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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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Bender's DFS Pickem Plays: Week 7

Player Notes
D.J. Chark Oct 19 6:30pm ET
D.J. Chark

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark (groin) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 7 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Chark was recently designated to return from the injured reserve and could make his season debut on Monday. He has been limited in practice this week, but still has a chance of suiting up. The Chargers could certainly use the help with Quentin Johnston (ankle) and Ladd McConkey (hip) both on the injury report as well. If both of them sit, Chark could have a bigger role on Monday, but isn't expected to be a significant contributor on the run-heavy Chargers offense.

From RotoBaller

Ladd McConkey Oct 19 6:20pm ET
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (hip) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 7 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The rookie wideout has been limited in practice this week due to a hip issue. He did exit early during last week's game, but McConkey returned to action and finished out the contest. The Chargers are already in terms of weapons at wide receiver, so losing McConkey would put them in a bad spot. Joshua Palmer figures to be the focal point of the passing attack if McConkey does end up sidelined on Monday.

From RotoBaller

Mason Rudolph Oct 19 5:10pm ET
Mason Rudolph

Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph will start in Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills. Will Levis (shoulder) is still questionable. However, Levis will get the week off, with Rudolph taking over under center. While the move may slightly increase the Titans' chances of picking up the win, the signal-caller hasn't played well as a starter, amassing an 8-4-1 record while accumulating 2,797 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions dating back to his tenure in Pittsburgh. As a result, fantasy managers shouldn't consider him a starting option in Week 7, although he has some value in deep Superflex setups for those who are desperate.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Oct 19 4:50pm ET
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest) was activated from the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List on Saturday. While the rookie was in line to play along, the latest update makes things official. He was shot in the chest during an armed robbery attempt before the start of the 2024-25 campaign, so Week 7 will mark his official debut. However, it's tough to say how much work Pearsall will receive. But even if he plays more than expected, he'll need to battle with Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel Sr., and George Kittle for targets.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Walker III Oct 19 4:40pm ET
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (illness) is questionable for Sunday's matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. He's battling an illness, so his late addition to the injury report means there's a realistic chance he won't suit up in Week 7. The 23-year-old has played well this season, totaling 234 yards and five touchdowns off 51 carries. He's also caught 21 of his 24 targets for 136 yards. With the Seahawks losing their last three contests, the team could certainly use him. In the meantime, fantasy managers should snag Zach Charbonnet off waivers, where available. If Walker doesn't get on the field, Charbonnet is worth starting in any fantasy format.

From RotoBaller

T.J. Hockenson Oct 19 4:30pm ET
T.J. Hockenson

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) won't play in Sunday's NFC North clash against the Detroit Lions. The 27-year-old recently returned to practice. While he's moving in the right direction regarding his return to the field, fantasy managers will need to wait a little longer. There's a chance Hockenson will be back in the lineup for the Week 8 clash with the Los Angeles Rams. However, it's more realistic to assume he'll make his 2024-25 debut for the Week 9 matchup versus the Indianapolis Colts. Of course, anything can change moving forward, so fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation. In the meantime, it will be Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver splitting starting duties, although neither man can be considered a viable fantasy option.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson Oct 19 4:13pm ET
Deshaun Watson

Dynasty | The Browns have activated running back Nick Chubb. Dynasty Analysis: Chubb will make his much-anticipated return in week seven against the Bengals. His presence will be a welcome one by a Browns team that's 1-5 and flailing miserably. Cleveland traded Amari Cooper this week and Deshaun Watson looks like an absolute shell of himself, so anything the Browns get from Chubb will be important. Dynasty managers should be cautious as his role is likely not going to be a huge one for a few weeks. Still, it will certainly be nice to see him back after last year's gruesome injury.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Russell Wilson Oct 19 4:13pm ET
Russell Wilson

Dynasty | The Steelers are planning on starting Russell Wilson at quarterback this week. Dynasty Analysis: Wilson has worked his way back from a calf injury and will replace Justin Fields in the starting lineup. It's a curious move as Fields has the team at 4-2 and tied for first place in the AFC North. Still, the Steelers are clearly hesitant in unleashing Fields as a passer and have made their game plans extraordinarily conservative on offense. Fields is likely to play in this one and Wilson is going to have precious little time to prove he should continue to start. In short, this looks like a situation to avoid for the foreseeable future in terms of dynasty lineups.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Aaron Rodgers Oct 19 4:13pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

Dynasty | The Jets are planning on Davante Adams playing at full strength this week. Dynasty Analysis: Adams was traded to the Jets this week and apparently the plane flight magically cured his injury. Dynasty managers won't complain as Adams has reportedly looked great in practice and is excited to be reunited with Aaron Rodgers. The Jets still have major problems and Adams is going to still need to build chemistry in the offense, so he should be viewed as more of a WR2 at the moment. Stay tuned.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Patrick Mahomes Oct 19 4:00pm ET
Patrick Mahomes

The San Francisco 49ers D/ST unit faces the Kansas City Chiefs in a Week 7 Super Bowl LVIII rematch in Santa Clara on Sunday. The 49ers D has been performing well, scoring touchdowns in two of the last three games. Last week in Seattle, they collected three turnovers, one sack, and allowed 24 points. Despite the 5-0 record Kansas City's offense hasn't been super efficient, ranking 15th in points per game and 11th in yards per game. They haven't taken care of the ball particularly well either, sitting in an eight-way tie for the 9th-most turnovers lost. San Francisco's defense is healthy, and so is Kansas City's offense besides the continued absence of Rashee Rice (knee), who they lost for the season in Week 3. Despite the Chiefs' offense being not-so-scary statistically, quarterback Patrick Mahomes II has been sacked the seventh-fewest times and is unlikely to provide 49ers D/ST managers with much in the way of a points-allowed bonus. The 49ers are the 13th-ranked D/ST unit in RotoBaller's Week 7 rankings.

From RotoBaller

Will Reichard Oct 19 3:00pm ET
Will Reichard

Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard remains a solid streaming option in Week 7, facing the Detroit Lions. The 23-year-old has remained perfect throughout the season, going 9-for-9 on attempts and 16-for-16 on extra-point attempts. During the first five games, Reichard has averaged 8.6 PPR points per game and made at least two field goal attempts in three games. The Alabama product has also made three attempts from over 50 yards. Facing the Detroit Lions in what is projected to be a high-scoring affair, given the projected 50.5 point total makes Reichard a safe option with solid upside on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Oct 19 2:50pm ET
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (foot) is listed as questionable for Monday's game according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. White opened the week as a limited participant during Thursday's and Friday's practice. However, the 25-year-old was able to upgrade to full participation on Saturday, which is a positive sign for his availability on Monday evening. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor White's status throughout the weekend. If White can suit up, fantasy managers should expect Tampa Bay to split opportunities between their running backs, which makes Bucky Irving and White low-end RB2s, with Sean Tucker projecting to be a flex option facing a tough Baltimore rush defense.

From RotoBaller

Cam Akers Oct 19 2:40pm ET
Cam Akers

Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers could be pushed up the depth chart on Sunday if Aaron Jones (hamstring) cannot suit up. Jones is currently listed as questionable and could be a game-time decision. The Vikings traded for Akers from Houston earlier this week, which could suggest that Jones may not be able to play. In Houston, Akers saw work as the lead running back when Joe Mixon (ankle) was sidelined and tallied a modest 9.3 PPR points per game during a three-game stretch. While Ty Chandler will likely see most attempts in Jones' absence, Akers could carve out a solid workload and be a viable desperation flex option in 14+ team formats.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Oct 19 2:40pm ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) is off the injury report and good to go for Monday's game, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The veteran wideout was held out of practice on Thursday and Friday. However, on Saturday, Evans was able to upgrade to limited participation and avoided an injury designation ahead of Monday's game. Fantasy managers should feel confident starting the 31-year-old in all formats as he will face a weak Baltimore secondary who have surrendered the 29th-most points to opposing wideouts.

From RotoBaller

Anders Carlson Oct 19 2:30pm ET
Anders Carlson

San Francisco 49ers kicker Anders Carlson will kick off against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Santa Clara. The younger brother of Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson will be the third kicker used by the 49ers in as many games since Jake Moody (ankle) and Matthew Wright (shoulder, back) both suffered injuries attempting to make tackles. Last season, Carlson spent his rookie year as the Green Bay Packers starting kicker from beginning to end but was cut during this year's preseason. Carlson was the 23rd-most productive kicker in fantasy but led the league in misses with 13. Any decent kicker that San Francisco puts out there is likely a decent fantasy option, given the team's offensive prowess, as seen last week with journeyman Wright's three field goals and three extra points made. Anyone streaming kickers or looking for a replacement could do worse than Carlson in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Ty Chandler Oct 19 2:30pm ET
Ty Chandler

Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler could have an increased role if No. 1 running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) cannot suit up. Jones is currently listed as questionable on the team's injury report and will likely be a game-time decision. If Jones is eventually ruled out, Chandler should be expected to be pushed to the top of the depth chart. When Jones left their previous game early, Chandler saw 14 attempts but tallied a mere 30 yards. Through the air, he caught two passes for nine yards. Facing a tough Detroit defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points to opposing running backs does lower Chandler's ceiling this weekend. However, if he is in the lead role, he is worth a look as a flex play simply for the potential volume.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Oct 19 2:20pm ET
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) is considered "ahead of schedule" in his recovery process, according to Cameron DaSilva of USA Today. The 31-year-old tight end suffered a torn ACL in their playoff loss to the Detroit Lions last season, but head coach Sean McVay remains optimistic about his potential return this season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Higbee's status, as he could have a chance to return later this season. For the time being, Colby Parkinson should continue to see the majority of snaps at the tight end position. Through five games this season, Parkinson has averaged 7.1 PPR points per game.

From RotoBaller

Nyheim Hines Oct 19 2:10pm ET
Nyheim Hines

Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) was not activated before their Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram. Hines is still recovering from his torn ACL. However, the 27-year-old did log three full practices this week, which suggests he will return in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, Hines tallied only 36 yards on the ground with one score but caught 25 passes for 188 yards through the air. This weekend, fantasy managers should expect Nick Chubb (knee) and D'Onta Foreman to lead the backfield. When Hines does return, he should see most of his work on passing downs.

From RotoBaller

Alvin Kamara Oct 19 1:10pm ET
Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is denying that he has requested a trade. "I ain request a trade.. so that's a lie. I'm in an orange robe on the way to Knoxville.. #WhoDat," Kamara wrote on his X account. Rumors may be swirling that Kamara is unhappy in New Orleans after five straight losses, most recently a 33-10 beatdown at the hands of the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. The 29-year-old got off to a blazing start in 2024 with 80 rushing attempts for 362 yards (4.53 yards per tote) and five rushing touchdowns in the first four weeks, adding 17 catches for 174 yards and another score. But in three games since then, he has 76 yards on 31 carries for one touchdown and has caught 17 passes for 78 yards. It hasn't helped that QB Derek Carr (oblique) has missed the last two games. Kamara should improve once Carr returns, but that may not be for another week or so.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Oct 19 12:50pm ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) will be questionable to play on Monday night in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens and will be a game-time decision. Evans was listed as a non-participant in practice on both Thursday and Friday but was seen practicing on Saturday, which at least gives him a shot to play on Monday. We would expect the 31-year-old to be able to suit up against Baltimore, but it's no sure thing and it puts fantasy manages in a tough predicament with Tampa not playing until Monday this week. Hopefully, we'll get a bit more clarity on Evans' status late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, but for now, he's trending as a volatile high-end WR2 this week because of his injury. If Evans is inactive on Monday night, Chris Godwin, Sterling Shepard and rookie Jalen McMillan are likely to start in three-receiver sets.

From RotoBaller