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 jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
The Invitational Live Stream
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Russell Gage (undisclosed) was signed midway through training camp and jumped in immediately to find the end zone in his first practice. However, he suffered an undisclosed injury shortly thereafter and has only appeared on a side field while working with a trainer since. Time is running out for Gage to get healthy to make a case he belongs on the 53-man roster. Meanwhile, receiver Devontez Walker (rib) played just six offensive snaps in the second preseason game against the Falcons, and head coach John Harbaugh said afterward he's still dealing with a rib injury. The fourth-round rookie hasn't had many moments in practice during camp, has had few opportunities in games and has battled physical issues. It's highly unlikely Baltimore would outright cut a fourth-round selection, but Walker is running out of time to prove he warrants a game-day role when the regular season kicks off in two weeks.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens rookie fifth-round running back Rasheen Ali (neck) had a quiet start to training camp, struggled in short-yardage situations in the preseason opener against the Eagles and suffered what head coach John Harbaugh called a stinger. Ali hasn't been on the field since and didn't play in the second preseason game on Saturday against the Falcons. His top competitor for the No. 3 RB role, Owen Wright, caught a touchdown pass on Saturday. Ali has a lot of ground to make up on Wright this week and must first get back on the field at training camp. The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec suggests Ali isn't guaranteed a 53-man roster spot out of camp at this point, and the Ravens have cut or traded rookie fifth-round picks in two of the past three years. The 23-year-old obviously is not on the fantasy radar in redraft leagues right now.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller was signed a week ago and initially just looked like another fresh and healthy body to help get the Ravens through the preseason. However, Miller has made an instant impression with his speed and is at least in the mix late in training camp for a 53-man roster spot, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec. It remains to be seen if he has done enough to pass Tylan Wallace on the receiver depth chart, though. Miller has made a few plays in just about every Ravens practice and had three receptions on three consecutive plays in the second preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. The 29-year-old former second-round pick in 2018 by the Chicago Bears out of Memphis hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2021, when he caught six passes for 25 yards and a touchdown in three games with Houston and Pittsburgh. Even if Miller somehow makes the final roster, he'll be coming off the bench for Baltimore.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark came up limping after the opening play of 11-on-11 work at training camp practice on Monday and was grabbing at his left-hip flexor. It's something to watch for the rest of the practice week and heading into the team's preseason finale this Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys. In his first year in LA, the 27-year-old is expected to help replace receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams alongside Joshua Palmer and rookie second-rounder Ladd McConkey in starting three-wide sets. Chark is no stranger to injuries -- he missed 22 games from 2020 to 2022 -- and if he's forced to miss time entering the start of the 2024 regular season, it will open up playing time for former first-rounder Quentin Johnston. Chark should be better than he was in 2023 in a bad Panthers offense if he can stay healthy this year, but he should be left to the waiver wire to begin the year in 12-team leagues.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo has been working with the first-team offense ahead of first-round pick Xavier Legette throughout training camp. Mingo and Terrace Marshall Jr. combined for three catches in Saturday's preseason loss to the New York Jets after each had a drop in the preseason opener, and it sounds like they'll be the more reliable bets for snaps in three-receiver sets with veterans Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen for quarterback Bryce Young. The Panthers chose Legette with the final pick of Round 1 in this past spring's NFL Draft to augment their receiving corps, but the team may not thrust him into a featured role to begin Year 1. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues should consider Legette a dart-throw WR5/6 flier at the end of 12-team drafts this summer, but the 23-year-old wideout does have a chance to become Carolina's preferred deep threat at some stage of the 2024 season.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson looks leaner and quicker this year, and with a new contract signed, he's emerged as a confident leader for head coach Jerod Mayo's new program. Stevenson looked sluggish at times in New England's paltry offense a year ago, rushing for a pedestrian 4.0 yards per carry over 156 attempts, so fantasy managers are hoping the drop in his weight gets him back up closer to the 5.0 YPC he put up across 210 carries back in 2022. The 26-year-old power back remains a volume-dependent RB2 option for 2024 in what is a rebuilding Patriots offense, and after catching 38 passes in 12 appearances last season, Stevenson's managers are hoping that receiving back Antonio Gibson doesn't take away too many targets out of the backfield this fall.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday that the team's starters will play in Friday's preseason finale against the hosting Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. "You'd love to get maybe two quarters out of them," Pederson said. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence did not appear in Saturday's preseason win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and while Pederson seems to have an eye on extended reps for his star and veteran players on Friday against Atlanta, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the starters end up coming out of the game after a quarter of action. With Christian Kirk (calf) out of action for this week, fantasy managers will be looking out for Lawrence, star running back Travis Etienne, rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., and veteran tight end Evan Engram in the final exhibition outing.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Monday that he expected running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) to practice. Reid added that the club is trying to get him headed in the right direction and says he hasn't discussed with general manager Brett Veach whether he's a candidate for injured reserve to start the season. Edwards-Helaire didn't suit up in Saturday's preseason game against the Detroit Lions, and he must be dealing with a pretty significant illness if a possible stint on the IR is even a consideration at this point. The former first-round pick lines up as one of the change-of-pace backs behind workhorse starter Isiah Pacheco in KC's backfield this season, but Deneric Prince would become the preferred handcuff to roster if CEH's absence were to extend into the regular season.
From RotoBaller
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein believes running back Dameon Pierce may struggle to make the team with several RBs on the roster having better one-cut feels. Pierce has struggled for the Texans during the preseason, allowing the door to open for Cam Akers, Jawhar Jordan, and Dare Ogunbowale to potentially end up with roster spots in Houston's backfield instead of him behind workhorse starter Joe Mixon. The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick was one of fantasy's breakout stars in 2022, rushing 220 times for 939 yards while totaling five touchdowns in 13 games, but he ceded lead-back duties to veteran Devin Singletary during the second half of last year. Teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, and Cincinnati Bengals could give Pierce a look if we were cut, but his fantasy appeal is limited at the moment.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Sunday night that he's "hoping" that rookie running back Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) will return to training camp practice this week and get some snaps in Friday's preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders on the road. Guerendo could easily be looking at a redshirt rookie season in the NFL after initially injuring his hamstring at the start of training camp on July 24. The 24-year-old fourth-rounder has missed three-plus weeks of valuable reps in camp, including both of the team's preseason games to this point. Saying San Fran's backfield has been beat up this summer would be an understatement, as Christian McCaffrey (calf), Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and Jordan Mason (hip) also have injury designations. When healthy, the speedy Guerendo figures to be the Niners' RB3, but he's behind the eight ball developmentally already and can be avoided in standard 12-team fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) worked with the rehab group off to the side during training camp practice on Monday. Cooks has been held out of practice and the team's second preseason game on Saturday since injuring his knee at practice last Thursday, but the 30-year-old veteran's injury isn't believed to be too serious. However, with CeeDee Lamb, the team's No. 1 wideout, still holding out due to a contract dispute, quarterback Dak Prescott's top receiving targets in practice are now Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Cropper and Jalen Brooks. Before Cooks' knee injury, he was developing great chemistry with Prescott, and he could bounce back in 2024 with Michael Gallup no longer around after putting up a 54-657-8 line in 16 regular-season games last year. Cooks probably isn't a 1,000-yard receiver anymore, but he could have some use as a WR4/flex in the right matchups for fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Sunday night that he's "hoping" that rookie first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (shoulder) will return to training camp practice this week and also get some reps in Friday's preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders. Pearsall was surprisingly taken by the Niners at the end of the first round of April's NFL draft, but he began training camp on the Non-Football Injury list with a hamstring issue and has been missing valuable reps of late with a nagging shoulder ailment. The good news is the 23-year-old could get back on the field this week. Pearsall will probably only be worth a draft selection in redraft leagues if the Niners trade Brandon Aiyuk before the start of the regular season, but that is looking increasingly unlikely. If Aiyuk sticks around in 2024, Pearsall will be battling Jauan Jennings for targets as the team's WR3 in his rookie campaign.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) practiced at training camp on Monday for the first time since July, when he was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Herbert was placed in a walking boot at the end of July but ditched the boot last Thursday. He was seen making stationary throws before Saturday's preseason contest against the Los Angeles Rams and has now taken the next step in returning to practice. The 26-year-old will now have two weeks worth of practices before the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 8 against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Pain tolerance will probably be an issue for Herbert along the way and even potentially into the regular season, but the Chargers have never seemed to worried about him missing time to begin the year. In more of a run-first offense under the new coaching staff and no longer without his top weapons in Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, and Mike Williams, Herbert's fantasy stock has fallen to QB2 status.
From RotoBaller
The New York Giants restructured the contract of left tackle Andrew Thomas to create $3.34 million in salary cap space on Monday. The move gives the Giants $18 million to work with as teams prepare to make their final signings heading into the season. The Giants have plenty of holes to plug along the offensive line and could use a more established No. 2 wide receiver opposite rookie Malik Nabers. It will be difficult for the Giants to put a lot of that cap space to good use this late in the preseason with so many quality players signed already. However, with final roster cuts around the corner, cap casualties of other teams could be prime selections for the Giants.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers were reportedly a call away from landing wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. However, new details about the situation have shed light on the hold-up of the talks. The Steelers offered Aiyuk less than $28 million annually for a new contract. The offer has pushed Aiyuk back to the contract negotiation table with the 49ers. It appears that Aiyuk may not be able to get the top-of-market contract he seeks after all. Aiyuk is coming off a career year in which he caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. He is due for a new contract as he enters the fifth year of his rookie deal. Aiyuk has not participated in training camp or the preseason while he seeks a new contract. For now, fantasy managers will need to monitor whether the Steelers will increase their offer or if Aiyuk will come to terms with the 49ers.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Broncos quarterback Bo Nix compoleted 8-of-9 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in Denver's preseason game against the Packers. Dynasty Analysis: Simply put, Nix has done nothing to make Sean Payton think of starting anyone else week one. This was the latest positive sign as he looked poised in the pocket and again took care of the football. Nix looks like a player with five years of college experience and ready to take on his new challenge. At this point, he's looked competent enough to keep the fantasy values of Courtland Sutton, Javonte Williams, and others afloat, though there will clearly be some bumps in the road. He remains a second round rookie pick in conventional drafts and creeping higher in 2QB leagues as we await official confirmation of him starting.
Dynasty | The Washington Commanders have named Jayden Daniels their starting quarterback. Dynasty Analysis: No real surprise here as Daniels really wasn't challenged much by now journeyman Marcus Mariota in camp. He's been impressive in limited action and in training camp, so Washington clearly sees no reason to keep him on the bench. Daniels remains a top-2 pick in Superflex formats but also remains one of the bigger boom or bust players at the position we've seen in some time.
Dynasty | The Falcons are sitting quarterback Michael Penix Jr for the final preseason game. Dynasty Analysis: This seems unusual considering Kirk Cousins is the clear starter. However, the Falcons brass is simply saying they've seen enough of Penix to know what they have and don't want to risk injury. While camp reports have been glowing, we still haven't seen enough of him to really determine how good he may be and likely won't barring a catastrophe regarding Cousins. Penix remains a high upside player who dynasty managers will need to be very patient with.
Miami Dolphins WR Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed) is not expected to practice this week, according to head coach Mike McDaniel.
From TheHuddle
The Buffalo Bills announced that quarterback Josh Allen, along with the team's other starters, will not play in Saturday's preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers. Head coach Sean McDermott originally planned to play his starters, but after the team saw multiple players suffer injuries over the weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers, they are not taking any chances. Backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (knee), wide receivers Curtis Samuel (toe) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (neck), and tight end Quintin Morris (shoulder) are all expected to miss multiple weeks.
From RotoBaller