RotoBaller Staff Early Superflex Mock Draft Review for 2023 Fantasy Football

We are officially less than two months away from preseason football, which, to fantasy football players, means we are just weeks away from draft season. Surely, we will all be keeping up with training camp hype videos and adjusting our rankings accordingly, but the best and most practical way to ensure preparation for fantasy football is to participate in mock drafts.

For those relatively new to Superflex fantasy leagues, practicing ahead of your actual drafts is particularly important because player values and draft strategies are affected dramatically by the format. The staff here at RotoBaller decided to take an early swing at a Superflex redraft mock for 2023, and you can find the link to the entire draft on Sleeper here.

When joining a new league, it is always critical to examine the scoring and roster settings before drafting. For this specific mock draft, starting lineups were comprised of a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, a tight end, a Superflex slot, and a defense. There were five bench spots allotted to each team.

Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!

 

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 after 14 rounds. Click the image below to enlarge the draft board in a new tab.

 

Fantasy Football Draft Board

Below you will find my team-by-team breakdown of the mock. Each team's roster is listed in the order in which it was drafted. I also provided a table displaying the composition of each team by position and the different NFL teams included in each roster. I discuss my general thoughts as well as highlight the strengths, weaknesses, and best pick for each team.

 

Team #1 - Jorden Hill

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.01	Josh Allen	QB	Bills
2.12	Davante Adams	WR	Raiders
3.01	CeeDee Lamb	WR	Cowboys
4.12	Aaron Jones	RB	Packers
5.01	Geno Smith	QB	Seahawks
6.12	J.K. Dobbins	RB	Ravens
7.01	Chris Godwin	WR	Buccaneers
8.12	Jimmy Garoppolo	QB	49ers
9.01	Pat Freiermuth	TE	Steelers
10.12	AJ Dillon	RB	Packers
11.01	Gabe Davis	WR	Bills
12.12	Jerick McKinnon	RB	Chiefs
13.01	Tyler Boyd	WR	Bengals
14.12	Washington	DEF	Commanders

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 3	3 -
RB - 4	2 - Bills, Packers, Raiders
WR - 5	1 - Cowboys, Seahawks, Ravens, Buccaneers, Steelers, Chiefs, Bengals
TE - 1
DEF - 1

Overview - I was lucky enough to get the first overall pick, but my choice to select Josh Allen wasn't necessarily an easy one. I also strongly considered Patrick Mahomes, but in a league awarding just four points per passing touchdown, I prioritized Allen's rushing upside. I then added two stud receivers to my roster before finding value at the running back and tight end positions later on.

Composition - I chose to draft more receivers than running backs because of the league's roster and scoring settings. Receiving production is going to be critical in a full PPR league requiring three starting WRs. I also selected a third starting quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo as it is extremely difficult to acquire one via trade in a 12-team Superflex league.

Strengths - Consistent, high-end talent at quarterback and wide receiver. Davante Adams and CeeDee Lamb both finished among the top-five fantasy wideouts last season and Chris Godwin, albeit in a difficult quarterback situation this year, has averaged over nine targets per game since 2021. Gabe Davis, as a depth receiver, offers plenty of weekly upside when stacked with Allen.

Weaknesses - There are question marks surrounding the running backs on my team. Can J.K. Dobbins stay healthy? What will the Packers' offense look like with Jordan Love at the helm, and how will the backfield touches be divided between Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon? Will Jerick McKinnon assume the same pass-catching role he had late last season?

Best Pick - Geno Smith at 5.01. Smith quietly finished as the fantasy QB5 in 2022 and should have no problem outperforming his draft cost of QB15, especially now with Jaxon Smith-Njigba joining DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in an offense that averaged almost 24 points per game last season.

 

Team #2 - Rich King

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.02	Patrick Mahomes	QB	Chiefs
2.11	Jonathan Taylor	RB	Colts
3.02	Derrick Henry	RB	Titans
4.11	Keenan Allen	WR	Chargers
5.02	Aaron Rodgers	QB	Jets
6.11	Trey Lance	QB	49ers
7.02	Mike Evans	WR	Buccaneers
8.11	Alvin Kamara	RB	Saints
9.02	Rachaad White	RB	Buccaneers
10.11	Kadarius Toney	WR	Chiefs
11.02	David Njoku	TE	Browns
12.11	Philadelphia	DEF	Eagles
13.02	Darnell Mooney	WR	Bears
14.11	Odell Beckham	WR	Ravens

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 3	3 -
RB - 4	2 - Chiefs, Buccaneers
WR - 5	1 - Colts, Titans, Chargers, Jets, 49ers, Saints, Browns, Bears, Ravens
TE - 1
DEF - 1

Overview - Rich couldn't go wrong with Patrick Mahomes at the second overall pick, and he followed that up by selecting two running backs with league-winning potential. His top receivers could be considered unreliable, but he managed to find value at other positions throughout the draft that could help him in trade negotiations during the season.

Composition - Rich composed his team exactly how I composed mine, prioritizing wide receiver depth over running back depth and securing three quarterbacks.

Strengths - The obvious strength here is at running back. In addition to Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry, Rich was able to land Alvin Kamara late in the eighth round and another projected starter in Rachaad White. Kamara may be facing a suspension to start the season but Rich's team can afford to wait on his return. This squad is also strong at quarterback with Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers as locked-in starters and Trey Lance as a boom-or-bust QB3.

Weaknesses - Rich's wide receivers will likely give him the most headaches throughout the season, especially in a league that is set up to favor receiver scoring. Keenan Allen is a proven target hog, but the 31-year-old struggled with injuries last season and will now have added competition in first-round NFL Draft selection Quentin Johnston. Mike Evans has been consistent year after year but was essentially unplayable in fantasy for a large stretch of games last season and now is faced with a significant quarterback downgrade.

There is undeniable upside in stacking Mahomes with Kadarius Toney, but it is nearly impossible to trust Toney as a WR3 on a fantasy team given he has suited up for just 19 total games in his career and finished even less.

Best Pick - David Njoku at 11.02. Had I known Njoku would still be there in two rounds, I most likely would not have selected Pat Freiermuth at 9.01. On a per-game basis, Njoku put together his best statistical campaign yet in 2022 and has plenty of room to improve with a full season of Deshaun Watson under center.

 

Team # 3 - Scott Engel

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.03	Jalen Hurts	QB	Eagles
2.10	Stefon Diggs	WR	Bills
3.03	Anthony Richardson	QB	Colts
4.10	Jahmyr Gibbs	RB	Lions
5.03	Amari Cooper	WR	Browns
6.10	Miles Sanders	RB	Panthers
7.03	Darren Waller	TE	Raiders
8.10	Dameon Pierce	RB	Texans
9.03	Treylon Burks	WR	Titans
10.10	Brandin Cooks	WR	Cowboys
11.03	Sam Howell	QB	Commanders
12.10	Greg Dulcich	TE	Broncos
13.03	Jalin Hyatt	WR	Giants
14.10	Roschon Johnson	RB	Bears

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 3	3 -
RB - 4	2 - Giants
WR - 5	1 - Eagles, Bills, Colts, Lions, Browns, Panthers, Texans, Titans, Cowboys, Commanders, Broncos, Bears
TE - 2
DEF - 0

Overview - Scott clearly targeted quarterbacks with elite rushing upside in Jalen Hurts and Anthony Richardson, and may even get some production in this department from his third QB, Sam Howell. Although there will be some unproven skill position players in his starting lineup, Scott filled his team out with known commodities such as Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, and Miles Sanders.

Composition - Drafting three quarterbacks, four running backs, and five receivers has been the norm to this point, but Scott opted to select two tight ends instead of drafting a team defense. This is a strategy worthy of consideration for drafts taking place at least a few weeks before the NFL season kicks off. If a player on Scott's team suffers an injury in the preseason, he can rely on the depth he drafted and stream his defense for Week 1.

Strengths - Quarterbacks with incredibly high ceilings and solid wide receiver talent at the top. Scott went all-in on upside with players such as Jahmyr Gibbs and Treylon Burks likely needing to play a key part in his team's success.

Weaknesses - Scott's running backs could be an issue as all of them are expected to be part of a committee approach. Gibbs has the skills and draft capital to be a great fantasy asset, but David Montgomery was given a hefty contract and could very well lead the Lions in touches.

I am personally excited about Miles Sanders in Carolina this season, but the former Eagle has not been featured as a pass-catcher since 2019, so it will be interesting to see if the Panthers choose to utilize Chuba Hubbard in this role. Although Dameon Pierce was an excellent value at the back of the eighth round, the second-year man will probably cede a fair amount of opportunities to newcomer Devin Singletary.

Best Pick - Anthony Richardson at 3.03. Richardson was buried in Sleeper's 2QB redraft ADP, so I was hoping to sneak him onto my roster much later in the draft. Scott made sure I never got the chance to do so by snagging him early in the third round. This was an aggressive selection, but assuming Richardson starts right away, he should provide fantasy managers a safe floor with his rushing production as well as a ceiling that very few quarterbacks have access to.

 

Team #4 - Josh Constantinou

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.04	Lamar Jackson	QB	Ravens
2.09	Mark Andrews	TE	Ravens
3.04	Amon-Ra St. Brown	WR	Lions
4.09	DeVonta Smith	WR	Eagles
5.04	Jared Goff	QB	Lions
6.09	James Conner	RB	Cardinals
7.04	Christian Watson	WR	Packers
8.09	Alexander Mattison	RB	Vikings
9.04	Jahan Dotson	WR	Commanders
10.09	Antonio Gibson	RB	Commanders
11.04	Samaje Perine	RB	Broncos
12.09	Kenneth Gainwell	RB	Eagles
13.04	Baker Mayfield	QB	Buccaneers
14.09	Baltimore	DEF	Ravens

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 3	3 -
RB - 5	2 - Ravens, Lions, Eagles, Commanders
WR - 4	1 - Cardinals, Packers, Vikings, Broncos, Buccaneers
TE - 1
DEF - 1

Overview - Josh had two high-profile stacks fall right into his lap with Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews as well as Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Because he went for an early-round tight end, Josh was forced to punt a different position and decided to wait on running backs. What he lacks in top-end RB talent is made up for with his depth as three of his last five picks were spent on the position.

Composition - Josh is the first manager so far to draft more running backs than receivers. Although this was not a strategy I considered, it makes some sense given the personnel on Josh's team. Like all three teams before him, Josh managed to grab three quarterbacks that are expected to be Week 1 starters, a feat not easily accomplished in 12-team Superflex drafts.

Strengths - Jackson and Goff combine for a really solid quarterback duo, especially in this case when stacked with their respective top pass-catchers. We can even ignore the fact that Josh spent his first-round pick on Jackson and acknowledge that rostering Mark Andrews gives him a clear advantage at the tight end position over 10 other teams in the league.

Weaknesses - I don't mind the approach Josh took toward the running back position, but it is certainly a risky one. James Conner was a great value in the sixth round as one of the few backs remaining with a three-down skillset, but the 28-year-old has never played a full season in his six-year career. Alexander Mattison could prove to be the best pick of the draft if Dalvin Cook gets traded or cut, but I wouldn't feel cozy with him as my RB2 at the moment.

Josh's lack of wide receiver depth could also come back to haunt him as Christian Watson struggled to stay healthy for much of his rookie season.

Best Pick - Despite the concerns I outlined above, I'm going with James Conner at 6.09. The Cardinals could very well be the worst team in the NFL this season, but Conner is facing very little competition in Arizona's backfield and was a top-six fantasy RB over the second half of the 2022-2023 campaign. He should be running behind an improved offensive line with the addition of Paris Johnson Jr. and could even see more targets with the departure of DeAndre Hopkins.

 

Team #5 - Dennis Clausen

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.05	Joe Burrow	QB	Bengals
2.08	A.J. Brown	WR	Eagles
3.05	Breece Hall	RB	Jets
4.08	Kenneth Walker III	RB	Seahawks
5.05	Russell Wilson	QB	Broncos
6.08	Calvin Ridley	WR	Jaguars
7.05	Dalvin Cook	RB	Vikings
8.08	Brandon Aiyuk	WR	49ers
9.05	Evan Engram	TE	Jaguars
10.08	JuJu Smith-Schuster	WR	Patriots
11.05	Cole Kmet	TE	Bears
12.08	Allen Lazard	WR	Jets
13.05	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	Free Agent
14.08	Houston	DEF	Texans

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 2	3 -
RB - 4	2 - Jets, Jaguars
WR - 5	1 - Bengals, Eagles, Seahawks, Broncos, Vikings, 49ers, Patriots, Bears
TE - 2
DEF - 1

Overview - Dennis continued the streak of quarterbacks in the first round, selecting Joe Burrow at fifth overall. He then went on to select a top-tier wideout and a couple of young running backs before addressing a QB2. I've mentioned multiple times that this league would favor receivers over other skill positions, and although Dennis waited until round 6 to select a WR2, he did a great job finding value at the position with Calvin Ridley, Brandon Aiyuk, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, all players that could lead their respective teams in targets.

Composition - Dennis prioritized wide receiver depth over running back depth, the most popular composition choice so far, but opted for two tight ends rather than three quarterbacks. The desire to draft a second tight end is understandable when your starter isn't named Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews, but I believe that Dennis could have added a waiver wire tight end at some point during the season that could fill in for Evan Engram.

Strengths - Having Joe Burrow is an obvious advantage, but I'm going to reiterate the wide receiver value Dennis was able to find as the biggest strength of this team. Aiyuk finished as the WR15 in PPR scoring last season, so the uncertain quarterback situation in San Francisco is baked into his draft cost of WR33. Ridley has appeared in just five NFL games since the start of the 2021 campaign but was a top-five fantasy wideout in his last full season and has reportedly made a strong first impression in Jacksonville with Trevor Lawrence under center.

Weaknesses - As I inferred when discussing the composition of Dennis' team, I would have preferred to see him draft a third starting quarterback instead of a second tight end. I like Russell Wilson as a QB2 this season and expect him to bounce back with Sean Payton as his head coach, but simply put, Wilson was bad in his first year in Denver, so I would have prioritized rostering a backup.

When Dennis drafted Cole Kmet in the 11th round, Brock Purdy, Ryan Tannehill, and Baker Mayfield were all still available. Of course, none of them project to be top options, but a starting quarterback in a Superflex league should always be viewed as more valuable than a depth piece at tight end.

Best Pick - Dalvin Cook at 7.05. Even with the uncertainty surrounding Cook for this upcoming season, it just looks wrong to see him on the board in the seventh round. On a per-game basis, Cook hasn't finished lower than RB11 in the past four years, yet was the 21st back selected in this draft. Sure, Cook could find himself splitting carries depending on the team he suits up for, but the potential is still there for him to finish as a top-12 running back in the right situation.

 

Team #6 - Brad Camara

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.06	Justin Jefferson	WR	Vikings
2.07	Saquon Barkley	RB	Giants
3.06	Kirk Cousins	QB	Vikings
4.07	Najee Harris	RB	Steelers
5.06	Deebo Samuel	WR	49ers
6.07	George Kittle	TE	49ers
7.06	Matthew Stafford	QB	Rams
8.07	C.J. Stroud	QB	Texans
9.06	Marquise Brown	WR	Cardinals
10.07	Khalil Herbert	RB	Bears
11.06	Jakobi Meyers	WR	Raiders
12.07	Elijah Moore	WR	Browns
13.06	San Francisco	DEF	49ers
14.07	Jeff Wilson Jr.	RB	Dolphins

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 3	3 -
RB - 4	2 - Vikings, 49ers
WR - 5	1 - Giants, Steelers, Rams, Texans, Cardinals, Bears, Raiders, Browns, Dolphins
TE - 1
DEF - 1

Overview - Brad was the first to stray away from the quarterback position after missing out on the top five, but Justin Jefferson in a full-PPR league is quite the consolation prize. This pick looks even better when considering that Brad was able to land Kirk Cousins in the third round to complete the stack. Although there are a handful of players on Brad's team with a lengthy injury history, there is no denying the talent on this roster, as Saquon Barkley, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle have all put together fantasy-league-winning seasons when healthy.

Composition - Brad is the third manager thus far to draft three quarterbacks, four running backs, five wide receivers, one tight end, and one defense. This build makes sense for his roster as Brad's team is top-heavy at the running back position and has some questions at receiver. He was able to lock in three starting quarterbacks, a wise decision given the uncertainty surrounding Matthew Stafford.

Strengths - Barkley and Najee Harris are two of the very few three-down workhorse backs in the league, so Brad should get a nice floor at RB based on volume alone. Khalil Herbert and Jeff Wilson Jr. are members of more crowded backfields but both will be involved and have a clear path to leading their teams in carries.

There are reasons to be concerned with Deebo Samuel and Marquise Brown, but on paper, this team has an excellent wide receiver group, as well. Jefferson should be consistent enough to make up for the volatility Brad might get from the other wideouts he drafted.

Weaknesses - Quarterback stands out as the position in most need of an upgrade on Brad's roster. Cousins should be steady as a fantasy QB1 but is unlikely to provide many monstrous, week-winning performances in a four-point passing touchdown league.

Stafford averaged just 12.9 fantasy points per game in the nine contests he suited up for last season. Assuming health, he's sure to enjoy some positive regression in 2023, but with so few weapons outside of Cooper Kupp on the Rams' offense, it's fair to question his ceiling at age 35. Rookie C.J. Stroud could suffer from a similar issue in Houston as no receiver on the team has posted more than 53 receptions or 556 yards since 2020.

Best Pick - Marquise Brown at 9.06. At the time of this mock draft, it wasn't known for certain that the Cardinals would be without the services of DeAndre Hopkins this season, but Hollywood demonstrated his ability to earn targets in Arizona last year from both Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy. It will be difficult to project Brown's fantasy output for next season until we know when to expect Murray back under center, but drafting an offense's WR1 in the ninth round is never a bad idea.

 

Team #7 - Kyle Lindemann

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.07	Travis Kelce	TE	Chiefs
2.06	Dak Prescott	QB	Cowboys
3.07	Garrett Wilson	WR	Jets
4.06	Rhamondre Stevenson	RB	Patriots
5.07	DJ Moore	WR	Bears
6.06	Jerry Jeudy	WR	Broncos
7.07	Kyler Murray	QB	Cardinals
8.06	Isiah Pacheco	RB	Chiefs
9.07	Jordan Addison	WR	Vikings
10.06	Desmond Ridder	QB	Falcons
11.07	Damien Harris	RB	Bills
12.06	Kendre Miller	RB	Saints
13.07	Tank Bigsby	RB	Jaguars
14.06	Seattle	DEF	Seahawks

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 3	3 -
RB - 5	2 - Chiefs
WR - 4	1 - Cowboys, Jets, Patriots, Bears, Broncos, Cardinals, Vikings, Falcons, Bills, Saints, Jaguars
TE - 1
DEF - 1

Overview - Kyle, like Brad, decided against drafting a quarterback in the first round and secured arguably the biggest positional advantage in fantasy football by selecting Travis Kelce. After drafting a quality QB1 in Dak Prescott, he filled out his roster with numerous high-upside receivers in the middle rounds and prioritized depth at the running back position late in the draft.

Composition - The choice to select more running backs than receivers makes sense for Kyle's roster as he only drafted one running back through the first seven rounds. Kyle should be able to find wide receiver depth on the waiver wire throughout the season. He drafted three quarterbacks, but only two are expected to start in Week 1 as Kyler Murray continues to recover from a knee injury.

Strengths - It goes without saying that the tight end position is a strength for Kyle. Kelce hasn't finished lower than TE2 since 2015, and even at age 33, is showing no signs of slowing down.

Because Kelce feels like such a strong guarantee, Kyle was able to swing for the fences at the wide receiver position and shoot for all upside with players poised for a possible breakout. Garrett Wilson was electric as a rookie, so the sky is the limit for him with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. Jerry Jeudy closed the 2022 season on a tear, scoring as the WR3 from Week 14 on. Jordan Addison is in the perfect situation to pace the 2023 rookie wide receiver class on an offense with plenty of vacated targets and Justin Jefferson demanding the defense's attention.

Weaknesses - With the exception of Prescott, Kyle's quarterbacks could be a cause for concern. Desmond Ridder might fill in just fine at Kyle's Superflex slot until Murray returns, but it's far from a guarantee that the second-year pro will be a productive fantasy player. Ridder averaged just 9.7 fantasy points per contest in his four starts last season. Of course, he will have Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson at his disposal this year, but we haven't seen nearly enough from the former third-round NFL Draft pick to feel comfortable with him in a starting fantasy lineup.

If it's only for a few weeks, it shouldn't be much of an issue, but if Murray is sidelined for half of the season or more, Kyle could find himself falling behind without much time left to catch up.

Best Pick - This might come as a surprising selection, but I really like Damien Harris at 11.07. James Cook is expected to have an increased role in his second season, but at 190 pounds, it's not anticipated that he handles a three-down workload. Harris should mix in to take a good portion of the 177 carries left behind by Devin Singletary, and could even be given a goal-line role on one of the highest-scoring offenses in football.

 

Team #8 - Keith Hernandez

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.08	Christian McCaffrey	RB	49ers
2.05	Austin Ekeler	RB	Chargers
3.08	Tua Tagovailoa	QB	Dolphins
4.05	DK Metcalf	WR	Seahawks
5.08	Michael Pittman	WR	Colts
6.05	Dallas Goedert	TE	Eagles
7.08	D'Andre Swift	RB	Eagles
8.05	Kenny Pickett	QB	Steelers
9.08	Mike Williams	WR	Chargers
10.05	Courtland Sutton	WR	Broncos
11.08	Brock Purdy	QB	49ers
12.05	Michael Thomas	WR	Saints
13.08	Buffalo	DEF	Bills
14.05	D'Onta Foreman	RB	Bears

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 3	3 -
RB - 4	2 - 49ers, Chargers, Eagles
WR - 5	1 - Dolphins, Seahawks, Colts, Steelers, Broncos, Saints, Bears
TE - 1
DEF - 1

Overview - Keith took the first running back off the board with Christian McCaffrey and double-dipped at the position with Austin Ekeler in round two. He went on to add a good mix of high-floor and high-ceiling wide receivers as well as a difference-making tight end.

Composition - Keith went with the most popular roster construction in this draft and preferred additional wide receiver depth to running back depth. This makes perfect sense considering Keith spent his first two picks on elite, do-it-all backs. He also managed to draft three quarterbacks with at least two guaranteed to start in Week 1.

Strengths - Keith's running backs are unrivaled, specifically in full-PPR scoring. It was a surprise to see him select two of the first three backs taken in the draft, but it's not too often you're able to acquire the RB1 and RB2 from the previous season. Ekeler and McCaffrey both suited up for all 17 games last year and scored more fantasy points than every quarterback outside of the top four.

He also added D'Andre Swift, who should at least be the primary pass-catching back in Philadelphia, and D'Onta Foreman, who is coming off of a career season and could lead the Bears' RB committee.

Weaknesses - The only glaring weakness on Keith's team is the quarterback position. Tua Tagovailoa was great in the early going of the 2022 campaign, but struggled to perform against top defenses and ultimately had his season derailed by concussions.

Even as a believer in Kenny Pickett, I'm uncertain of his fantasy ceiling in Pittsburgh's current offense. Brock Purdy was unbelievably consistent down the stretch last year, but may not be ready for Week 1 and could be competing with Trey Lance for the starting job.

Best Pick - Mike Williams at 9.08. There is understandable concern that Williams' target share could take a hit with the Chargers bringing in Quentin Johnston as the 21st overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, but Williams' role as the team's downfield threat should be safe. Williams played on at least 65 percent of offensive snaps in 11 games last season, in which he averaged over 15 PPR fantasy points per game. Only 15 receivers averaged at least 15 points per game in 2022, yet Keith was able to snag Williams as the WR38 in this draft.

 

Team #9 - Chris Gregory

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.09	Ja'Marr Chase	WR	Bengals
2.04	Bijan Robinson	RB	Falcons
3.09	Josh Jacobs	RB	Raiders
4.04	Chris Olave	WR	Saints
5.09	Jordan Love	QB	Packers
6.04	Kyle Pitts	TE	Falcons
7.09	Bryce Young	QB	Panthers
8.04	George Pickens	WR	Steelers
9.09	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	WR	Seahawks
10.04	Mac Jones	QB	Patriots
11.09	Tyler Allgeier	RB	Falcons
12.04	Jonathan Mingo	WR	Panthers
13.09	Dallas	DEF	Cowboys
14.04	Chase Brown	RB	Bengals

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 3	3 - Falcons
RB - 4	2 - Bengals, Panthers
WR - 5	1 - Raiders, Saints, Packers, Steelers, Seahawks, Patriots
TE - 1
DEF - 1

Overview - Chris was the only manager in this mock to go with a true zero-QB approach, not selecting a quarterback until the back half of the fifth round. In the process, he stocked up on young, high-end talent at all of the skill positions. As someone who almost always prioritizes landing a top QB, I can admit that starting a draft with Ja'Marr Chase, Bijan Robinson, Josh Jacobs, and Chris Olave sounds pretty appealing.

Composition - Chris drafted five wide receivers and four running backs, which was a wise decision given the youth of his receivers. Although he waited longer than anyone to draft a quarterback, Chris still made sure to select three Week 1 starters.

Strengths - At the top, Chris's starters at running back and wide receiver are incredibly strong. We know exactly what Chase and Jacobs bring to the table, and Robinson has all the tools to become the next fantasy superstar running back. Olave was impressive as a rookie, earning 119 targets and scoring over 13 fantasy points per contest, and should only improve in year two with Derek Carr replacing Andy Dalton at quarterback.

Weaknesses - Like many of the teams before his, quarterback stands out as the biggest weakness on this roster. Jordan Love has attempted just 83 passes in his three-year career, and although he has flashed potential, it is undoubtedly a huge gamble to deploy Love as a fantasy QB1.

Bryce Young was the first overall pick in April's draft for a reason, but the Panthers lack a reliable WR1 and there are questions surrounding Young's size. Mac Jones is a solid bounce-back candidate for this season under new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, but he lacks real upside, especially in four-point passing touchdown scoring.

Best Pick - Josh Jacobs at 3.09. Jacobs finished as the RB3 last season, establishing himself as a true three-down workhorse en route to the NFL rushing title. He also has RB8 and RB11 finishes under his belt and is still just 25 years old. Chris was able to draft him at an excellent value as the eighth running back off the board. Assuming Jimmy Garoppolo is the Raiders' starter, this offense should operate much like it did in 2022 with Derek Carr under center.

 

Team #10 - Frank Dyeovoich

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.10	Justin Herbert	QB	Chargers
2.03	Deshaun Watson	QB	Browns
3.10	Nick Chubb	RB	Browns
4.03	Jaylen Waddle	WR	Dolphins
5.10	T.J. Hockenson	TE	Vikings
6.03	DeAndre Hopkins	WR	Free Agent
7.10	Cam Akers	RB	Rams
8.03	Diontae Johnson	WR	Steelers
9.10	Quentin Johnston	WR	Chargers
10.03	Brian Robinson	RB	Commanders
11.10	Ryan Tannehill	QB	Titans
12.03	Devon Achane	RB	Dolphins
13.10	Skyy Moore	WR	Chiefs
14.03	New York	DEF	Jets

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 3	3 -
RB - 4	2 - Chargers, Browns, Dolphins
WR - 5	1 - Vikings, Cardinals, Rams, Steelers, Commanders, Titans, Chiefs
TE - 1
DEF - 1

Overview - Frank addressed his starting quarterbacks immediately, following up with Justin Herbert at 1.10 with Deshaun Watson at 2.03. He still managed to draft top skill position players such as Nick Chubb and Jaylen Waddle and find value with some starters later in the draft. This roster isn't without uncertainties, but Frank's squad is one of the most well-balanced so far.

Composition - Frank also chose to draft five receivers and four running backs. I think he could've gone either way with his final player selection, but in a league with 36 wideouts starting every week, you can't go wrong with receiver depth. For now, Frank has three starting quarterbacks, but it will be interesting to see if Will Levis gets any action as a rookie.

Strengths - Quarterback will always be a strength when you leave the first two rounds with two of them. Herbert, who was commonly selected ahead of Patrick Mahomes last offseason, looks like a steal at the 10th overall pick, and there is plenty of reason to believe that Watson can return to form in his first full campaign as the Browns' QB1. In his last full season in Houston, Watson scored 36 total touchdowns and finished as the fantasy QB5.

Ryan Tannehill may have Levis gunning for his job, but the 34-year-old has been, at minimum, a serviceable QB2 in recent years and was a great value at 11.10.

Weaknesses - Frank's running backs, outside of Chubb, could be seen as a weakness. Cam Akers came on strong at the end of 2022, but it's difficult to expect him to continue that level of production after such a rocky start to last season and with so many holes in Los Angeles' offense.

Brian Robinson is a fine volume-based fantasy RB3 but was inefficient as a rookie and lacks the pass-catching chops that backfield mate Antonio Gibson has. Rookie Devon Achane possesses world-class speed, but as an undersized back, will likely split duties with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr.

Best Pick - T.J. Hockenson at 5.10. Hockenson finished as the TE2 last season and averaged 13 fantasy points per game upon his arrival in Minnesota. Just as it played out in this mock, I would rank Kelce and Andrews clearly above Hockenson for 2023, but it is interesting to see such a large gap between Andrews at 2.09 and Hockenson at the tail end of the fifth round as the third tight end off the board.

In his time with the Vikings, Hockenson has averaged 8.6 targets per game, an amount that was only bested by Kelce last season. Even with Jordan Addison added to the equation, Hockenson should be a focal point of Minnesota's passing attack with 107 targets left behind by Adam Thielen.

 

Team #11 - Dan Fornek

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.11	Justin Fields	QB	Bears
2.02	Trevor Lawrence	QB	Jaguars
3.11	Tee Higgins	WR	Bengals
4.02	Tony Pollard	RB	Cowboys
5.11	Drake London	WR	Falcons
6.02	Terry McLaurin	WR	Commanders
7.11	David Montgomery	RB	Lions
8.02	Christian Kirk	WR	Jaguars
9.11	Rashod Bateman	WR	Ravens
10.02	Zach Charbonnet	RB	Seahawks
11.11	Zay Flowers	WR	Ravens
12.02	Elijah Mitchell	RB	49ers
13.11	Dalton Schultz	TE	Texans
14.02	Devin Singletary	RB	Texans

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 2	3 -
RB - 5	2 - Jaguars, Ravens, Texans
WR - 6	1 - Bears, Bengals, Cowboys, Falcons, Commanders, Lions, Seahawks, 49ers
TE - 1
DEF - 0

Overview - Dan, like Frank, locked down two top quarterbacks right away in the form of Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence. He then loaded up on running backs and wide receivers, spending 10 straight picks on the two positions, before adding his only tight end in round 13. Dan is the manager most likely to be bombarded with trade offers after the first week or two of action when other teams are faced with injuries.

Composition - Dan has the most skill position players of any manager with five running backs, six wide receivers, and one tight end. Because of this construction, Dan walked away from the draft without a defense and with just two quarterbacks. Fortunately, his quarterbacks are rock solid and he has plenty of time to pick up a defense before Week 1.

Strengths - Even with just two quarterbacks on his roster, the position is Dan's strongest. Fields, now behind an improved offensive line and with DJ Moore at receiver, may prove to be a cheat code in a four-point passing touchdown league. Lawrence finished as the QB8 last season and now will have Calvin Ridley joining Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram as his primary targets. Depth is another key strength of Dan's roster.

Weaknesses - I can't fault Dan for punting the tight end position, but it is obviously his biggest weakness. Dalton Schultz was solid for fantasy purposes as a Cowboy, but he will be leaving the high-flying Dallas offense for a Houston team led by a rookie quarterback.

Best Pick - Tony Pollard at 4.02. Pollard finished as the RB8 in PPR scoring last season despite being out-touched by Ezekiel Elliott 248-232. Elliott was released by the Cowboys this offseason, and although neither side has ruled out a potential reunion, Pollard is expected to finally take up the reins as the starting running back in Dallas. Getting Pollard as the RB11 was a tremendous value.

 

Team #12 - Jackson Sparks

	Player	Pos.	Team
1.12	Cooper Kupp	WR	Rams
2.01	Tyreek Hill	WR	Dolphins
3.12	Travis Etienne	RB	Jaguars
4.01	Daniel Jones	QB	Giants
5.12	Derek Carr	QB	Saints
6.01	Joe Mixon	RB	Bengals
7.12	Javonte Williams	RB	Broncos
8.01	Tyler Lockett	WR	Seahawks
9.12	James Cook	RB	Bills
10.01	Jameson Williams	WR	Lions
11.12	Jamaal Williams	RB	Saints
12.01	Rashaad Penny	RB	Eagles
13.12	Chigoziem Okonkwo	TE	Titans
14.01	Will Levis	QB	Titans

Team Composition

Composition By Position	Composition By NFL Team
QB - 3	3 -
RB - 6	2 - Saints, Titans
WR - 4	1 - Rams, Dolphins, Jaguars, Giants, Bengals, Broncos, Seahawks, Bills, Lions, Eagles
TE - 1
DEF - 0

Overview - Jackson was the only manager outside of Chris to not select a quarterback within the first three rounds, but he did draft Daniel Jones at 4.01 and came back with Derek Carr at 5.12. This was done after he acquired Cooper Kupp, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Etienne as cornerstone assets. Jackson, like Dan, also waited until round 13 to draft his first tight end, Chigoziem Okonkwo, pairing him with Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis just one pick later.

Composition - Jackson didn't draft a defense, and interestingly enough, selected six running backs and just four wide receivers. While I likely would've drafted five at each position had I skipped out on defense, I can understand Jackson's logic here as he did prioritize wide receiver with his first two picks. He has two guaranteed starting quarterbacks while Levis aims to take over for Tannehill.

Strengths - Although Jackson lacks depth at the wide receiver position, his starters will be difficult to match up against. I've already expressed concern with the Rams offense but Kupp should be immune to everything going on around him as Stafford peppers him with double-digit targets weekly. Hill finished as the WR2 last season, proving he is a force to be reckoned with regardless of who is under center. Let's also not ignore the value of Tyler Lockett, who was drafted as WR30 but hasn't finished lower than WR17 since 2017.

Weaknesses - Depth at wide receiver stands out to me as a potential concern for this roster. Jackson's fourth receiver is Jameson Williams, who will face a suspension for the first six games of the season. Should any of Kupp, Hill, or Lockett get injured, Jackson will be forced to scavenge the waiver wire for a starter.

Best Pick - As I alluded to above, Tyler Lockett at 8.01. The fantasy community always seems to vastly underrate Lockett even though he outproduces his ADP on a yearly basis. Don't get me wrong, Jaxon Smith-Njigba will take some targets away from Lockett, but I can't imagine a receiver with four straight 1,000-yard seasons and top-15 finishes falling completely out of fantasy WR2 territory.

 

Summary

Despite all the preparation and studying we do for draft day, it's important to remember that a fantasy league is not won during the draft. Regardless of who drafted the best team on paper and who made some dangerous mistakes, some players just won't pan out, others will shock the world, and many will get injured. That said, I believe that all 12 managers did a really great job at constructing their teams and finding unique ways to build a Superflex lineup.

With the understanding that situations and opinions will change between now and Week 1, these are my choices for best draft pick, best stack, and best overall team as of right now.

Best draft pick - There are many contenders for this award, and the "best pick" I have listed for each team should be considered an honorable mention. Knowing what we do now, I'll go with Frank's selection of T.J. Hockenson at 5.10. Tight end may not be the most important position, especially in a 12-team Superflex format, but to land Hockenson exactly three-and-a-half rounds after Mark Andrews was selected is an unbelievable value.

Best stack - The first stack taken in the draft was Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews, so I'll give this one to Josh. Jackson has the ability to finish as the QB1 overall given his rushing ceiling and potential for more passing volume under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Andrews should also thrive in Baltimore's new system and represents an elite positional advantage on his own. The duo has combined for a plethora of week-winning performances in their four years together as starters.

Best team  - It's incredibly difficult to pick the best team in a mock at this point in the offseason. I thought about fully embracing my biases and going with my team, but from an objective standpoint, I think Frank's team is superior. He has two quarterbacks that I would rank within the top 12, a solid running back room, a respectable wide receiver corps, a top-three tight end, and depth.

All in all, I think this would be an extremely competitive league with a handful of teams battling it out for fantasy glory. This mock was a blast to participate in, and hopefully, it can be of some assistance to you when preparing for your Superflex drafts in the coming months.

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