emphasis on quarterbacks (obviously) due to the format, which is becoming more popular in the fantasy world. Not every team went with a field general in the first round, however, and one team even waited several rounds before taking its first quarterback.

So, who do you think had the best mock, and who might have fallen short at certain positions? Read along with these team-by-team breakdowns to find out!

(Note: You can view the entire draft results in the screenshot below).

Jamie Germano/USA Today Sports Network

1. Bob Harris, Football Diehards

1.1. Josh Allen, QB, Bills
2.24. Geno Smith, QB, Seahawks
3.25. Derrick Henry, RB, Titans
4.48. Amari Cooper, WR, Browns
5.49. Calvin Ridley, WR, Jaguars
6.72. Cam Akers, RB, Rams
7.73. Darren Waller, TE, Raiders
8.96. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Colts}
9.97. Mike Williams, WR, Chargers
10.120. Khalil Herbert, RB, Bears
11.121. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Titans
12.144. Adam Thielen, WR, Panthers
13.145. Dalton Kincaid, TE, Bills

Notes: Harris started off the draft with Allen over Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts at quarterback, following up with another field general, Smith, in the second round. Yes, Geno Smith is now a second-round pick in a multi-quarterback leagues! With more signal-callers coming off the board sooner, Harris was still able to land Henry, Cooper, Ridley and Akers as his top runners and wideouts in Rounds 3-6. He could have some backfield issues if Akers fails to meet expectations in Los Angeles, though, as Herbert is his lone other runner and is likely to be in a committee. Waller could be a nice pick in Round 7, and Tannehill’s stock is rising with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins. Kincaid, a rookie out of Utah, is a nice late dart throw.

2. Michael Fabiano, Sports Illustrated

1.2. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
2.23. A.J. Brown, WR, Eagles
3.26. Nick Chubb, RB, Browns
4.47. Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers
5.50. Breece Hall, RB, Jets
6.71. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ers
7.74. Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles
8.95. Rachaad White, RB, Buccaneers
9.98. Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals
10.119. Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
11.122. Kenny Pickett, QB, Steelers
12.143. Elijah Mitchell, RB, 49ers
13.146. Romeo Doubs, WR, Packers

Notes: I gladly drafted Mahomes when he was passed over with the first overall pick. After that, I decided to “punt” quarterback for several rounds and focus on my running backs and wideouts. Brown, Allen and Aiyuk are a nice trio, and Thomas is a risk-reward option in the 10th round (but one worth taking at that point). Goedert is a top-six tight end, and I like White in Round 8 as a flex option behind Chubb and Hall. I took a risk with Murray in Round 9, but he could be a steal in this multi-QB format. Fingers crossed. I’ll start fantasy sleeper Pickett in the interim.

3. Lindsay Rhodes, SiriusXM

1.3. Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles
2.22. Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons
3.27. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions
4.46. Chris Olave, WR, Saints
5.51. Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts
6.70. Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons
7.75. James Conner, RB, Cardinals
8.94. Diontae Johnson, WR, Steelers
9.99. Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers
10.118. Sam Howell, QB, Commanders
11.123. Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Titans
12.142. Jakobi Meyers, WR, Raiders
13.147. Kendre Miller, RB, Saints

Notes: Rhodes gladly landed Hurts as her No. 1 quarterback, then took the super rookie Robinson in Round 2. St. Brown and Olave should be a nice duo for her at wideout, and Richardson could pay dividends as her No. 2 quarterback. Rhodes also took some chances, grabbing the disappointing Pitts and Johnson with two of her next three picks. If they turn things around statistically, this team will be solid. Landing Evans in the ninth round could also be a bargain, and Rhodes likes Howell as a potential sleeper in the late rounds. Okonkwo also has sleeper appeal.

4. John Pluym, Sports Illustrated

1.4. Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals
2.21. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys
3.28. Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets
4.45. Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders
5.52. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Vikings
6.69. Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints
7.76. Christian Watson, WR, Packers
8.93. James Cook, RB, Bills
9.100. Jordan Addison, WR, Vikings
10.117. Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
11.124. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Ravens
12.141. Devone Achane, RB, Dolphins
13.148. K.J. Osborn, WR, Vikings

Notes: Burrow will be the most likely player picked fourth in most multi-quarterback leagues, behind Allen, Mahomes and Hurts. Pluym has a nice trio of wideouts in Lamb, Wilson and Watson, and getting Jacobs in the fourth could be a bargain if he doesn’t hold out. Kamara is tough to gauge since a suspension is likely, but getting him in the sixth round as a No. 2 back is worth the risk. I love Hockenson in the fifth, and Pluym (a noted Vikings honk) also landed Addison and Osborn. I also like the selection of the rookie Achane in the 12th as a potential PPR bargain.

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5. Craig Ellenport, Sports Illustrated

1.5. Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers
2.20. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts
3.29. Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants
4.44. DK Metcalf, WR, Seahawks
5.53. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Titans
6.68. D’Andre Swift, RB, Eagles
7.77. Drake London, WR, Falcons
8.92. Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers
9.101. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Patriots
10.116. Rashod Bateman, WR, Ravens
11.125. Samaje Perine, RB, Broncos
12.140. Van Jefferson, WR, Rams
13.149. Sam LaPorta, TE, Lions

Notes: Ellenport started his build with Herbert, ahead of Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields, and landed what could be a sick backfield with Taylor and Barkley. Swift, his RB3, is also a nice option as a potential flex. Ellenport waited until the fourth round to grab his first wideout and was still able to land the trio of Metcalf, Hopkins and London with Smith-Schuster as his fourth receiver. The depth is nice, but it did cost him at tight end as he punted the position until the last round and landed LaPorta.

6. Kyle Wood, Sports Illustrated

1.6. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
2.19. Stefon Diggs, WR, Bills
3.30. Davante Adams, WR, Raiders
4.43. Daniel Jones, QB, Giants
5.54. Joe Mixon, RB, Bengals
6.67. George Kittle, TE, 49ers
7.78. Javonte Williams, RB, Broncos
8.91. Christian Kirk, WR, Jaguars
9.102. Antonio Gibson, RB, Commanders
10.115. Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seahawks
11.126. Jameson Williams, WR, Lions
12.139. Allen Lazard, WR, Jets
13.150. Mac Jones, QB, Patriots

Notes: Wood landed a duo of mobile quarterbacks in Jackson and Jones, and his wide receivers, Diggs and Adams, could be the best duo in this league. Mixon is a fine pick in the fifth round, and grabbing Kittle gives this squad some nice balance. His No. 2 runner could be an issue, though, especially if Javonte Williams has limitations with his knee. In that scenario, Wood will have to lean on Gibson or Charbonnet. Grabbing Kirk, Jameson Williams and Lazard rounds out a nice core of wideouts.

7. Gilberto Manzano, Sports Illustrated

1.7. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
2.18. Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams
3.31. Tony Pollard, RB, Cowboys
4.42. Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens
5.55. Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers
6.66. Miles Sanders, RB, Panthers
7.79. Jordan Love, QB, Packers
8.90. George Pickens, WR, Steelers
9.103. AJ Dillon, RB, Packers
10.114. Quentin Johnston, WR, Chargers
11.127. Brian Robinson, RB, Commanders
12.138. Darnell Mooney, WR, Bears
13.151. Greg Dulcich, TE, Broncos

Notes: Manzano began his build with Lawrence, but waited another six rounds to take his second, Love. In between, he landed two elite players at their respective positions in Kupp and Andrews and a backfield of Pollard and Sanders. I’m not a huge fan of the latter, but he’s not the worst pick for a sixth rounder. Manzano was able to get some good young talent in Pickens, Dillon, Johnston and Robinson late, not to mention Dulcich with his last pick, but he’ll need Love to produce good totals or he could be in trouble at quarterback with just two on the roster.

8. Bill Enright, Sports Illustrated

1.8. Justin Fields, QB, Bears
2.17. Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
3.32. Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals
4.41. Jared Goff, QB, Lions
5.56. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ravens
6.65. Alexander Mattison, RB, Vikings
7.80. David Montgomery, RB, Lions
8.89. Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs
9.104. Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos
10.113. Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs
11.128. Jamaal Williams, RB, Saints
12.137. Jerick McKinnon, RB, Chiefs
13.152. Gerald Everett, TE, Rams

Notes: Enright made Fields the eighth quarterback picked in the first round (and the eighth in a row to start the draft). He then went with a pair of wideouts in Hill and Higgins before taking his second quarterback, Goff. Enright then went four straight rounds taking a runner, grabbing Dobbins, Mattison, Montgomery and Pacheco. This hurt his receivers a bit, as he’ll need Sutton and Moore to make an impact. Grabbing Williams and McKinnon late was solid, but his tight end (Everett) leaves a bit to be desired. Of course, he didn’t take one until the final round of the draft.

Jasen Vinlove/USA Today network

9. Matt Verderame, Sports Illustrated

1.9. Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
2.16. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins
3.33. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Dolphins
4.40. Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings
5.57. Dameon Pierce, RB, Texans
6.64. Terry McLaurin, WR, Commanders
7.81. Dalvin Cook, RB, free agent
8.88. David Njoku, TE, Browns
9.105. Treylon Burks, WR, Titans
10.112. Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans
11.129. Elijah Moore, WR, Browns
12.136. Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons
13.153. Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers

Notes: Verderame was the first manager to take a non-quarterback, selecting CMC with the ninth pick. That left him to look for quarterbacks with two of his next three picks, where he landed Tagovailoa and Cousins to go along with Waddle as his top receiver. Pierce and McLaurin in Rounds 5 and 6 made sense, and grabbing Cook could be a value in the seventh depending on where he lands. Verderame grabbed a nice pair of tight ends in Njoku and Schultz despite passing on the spot until the eighth round, and grabbing Moore in the 11th could be a bargain.

10. Jen Piacenti, Sports Illustrated

1.10. Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
2.15. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
3.34. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Patriots
4.39. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Jets
5.58. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Broncos
6.63. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions
7.82. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks
8.87. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Steelers
9.106. Jahan Dotson, WR, Commanders
10.111. Rashaad Penny, RB, Eagles
11.130. Gabe Davis, WR, Bills
12.135. Damien Harris, RB, Bills
13.154. Rondale Moore, WR, Cardinals

Notes: Piacenti took the draft’s first wideout in Jefferson, followed by a quarterback in Prescott. She paired him with Rodgers two rounds later, taking Stevenson as her top runner in between. She’ll need one of her other backs, Gibbs, Penny or Harris, to step up and become a reliable No. 2 runner. At wideout, the trio of Jeudy, Lockett and Dotson behind J.J. has some potential, and both Davis and Moore were well worth a late flier each. Freiermuth should be a fine No. 1 tight end in Round 8.

11. Doug Vasquez, Sports Illustrated

1.11. Deshaun Watson, QB, Browns
2.14. Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
3.35. DeVonta Smith, WR, Eagles
4.38. Aaron Jones, RB, Packers
5.59. Derek Carr, QB, Saints
6.62. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seahawks
7.83. Chris Godwin, WR, Buccaneers
8.86. Marquise Brown, WR, Cardinals
9.107. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks
10.110. Kadarius Toney, WR, Chiefs
11.131. Cole Kmet, TE, Bears
12.134. Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens
13.155. Desmond Ridder, QB, Falcons

Notes: Super flex or multi-quarterback leagues will bring out some weird picks, like Watson going ahead of Ja’Marr Chase. Vasquez followed up with Kelce and Smith, waiting until the fourth round to take his first running back in Jones. Carr is a decent No. 2 quarterback, and Walker should remain a viable RB2 even with Charbonnet in the mix. His next four picks were wideouts, as Vasquez went with Godwin, Brown, Smith-Njigba and Toney. That gives him a deep core of receivers to add to Smith, but he finished with just two running backs. That’s not a good scenario.

12. Dave Seperson, Sports Illustrated

1.12. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals
2.13. Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers
3.36. Najee Harris, RB, Steelers
4.37. Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars
5.60. DJ Moore, WR, Bears
6.61. Russell Wilson, QB, Broncos
7.84. Evan Engram, TE, Jaguars
8.85. Bryce Young, QB, Panthers
9.108. C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans
10.109. Brandin Cooks, WR, Cowboys
11.132. Tank Bigsby, RB, Jaguars
12.133. Trey Lance, QB, 49ers
13.156. Rashee Rice, WR, Chiefs

Notes: Seperson waited longer than anyone else to draft a quarterback, kicking the position down the road and into the sixth round. He grabbed Chase with his first pick and built a heck of a backfield, grabbing Ekeler, Harris and Etienne. Moore is more of a low-end No. 2 wideout, but Seperson only drafted four receivers in all. He did eventually load up on quarterbacks, taking Wilson, Young and Stroud within four rounds and Lance with his next-to-last pick. If two of them pop, his strategy will have paid off well. But if Russell stinks and the rookies falter, that’s big trouble.

Here is the complete pick-by-pick draft: