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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The Paur Report
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- Week 5 Inactives
New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (knee) is officially active for Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction after the Patriots activated him from the PUP list on Saturday. Bourne tore his ACL during the middle of last season and hasn't played since then. At the time of his injury, he had been averaging 4.6 catches, 50.8 receiving yards, and 0.5 touchdowns per game. It's unclear if Bourne can return to his 2023 form in his first game back with the Patriots' offense struggling. However, at the very least, he should inject some much-needed life into a passing game starving for talent right now. He's worth monitoring in redraft leagues but can be left on fantasy waivers for the time being.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) is officially active for the Week 5 game on Sunday versus the Washington Commanders. Njoku came into this game questionable but was expected to play and will return for the first time since injuring his ankle in the Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to Njoku, running back Pierre Strong Jr. (hamstring), who was also questionable to play, is active. The 28-year-old Njoku will be a big boost to a Browns offense that has underwhelmed through the first four weeks of the 2024 season. In Week 1 before getting hurt, Njoku had four catches on five targets for 44 yards. He will take back over primary tight end duties in Cleveland from Jordan Akins, who did very little in the three games that Njoku missed. Fantasy managers should consider Njoku at least in play as a low-end TE1 now that he's back.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. He had recovered from a rib injury but evidently doesn't have a spot on Miami's gameday roster with Raheem Mostert returning to the fold and both De'Von Achane and Jaylen Wright playing well. Going forward, Wilson will likely be stashed on the Dolphins' roster as mere depth in the event that any other running backs miss time due to injury. Wilson can be dropped in all fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
The Houston Texans have declared RB Dameon Pierce, WR Steven Sims, RB Joe Mixon, DE Derek Barnett, OT Tytus Howard and LB Jake Hansen inactive for Week 5.
From TheHuddle
The Carolina Panthers have declared OG Andrew Raym, OT Jarrett Kingston, DL Jayden Peevy, RB Mike Boone, LB Josey Jewell and S Russ Yeast inactive for Week 5.
From TheHuddle
The Miami Dolphins have declared DB Ethan Bonner, LB Channing Tindall, C Andrew Meyer, QB Skylar Thompson, RB Jeff Wilson Jr., S Jordan Poyer and LB Mohamed Kamara inactive for Week 5.
From TheHuddle
The Cleveland Browns have declared QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, OG Javion Cohen, LB Jordan Hicks, OT Jack Conklin, CB Kahlef Hailassie, LB Khaleke Hudson and WR Jamari Thrash inactive for Week 5.
From TheHuddle
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) is officially active for Week 5 versus the Cleveland Browns. He had been listed as questionable but was expected to suit up. Robinson should have a normal workload without any injury limitations this week, but he might not be able to replicate last week's 100-yard performance now that Austin Ekeler is healthy again. Still, Robinson is a fringe top-12 fantasy running back given his volume, touchdown upside, and role within the Commanders' highly productive offense.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn (shoulder) is officially inactive for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the wrong direction after missing Friday's practice. The 27-year-old has been uninspiring this season, catching just five of 13 targets for 31 yards through four games. He has been outproduced by Demario Douglas and Ja'Lynn Polk, and now he could also lose opportunities to veteran Kendrick Bourne, who was activated from the PUP list this weekend. Between his injury, limited role, and the Patriots' struggling offense, fantasy managers should leave Osborn on waivers in all leagues.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson and wide receiver Trenton Irwin are both healthy scratches for the big Week 5 divisional clash on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. Hudson hasn't been active for the Bengals since the Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots, when he caught two of his three targets for 18 yards. For now, he remains well off the fantasy radar in all leagues behind Mike Gesicki, rookie Erick All Jr. and Drew Sample. Irwin is inactive for the second straight week after Tee Higgins returned to the fold for the Bengals in last week's win over the Carolina Panthers. In two games in 2024, Irwin has just two receptions on eight targets for 11 yards. The Bengals will roll forward with Ja'Marr Chase, Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, rookie Jermaine Burton and Charlie Jones at the receiver position versus Baltimore.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) will not be activated from the Reserve/Injured list prior to Week 6's game against the Seattle Seahawks, when he is eligible to return, according to multiple league sources. However, there is mild optimism because his calf and Achilles issues did not flare up after he resumed on-field work this week.
Fantasy Spin: It remains uncertain when McCaffrey will be activated from injured reserve or when he can begin practicing again. Fantasy owners should keep tabs on this situation to see when he'll be ready to return. RB Jordan Mason will continue to be the starting back for the 49ers and is a weekly starting option in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
The Washington Commanders have declared QB Sam Hartman, QB Jeff Driskel, S Dominique Hampton, WR Noah Brown, S Tyler Owens, OT Chris Paul and DE Clelin Ferrell inactive for Week 5.
From TheHuddle
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (hip) has been downgraded to out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings in London. He suffered the injury during the first half and was unable to re-enter the contest. The television broadcast showed a camera angle of Jones limping on the sideline while expressing discomfort and frustration when he tried to run. He finished Sunday's contest with seven rushing yards for 29 yards on the ground, as well as a 24-yard reception. If there's any good news here, it's that the Vikings conveniently have a Week 6 bye, meaning Jones will have a full 14 days to recover before his next game. In the interim, Ty Chandler will lead the Minnesota backfield. Chandler figures to operate as a mid-range fantasy RB2 in the Vikings' productive offense.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones (hip) suffered a hip injury during the Week 5 game and is considered questionable to return.
Fantasy Spin: Fantasy players will need to keep an eye on the situation to see if Jones will be able to return in the second half. Ty Chandler will be the main back while Jones is sidelined and can be at least a flex option in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Indianapolis Colts QB Joe Flacco is expected to start Week 5's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to a source.
Fantasy Spin: QB Anthony Richardson (hip, oblique) was downgraded from questionable to doubtful Saturday, Oct. 5, despite being able to take part in all three of the team's practice sessions during the week on a limited basis. Although Flacco was solid in a relief performance against the Steelers in Week 4, going 16-for-26 with 168 passing yards and two touchdowns, he shouldn't be started outside of two-quarterback fantasy leagues or as a bye-week replacement.
From TheHuddle
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson wasn't able to do much damage against the Minnesota Vikings last week. The 25-year-old rushed eight times for 27 yards as the primary backup to Josh Jacobs. This was a disappointing outing for Wilson after a 50-yard performance in Week 3. The assumption is that Wilson should continue to remain involved during the upcoming Week 5 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. However, Wilson will have a limited ceiling as the backup to Jacobs, so fantasy managers should be able to find a more viable option elsewhere.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (hip) is questionable to return for Sunday's Week 5 matchup against the New York Jets. The veteran back suffered a hip injury during the second quarter of their matchup in London. The assumption is that Jones will be held out until halftime to be further evaluated. In the meantime, Ty Chandler figures to take over as the primary back with Myles Gaskin getting mixed in as well. Jones rushed seven times for 29 yards with one reception for 24 yards before exiting the contest.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange figures to draw another start ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Fellow tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) is likely to miss his fourth game in a row on Sunday. Strange has eight receptions on 14 targets for 96 yards over the last three games. He has been seeing nearly 70 percent of the snap count since the absence of Engram. The 23-year-old should see a handful of targets which could give him some TE2 appeal for Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens DE Yannick Ngakoue was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster for Week 5's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
From TheHuddle
Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson is expected to see more involvement during Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts are going to be without Jonathan Taylor (ankle) for at least one game. Head coach Shane Steichen said that the team plans to use a committee approach at running back. Trey Sermon figures to lead the charge with Goodson and Evan Hull being mixed in behind him. Goodson hasn't seen much of the field this season, but could serve as change-of-pace option or receiving back for Week 5. The Colts could use a run-heavy approach with quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) considered doubtful. Goodson should find a way to get involved, but remains a desperation option in deep leagues.
From RotoBaller
