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FFL: Week 6 | NFL: Week 6

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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Player Notes
Pat Freiermuth Oct 11 10:40pm ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (calf) was listed as a full participant for the Steelers' final practice of the week. Freiermuth popped up on the team's injury report on Thursday with a calf designation, but it appears to have only been a minor issue. The 25-year-old is set to resume his TE1 duties when Pittsburgh hits the road to take on the Raiders in Las Vegas. Despite having yet to clear 57 yards in any contest, the former second-round pick has at least four receptions in all but one outing and a touchdown in two straight, working his way to a TE7 ranking in PPR formats. Freiermuth ranks second on his team in targets (23), receptions (20), and yards (178) and has scored the most touchdowns (2) of any Pittsburgh pass-catcher. He'll be a back-end TE1 in the road matchup and is RotoBaller's TE10 in this week's rankings.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Oct 11 10:40pm ET
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins missed the first two games of the 2024-25 campaign due to injury. He was quiet in Weeks 3 and 4. However, the wideout had a stellar showing in the Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, finishing with nine catches (14 targets) for 83 yards and two touchdowns. While Ja'Marr Chase is the top target for Joe Burrow, Higgins is still one of the best wide receivers in the National Football League. Keep him starting in Week 6 versus the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Justin Tucker Oct 11 10:40pm ET
Justin Tucker

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker bounced back in a big way in Week 5 after a worrisome stretch through the first four games of the season. The veteran finished as the K6 after making all five of his extra points, a 56-yard field goal, and a 24-yard field goal to win the game for the Ravens in overtime. Kickers don't tend to thrive against the Washington Commanders, because the defense has either been very good or very bad while their offense has limited turnovers. The Ravens are likely to move the ball down the field, but it may result in more extra points rather than field goal attempts. There are better kicking options out there right now until Tucker can show some more consistency.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Oct 11 10:30pm ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been one of the best in the league at his position this season. He was quiet in the opener against the New England Patriots. Since then, the signal-caller has thrown at least two touchdowns in each of his last four games. Burrow had his best showing of the 2024-25 campaign in the AFC North showdown to the Ravens, tossing for 392 yards, five touchdowns, and one pick while completing 76.9% of his attempts. With the Bengals sitting on one win, Burrow is motivated to salvage his squad's season. Keep him starting in any fantasy format in Week 6 against the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

Mark Andrews Oct 11 10:30pm ET
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews finally broke his streak of goose eggs in Week 5 when he caught four of five targets for 55 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. So far, he's only had one week with a finish inside of TE1 territory, and that took a terrible week from tight ends across the league to allow him to finish as the TE10 with seven fantasy points in Week 2. In Week 6, he goes up against the Washington Commanders who have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends and give up an average of 5.1 per game in half-PPR formats. Andrews hasn't done enough to give any fantasy managers confidence yet. There are better options across the league until Andrews can show some signs of consistency.

From RotoBaller

Justice Hill Oct 11 10:30pm ET
Justice Hill

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill returned to his usual fantasy output in Week 5 after a brief pop in Week 4. This is a good indication of what his season will look like as he's bound to have some big games here and there in PPR formats, but he's too inconsistent to start every week. The Ravens take on the Washington Commanders in Week 6, and they're right around the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points given up to opposing backfields. Derrick Henry will likely command a lot of the touches again, but Hill could get a chance at making some noise if the game turns into a shootout.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Oct 11 10:30pm ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase struggled in his first two games of the year. However, he's turned up the volume since then, finding the end zone five times in the last three games. The wideout had a monster showing in the Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, amassing 10 catches (12 targets) for 193 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals offense has looked good despite the team sitting on just one win this season. With that in mind, the unit is extra-motivated to produce on Sunday night versus the New York Giants, so Chase has an excellent chance to finish the week as one of the most productive fantasy receivers.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Oct 11 10:20pm ET
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) has been cleared to play for the team's Week 6 matchup against the Chicago Bears. It's the second week in a row that Etienne has logged three limited sessions leading up to Sunday, but he's fine and ready to go, barring any early Sunday morning surprises. His health aside, a more significant concern for the 25-year-old is that backfield mate Tank Bigsby has been the more effective weapon in the offense. Despite Etienne leading the tandem through the air in Week 5 with six catches and 43 yards on seven targets, he saw just six carries to Bigsby's 13, and the second-year back was far more efficient with his touches. This backfield is one to monitor, but desperate fantasy managers can take solace in the fact that if Chicago can be beaten anywhere -- it's on the ground. They're tied for the league's fifth-most yards per carry allowed (4.8).

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Oct 11 10:10pm ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth has scored in back-to-back contests and will hope to keep the streak alive against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6. Although Freiermuth was a limited participant in practice on Thursday with a calf injury, he was removed from the injury report on Friday after logging a full practice. Las Vegas has fared well against tight ends so far this season but is yet to face one that has earned as many opportunities as Freiermuth. The 25-year-old is averaging more targets per contest than Sam LaPorta and Mark Andrews and more fantasy points than Travis Kelce, Dalton Kincaid, and Kyle Pitts. His ceiling will be relatively limited if Pittsburgh continues to run the ball at one of the highest rates in the NFL, but as a focal point of the Steelers' offense, Freiermuth offers fantasy managers a steady floor. He can be started once again as a low-end TE1 on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Derrick Henry Oct 11 10:00pm ET
Derrick Henry

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has found the end zone in each one of his first five games with the team this year. He already has seven combined touchdowns in five games while coming in as the RB2 in half-PPR formats, behind Alvin Kamara. He's tied for the most 20+ yard plays on the ground with seven, top ten in yards per carry (6.0), and has the longest run play on the season with his 87-yard touchdown from Week 4. In Week 6, he goes up against the Washington Commanders who have a middle-of-the-pack unit that allows 20.3 fantasy points per game to opposing backfields. Henry will likely find the holes in Washington's defense while he receives around 20 touches yet again, so fantasy managers can consider him an RB1 heading into this matchup.

From RotoBaller

Gabriel Davis Oct 11 10:00pm ET
Gabriel Davis

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) is officially listed as questionable for the team's Week 6 matchup against the Chicago Bears in London. Last week, a shoulder injury plagued the 25-year-old, but he was healthy enough to play in the victory over the Colts. This week, it's a knee injury forcing him to record three straight limited designations at practice. However, he appears to have a favorable shot to suit up for an "away" game across the pond. The former Buffalo Bill leads the wide receiver corps on his new team this season in total snaps but ranks third on the Jags in targets (25), receptions (12), and yards (159). Additionally, he has yet to score a touchdown. If Davis can't play, wideouts Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr. would likely take on that workload. If he can, he still won't be a recommended option, particularly against a Bears defense that has been stingy to opposing offenses (seventh-fewest passing yards allowed).

From RotoBaller

Zay Flowers Oct 11 10:00pm ET
Zay Flowers

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers finally bounced back in the Week 5 win over the Cincinnati Bengals after a couple of rough weeks where he saw a combined four receptions for 30 yards. With the momentum of a 100-yard game, he rolls into a matchup with a favorable secondary in the Washington Commanders. They've been one of the easier matchups for opposing wideouts as they give up 33.8 fantasy points per game in half-PPR formats. That ranks them as the sixth-easiest matchup for receivers. Since Washington's offense has proven to be able to move the ball, Lamar Jackson will likely have to throw a bit more in this contest which leaves Flowers as a high-end WR2.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Oct 11 9:50pm ET
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was unusually quiet last week and will look to make an impact against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Head coach Mike Tomlin labeled Pickens' surprisingly low snap share in Week 5 as "load management", basically stating that he hopes to keep the 23-year-old fresh for when he is on the field. While this could continue to be a part of the team's gameplan, the Steelers were clearly lacking playmakers in their loss to Dallas last Sunday night. Pickens will need the ball in his hands more frequently for Pittsburgh to find success offensively. Las Vegas has been more vulnerable to the run than the pass but should not be considered a pass defense to avoid, especially with the Steelers struggling on the ground so far this season. Pickens is the favorite weapon of quarterback Justin Fields, who will be starting again this week. Even with a reduced snap count, Pickens earned a target on 26% of Fields' pass attempts last week, a far greater share than any of his teammates. The duo should be able to connect on more opportunities against the Raiders, making Pickens a low-end WR2 or flex option with upside.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Oct 11 9:50pm ET
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is set to compete in the second "Battle of the Beltway" in his career. The two-time MVP is on a tremendous streak of QB1-level finishes this season as he's hit that mark in all five games with QB10 being his lowest weekly rank. He's sitting at the overall QB1 on the season so far after a huge performance to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime last week. In the Week 6 matchup with the Washington Commanders, Jackson goes up against the 12th-ranked defense in terms of fantasy points allowed per game to opposing quarterbacks. They allow 18.4 fantasy points per game which shouldn't be a problem for Jackson to surpass. To add even more motivation, Jayden Daniels has drawn plenty of comparisons to Jackson and even sits at QB2 this year. Jackson remains a must-start and should deliver another QB1 type of performance.

From RotoBaller

Michael Wilson Oct 11 9:40pm ET
Michael Wilson

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson is a fringe flex or streaming option in Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers. Wilson has started to carve out his role in the Cardinals' passing game, having caught five of six targets for 78 yards in the Week 5 win over the 49ers. The Cardinals will travel to Green Bay to play the Packers in a rainy NFC conference battle, which presents an advantageous matchup for Wilson. The Packers' defensive backs are shorter and do not play very physically. Wilson, on the other hand, is a big, physical receiver who uses his 6'3", 215-pound frame to his advantage. While the rain and wind could pose challenges for the passing game, slightly diminishing Wilson's value, fantasy managers in need could consider him a streaming flex option in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Oct 11 9:40pm ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) was listed as a limited participant for the third straight practice ahead of the team's Week 6 matchup against the Chicago Bears. It's Engram's first whole week of practice since Week 2, when he injured his hamstring in pre-game warmups before Jacksonville's 18-13 loss to the Browns. He'll officially get a questionable designation. While Chicago is listed as the "home" team via technicality, a trip to London is as much of a home game for the Jags as an outing at EverBank Stadium. Wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) is regarded as questionable, too -- after a week of limited sessions of his own. If Engram and Davis cannot play, tight end Brenton Strange will continue to see an uptick in usage, while wideouts Christian Kirk and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. project to handle a majority of 2WR sets.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Oct 11 9:40pm ET
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. was limited in practice all week with a shoulder injury but is expected to still play through it, just as he did in Week 5. He faces the Chicago Bears who have been great on defense, but mainly against the pass. The shoulder injury limited Etienne Jr.'s snaps last week, paving the way for Tank Bigsby to thrive in an expanded role. The combination of the injury, backfield competition, and likely negative game script means it is hard to expect a big game out of the Clemson product. He was productive in the passing game with six catches for 43 yards, so he could actually benefit from the team passing more, but with Evan Engram potentially returning from injury and Brian Thomas Jr. and Christian Kirk excelling, it's hard to imagine him matching that previous receiving output. While fantasy managers shouldn't bench Etienne Jr. in Week 6, their expectations for him should be tempered to a low-end RB2/flex level.

From RotoBaller

Kirk Cousins Oct 11 9:20pm ET
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is coming off a career game in Week 5 versus Tampa Bay in which he threw for 509 yards and four touchdowns (also one interception). Before that game, however, the 36-year-old had only one multi-touchdown-pass performance in four games, averaged just 216 yards per game, and threw four picks during that time. It would be unreasonable to expect another game like Week 5, but the Panthers' defense has been very susceptible through the air, allowing a league-high 11 passing TDs and is bottom-third in passing yards allowed. On the flip side, Carolina has been generous against the run as well and with Atlanta being six-point favorites, the Falcons may deploy a more balanced attack, potentially leaning on the run game late. Regardless, Cousins is a viable streaming option with high upside, and for those thinking ahead, he'll face the Buccaneers again in Week 8.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Mooney Oct 11 9:20pm ET
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (knee) was a full participant in Atlanta's final practice of the week and is a full-go for the team's Week 6 matchup on Sunday. Mooney started off the week with two limited sessions, but his status for the road tilt against the Carolina Panthers was never in doubt. The 26-year-old and the Falcons' offense have one of the more enticing fantasy matchups this week. Carolina has allowed the most passing touchdowns and second-most yards per pass attempt to opposing offenses. It's another opportunity for the former fifth-round pick to continue his streak of production, which has him sitting as the WR15 in PPR formats through the season's first five weeks. Mooney has had a strong beginning to his first season in Atlanta and should continue to be a solid third option at worst in the Falcons' passing attack. He'll be a WR3 with upside against the Panthers.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Oct 11 9:20pm ET
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris is yet to find the end zone this season but will be looking to capitalize on a plus matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6. The Raiders are surrendering 5.2 yards per carry and the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs in 2024. Harris has been disappointing with the backfield to himself, however, and could be joined on Sunday by Jaylen Warren (knee) for the first time since Week 3. Warren logged a full practice on Friday and is officially listed as questionable to make his return. The Steelers' offense has struggled to get things going recently, so although the addition of Warren would be welcome, it could take away from Harris' workload, specifically in the passing game. Harris has generated most of his fantasy output as a pass-catcher over the past two weeks, averaging 2.5 receptions for 44.5 yards on 4 targets per contest. Given the matchup, Harris should be considered a low-end RB2 this week regardless of Warren's availability, but fantasy managers will need to keep an eye on how Pittsburgh splits backfield opportunities moving forward.

From RotoBaller