So, you want to play in a two-QB fantasy football league? Cool, cool, cool, they will be happy to have you. Especially when they feel like you just feel like this is simply fantasy football with two quarterbacks.

Before you go out and lose money, dignity, and pride, know that these leagues are not like your traditional leagues. So you need to prepare completely differently than you would for a regular redraft league.

BONUS: Test 2-QB draft strategies for free with our Draft Champion fantasy football mock draft simulator!

Tips and Tricks for 2-QB Fantasy Football Leagues in 2025

This is NOT Superflex!

Someone is out here right now going, “Well, isn't this just superflex?” Silly rabbit, no, it is not. In a superflex league, you have the option to start a second quarterback, but it is not mandatory. This means if you don't have a great option as a second quarterback, you may decide to roll the dice on another skill player in that spot.

You have no such luck in a two-quarterback league because every week you are required to start two, and that's why all of the traditional strategies get thrown out the window like Cleo in the movie “Set it Off” trying to find music to drive to.

Tip 1: QB is King

In a two-quarterback league, you would think this would go without saying, but it really does bear repeating: The quarterback is king.

It really comes down to one simple understanding about the game of football: there is only one quarterback on the field, and they do not get subbed out. If you are playing in a 14-team league and you need two starting quarterbacks and a guy on your bench, it means that there will be fantasy managers who do not get three and maybe do not grab two legit starters at the position.

Remember, there are only 32 starting quarterbacks, and the backups are only there in case of emergency or blowout. Juxtapose that with the running backs. Some teams have a starter who received a majority of the snaps, but no running back gets every carry and target out of the backfield. Some teams have duos or split backfields, while other teams have committees where multiple backs share the load evenly.

This all results in far more backs than 32 having the chance to be effective in fantasy. Tight ends are similar, and receivers have even more players who could score consistently.

Tip 2: Gobble Up QBs Like Hungry Hungry Hippos

The top 25 players in a two-qb fantasy league are littered with quarterbacks. The top five quarterbacks in fantasy are the top five players in two QB leagues. In fact half of the top 25 are quarterbacks. Never forget that because the leagues are based on two quarterbacks in your lineup, the value that they possess is far beyond what we see in standard leagues. If you do not get them early, it's a guarantee that you will be picking from the bargain basement. My strategy is to walk away from the first four rounds of the draft with two quarterbacks.

In a perfect world, I would take one of the top five QBs in the first round. If they are gone, then I would take an elite running back or receiver. In the second round, I would take a quarterback if I did not get one in the first. The third and fourth rounds would be reserved for another quarterback or skill player. I also think it's just as important to secure a third starting quarterback; he will need to start for you at least four times during the season to replace your two starters, and there is always the possibility that he is a fantasy breakout like Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, or Bo Nix.

One of the other inherent values of taking a third starting quarterback is that you weaken the market for other fantasy managers. You also give yourself a legit bargaining piece if you need to trade for help, especially later in the season when you no longer need to worry about your quarterbacks’ bye weeks. You should really consider grabbing that third quarterback early, especially if you want to avoid scraping something off the bottom of the pot while you are cooking.

Tip 3: QBs Who Run Are a Premium

In most fantasy leagues, you are awarded one point for every 10 rushing yards and one point for every 25 passing yards. So, 50 rushing yards is more valuable than 100 passing yards. A quarterback who throws for only 225 yards but adds another 50 yards on the ground will score 14 points. A 300-yard passing game will only score 12 points. That's before we get into the added value of a rushing touchdown.

Quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen, who have scored double-digit touchdowns in each of the past two seasons, score more in fantasy than Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield, who both passed for over 4500 yards and over 40 touchdowns.

Remember, this is fantasy football, not real football. So it does not matter how good you believe a quarterback like Justin Fields really is; what matters is that when he is on the field, he has a chance to produce big fantasy numbers. Last season, while operating in a terrible Steelers offense over the first six weeks, Fields produced performances of 19.4, 23.7, and 32 points. You should target quarterbacks who provide legit rushing upside early in your fantasy draft and enjoy them getting hidden points on 12-yard scrambles and one-yard touchdown runs.

Bonus Tip: Go Heavy QB Early; Hammer Skill Late

If you have followed my tips so far,  you are six rounds in with three quarterbacks and three other skill guys. Now it's time to take advantage of the managers who do not go heavy on quarterbacks early. When the realization seeps in that they not only need another quarterback, but they may need two, they start panicking and reaching for players, while you can keep grabbing receivers, running backs, and tight ends who provide consistent production or high-level upside. Take advantage of the ignorance or arrogance of your fellow fantasy managers.

A Personal Testimony

So many people think they have the perfect strategy to grab quality quarterbacks while also loading up on elite skill at other positions. That strategy lasts until the moment when seven quarterbacks go off the board on seven straight picks in one round. That's usually where the nerves and panic begin to rise. It happened to me. The first time I played in a two-quarterback league, I was full of confidence. I thought I understood all the nuances of fantasy. I was dominating home and office leagues as well as making a name for myself in the fantasy content space as a trusted evaluator.

I was in a 12-team league with the 10th pick. A bunch of quarterbacks went off the board early, which allowed me to grab a premium running back at 10, and I doubled up on the turn with another premium running back. By the time the next 18 picks were finished, the top 19 quarterbacks were already off the board. I did not panic. I looked at this run as a signal that most had their quarterback, and the run would slow down. I drafted two receivers in the third and fourth round, resigned to the idea that I would pick up my first quarterback in the fifth round, but when a few more signal callers fell off the board, I was sweating until it finally made it back to me again.

I selected a quarterback in round five and did not take one in round six. By round seven, all of the starting quarterbacks were gone, and so was my season. I tried to trade a player for another starting quarterback, but the price tag was so steep that I did not make the trade out of principle. I watched as I lost week after week to teams that just had strong, consistent quarterback play, and I vowed I would never put myself in this position again.

Two QB leagues are a lot of fun, and the strategy keeps you engaged, but that begins with the draft. You can make or break your season based on how you draft, so whatever you do, whether you take these tips or not, make sure you go in with a plan.

Join Our Newsletter

Trusted by 400,000+ fantasy football players. Get access to Fantasy Life's free award winning newsletter and tools, all in one step.

Email Address

Subscribe

By registering or logging in, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.