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
Dynasty | The Vikings currently have Sam Darnold as their QB1. Dynasty Analysis: Noted. It seems Minnesota will attempt to create a competition between Darnold and rookie JJ McCarthy, a competition McCarthy will almost assuredly win. Darnold looked like he had a chance for another legitimate shot at starting but the drafting of McCarthy has thrown a big bucket of cold water on that sentiment. It's hard to see him holding this spot for long in training camp. Darnold is roster worthy in 2QB leagues but a tough hold in 1QB formats.
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh said there was 'no issue' between QB Aaron Rodgers (personal) and his teammates regarding the quarterback's absence from mandatory minicamp. Saleh added that he and Rodgers are 'on the exact same page.'
Fantasy Spin: This is pure offseason fodder that will have no bearing once Week 1 rolls around. Coming off a torn Achilles', Rodgers is a QB2 with some upside.
From TheHuddle
Carolina Panthers LB Shaq Thompson (ankle) said he feels 'amazing' after recovering from ankle surgery.
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Los Angeles Rams CB Tre'Davious White (Achilles) is making progress in his recovery but there is no official timetable for his return, according to head coach Sean McVay. The team hopes White will be ready for the start of the regular season.
From TheHuddle
Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold is the leading candidate for the starting quarterback job at this point, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell.
Fantasy Spin: Darnold will compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job during training camp, so fantasy players will need to keep an eye on the situation. The winner of the job probably should be considered a No. 2 quarterback in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
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From TheHuddle
Baltimore Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey (undisclosed) worked on the side during practice Wednesday, June 12.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent TE Jimmy Graham (Saints) said he is not sure if he will be retiring and will contact the New Orleans Saints before making a final decision.
From TheHuddle
New York Jets WR Mike Williams (knee) expects to be ready for the start of the 2024 season, he said on Wednesday, June 12.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) has increased his activity by throwing passes in 7-on-7 drills during minicamp practice on Tuesday, June 11.
From TheHuddle
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who had the franchise tag placed on him earlier this offseason for the 2024 campaign, has still not signed the tag and is not present for the start of mandatory minicamp this week. Because he's technically not under contract yet, Higgins will not be fined. The 25-year-old either wants to be traded or wants a new contract from Cincinnati. He officially asked for a trade in March but now expects to play for the Bengals in 2024. The former second-rounder in 2020 out of Clemson had the worst of his four seasons in the NFL last year, playing in only 12 games due to injury and finishing with 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns. A bounce-back should be coming if he can stay healthy in 2024, but Higgins' fantasy upside as a WR2/3 will continue to be capped as long as he's playing in the shadow of teammate and WR1 Ja'Marr Chase.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) said it's "tough to say" what percentage health-wise he is right now during mandatory minicamp in June, but he reiterated "I'll be ready to go by the season." Burrow said last week that he's fully cleared to do everything that doesn't involve contact this offseason as he recovers from surgery to fix a torn ligament in his right wrist. The 27-year-old resumed throwing in April and is putting most of his focus on his mechanics as he looks to bounce back in 2024. We'll continue to keep a close eye on Burrow's progress in training camp this summer, but as long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks, fantasy managers should consider him a solid midrange QB1 target in drafts with two of the better receivers in the game in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at his disposal in the air attack.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Tuesday that quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) is not at mandatory minicamp, an unexcused absence that is subject to fines. Saleh said it was for an event "important to him." In the grand scheme of things, Rodgers' absence isn't a huge deal, especially since he was present for all of the team's voluntary organized team activities leading up to minicamp. Still, it's a missed opportunity for him to develop more chemistry with his receivers after missing all of 2023 with a torn Achilles tendon. The 40-year-old resumed practicing with the team late last season and should be fully ready to go by Week 1 of the regular season this fall. Rodgers could have some big games here and there if he stays healthy in 2024, but for fantasy purposes, he's firmly in low-end QB2 territory coming off a serious injury.
From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper, who is entering the final year of his current deal, is not present for mandatory minicamp this week, which means he'll be subject to fines each day he's not in attendance. The 29-year-old is officially holding out for a new extension, but it remains to be seen if his absence will extend into training camp at the end of July. Cooper had a career-high 1,250 receiving yards and 17.4 yards per catch to go with five touchdowns in 15 regular-season starts in 2023, but he'll be missing valuable time gaining chemistry with quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) if he continues his holdout into training camp. With Jerry Jeudy now in town, Cooper will have a bit more competition for targets in the passing game, potentially making him a more volatile low-end WR2/high-end WR3 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (undisclosed) is sitting out of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday with a minor undisclosed injury. Jeudy's injury doesn't appear to be serious at all, but the Browns aren't going to push their new receiver this offseason. The 25-year-old should be ready to rock for training camp at the end of July, but meanwhile, he's missing valuable repetitions with quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) as he learns a new offense. Jeudy signed a lucrative three-year extension with Cleveland after being acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos this offseason. The former 15th overall pick by Denver in 2020 out of Alabama has yet to play a full season in four years in the NFL and should be viewed as more of a WR4/5 with a low ceiling and floor in fantasy heading into his first campaign with the Jets behind Amari Cooper.
From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Breece Hall (lower body) remained out of practice on Tuesday as he works his way back from a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old has been working off to the side during the team's offseason activities, but head coach Robert Saleh suggested the injury is minor. It's too early to worry about his injury considering the 2024 season is roughly three months away, but his status is worth monitoring throughout the remainder of the offseason. Hall is in play to be the first running back selected after Christian McCaffrey in 2024 fantasy drafts following an RB4 finish in half-PPR leagues last year. Despite starting the year slowly due to a lingering knee injury, Hall rushed 223 times for 994 yards and five touchdowns and caught 76 passes for 591 yards and four scores. With Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) back in action this year, Hall should have more touchdown equity in his third pro campaign. If he struggles to stay healthy, rookie fourth-rounder Braelon Allen could see plenty of action behind him.
From RotoBaller
