Guest of the League
Make it Reign Est. 2020
Dynasty $125 - FFL: Week 5 | NFL: Week 5

Best Ball Scout Championship

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

Related photo caption below

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 [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5

Player Notes
Jauan Jennings Oct 6 11:10pm CT
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings came back down to earth in a 24-23 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. San Francisco's third wide receiver finished with one reception of four targets for 13 yards receiving. Jennings left briefly in the first quarter with an apparent hand injury. Although he returned quickly, he could be seen on the game broadcast in discomfort even after his return. On the bright side, three of his targets took place in the end zone just before the half and he got more attention overall from Brock Purdy than Deebo Samuel Sr. did. While Jennings has certainly broken out this year as a factor in fantasy, he'll likely be touchdown-dependent as a deep-league FLEX option if San Francisco's other pass-catchers remain healthy. Jennings gets the Seahawks at Lumen Field in a Week 6 Thursday night matchup.

From RotoBaller

Romeo Doubs Oct 6 11:10pm CT
Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (suspension) will meet with head coach Matt LaFleur on Monday and is expected to return to the team ahead of Week 6 versus the Arizona Cardinals. Doubs missed crucial practice time with a personal matter this past week and was eventually suspended one game for detrimental conduct, reportedly stemming from frustration with his current role in the Packers' offense. Through four games so far, the 24-year-old has 12 catches, 169 yards, and zero touchdowns, typically operating behind Jayden Reed but ahead of Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks. It's possible that Doubs will see limited usage over the next few weeks as a result of his conduct, so he should be left on the bench in fantasy football until his stat line is impressive enough to justify starting him.

From RotoBaller

Deebo Samuel Oct 6 11:00pm CT
Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. faded into the background during a 24-23 home upset at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Samuel Sr. saw three targets and caught just one for 11 yards. He also took three carries for nine yards rushing. The receiving total was the lowest a healthy Samuel Sr. has posted since Week 4 of his rookie year. In most games, San Francisco's passing attack is more evenly distributed, but Samuel Sr. saw receiver Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle each receive 12 targets. Samuel Sr. will likely be more involved when the 49ers face the Seahawks in Seattle on Thursday Night Football.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Oct 6 10:40pm CT
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk finally broke out in a 24-23 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Aiyuk was involved early and often in this one, posting eight receptions on 12 targets for 147 yards. He's still looking for his first touchdown, but early in 2023, Aiyuk went six games without a score before rattling off four straight games with a touchdown. Regardless, 18.7 half-PPR points will do for fantasy managers who were patient enough to keep him locked into their lineups as a WR2. The Nevada native will look for his first trip to the end zone when the 49ers face the Seahawks in Seattle on a short turnaround Thursday night.

From RotoBaller

Chase Brown Oct 6 10:10pm CT
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown finished Sunday's overtime loss to the Ravens by compiling 46 yards off 12 carries. He added three catches for eight yards and a touchdown, finding the end zone off a four-yard pass from Joe Burrow in the fourth quarter. Zack Moss suffered an ankle injury in this one, so Brown was the featured backfield option. There's a chance Moss will miss the Week 6 matchup with the New York Giants. If that happens, Brown would be a lock for all fantasy lineups.

From RotoBaller

Zack Moss Oct 6 10:00pm CT
Zack Moss

Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss finished the Week 5 loss to the Ravens by amassing 24 yards off nine carries. He added three receptions for 28 yards. Moss scored a touchdown in three of the Bengals' previous four contests. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury during the contest. With that in mind, the 26-year-old is in danger of missing at least the Bengals Week 6 matchup with the New York Giants. If he's not out there, Chase Brown would become an automatic must-start.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Oct 6 9:50pm CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins finished Sunday's loss to the Ravens by catching nine of his 14 targets for 83 yards. Even better, he found the end zone twice. After missing a few games to begin the year followed up by a few subpar showings in the Bengals' last two contests, the wideout looked fantastic in this one. While some fantasy managers lost Patience, they'll need to reconsider their stance for the Bengals Week 6 showdown with the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Oct 6 9:43pm CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle ended up with eight receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Fantasy Spin: Kittle has managed at least four catches in four outings, and he has scored a touchdown in each of his past three games. He was forced to miss Week 3 due to injury, but when he is healthy, he is easily one of the best fantasy tight ends in the game.

From TheHuddle

Ja'Marr Chase Oct 6 9:40pm CT
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase looked good in Sunday's overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The wideout caught 10 of his 12 targets for 193 yards. He also found the end zone twice, bringing his total to five touchdowns in the last three weeks. The former LSU Tiger has turned up the volume of late, so there's no reason to keep him out of fantasy lineups when the Bengals meet the Giants in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Courtland Sutton Oct 6 9:33pm CT
Courtland Sutton

Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton caught two of his five targets for 32 yards in a 34-18 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5.

Fantasy Spin: Sutton was second on the team in targets and first among receivers, but the rest of his numbers continue lag behind his targets because of the Bo Nix's early struggles. Sutton is too inconsistent to be more than a flex option, but he could be a sleeper in the second half if Nix can make strides.

From TheHuddle

Jordan Mason Oct 6 9:30pm CT
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason had his least productive fantasy day of 2024 in a 24-23 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. He finished with a season-low 14 carries for 89 yards on the ground with no touchdowns and a game-changing fourth-quarter lost fumble. He caught his only target in the passing game for nine yards. On a day that featured record-setting heat at Levi's Stadium, Mason also ceded five carries to rookie Isaac Guerendo, which matches Guerendo's season high. With no firm timetable for the return of All-Pro Christian McCaffrey (Achilles), Mason will continue to operate as San Francisco's bell cow and a fantasy RB1 in a Week 6 Thursday night matchup at the Seattle Seahawks.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Oct 6 9:30pm CT
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had a big game in Week 5. Unfortunately, his efforts weren't enough to secure a win over the Ravens. But the signal-caller did all he could, throwing for 392 yards and five touchdowns (one interception) off an efficient 30-for-39 passing. After a semi-slow start to the 2024-25 campaign, Burrow has played exceptionally well of late, tossing for over 300 yards in two of his previous three contests. He's also stayed healthy, which was a significant concern for fantasy managers. At any rate, Burrow is one of the most productive fantasy quarterbacks going, so he needs to be featured in all starting lineups when the Bengals meet the Giants in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Jake Moody Oct 6 9:20pm CT
Jake Moody

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody (ankle) exited the team's 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals after injuring his ankle on a tackle attempt and did not return. Per Adam Schefter, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reported that Moody picked up a high ankle sprain after the game and is expected to miss multiple weeks. "So we'll get (a kicker) in as fast as possible and get the best guy we can," Shanahan said. "I'm sure it'll have to be for a few weeks or whatever." Despite the head coach's blais attitude, it's at least a moderate blow to the team as the 24-year-old has been one of the better kickers in the league thus far. Through five weeks, the former third-round pick had drilled 11-of-12 field goal tries (91.7%) and all ten of his extra-point attempts. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky made his only attempt -- a 26-yarder -- in Moody's stead, but it appears they'd prefer to look elsewhere for help while he's on the shelf with the ankle issue. The 49ers will suit up against the Seattle Seahawks in a road matchup this coming Thursday, so expect San Francisco to make a decision quickly regarding their kicking situation.

From RotoBaller

Fred Warner Oct 6 9:13pm CT
Fred Warner

San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner had team highs with 12 total stops, seven solo tackles and a tackle for loss in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.

From TheHuddle

Christian Gonzalez Oct 6 9:10pm CT
Christian Gonzalez

The New England Patriots' defense tallied one interception and one fumble recovery while allowing just 15 points during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Christian Gonzalez registered the pick while New England's special teams unit was responsible for the fumble on a blocked punt. Miami also botched a field goal attempt on a bad snap, but the Dolphins were able to pounce on top of the loose ball, effectively ending the drive without crediting New England for a fumble recovery. Elsewhere on the stat sheet, the Patriots registered three sacks, five tackles for loss, and 372 yards allowed. Their road gets much tougher heading into a Week 6 clash with C.J. Stroud's Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Budda Baker Oct 6 9:03pm CT
Budda Baker

Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker ended up with 12 total stops and eight solo tackles in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers.

From TheHuddle

Brenton Strange Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Brenton Strange

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange caught one of the two passing touchdowns quarterback Trevor Lawrence had in a 37-34 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Strange finished with 24 yards on four catches. The young tight end now has two touchdowns and 120 yards on the season. It seemed like Evan Engram (hamstring) had a decent chance of returning in Week 5, but that was not the case, so the second-year pro got the start for the third straight game. This could be the last start Strange gets, so his fantasy managers should be happy with his fantasy output over the past few weeks given his status as a backup tight end. If Engram were to miss even more time, Strange would continue to be a solid streaming option. The Jaguars face off against the Chicago Bears in London in Week 6, where it will be interesting to see how involved Strange is if Engram does return.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Lynn Polk Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk converted six targets into just one catch for 13 yards during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. While the rookie's fantasy output was disappointing, managers should feel optimistic about some of his underlying statistics. For starters, Polk has 13 targets over the last two weeks combined, which is the highest mark on the team during that span. He also played 100 percent of snaps on Sunday, becoming the first Patriots wide receiver to play every offensive snap in a single game this season. (No New England wide receiver previously eclipsed the 85-percent mark.) Furthermore, he came very close to catching his second career touchdown pass, missing out on the go-ahead score by mere inches as his foot barely landed out of bounds. All in all, Polk has emerged as one of Jacoby Brissett's favorite weapons as of late. While it hasn't led to noteworthy fantasy production, he's still on the radar as an up-and-coming pass-catcher in the New England offense. He's worth monitoring in deeper leagues as the season carries on. His next chance to leave an impression will come in Week 6 when the Patriots host the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller

Chuba Hubbard Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard reeled off another excellent performance in the team's 36-10 loss to the Chicago Bears. Quarterback Andy Dalton threw for just 136 scoreless yards Sunday -- and was eventually benched for second-year QB Bryce Young in the waning minutes of regulation -- but that didn't stop Hubbard from ripping off another big stat line. The 25-year-old toted the rock 13 times, churning out 97 yards and a touchdown on the ground while hauling in all four of his targets for -2 "additional" yards. It marks the fourth-year back's third-straight outing with a touchdown and four in a row with at least four catches. Additionally, he was just three yards shy of eclipsing the century mark in his third consecutive game. The former fourth-round pick has been a pleasant surprise of fantasy output over the last few weeks. However, the question arises of his role if and when quarterback Bryce Young regains control of this offense. When that happens is anyone's guess, but until then, Hubbard can be considered a high-end RB2 with upside. He'll have a harder time reaching those marks against the Falcons in Week 6, but he is a must-start option.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Oct 6 9:00pm CT
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry caught two of four targets for 32 yards through the air during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Henry has caught just two passes in four of his five games this season, with the lone exception being a somewhat anomalous eight-catch, 109-yard outburst back in Week 2. Despite playing a season-high 93.3 percent of snaps on Sunday, the 29-year-old veteran continues to have his fantasy value limited within the Patriots' struggling offense. He remains off the fantasy radar in most leagues ahead of a Week 6 clash versus the Houston Texans.

From RotoBaller