Guest of the League
amphitheater of pain Est. 2015
NFL Playoffs League - FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

Best Ball Championship Data 

Fri Aug 19 10:58am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Kupp won a lot of leagues in 2021


We like to revisit the past to help us in the future, so here is a look at some interesting Best Ball Championship data from our site. This is our big best ball contest, that gives out a $25,000 grand prize. For this year, the contest is about sold out (90 percent), so if you still want to get in it, sign up now (click here). So use the data below to help you build that winning team come draft day. 

BBC 2021 Winners Draft Slot  
Draft Position % Won
7 14.1%
6 12.4%
8 11.9%
9 11.8%
10 10.1%
4 9.5%
5 9.5%
3 8.2%
2 7.1%
1 5.2%


TAKEAWAYS
: Christian McCaffrey was the first overall pick in nearly all drafts last year, so his injury-plagued season was a disaster for many of those owners. And these numbers clearly show that with just 5.2 percent of owners that drafted first overall won their leagues. It was not a good season to be picking first overall. . . .Normally, drafting right in the middle is not an optimal spot for fantasy owners. It can be a tricky position to be picking come draft day. Well, the owners picking near the middle had a lot of success last year. The seventh spot saw 14.1 percent of owners win it all and the sixth position had 12.4 percent of the winners. If you look at the players that were drafted around that area last year, they were Aaron Jones, Davante Adams and Jonathan Taylor. . . . .The big takeaways from the draft slot data is you can win from anywhere. The first through third draft slots were not great last year, but still had plenty of winners. But after those three spots, the last seven saw at least 9.5 percent of the winners. It was pretty even after that. You can build a championship roster no matter where you pick. 

BBC 2021 Winners Roster Build  
 Position  # Drafted
 QB 3.0
 RB 6.6
 WR 7.5
 TE 2.9
 K 2.0
DEF 2.0
BBC 2021 Non-Winners Roster Build  
 Position # Drafted 
 QB 3.1
 RB 6.6 
 WR 7.6
 TE 2.9 
 K 1.9
 DEF 2.0 


TAKEAWAYS
: There is nothing earth shattering here with this data. The big thing is both winning and non-winning teams drafted nearly identical rosters. There was next to no difference between the two roster builds. The most interesting aspect was seeing how teams handled the kicker and defense positions. That is really the only big debate when it comes to roster build for best ball leagues. Should you take two kickers and defenses come draft? It seems most think this is the way to go, not missing out on points any given week. It seems pretty logical, making sure you don’t get a zero at any position any given week. 

  BBC 2021 Players on Most Winning Rosters  % Owned
 1. Cooper Kupp  28.5%
 2. Jonathan Taylor   21.4%
 3. Deebo Samuel   18.6%
 4. Mark Andrews   18.2%
 5. JaMarr Chase   17.2%
 6. Austin Ekeler    17.1%
 7. Leonard Fournette   16.7%
 8. Mike Williams   15.2%
 9. Najee Harris   15.1%
 10. Joe Mixon    14.7%
 11. Justin Herbert   14.6%
  James Connor   
 13. Tom Brady   14.4%
 14. Joe Burrow   14.2%
 15. Justin Jefferson   14.1%
 16. Keenan Allen   13.9%
 17. George Kittle   13.8%
 18. D’Andre Swift    13.6%
 19. Rob Gronkowski   13.5%
 20. Damien Harris    13.4%
  Jaylen Waddle  


TAKEAWAYS
: Cooper Kupp was clearly the most owned player on championship rosters. This is not a surprise at all as he had one of the greatest fantasy seasons ever and was around the WR19 on draft day last year. This is unbelievable value for a fantasy player. . . . .Jonathan Taylor was not far behind Kupp as he led the way at running back last year. He was the top scoring back and a guy selected near the end of the first round (ADP was nine). Just like Kupp, he had a huge year and was on a ton of fantasy winning teams. . . . So you didn’t have to have Kupp or Taylor on your roster last year, but if you had them, it made a big difference. Just 54 percent of championship teams did not own either Kupp or Taylor. So nearly half of the winners had a share of Kupp or Taylor. That is a pretty remarkable number and shows how big of difference makers both those players were last year. And there were 4.6 percent of teams that had both Kupp and Taylor. Those teams had to dominate last year. Kupp and Taylor won a lot of leagues for owners in 2021. . . . .There are just three quarterbacks on this list and the top scoring quarterback (Josh Allen) didn’t make the cut. This is an interesting note, showing you can win with a variety of quarterbacks on your roster. The most owned quarterback was Justin Herbert at 14.6 percent and he was about the eighth quarterback off the board come draft day. Tom Brady and Joe Burrow also were on the list and not one of the higher drafted quarterbacks. Brady was the QB9 and Burrow was the QB13. If anything, this data shows that the teams that waited on a quarterback last year had more success. This could be something to keep in mind when draft this year. . . . .Mark Andrews was the most owned tight end on this list, coming in at 18.2 percent. He was another decent value, being the TE5 on the ADP list. Andrews was first overall in fantasy tight end scoring. George Kittle and Rob Gronkowski were other tight ends to crack the top 20 most owned by championship teams. Kittle was a high draft pick but Gronk was the TE10, so he was on a lot of teams that waited to draft a tight end. Andrews and Kittle show that teams going early on tight end can pay off come draft day. 

There is always a lot debate when to take certain positions, so we thought we would look a little more closely at that, mainly the quarterback, tight end and defensive slots. The average winning team picked a quarterback in Round 6, pick three. That means they didn’t go for one of the elite options like Patrick Mahomes, Allen or Kyler Murray. The winning teams waited a little longer, getting second tier guys likes Justin Herbert, Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford. And as you remember with the most owned data, none of the early drafted quarterbacks made that list, so this data makes even more sense. Waiting a little longer on a quarterback was the right strategy come draft day. 

The tight end spot had a very similar draft spot for the winning teams. The average first pick of winning teams for tight ends was Round 6, pick four, just one spot after the winning quarterback slot. This is pretty amazing. It seems a similar strategy worked for a lot of championship teams. Spending early draft capital on Travis Kelce and Darren Waller didn’t pay off for a lot of teams last year. You also have to keep in mind that in this best ball format, a lot of owners take three quarterbacks and tight ends, which is another reason you see many owners wait on these positions. The thinking is at least one of the three will hit each week, helping maximize points for the position while not spending high draft picks on those players. This seems to be a good winning strategy for both positions. 

Lastly, we wanted to look at defenses to see if going early on one makes sense. Well, this data shows it really doesn’t. The average first pick of a defense by winning teams was Round 17, pick seven. There is not a huge difference in scoring between the top rated and 10th rated defense, so many owners just wait on the position. Plus, most owners draft two defenses, giving their teams a decent chance of points each week as the best score is inserted into their lineup. It makes sense to wait on the position, take two and hope for the best each week. 

In closing, it is always good to look at past data to come up with a good game plan for the next season. The aforementioned information should really help you formulate a winning strategy for this coming season. Things do change from year-to-year, but there are always good takeaways from every season. Last year was no different. Put it to use and go win your best ball league!

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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

2024 NFL Draft Recap

Player Notes
Phillip Dorsett May 14 12:20am ET
Phillip Dorsett

The Denver Broncos signed free-agent wide receiver Phillip Dorsett and cornerback Quinton Newsome to undisclosed deals on Monday, according to the team. In corresponding moves, the Broncos waived punter Nik Constantinou and receiver Lincoln Victor. Dorsett was released by Denver last Friday after initially signing with the team's practice squad before the 2023 season. The 31-year-old former 29th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2015 out of Miami was elevated just twice during the regular season last year and was unable to reel in any of his three targets. In his eight NFL seasons, Dorsett has a total of 151 catches for 2,001 yards and 12 touchdowns in 94 games (20 starts). He'll serve as receiver depth for the Broncos this summer behind Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims Jr., rookie Troy Franklin and Tim Patrick.

From RotoBaller

Marquez Valdes-Scantling May 13 10:30pm ET
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling made a stop in Buffalo on Monday night. The wideout had a recent visit with the Chargers, although it appears nothing came of it. MVS hasn't been productive in years, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by recording career lows in catches (21), receiving yards (315), and touchdowns (one). However, the Bills moved on from Stefon Diggs this offseason, so Valdes-Scantling could work his way up the depth chart. Yet, he'll need to prove his value to fantasy managers no matter where he signs, which won't come until he has at least a few decent performances.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff May 13 10:13pm ET
Jared Goff

Updating a previous report, Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff's four-year deal includes an option in the fourth year, per source on Monday, May 13.

From TheHuddle

Marquez Valdes-Scantling May 13 8:03pm ET
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Free-agent WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Chiefs) is meeting with the Buffalo Bills Monday, May 13, according to a source.

From TheHuddle

Courtland Sutton May 13 7:30pm ET
Courtland Sutton

The Denver Broncos continued voluntary offseason workouts on Monday. However, the team remains without wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who continues to work out at his residence in Florida. The veteran has two years left on a four-year, $60 million extension, but has made it clear he wants a raise. He also requested a trade, although the team is apparently not looking to move him. Of course, there will be updates on the situation moving ahead. Yet, it won't be as much of a concern until the summer when Denver begins training camp. With that said, several teams will monitor things, especially with Sutton coming off a massive year, which included a career-high 10 touchdowns. But if he stays with the Broncos, his fantasy outlook is directly related to how Bo Nix and Zach Wilson look heading into the 2024-25 campaign.

From RotoBaller

Phillip Dorsett May 13 5:53pm ET
Phillip Dorsett

Free-agent WR Phillip Dorsett (Broncos) signed with the Denver Broncos Monday, May 13. The team also signed undrafted free-agent CB Quinton Newsome (Nebraska). Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

From TheHuddle

Jared Goff May 13 5:00pm ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff agreed to a four-year $212 million contract extension that includes $170 million guaranteed, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. Lions general manager Brad Holmes said the two sides were working on an extension last week, and they evidently worked quickly and got the deal done. The 2016 No. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams has been fantastic since being dealt to Detroit along with draft picks for Matthew Stafford. He led Detroit to a playoff win for the first time since 1991 last year, and he's posted 12,258 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions through his first 48 games with the organization. He's now under contract through the 2028 season and will remain a fringe QB1 option in fantasy football as long as his offensive weapons remain on the roster. Given his job security and upside in Detroit's offense, he should be viewed as a strong dynasty QB2 in Superflex formats.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff May 13 4:53pm ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension with the Lions Monday, May 13, worth $212 million, according to sources. The deal includes $170 million in guaranteed money.

Fantasy Spin: Goff will be the starting quarterback for the Lions for the foreseeable future and is coming off a terrific 2023 season. He could be a possible low-end No. 1 fantasy quarterback in deeper leagues but probably will be a No. 2 quarterback in most standard leagues that can also be a starting option against favorable matchups.

From TheHuddle

Trey Hendrickson May 13 4:50pm ET
Trey Hendrickson

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson was spotted at voluntary offseason activities on Monday despite his recent request to be traded. It's a notable development considering the practices and workouts are entirely voluntary, but it's too early to assume it means he wants to remain with the team if he does not receive a new contract. The 2017 third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints had a monster season in 2023, racking up a Bengals' franchise record 17.5 sacks. He is the 11th-highest-paid edge rusher (average salary) and is entering the final year of his four-year, $60 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2021. The 29-year-old's situation will be worth monitoring this offseason, as there will likely be no shortage of interested suitors if the team is willing to listen to offers. With quarterback Joe Burrow already signed to a $275 million contract, and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins seeking a new deals, Hendrickson may be expendable.

From RotoBaller

Ross Dwelley May 13 4:30pm ET
Ross Dwelley

The Atlanta Falcons signed free-agent tight end Ross Dwelley on Monday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Dwelley was undrafted out of the University of San Diego in 2018, but he stuck around on the San Francisco 49ers' roster for six seasons and played in 84 games. Overall, the 29-year-old has 44 receptions for 518 yards and five receiving touchdowns to his name. He'll look to compete with Charlie Woerner and John FitzPatrick to see the field in multi-tight end sets and to be Kyle Pitts' direct backup in 2024. For now, he's nowhere near the fantasy football radar heading into his seventh NFL campaign.

From RotoBaller

Nick Vannett May 13 4:23pm ET
Nick Vannett

Free-agent TE Nick Vannett (Chargers) agreed to terms with the Tennessee Titans Monday, May 13. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed. The team also waived CB Rod Gattison.

From TheHuddle

Nick Vannett May 13 4:20pm ET
Nick Vannett

Free-agent tight end Nick Vannett is signing with the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. The 31-year-old spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers and caught one pass for three yards in eight games played. Vannett is a former third-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2016 and has spent time with seven organizations in seven years. Overall, he's hauled in 91 of his 130 career targets for 877 yards and six touchdowns. He'll likely compete with 2023 fifth-round pick Josh Whyle for the TE2 role in 2024, but Chigoziem Okonkwo remains the lead tight end for quarterback Will Levis after this signing.

From RotoBaller

Parker Hesse May 13 3:10pm ET
Parker Hesse

The Detroit Lions signed free-agent tight end Parker Hesse to an undisclosed deal on Monday. Hesse entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons. He has spent all three of his seasons in the NFL with the Falcons and has totaled 14 receptions on 17 targets for 132 yards and no touchdowns in 28 games played (eight starts). The 28-year-old tight end played in only three games last year in Atlanta while also playing 28 snaps on special teams. In his three games played, Hesse wasn't targeted at all in the passing game. He'll merely be hoping to stick around on Detroit's roster after training camp and the preseason while providing depth at the position behind Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra.

From RotoBaller

Antoine Winfield Jr. May 13 2:30pm ET
Antoine Winfield Jr.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. reached an agreement on a four-year, $84.1 million on Monday that will make him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history, according to sources. It's the first time in modern NFL history that a safety has set this mark. The deal was negotiated and confirmed by agent David Mulugheta of Athletes First. The new extension for the 25-year-old means Winfield won't have to play the 2024 season on the franchise tag, which would have paid him $17.1 million this year. The All-Pro safety is one of the most productive players at the defensive back position in IDP fantasy formats and had 122 tackles (76 solo), six sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defended, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 17 stars in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Averett May 13 2:20pm ET
Anthony Averett

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed free-agent cornerback Anthony Averett to an undisclosed one-year deal on Sunday, according to a source. The deal for Averett comes after he worked out at the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend on a tryout basis. The 29-year-old split time between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions last year but didn't play in any regular-season games. His last NFL action came in 2022 with the Las Vegas Raiders, when he recorded 13 tackles and a pass defended in seven games (six starts). He was originally a fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 out of Alabama. In his four seasons in Baltimore, he had 101 tackles, three interceptions and 22 passes defended. Averett will have plenty of competition at the cornerback position in training camp this summer as he tries to make the final roster.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers May 13 2:10pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

The New York Jets agreed to terms with first-round pick Olu Fashanu on his rookie deal on Monday. The deal is for four years and $20,510,710 fully guaranteed and includes the standard fifth-year team option. It was reported on Sunday that Fashanu strained his quadriceps while running the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine and could miss some or all of the Jets' organized team activities this offseason. The Jets took the 21-year-old with the 11th overall pick in this year's NFL draft to give veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers some more protection in 2024. Barring a setback, Fashanu should be ready to go for the start of his rookie season this fall. So far, he's been working off to the side with trainers during the team's rookie minicamp.

From RotoBaller

Zay Jones May 13 9:52am ET
Zay Jones

Dynasty | The Cardinals have signed wide receiver Zay Jones. Dynasty Analysis: Jones has had some nice moments over his seven seasons in Buffalo, Las Vegas, and Jacksonville, though he's never posted more than 823 receiving yards or seven touchdowns in any given season. Jones could be viable opposite Marvin Harrison, Jr. if he can beat out Michael Wilson but that's no given. At this point, Jones looks like a roster worthy player but a potential roster clogger at the same time.

Ja'Tavion Sanders May 12 12:00pm ET
Ja'Tavion Sanders

Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders said his goal in the NFL is to be as good as former All-Pro Greg Olsen. Sanders, a converted receiver at Texas, averaged 49.5 catches a year with the Longhorns with an average of 648 yards and 3.5 touchdowns. His role with the Panthers is not clear yet, but head coach Dave Canales said on Saturday that Sanders will play both the "F" and the "Y" roles, dependent on pass plays versus 12 personnel. "He's a guy, you can move around a little bit more, maybe play him in the slot a little bit," Canales said, adding, "we look for those versatile type of tight ends." The 21-year-old was taken with the 101st overall pick in the fourth round this year but could immediately become the team's best pass-catching tight end over both Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas. Still, fantasy managers in single-year leagues in 2024 should temper expectations for Sanders in Carolina's offense.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye May 12 11:20am ET
Drake Maye

New England Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo said that rookie quarterback Drake May, who was taken third overall in last month's NFL draft, "has a lot to work on." Saturday's practice featured a heavy emphasis on footwork fundamentals, with Maye spending the first few periods of practice taking snaps directly under center instead of the shotgun, which he mostly used the last two years at North Carolina. "The guy can sling it, man," said wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, the second-round pick from the University of Washington. "He's very confident. He's a leader, very vocal; he's setting the tone in practice, trying to get guys moving around and operating at a high level." Maye is expected to compete with veteran Jacoby Brissett for starting duties in 2024. The Patriots aren't going to rush Maye's development, so he's more of a dynasty/keeper asset in fantasy this year than a redraft one.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix May 12 11:20am ET
Bo Nix

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said he liked what he saw from rookie quarterback Bo Nix during practices at the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend. "He had two or three down the field throws [Saturday]," Payton said. "It's almost like watching a good golfer when you watch his game ... there's a patience to how he plays, the ball comes out." The Broncos took Nix 12th overall, which many thought was a massive reach, and hope he will become their next franchise signal-caller. With only Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson to compete with, Nix has a clear path to the starting job right away in his first season in the NFL, but the Broncos aren't getting ahead of themselves. "We'll figure it out, we'll figure it out ... We'll have a rotation and we'll go from there," Payton said when asked how the team's QB competition will unfold in the weeks ahead.

From RotoBaller