Fantasy Football 101: What Is Superflex?

Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL but that hasn’t always been the case in fantasy. The superflex format changes that.

Fantasy football league formats has evolved since the days of the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League (GOPPL), which was crated over 60 years ago and is considered the first-ever fantasy league. These days, managers can choose from a number of different league formats, including using a flex position. That requires a manager to start an extra player that can be a choice between a running back, wide receiver or tight end. However, a format that has become more popular in recent years is what is called a “superflex” league.

Simply put, superflex leagues allow fantasy managers to start a second quarterback in a flex position. So, instead of being limited to flexing a back, wideout or tight end, you can choose to go with a second field general. That’s a very smart move, too, as quarterbacks score the most points among the offensive skill spots because of the nature of their position. This also increases the value of the position, which has long been one managers could wait on and still get great value late in drafts.

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Fantasy Football Basics:


That shouldn’t be the case, though, as the importance of the signal-caller in real football can never be unstated. It’s why quarterbacks, even average ones, land huge contracts while even the elite runners can’t get paid their worth. I like my fantasy football to mirror the real thing, and adding a superflex spot does it.

With the ability to start two quarterbacks, the position comes flying off the board in the first three to four rounds, including the first. In fact, I was recently in a superflex draft that saw seven quarterbacks get picked in the first 12 spots! In a traditional flex league, maybe one quarterback gets picked in the top 20! And beyond Patrick MahomesJosh Allen and Jalen Hurts, there isn’t a quarterback who’s worth a top-50 pick.

Again, superflex levels the playing field and makes quarterbacks as valuable in the fantasy world as they are to their actual franchises. So, if you want to add a new wrinkle to your fantasy league or just want to make the quarterbacks more valuable, switch to a superflex format. Hear me now, thank me later!


Published
Michael Fabiano
MICHAEL FABIANO

Michael Fabiano is a fantasy football analyst for Sports Illustrated. His weekly rankings and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em articles are must-reads for fantasy players. He is also the co-host of the Fantasy Dirt Podcast on SI. Before joining SI in August 2020, he worked for CBS Sports, NFL Network and SiriusXM. He also contributes to Westwood One Radio. Fabiano was the first fantasy analyst to appear on one of the four major TV networks and is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame.