MFL2X Fantasy Football Draft Strategies

My Fantasy League has recently added the MFL2X league option. MFL2Xs are similar to the draft-only MFL10s with the notable difference that 1st-through-5th place win double their entry fee (hence the 2X), as opposed to the winner-take-all 10X format of MFL10s.

While MFL10s require fantasy football owners to be a top-8.3% player to be profitable (top-16.6% if you include the free entry award to 2nd place), you only need to be a top-41.7% player to net a profit in MFL2Xs. Your approach to drafting in these different formats should reflect the payout structure. MFL10 strategies should only be concerned with ceiling, while MFL2Xs theoretically require a higher-floor approach.

I will discuss the three draft strategies that I will use for the majority of my MFL2X drafts.

2-3/4-6/7-8/2-3/2-3
For the QB/RB/WR/TE/DST roster construction, in MFL2Xs I will almost always aim for 2-3/4-6/7-8/2-3/2-3. The exact number is determined by how strong I perceive my group of players are for each position, but the number will always fall in that range. Keep this roster construction in mind while I discuss the following draft approaches.
 

1. Balanced Draft Strategy

The balanced strategy drafts 2-3 RB and 2-3 WR in the first 5 rounds of the draft as well as at least 1 QB and 1TE in the first ten rounds. The remaining rounds should be focused on added depth to each of the positions, while remaining within the ranges stated earlier. This approach tries to maintain a balanced roster construction in order to not be at a large disadvantage at any one position. You should still be selecting a combination of floor and ceiling players.
 

2. Modified Zero-RB Draft Strategy

Instead of using a full-blown zero-RB roster construction in MFL2Xs, I will lean towards using a modified zero-RB approach. For a modified zero-RB draft, I want to draft one RB with one of my first four picks. I will load up on WRs, elite TEs, and (dare I say it) elite QBs (if the price is right) in the other early-middle rounds. In the late middle-to-later rounds, I will fill out the rest of my RBs, and depth at the other positions.

I like the modified zero-RB approach for MFL2Xs because I don't want to completely "punt" a position in what is essentially a "double-up" payout structure. The RBs that I do draft in the later rounds will tend to be high-floor, PPR-esque RBs (i.e. Darren Sproles, Chris Thompson, among others).
 

3. Modified Zero-WR Draft Strategy

Zero-WR draft strategies are found less frequently in fantasy football today in part due to the adoption of the zero-RB draft strategy and the belief that RBs are more injury-prone. However, I believe that there is some merit to zigging when others are zagging by doing a zero-WR approach if top RBs fall into your lap. For the modified zero-WR approach I will draft one WR in the first four rounds, and will not take another WR until the later-middle rounds. I am more likely to use this approach if I have a top 3 pick or a back-end of the first-round pick.

Similar to my rationale behind modified zero-RB, I do not want to completely punt a position in a "double-up" format. However, if value falls to me in the early rounds, I am willing to partially forego WR, especially, if I can get a few of the guaranteed-touch, high-volume RBs. You can typically mix and match WRs in the later rounds to still capture good weeks at the position.

*Never enter your draft with a pre-determined strategy. Let the draft unfold and select the value that falls to you. I am not opposed to other draft strategies in MFL2Xs, however, these will likely be my three most commonly employed strategies.

You can find me on Twitter @Michael_Dubner. Always looking to talk football.