Quarterback Strategy in Salary Cap Leagues

The Footballguys staff gives multiple tactics for you to use at the quarterback position.

Footballguys Staff's Quarterback Strategy in Salary Cap Leagues Footballguys Staff Published 08/06/2024

The great thing about salary cap leagues is that you can take your team in any direction you want. Your strategy options are completely wide open.

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Our Footballguys staff recently sat down to discuss their favored options at the quarterback position when playing in a salary cap league.

Assume these league settings:
  • $200 cap
  • 12 teams
  • Full PPR
  • Starting Lineup
    • 1 QB
    • 2 RBs
    • 3 WRs
    • 1 TE
    • 1 flex (RB, WR, TE)

How do you approach the quarterback position in a salary cap draft? Feel free to discuss price enforcement and budget allocation. 

Thoughts from Jason Wood

The $200 cap makes it difficult to pay up at quarterback because price inflation will drive the best RBs and WRs into the $40-plus range, and you want to give your bench enough talent that you're not doomed with inevitable injuries to your top players.

I'll generally attempt to pay no more than $15 for two quarterbacks and am willing to pay $7-$8 for two competent starters or more for a higher-end starter and backfill with a $1 or $2 lottery ticket.

My view on price enforcement comes down to how I read the tiers at any position. I rarely price enforce at quarterback other than making sure a top-5 starter isn't going off for more than a 10% discount to my projections. And I'll only enforce if I don't already have my starter.

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