Best Ball Scout Championship
Wed Apr 17 9:26am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Get in the Scout Championship
RealTime Fantasy Sports is once again very excited to bring you the Best Ball Scout Championship this season. This contest is a little different from our normal Best Ball Championship. All these drafts take place before the NFL Draft, so you don’t know where any of the rookies are going this year. You are taking them blindly. This makes for even more strategy come draft day. Should you load up on rookies? Should you just avoid rookies? What is the winning strategy? We are here to help.
First of all, the winner of the Best Ball Scout Championship takes home $10,000. You also win money for finishing first or second in your 10-team league. The cost to enter the contest is just $20. There are a maximum of 10,000 teams in this contest. Rosters are 20 deep with starters consisting of a QB, two RBs, two WRs, one TE and two FLEX spots. There are no kickers and defenses. Remember, this is a best ball contest, so there is no roster management. Your roster is set once the draft is complete.
With that said, we thought it would be a good idea to look at the championship roster from last year to see what won it all. Here it is:
Round 1: Ja’Marr Chase, WR
Round 2: Davante Adams, WR
Round 3: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR
Round 4: DeVonta Smith, WR
Round 5: Deebo Samuel, WR
Round 6: George Kittle, TE
Round 7: Keenan Allen, WR
Round 8: Joe Mixon, RB
Round 9: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB
Round 10: Dak Prescott, QB
Round 11: Khalil Herbert, RB
Round 12: Jared Goff, QB
Round 13: Raheem Mostert, RB
Round 14: Ezekiel Elliott, RB
Round 15: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB
Round 16: Leonard Fournette, RB
Round 17: Tyler Boyd, WR
Round 18: Taysom Hill, TE
Round 19: Zach Ertz, TE
Round 20: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB
The big thing to notice on this roster is just one rookie was taken. Obviously, this owner hit big with that one rookie, taking Jahmyr Gibbs in Round 9. Gibbs was the 10th rated fantasy back last season. But the championship team from last year took just one rookie. This owner did not load up on rookies and waited until the middle rounds to take his one rookie target. This could be a good lesson learned for owners this season. Maybe going early on rookies or taking several is a losing strategy. Just something to keep in mind this year.
And like with many best ball owners, this roster had three quarterbacks and three tight ends. This owner did not take a quarterback early, waiting to take a quarterback until Round 10. But the owner did got a little early on a tight end, getting George Kittle in Round 6.
The other winning strategy for this owner was loading up on receivers early while waiting to get his running backs until later. This was a very interesting strategy that worked. The owner took five straight receivers to start the draft and didn’t get a running back until Joe Mixon was picked in Round 8. This is a little riskier but another strategy that can obviously worked. Take those sure thing receivers first and get a bunch of question mark running backs in the mid- to later rounds and hope some hit. The big hits for this owner was his pick of Gibbs and getting Raheem Mostert in Round 13. The Mostert pick likely was the big one that put him over the top, getting the fifth rated fantasy back in the back half of the draft. The owners also had some misses at running back with Leonard Fournette and Clyde Edwards-Helaire but that didn’t impact his team too much, hitting on some of those other backs.
So overall, the winning strategy of last year’s Best Ball Scout championship team was going early on receivers, loading up on running backs with question marks in the middle to later rounds, take few rookies and wait on the quarterback spot.
There are numerous strategies to use but this was the winning one from last year. Just something to think about when drafting your team in this year’s Best Ball Scout Championship. Start drafting here.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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The Paur Report
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 3
The Detroit Lions defense/special teams may not be a great streaming option heading into a Week 3 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. In their last game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this unit did hold its own on the back of an insane performance from Aidan Hutchinson who collected 4.5 of the team's five sacks. They've given up 20 points in both of their games so far and forced one turnover in each of them as well. Now, they go up against what should be an even better offense in the Cardinals that just put up 41 points on the Rams in Week 2 and 28 points on the Bills in Week 1. Kyler Murray has a few weapons on top of a solid running game with James Conner. The Lions are still an upper-half defense in terms of rankings, but this matchup isn't the best one to use as a streaming option.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro has found himself at the bottom of fantasy kickers even though it hasn't been his fault. Pineiro has converted on every field and extra point so far, but he's only attempted one field goal in each game and one extra point overall. The Panthers' offense has been abysmal as they haven't even been able to get into field goal range let alone find the end zone at even an average rate. While their quarterback swap may alleviate some of those woes, Pineiro is better left on the bench or the waiver wire until the offense proves it can move the ball down the field. To put things into perspective, Pineiro only has four more fantasy points than Matt Gay and five more than Spencer Shrader, both of whom have only appeared in one game.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has hovered around the middle of the pack for kickers so far after two weeks. In the Lions' Week 2 loss, Bates converted on all three of his field goals and his lone extra point. So far, he hasn't missed a field goal or extra point through two games, but he hasn't attempted a field goal longer than 35 yards. The Lions' offense is good enough to move the ball down the field to get into Bates' range, but their aggressive play calling has seen more touchdown-or-bust type of plays rather than settling for field goals. Bates looks to be a mid-level option heading into Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals while having one of the higher-rated matchups according to RotoBaller's matchup tool.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette expressed frustration after not receiving any targets in the 26-3 loss in Week 2. He also went on to say he's not dwelling on it, however, and he's looking forward to getting some more deep ball opportunities with Andy Dalton under center. Despite being one of the best-protected quarterbacks of the week, Bryce Young struggled to find any of his receivers and finished with a total of 84 yards. While the Panthers have more issues than just their quarterback, Dalton is more likely to get the ball out quicker and more accurately than Young. Legette will have more of a fighting chance to secure some fantasy points with Dalton, but his fantasy relevance is very limited until there's a noticeable difference in this offense.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is finally showing the potential that everyone expected and he's started off the season as the WR6 in half-PPR formats. In two games, Williams has 10 receptions for 200 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets with two carries for 28 yards on the ground. Now, the Lions take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3 where Williams can break free for some big plays. The Cardinals give up the 10th most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers right now, giving up an average of 28.7 fantasy points per game. Williams projects to have one of the best matchups in his favor according to RotoBaller's matchup tool while he'll likely go up against Sean Murphy-Bunting most of the time who received a 51.6 coverage grade.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets linebacker CJ Mosley (toe) had to sit out of the Week 3 win as he continues to deal with a toe injury that needed added rest. The star middle linebacker did play in their first two games and accrued a total of 12 combined tackles (10 solo) with no sacks or QB hits yet. Head coach Robert Saleh told reporters after the game that he's confident Mosley will return for their Week 4 matchup against the Denver Broncos, so it looks like this one-game absence is all the time he'll need to miss. Mosley has been the team's leading tackler with 150 or more combined tackles in each of the last three seasons to go along with 3.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught five of his six targets for 93 yards in a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots in Week 3's Thursday night game. Conklin wound up leading the Jets in receiving yards while finishing second in targets and tying for first in receptions. It was an unexpected spike week for Conklin, who came into Week 3 with just two catches for 16 yards through the first two weeks of the season. Conklin will now be worth a look as a waiver add ahead of Week 4's home matchup against the Denver Broncos.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein made one of his two field goal attempts and added three extra points in a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots in Week 3. Zuerlein hit a 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter but missed on a 45-yard attempt shortly before halftime. The veteran kicker has now made two of three field goals and all seven of his extra points through three games. Zuerlein will now have a few extra days to rest ahead of a Week 4 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets defense was excellent in a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots in Week 3. They held New England to just one field goal on only 139 yards of total offense while notching seven sacks and forcing one turnover in the Thursday night victory. The Jets were led by defensive end Will McDonald IV, who turned in two sacks to push his season total to five through three games. Safety Chuck Clark also contributed with four total tackles and a forced fumble. The Jets will be a top fantasy defense again in Week 4's home matchup against a struggling Denver Broncos offense.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas turned nine targets into seven catches for 69 yards against the New York Jets on Thursday night. Douglas had been off to a quiet start this season, finishing Week 2 with zero targets and the third-most snaps among wide receivers on the team. However, he got more reps during practice leading up to the Jets game, and it seems to have paid off. The Liberty product connected with Jacoby Brissett early and often, and he also appeared to have a rapport with rookie Drake Maye. Douglas has managed to get back on the fantasy radar as a low-end WR4 heading into Week 4.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson caught five of his nine targets for 33 yards and a touchdown in a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots in Week 3. Wilson hauled in his first touchdown pass of the season on a two-yard catch in the third quarter, giving the Jets a 20-3 lead. The veteran wideout also led the Jets in targets and tied for the team lead in catches on Thursday night, even though he only finished with 33 receiving yards. So far this season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been content to spread the targets around in the Jets offense but Wilson remains the lead receiver in New York. Wilson will now have a few extra days to rest ahead of a Week 4 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed just six times for 23 yards during Thursday's loss to the New York Jets. The 26-year-old has logged at least 21 carries and one touchdown in each of the first two games this season, so his reduced opportunities and production in Week 3 was certainly a surprise. It should also be noted that Stevenson fumbled for the third consecutive game, creating real ball security concerns. If he can't protect the football, he'll lose favor among the coaching staff and play fewer snaps. He's already dropped to the mid-range RB2 tier for Week 4.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard caught all three of his targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots in Week 3's Thursday night game. Lazard came out of the gate hot as he scored the Jets' first touchdown on a 10-yard catch with 4:26 left in the first quarter. The veteran wideout has been productive through the first three games of the season with 11 catches for 148 yards and three touchdowns thus far. Lazard and quarterback Aaron Rodgers showed good chemistry a few years back as members of the Green Bay Packers and that appears to have carried over to the Jets, putting Lazard on the map as a flex option in fantasy moving forward. He will now have a few extra days to prepare to take on the Denver Broncos in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry caught two of three targets for nine yards during Thursday's loss to the New York Jets. Henry had broke out for eight catches and 109 yards in Week 2, but he was dealt a harsh reality check as his production came way back down to earth in Week 3. The veteran pass-catcher still has a strong rapport with Jacoby Brissett. However, there simply aren't enough targets to go around to support consistent fantasy production from several pass-catchers. Just like Week 2 was a Henry week, Week 3 belonged to Demario Douglas, who caught seven passes for 69 yards. Henry is a candidate to bounce back in Week 4, but given the Patriots' unpredictability on offense, he's a mid-range TE2.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams caught three of his four targets for 34 yards in a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots in Week 3. Williams easily turned in his best game of the season after not drawing a target in Week 1 and catching just one ball in Week 2. He wound up finishing third on the team in receiving in the Thursday night win as the Jets are slowly ramping up his workload after a torn ACL in 2023. Williams should continue to see more work moving forward, although the reemergence of Allen Lazard as one of Aaron Rodgers' favorite targets could be a concern for Williams. He will now have a few extra days to rest ahead of a Week 4 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson rushed five times for 29 yards during Thursday's game against the New York Jets. He also caught three passes for an additional eight yards through the air. Gibson primarily played late in the game, including the drive in which Drake Maye replaced Jacoby Brissett. He was incredibly efficient with 5.8 YPC and showed a sort of burst on the ground that we haven't necessarily seen from Gibson in years past. He also kept firm possession of the football, which can't be said of Rhamondre Stevenson. The Patriots' lead back has now fumbled in three consecutive games, so if the coaching staff can't trust him to protect the football, he could lose significant opportunities to Gibson. The former Commander back is a fringe top-36 fantasy running back for Week 4 against the Niners.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Breece Hall carried the ball 16 times for 54 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches for 29 yards in a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots in Week 3's Thursday night game. Hall extended his touchdown streak to three straight games with a one-yard run in the second quarter, putting the Jets up 13-0. The veteran running back has been excellent through three weeks, with 170 rushing yards and 16 catches for 120 yards. Hall is locked in as a high-end RB1 in fantasy moving forward. He will now have a few extra days to rest ahead of a Week 4 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Braelon Allen carried the ball 11 times for 55 yards and added three catches for 13 yards in a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots in Week 3's Thursday night game. For the second straight week, Allen played a significant role running behind starter Breece Hall as he actually led the Jets in rushing yards in the dominant victory. The 20-year-old rookie has looked good through his first three games as the Jets have slowly increased his workload each week. Allen heads into Week 4 as a top handcuff in fantasy who also possesses some standalone value as a flex play.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye came off the bench to make his NFL debut during the fourth quarter of Thursday's game against the New York Jets. He replaced Jacoby Brissett for the final drive of the game. Brissett had not fared very well behind the Patriots' depleted offensive line, and while Maye was also pressured heavily, he did show flashes of upside, completing four passes and rushing for 12 yards. The Patriots haven't named a starter for Week 4 quite yet.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked sharp in a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots in Week 3's Thursday night game. Rodgers completed 27 of his 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns while adding three rushes for 18 yards in the win. The veteran quarterback threw touchdown passes to Allen Lazard and Garrett Wilson in the win, giving him five on the season. Rodgers has improved with each game this season as he gets further removed from a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 1 of the 2023 season. Even more encouraging regarding his Achilles was the 18 rushing yards as he came into the game with three carries for zero yards. Rodgers now has a few extra days to rest ahead of a Week 4 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
From RotoBaller
