Here is how AI projects the Deuce rookie draft.

The QFL Rookie Draft: Who Should Every Team Pick?

The QFL rookie draft is not your ordinary dynasty rookie draft.

In a normal fantasy league, you can simply take the highest-ranked rookie on the board. In the QFL, that can be a mistake. The league’s unusual scoring system rewards rushing volume, rushing and receiving yardage, and touchdowns, while its formations allow managers to start as many as three RBs, four WRs, or two TEs. Tight ends can also be used in WR spots.

Then there is the contract system. The first two rookies cost $4 apiece in Year 1, picks 3–4 cost $3, picks 5–6 cost $2, and every pick after that costs only $1. Those salaries rise in Years 2 and 3.

That means roster construction matters enormously.

After looking at every team’s roster, here is how I would attack the two-round draft.

Round 1

1. Catch 42 — Jeremiyah Love, RB

The pick: Jeremiyah Love

This remains the easiest pick in the draft.

Catch 42 already has an absurd running-back room: Ashton Jeanty, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Quinshon Judkins and Tyrone Tracy.

Normally, that would make taking another RB seem unnecessary.

But Love is different.

The current rookie consensus still has Love as the clear 1.01. PFN has him first overall, ahead of Carnell Tate, Jadarian Price and Makai Lemon.

And QFL scoring makes him an even better fit. Rushing yards are worth .04 per yard, rushing TDs are worth six or seven points, and rushing attempts themselves generate additional points.

Catch 42 can worry about roster balance later.

Draft Love. Figure out the rest afterward.

Round 2 target: Fernando Mendoza

This is where Catch 42 should address its biggest weakness.

Bo Nix and Sam Darnold are fine, but this roster doesn’t have the long-term QB depth of most of the league.

Fernando Mendoza is the rookie QB I’d target if he survives to the second round. The current rookie consensus has him as the first QB off the board, around the back end of the first round.

1.01 Love
2.01 Mendoza

2. Morning Damien Woody — Carnell Tate, WR

The pick: Carnell Tate

MDW is one of the most obvious teams to draft a receiver.

Look at the roster:

Brian Thomas Jr.
Jameson Williams
Tetairoa McMillan
Quentin Johnston
Alec Pierce
Travis Hunter
Luther Burden

That’s a very good collection of young WR talent.

But the QFL lets you start four WRs in the Run-and-Shoot and three in the 3rd Down/H-Back formations.

So depth at receiver is not a luxury.

Tate is also the best receiver remaining after Love. The current rookie consensus has Tate as the WR1 and No. 2 overall rookie.

Tate gives MDW another potential foundational receiver rather than simply filling a hole.

Round 2 target: Mike Washington Jr.

MDW desperately needs RB depth.

Its current group is Jaylen Warren, Omarion Hampton, Aaron Jones, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Bhayshul Tuten.

Hampton is excellent, but this is not a deep RB room.

Mike Washington is exactly the kind of $1 rookie I’d want here. Current rookie rankings put him among the better second-tier RBs, with his opportunity particularly interesting if Ashton Jeanty misses time.

2.01 Tate
2.02 Mike Washington

3. The Bald Eagles — Jadarian Price, RB

The pick: Jadarian Price

This is where roster construction changes the draft.

The Bald Eagles have:

Kenneth Walker
Travis Etienne
Cameron Skattebo

That’s it.

Three quality backs — but only three.

And the QFL has formations that can start three RBs.

Price is currently ranked among the top three or four rookies by multiple outlets, and CBS’s dynasty consensus specifically identifies him as one of the elite six rookies in this class.

This is an excellent marriage of talent + roster need + QFL rules.

Round 2 target: Emmett Johnson

Johnson becomes even more attractive here because the Eagles need another RB.

Current rookie rankings have him as an RB in the second tier behind Love, Price and Coleman, and his Kansas City landing spot gives him a potential path to playing time.

1.03 Price
2.03 Emmett Johnson

The Bald Eagles could leave this draft with two useful RBs and completely transform their depth chart.

4. Mad Bombers — Makai Lemon, WR

The pick: Makai Lemon

This is a no-brainer.

Mad Bombers has CeeDee Lamb, Terry McLaurin, Jordan Addison and Rome Odunze.

That’s arguably the best WR nucleus in the league.

So why take another WR?

Because Lemon is simply too good to pass up at No. 4.

The current consensus rookie rankings have Lemon in the top four, and CBS’ rookie roundtable puts him alongside Tate and Tyson as the class’s premier receivers.

At pick four, he’s also only a $3 rookie.

This is exactly the kind of pick where you take talent and figure out the roster later.

Round 2 target: Drew Allar

This is where Mad Bombers should think long-term.

The team has Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins, so there isn’t an emergency.

But Daniels and Penix are the only young quarterbacks I’d feel comfortable building around.

Allar is the upside play.

1.04 Makai Lemon
2.04 Drew Allar

5. SQYLINE QONIES — Fernando Mendoza

The pick: Fernando Mendoza

This is my biggest change from the generic rookie mock.

The Qonies already have Bijan Robinson, Bucky Irving, D’Andre Swift, Pacheco and Kareem Hunt.

They don’t need another RB nearly as badly as they need a long-term QB.

Joe Burrow is excellent, but Tua is a much shakier No. 2.

And the QFL requires every team to maintain at least two QBs.

Mendoza is the first QB in the current rookie rankings, although he is well below the elite skill-position rookies.

At No. 5, however, the $2 salary changes the equation.

I’d take the QB and solve a future problem before it becomes an immediate one.

Round 2 target: Cyrus Allen

Qonies’ WR group is good:

A.J. Brown
D.J. Moore
Malik Nabers
Jakobi Meyers
Jauan Jennings
Ricky Pearsall

But there is a considerable age curve here.

Cyrus Allen is an intriguing $1 developmental receiver, and current rookie rankings have him in the second-round range.

1.05 Mendoza
2.05 Cyrus Allen

6. Vega’s Sleepers — KC Concepcion, WR

The pick: KC Concepcion

This is another case where the roster argues for a position even though the player is the main reason for the selection.

Vega’s has:

Chris Godwin
Davante Adams
Drake London
Xavier Worthy
Khalil Shakir
Emeka Egbuka
Tyler Warren
Tucker Kraft

There is already a ton of receiving talent.

But Adams and Godwin are aging, and this roster is transitioning toward London, Egbuka and Worthy.

Concepcion fits that timeline beautifully.

He is currently one of the consensus top-seven rookies.

Round 2 target: Kaelon Black

Now Vega’s should finally address RB.

Rhamondre Stevenson is the only real running back on the roster.

That is dangerous in a league that can start three RBs.

Kaelon Black is exactly the sort of $1 RB stash that makes sense here. Current rookie RB rankings identify him as one of the better late-round upside plays, particularly in San Francisco.

1.06 Concepcion
2.06 Black

7. The Bloody Sheeps — Denzel Boston, WR

The pick: Denzel Boston

This is another roster where receiver depth makes the position particularly important.

The Sheeps have:

Ladd McConkey
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Jaylen Waddle
Michael Pittman
Brandon Aiyuk
Matthew Golden
Troy Franklin

That’s excellent.

But the team has no young RB with obvious cornerstone status.

So why not take Jonah Coleman?

Because I think Boston’s value is simply too good at No. 7.

Current rookie rankings put Boston around the top eight, and the consensus rookie market has him among the premium receivers.

The $1 price is the clincher.

Round 2 target: Jonah Coleman

Now fix the RB room.

Jonah Coleman is currently one of the most attractive rookie RBs after Love and Price. His Denver situation becomes especially interesting if J.K. Dobbins misses time.

1.07 Boston
2.07 Coleman

That gives the Sheeps both a premium young WR and a potential RB starter for $2 total in Year 1.

8. No Joq — Jordyn Tyson

The pick: Jordyn Tyson

This is a fascinating team.

No Joq has:

Lamar Jackson
Caleb Williams

and then:

Christian McCaffrey
Chuba Hubbard
Rico Dowdle
Tyler Allgeier
Jordan Mason
Trevor Etienne

and:

Justin Jefferson
Zay Flowers
Wan’Dale Robinson

The roster is very good.

But it is also aging at RB.

Tyson therefore makes sense because No Joq can afford to take the best available player rather than reaching for a need.

Tyson is still one of the consensus top rookies despite recent injury concerns.

Round 2 target: Nicholas Singleton

Singleton is the type of RB No Joq should be looking for.

He is currently around the back end of the top-20 rookie conversation and offers a cheaper way to add another young RB.

1.08 Tyson
2.08 Singleton

9. El Milkman — De’Zhaun Stribling

The pick: De’Zhaun Stribling

This is one of my favorite picks in the entire draft.

Milkman’s roster is already strong at RB:

TreVeyon Henderson
Devon Achane
Tony Pollard
Joe Mixon
Braelon Allen
Ollie Gordon

There is no reason to force another RB.

At WR, however, the team has Tee Higgins, Nico Collins, George Pickens and Josh Downs, with the rest of the group less established.

Stribling is currently one of the biggest risers in the rookie rankings, with Big Blue View specifically noting a huge jump in his preseason valuation.

PFN currently ranks him No. 5 overall among rookies.

Getting that kind of player at No. 9 for a $1 rookie contract is exactly what this league is about.

Round 2 target: Ja’Kobi Lane

Lane adds another young WR to a roster that could use one.

He’s currently ranked around the top 10–12 rookies.

1.09 Stribling
2.09 Ja’Kobi Lane

10. Fantasy Enemy #1 — Omar Cooper Jr.

The pick: Omar Cooper Jr.

This is another team that should resist taking a quarterback.

Josh Allen is all the QB you need, and the QFL only requires two QBs on the roster.

The bigger issue is building another young offensive core around Allen.

The WR group has veterans Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen, alongside Courtland Sutton, Marquise Brown, Keon Coleman, Jayden Higgins and Jack Bech.

Cooper gives Enemy another young upside receiver.

PFN currently ranks Cooper 10th among rookies, which makes No. 10 an almost perfect landing spot.

Round 2 target: Kaytron Allen

Enemy’s RB room is better than it looks:

James Cook
Chase Brown
Javonte Williams
RJ Harvey

But it lacks depth.

A $1 rookie RB with upside is therefore more valuable than another WR.

1.10 Omar Cooper Jr.
2.10 Kaytron Allen

11. Deep Fried Turduckins — Kenyon Sadiq

The pick: Kenyon Sadiq

This is the most interesting pick in Round 1.

Turduckins already has one of the league’s strongest WR groups:

Puka Nacua
Amon-Ra St. Brown
DeVonta Smith
Romeo Doubs

The problem is that the rest of the roster is starting to age.

Jonathan Taylor is still excellent, but Michael Carter, David Montgomery and the other RBs aren’t exactly a long-term foundation.

And the TE room is veteran-heavy: Mark Andrews and George Kittle.

That’s why I like Sadiq.

The QFL allows TEs to fill WR slots and permits two TEs in several formations.

Sadiq is the top rookie TE in current dynasty consensus in some rankings, and CBS’ rookie roundtable had him as high as No. 8 overall among rookies.

At pick 11, he’s also only $1.

Round 2 target: Emmett Johnson

Turduckins should begin rebuilding the RB room.

Johnson gives them another young back with potential opportunity in Kansas City.

1.11 Sadiq
2.11 Emmett Johnson

12. America Wants Q — Makai Lemon’s teammate? No — Chris Bell

The pick: Chris Bell

This is the toughest first-round pick.

America has an excellent overall roster.

Brock Purdy
Justin Herbert
Bryce Young

Jahmyr Gibbs
Kyren Williams
Blake Corum

Chris Olave
DK Metcalf
Christian Watson
Trey McBride
Colston Loveland
Ben Sinnott
Darren Waller

There is no obvious hole.

That means America should look for upside and positional diversification.

The problem is that by pick 12, the premium rookies are likely gone.

Current rankings put Fernando Mendoza at No. 12, but I don’t like that fit because America already has three quarterbacks and doesn’t need another.

I’d instead take the best remaining receiver, with Chris Bell my preferred target.

Then use the second round for a developmental RB.

Round 2 target: Nicholas Singleton

Singleton gives America something it doesn’t really have: another young RB behind Gibbs, Kyren and Corum.

1.12 Chris Bell
2.12 Nicholas Singleton

My Revised Two-Round Draft

Wait — There’s One Problem

There is a conflict in the draft board as supplied.

You have Fernando Mendoza at both 2.01 and 1.05, Emmett Johnson at both 1.03/2.11, and Nicholas Singleton at both 2.08/2.12.

Because this is a real draft, obviously those players can only be selected once.

So the actual draft board needs to account for players coming off the board.

With that correction, my preferred realistic draft would look more like this:

The second-round board is inherently more volatile because once the top 20 or so rookies are gone, individual team preferences become much more important. The current rookie rankings have Caleb Douglas, Emmett Johnson, Mike Washington, Kaelon Black, Ted Hurst, Kenyon Sadiq and Nicholas Singleton clustered in this general range.

The Teams I Think Won the Draft

???? Best overall haul: El Milkman

Stribling + Hurst

Milkman doesn’t need another RB desperately. Instead, it adds young receiver talent to a roster that can already deploy Achane, Henderson and Pollard.

Stribling at $1 is particularly appealing.

???? Best pure talent haul: Catch 42

Love + Ja’Kobi Lane

Love is simply the most valuable player in the draft. And Catch 42’s ridiculous RB depth means it can afford to wait on Love’s development rather than desperately needing immediate production.

???? Best roster-building draft: Bald Eagles

Price + Emmett Johnson

This is the kind of draft I really like in QFL.

The Eagles can legitimately use three RBs, and they leave the draft with two young backs. The QFL scoring system makes that particularly valuable.

Best value pick: De’Zhaun Stribling at 1.09

This is the guy I would be trying hardest to trade up for if I were picking later.

PFN has him fifth among rookies, ahead of Tyson, Concepcion and Boston.

If he is still there at nine, El Milkman should sprint to the podium.

Biggest sleeper: Kaelon Black

He’s exactly the sort of player the QFL’s $1 rookie contract was made for.

You don’t need him to become a superstar.

You need him to become useful.

If he eventually earns a meaningful role in San Francisco, the return on a $1 contract could be tremendous.

The QFL Draft Strategy in One Sentence

Don’t draft for what your roster needs today; draft the players whose QFL production could be worth dramatically more than their rookie salary two years from now.

That’s why I’m willing to put another RB on Catch 42.

That’s why I’m willing to put another WR on Mad Bombers.

And that’s why I would rather take a $1 Stribling, Boston, Sadiq or Coleman than chase a positional need with a lesser prospect.

The QFL isn’t simply a rookie draft.

It’s an exercise in buying future production at controlled salaries.

And this particular rookie class makes that more important than ever.

2026 QFL DEUCE ROOKIE DRAFT ORDER

Round 1

1 Catch 42

2 MDW

3 Bald Eagles

4 Mad Bombers

5 Qoonies

6 Vega’s

7 Enemy (Bloody Sheeps)

8 No Joq

9 Vegas (Milkmen)

10 Enemy

11 Qonies (TURDS)

12 America

Round 2

1 Catch 42

2 MDW

3 MDW (Bald Eagles)

4 Mad Bombers

5 Qoonies

6 Vega’s

7 MDW (Bloody Sheeps)

8 MDW (No Joq)

9 Qonies (Milkmen)

10 Mad Bombers (Enemy)

11 Qonies (TURDS)

12 Enemy (America)