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 [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Training Camp Preview: AFC West
- Broncos sign WR Courtland Sutton to restructured contract
- Cowboys' Jerry Jones defends GM record, role as contract drama boils
- 49ers place holdout LT Trent Williams on did not report list
- Eagles plan to shift CB James Bradberry to safety
- Russell Wilson (calf) sits out first Steelers practice
- Falcons QB Kirk Cousins (Achilles) cleared to practice
- Jets place Haason Reddick on reserve/did not report list
- Rams fear torn ACL for CB Derion Kendrick
- Vikings CB Mekhi Blackmon tears ACL
- Seahawks FS Julian Love lands 3-year extension
- Sean Payton: Broncos' QB battle 'an ongoing evaluation'
- 49ers All-Pro LT Trent Williams a no-show due to contract issues
- Steelers RB Najee Harris 'disappointed' team declined option
- Saints RB Alvin Kamara uses 'S' word to explain camp attendance
- Falcons feeling energy of fresh start under Raheem Morris
- Jets QB Aaron Rodgers 'just need the reps' to complete recovery
- Dolphins, Mike McDaniel sensitive to Tua's contract strife
- Chiefs WR Justin Watson injures foot in practice
- Colts GM: No restrictions on QB Anthony Richardson
- Eagles DE Brandon Graham retiring after 2024 season
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- Fantasy Six Pack: Dynasty Football TE Sleepers
The Paur Report
Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is not practicing on Thursday for the second consecutive day. He was seen standing on the sidelines in uniform but with no helmet. It appears to be a "hold in" for Chase, who is seeking a new contract as he enters his fourth season with the Bengals. He's scheduled to make $1 million in base salary this season and $4.86 million overall, but general manager Mike Brown didn't make it sound imminent that an agreement on an extension would be reached this week. The 24-year-old superstar wideout remains a consensus top-five pick in fantasy drafts this summer, and it's not time to adjust his ADP for this development quite yet. Last year, Chase closed as the WR11 overall in full-PPR fantasy points per game (16.4) over 16 appearances for Cincinnati.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (knee) took part in Thursday's training camp practice. His status is worth noting after he suffered an injury scare with his knee during OTAs in the spring. Pittman has led the Colts in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in each of the past three seasons, setting career-high figures in catches (109) and receiving yards (1,152) last season. The 26-year-old star wideout will need to build chemistry with quarterback Anthony Richardson and put up more touchdowns if he wants to jump to the next level in 2024, but Pittman is the clear-cut top target in Indianapolis' offense and is shaping up as a steady WR2 pick in the third-round of 12-team fantasy drafts this summer.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel had a breakout day on Thursday at training camp. On his last catch of the day, he broke open on the right side with Cam Lewis in coverage. It sounds like Samuel is impressing at practice, which bodes well for his standing in Buffalo's wide open receiving corps following the departures of top targets Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason. The 27-year-old veteran is set to be one of quarterback Josh Allen's preferred options in three-receiver sets alongside rookie Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir in 2024, but he could also see some work on the ground as well, with 121 rushing attempts for his career. His ceiling may be limited by a role with a low average depth of target, but Samuel is looking like a high-floor WR3/4 option in the double-digit rounds of fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. looked slimmer during spring drills than he had last year, and he appears to have lost even more weight for the start of training camp. "I think he looks great," head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the offense took its first snaps in 11-on-11 drills. "I thought he looked great in OTAs and minicamp. And I think he looks better today." The 49ers are practicing without two wideouts, Brandon Aiyuk and first-round pick Ricky Pearsall (hamstring), so Samuel's fantasy draft stock remains in a state of flux until a clearer picture emerges of how this receiving corps might look for the start of the regular season. The 28-year-old Pro Bowl wideout totaled 12 touchdowns in 15 appearances in 2023, placing second at his position in PPR fantasy points per route run (0.67) and first in fantasy points per target (2.74) over 89 targets, and he's being treated as a WR1 bet at his second-round ADP this summer.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (leg) worked into offseason practices this spring for the first time since his season-ending leg injury early last season and took nearly a full share of first-team repetitions in team drills next to Terrel Bernard in the first training camp practice this week. The Bills said they are going to have a plan so that Milano doesn't put too much on his plate too soon, and there may even b some reps or whole practices off this summer. But the 29-year-old is way ahead of players like Tre'Davious White in 2022 or Von Miller last year this point in camp. As long as he doesn't have any setbacks with his leg, the Bills should have one of the best defenders to open the 2024 regular season. The former fifth-rounder in 2017 out of Boston College was a Pro Bowler in 2022, when he had 99 tackles (72 solo), 1.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, seven QB hits and three picks (one for a TD) in 15 starts.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid is a popular breakout candidate in 2024 as he heads into his second season because of his approach, talent and on-field connection with quarterback Josh Allen. Kincaid was also excellent on the first day of training camp practice this week, and the potential is there for him to be one of the Bills' top targets in 2024. However, from the looks of things on the first day, those expecting Kincaid to take over the full-time pass-catching role from Dawson Knox this year and push the veteran TE into a backup role may have their hopes dashed, according to The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia. Both Kincaid and Knox worked heavily with Allen, and neither player worked in with backup QB Mitchell Trubisky. It's something worth watching, and as long as Knox stays healthy, it could keep Kincaid from reaching true breakout status as a TE1 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans CB Chidobe Awuzie (calf) is expected to miss 'a few weeks' with a calf injury, according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com.
From TheHuddle
The Denver Broncos added $1.5 million in incentives on Thursday to wide receiver Courtland Sutton's contract for the 2024 season. Sutton still has two years left on his current deal. The 28-year-old was set to make $13.6 million this year and $14 million in 2025 and was a potential training camp holdout candidate, but he has reported this week and now has added incentives to be productive for the Broncos. Not only will Sutton be losing quarterback Russell Wilson, who he had developed considerable chemistry with, but he'll now be taking passes from either Jarrett Stidham or rookie Bo Nix in 2024. Volume shouldn't be the problem as Denver's unquestioned top pass-catcher, but efficiency probably will be, as well as some serious touchdown regression after he put up a career-high 10 scores. Sutton profiles as a low-upside WR4/flex in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Amidst some talk about a trade and/or a contract extension, Tennessee Titans veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins sounds like he wants to stay with the Titans in 2024 and beyond. "I take it day by day. I love Tennessee. I love what Miss Amy's doing. This is the happiest I've been with any organization. I'll let that speak for itself," Hopkins said. The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro wideout recorded the seventh 1,000-yard season of his career in 2023 in his first year in Tennessee and also recorded seven touchdowns in 17 games. The 32-year-old veteran wasn't as productive deep down the field for the Titans last year, though, and the addition of wideout Calvin Ridley is going to take valuable aerial targets away. This should be a pass-happy offense under new head coach Brian Callahan, but Hopkins' fantasy stock is down entering 2024, and managers should consider him as more of a WR3/4.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan discussed the team's tight end room at training camp earlier this week. "It's not a room that's gonna be dominated by one guy We're gonna fill the tight end role with a lot of different players, as opposed to maybe just one or two guys like some teams do," Callahan said. Chigoziem Okonkwo was the team's top pass-catching tight end in 2023, but that resulted in only 54 receptions on 77 targets for 528 yards and one touchdown in 17 games (11 starts) in his second NFL season in an offense that didn't see a lot of passing volume. The 24-year-old is probably the best bet to lead the position again in 2024, but it doesn't guarantee he'll be a weekly fantasy play, especially after the team added receiver Calvin Ridley this offseason. Competing with Okonkwo for playing time at the position will be Josh Whyle and Nick Vannett.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said at training camp on Thursday that the team isn't going to limit second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) as a runner. "People ask this, too 'Hey, are you gonna limit the run game?' And I kind of think like, 'Shoot, are you gonna limit Steph Curry from shooting 3-pointers. Well, that's one of Anthony (Richardson's) strengths. We're not gonna get away from that," Steichen said. General manager Chris Ballard said earlier this week that the 22-year-old former first-rounder will be full-go in camp after needing season-ending right-shoulder surgery after just four games played in his rookie season in 2023. Because of his playing style and ability to extend plays with his legs, Richardson is more injury-prone than some other QBs, but he also has elite upside. Despite having never played a full season, Richardson is going to a popular midrange QB1 target in fantasy drafts this fall.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that quarterback Kirk Cousins (Achilles) "is read to go" and medically cleared for training camp, but that the team will do some "modifications" for his work this summer. Cousins will not start camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which is great news for all involved in Atlanta's offense heading into the 2024 campaign. The 35-year-old veteran tore his Achilles in late October last year and is now attempting to learn a new offense in his first year with the Falcons. Although he won't be throwing to All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson anymore, Cousins will have plenty of weapons around him in his new home. But with no rushing ability and coming off a serious injury going into his age-36 campaign, Cousins has a limited ceiling and cannot be trusted as anything more than a midrange QB2 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) "woke up with a tight calf" on Thursday and was held out of training camp practice. Tomlin is calling Wilson day-to-day. With Wilson taking the day off, backup Justin Fields got first-team repetitions. The 35-year-old Wilson probably won't miss much time and is still fully expected to open the 2024 regular season as Pittsburgh's QB1 after two disappointing seasons with the Denver Broncos. At this point in his career, Wilson's leadership abilities are probably his greatest asset on the football field. In what is expected to be more of a run-first Steelers offense, Wilson will be more of a game manager in his first year in the Steel City and won't have a ton of fantasy upside as a low-end QB2 in fantasy with receiver George Pickens as his No. 1 wideout.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton agreed to a restructured contract that can pay him up to $15.2 million in 2024, including $1.5 million in new incentives, according to sources Thursday, July 25.
Fantasy Spin: Sutton should be viewed as a WR3 option in drafts given the shaky offense and questionable options at quarterback.
From TheHuddle
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson (calf) is considered day-to-day with a calf injury, according to sources Thursday, July 25. In Wilson's absence, Justin Fields took first-team reps at quarterback.
Fantasy Spin: This will be something to monitor for the Steelers wide receivers. Wilson is most likely a mid-QB2 with limited upside in Arthur Smith's offnse.
From TheHuddle
Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins (Achilles) was medically cleared to practice, according to sources Thursday, July 25. The Falcons will be diligent with his workload, but Cousins is still expected to receive all first-team reps.
Fantasy Spin: Cousins has a great group of weapons around him to be a solid QB2 with some QB1 upside in certain weeks as long as he's healthy.
From TheHuddle
New York Jets LB Haason Reddick was placed on the Reserve/Did Not Report list Thursday, July 25.
From TheHuddle
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (illness) returned to practice on Wednesday after missing Monday and Tuesday's action with an illness, but the two-time NFL MVP left the field after just one hour. According to team reporter Jamison Hensley, Jackson " looked weary while walking across the field and into the team facility." The former No. 32 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft has missed at least one practice every year due to an illness, but the bright side is it is not a major injury. For now, Baltimore is going to take it slow with Jackson. "We are going to work him back in, for sure," Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said with a smile. "I know I'm being kind of a smartass. You'll have to ask him how he feels. But he was great in meetings. When we were on the field at the start [of practice], he said he was feeling good." The team has its first scheduled day off on Thursday, so hopefully, the day off will allow Jackson enough time to feel better and return to full practice in short order. He remains a high-end QB1 in fantasy football heading into his seventh pro campaign.
From RotoBaller
Earlier in the week, it was reported that Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will not practice at training camp until he reaches an agreement on a new contract with the organization. According to NFL insider Dianna Russini, the two sides are getting close to reaching a deal. "Based on my conversations today, it's all making progress and heading there. Just not done at this time," Russini wrote on X. The 2020 first-round pick finally got a chance to start in 2023 following the departure of Aaron Rodgers, and he exceeded all expectations with 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. More importantly, he led Green Bay to a playoff victory over the No. 2 seed Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card round despite having one of the youngest offensive supporting casts in the NFL. Given the boom of the quarterback market, don't be surprised if Love signs a deal in the $50 million-salary range.
From RotoBaller
