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FFL: Week 3 | NFL: Week 3

Best Ball Scout Championship

Wed Apr 17 9:26am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

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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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Player Notes
Khari Blasingame Sep 20 9:30pm ET
Khari Blasingame

Chicago Bears full-back Khari Blasingame (hand/knee) has officially been ruled out ahead of the team's Week 3 matchup against the Colts in Indianapolis. Blasingame has not recorded a rush attempt or target through two weeks of the 2024 season and has played on just seven offensive snaps. However, the sixth-year veteran has racked up 14 snaps on special teams. He's not often featured and probably wouldn't factor much into Chicago's game plan, even if he was healthy. Blasingame is the only active full-back on Chicago's roster, so tight ends Gerald Everett and Marcedes Lewis may mix in to pick up the slack as needed. It's tough to trust the Bears' offense, but there's a chance they have a better game than anticipated against a porous Colts defense.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Sep 20 9:30pm ET
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin will look to get on track on Monday Night Football when the Commanders travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. The Ohio State standout has caught just eight passes through the first two games for a mere 39 yards on 12 targets. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels relied more on his passing game last weekend against the Giants, which is a promising sign for McLaurin going forward. In addition, Commander offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury told the press on Friday that he will find a way to get his No. 1 wideout involved more. While his production has been nothing short of disappointing, knowing that he is the clear alpha among wide receivers, it is hard to bench McLaurin this week. In addition, due to how poorly the Washington defense has performed, quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals could put a lot of points on the board and could force the Commanders to abandon the run game relatively early. McLaurin is a solid WR3 with upside this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Sep 20 9:30pm ET
Daniel Jones

The Cleveland Browns defense draws an excellent home matchup against the New York Giants in Week 3. Cleveland has plenty of upside against a Giants offense that is allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to fantasy defenses through two weeks. Most of the fantasy production comes thanks to Daniel Jones, who has taken six sacks and thrown two interceptions already this season. The Browns are installed as 6.5-point home favorites in a game with a low 38.5-point over/under. This projects as a fantastic spot for the Cleveland defense heading into Week 3. Treat them as a top-three fantasy option this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Noah Brown Sep 20 9:30pm ET
Noah Brown

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown led all Washington wideouts with 56 yards last week in his Commanders debut and hopes to continue to emerge as the No. 2 receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. It was impressive to see Brown lead all wideouts in yards last week while playing only 20 snaps, which was the lowest at the position. He pulled in all three of his targets, including an impressive 34-yard catch on the eventual game-winning drive. Last season in Houston, Brown served in a depth role behind Nico Collins and Tank Dell but was able to catch 33 passes for 567 yards and two scores. For now, Brown is a solid stash option in deeper leagues but should only be used as a sneaky play in DFS on Monday night given the uncertain volume.

From RotoBaller

Zach Ertz Sep 20 9:30pm ET
Zach Ertz

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz led the Commanders with 62 yards (on four receptions) in their victory over the New York Giants last week. Ertz served as a go-to option for the rookie QB all afternoon and looks to reclaim that same role against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Commanders lack a proven No.2 pass catcher, allowing running back Austin Ekeler and Ertz to have productive fantasy games. Fantasy managers should expect Ertz to see a solid workload in a game where the Commanders will likely be trailing, as they are currently 7.5-point underdogs. Ertz may not have a lot of upside, but he does provide a safe floor at a position that is filled with several injuries to top options like George Kittle (hamstring), Evan Engram (hamstring), and David Njoku (ankle).

From RotoBaller

Austin Seibert Sep 20 9:30pm ET
Austin Seibert

Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert had one of the best debuts a kicker could have. In his first game in the DMV, Seibert went 7-for-7 on attempts, scoring every point in the victory over the New York Giants. Seibert's leg was not tested from too deep, as his longest kick was 45 yards. However, given the preseason and Week 1 struggles, having a stable kicker will greatly improve this offense. While the 27-year-old has bounced around several teams throughout his eight-year career, he may have found a new home and is worth a look as a streamer in deep 14+ team leagues in a game on Monday night that is projected to be high-scoring with a hefty 47 point spread.

From RotoBaller

Jerry Jeudy Sep 20 9:20pm ET
Jerry Jeudy

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has emerged as one of Deshaun Watson's favorite targets through the first two weeks of the season as his 98 receiving yards lead the team thus far. Jeudy will look to keep it going at home against the New York Giants in Week 3. The Giants have been solid against receivers through two weeks, allowing just the 19th-most fantasy points per game to the position. Jeudy has worked his way into the conversation as a weekly flex moving forward and could continue to climb the fantasy ranks if Amari Cooper continues to struggle. Treat Jeudy as a flex option heading into Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Jaleel McLaughlin Sep 20 9:20pm ET
Jaleel McLaughlin

Denver Broncos second-year running back Jaleel McLaughlin actually out-touched Javonte Williams in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. However, McLaughlin took a step back in the Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, carrying the ball only three times for six yards and not drawing a single target after catching all five targets in Week 1. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has led the offense to one touchdown drive through two weeks, while McLaughlin has averaged a measly 2.5 yards per carry alongside an ineffective Williams. The Broncos will be facing a banged-up Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that has allowed the fourth-most half-PPR fantasy points to RBs through two games, but until Denver's offense shows some punch, McLaughlin will be hard to trust as a flex option, even in deeper fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in only 27% of Yahoo leagues.

From RotoBaller

Elijah Moore Sep 20 9:20pm ET
Elijah Moore

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore has been busy through the first two weeks of the season, drawing 14 targets which he has turned into nine catches for 53 yards. Moore will look to stay involved in the offense as the Browns take on the New York Giants at home in Week 3. The Giants represent a tough matchup for Moore as they are allowing the 19th-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers through two games. Moore hasn't shown much in the way of long plays but he has been heavily targeted, making him a low-end flex option in PPR leagues heading into Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Daniels Sep 20 9:20pm ET
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels looks to continue his strong start to his professional career on Monday evening as he travels to Cincinnati on Monday night. After throwing just 186 yards in his debut, Daniels improved his total to 226 yards last week and completed six more passes in the process. While he did not run as much as in the opener, he still used his legs ten times and tallied an additional 44 yards. Even though it slightly lowered his fantasy production last week, it was promising to see him use his arm more than his legs. The former LSU Tiger should be viewed as a QB1 going forward, even though he faces a tough Bengal defense that has allowed an average of 21 points each game.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Sep 20 9:20pm ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. is coming off an excellent game where he ran for a career-high 133 yards against the New York Giants. In this game, he ran the ball 17 times and saw three targets in the passing game but could only catch one of them. Robinson earned 15 touches for 89 total yards in the opening week and found the end zone. The Alabama product has established himself as the lead runner in the Washington backfield, while Austin Ekeler was essentially deployed in passing situations. Despite the limited opportunities, Robinson has been a very efficient runner by averaging six yards per carry and posting a robust 4.2 average yards after contact. On Monday night, Robinson will face a Cincinnati defense that has surrendered a hefty 159.9 rushing yards per game, making him a strong RB2 with upside.

From RotoBaller

Dustin Hopkins Sep 20 9:20pm ET
Dustin Hopkins

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins is a perfect 4-for-4 on his field goals and has hit all three of his extra points through two games in 2024. He will look to stay hot in a home matchup against the New York Giants in Week 3. The Giants have been generous to opposing kickers thus far, allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game through two games. Hopkins settles in as a top-12 fantasy kicker heading into the Week 3 slate of games.

From RotoBaller

Austin Ekeler Sep 20 9:20pm ET
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler has typically been deployed as a pass-catcher through his first two weeks in Washington. He should be viewed as an RB3/flex option with a higher potential in PPR formats this weekend as he will face the Cincinnati Bengals. Last weekend, Ekeler saw eight attempts on the ground but ran for just 38 yards. However, the former Charger caught all three targets for 47 yards in the passing game. In the opening week, Ekeler ran the ball twice but reeled in all four of his targets for a combined 62 yards. Even though the 29-year-old has only found fantasy value in the passing game this season, he is being targeted on 20.6% of his routes, which is a promising sign. However, Ekeler is best left for deeper PPR formats as a flex option due to the low projected rushing volume.

From RotoBaller

Javonte Williams Sep 20 9:10pm ET
Javonte Williams

If there was a game for the Denver Broncos ground game to get going early in the year, it would be for their Week 3 matchup on the road against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that has allowed the fourth-most half-PPR fantasy points to opposing RBs through the first two weeks. Tampa's D will also most likely be missing both defensive tackles Vita Vea (knee) and Calijah Kancey (calf) in this one. Running back Javonte Williams has done little to warrant confidence from fantasy managers so far, averaging 2.1 yards per carry on 19 attempts through two games. The 24-year-old did salvage his fantasy day in the Week 2 loss to the Steelers by catching all five targets for 48 yards. Williams will be an RB3/flex sleeper because of the matchup against the Bucs, but rookie quarterback Bo Nix and the rest of the offense will need to do its part to sustain more drives.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Sep 20 9:00pm ET
Bo Nix

Things haven't gone swimmingly in Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix's first two career regular-season starts, as he's completed 59.7% of his 77 pass attempts for 384 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions in losses to the Seahawks and Steelers. On the ground, he's run the ball nine times for 60 yards and one touchdown. Nix will be on the road in Tampa to face the Buccaneers in Week 3, and while this is probably his best matchup of the year so far -- the Bucs D has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs through two weeks -- fantasy managers should still consider the 12th overall pick out of Oregon as a QB3. Head coach Sean Payton has had a very conservative game plan so far to help ease the young signal-caller in at the next level. Nix is averaging just 5.0 yards per attempt and 8.3 yards per completion, and the ground game hasn't helped him at all.

From RotoBaller

Devaughn Vele Sep 20 8:50pm ET
Devaughn Vele

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele (ribs) practiced in full on both Thursday and Friday and was removed from the final injury report. Vele will be active for the Week 3 matchup on Sunday on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he was inactive for the Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 26-year-old's return on Sunday is bad news for Courtland Sutton and the team's leading receiver, Josh Reynolds, after Vele caught all eight of his targets for 39 yards in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The seventh-round selection out of Utah played 49% of the snaps in Week 1 and could immediately return as the WR3 and push fellow rookie Troy Franklin back to being a healthy scratch. While Vele appears to have some chemistry with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, he's nothing more than a deep-league stash for the time being in what has been an ugly offense through two games.

From RotoBaller

Travis Homer Sep 20 7:40pm ET
Travis Homer

Chicago Bears running back Travis Homer (finger) underwent surgery on his finger and will be placed on Injured Reserve, meaning he will be out for at least the next four games. The Bears have their bye in Week 7 as well, so the earliest Homer will be able to return will be for a Week 8 tilt versus the Washington Commanders. The 26-year-old isn't at all on the fantasy radar after seeing just three carries for 16 yards in the first two weeks of the season. With Homer now out for the foreseeable future, it means that Roschon Johnson should see more involvement on passing downs alongside D'Andre Swift in a Bears offense that has been stuck in the mud early on behind rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. In his first year in Chicago in 2023, Homer was used exclusively on special teams and didn't see a single touch on offense. He was targeted once in the passing game in 16 games.

From RotoBaller

Myles Garrett Sep 20 7:30pm ET
Myles Garrett

Cleveland Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett (foot) was limited in practice on Friday and was removed from the final injury report, meaning he will be active in Week 3 on Sunday versus the New York Giants. There was some concern as to whether Garrett could play this weekend after he missed practices on Wednesday and Thursday. The 28-year-old pass-rusher said he's feeling better after practice on Friday and needs to remain in all starting IDP lineups now that he's locked in to play. There's the risk of the Browns limiting Garrett's defensive snaps if he's not 100 percent, but Garrett is a talent that needs to be starting if he's active. The five-time Pro Bowler has two sacks, five solo tackles and two forced fumbles through two weeks in 2024 after winning Defensive Player of the year for the first time in his career in 2023.

From RotoBaller

D'Onta Foreman Sep 20 7:30pm ET
D'Onta Foreman

Cleveland Browns running back D'Onta Foreman saw a major uptick in playing time from Week 1 to Week 2. After playing just one snap in Week 1, Foreman led the team with 14 carries in their Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. Foreman could see another hefty workload at home in his team's Week 3 showdown against the New York Giants. The Giants have struggled to slow down opposing running backs in 2024, allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to the position thus far. The Browns are installed as 6.5-point favorites, so Foreman could see plenty of clock-killing carries in the second half if this game goes as expected. Foreman settles in as a decent flex option heading into Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Amari Cooper Sep 20 7:30pm ET
Amari Cooper

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper is off to an extremely slow start in 2024, posting just five catches for 27 yards with a handful of bad drops. He will look to turn things around at home in Week 3 against the New York Giants. The Giants have been solid against receivers so far this season, allowing just the 19th-most fantasy points per game to the position. Cooper is tough to trust based on his first two games and could soon be passed by Jerry Jeudy as the team's No. 1 receiver, who has handily outproduced him this season. Treat Cooper as a low-end WR3 in fantasy heading into Week 3.

From RotoBaller