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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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 6

Player Notes
Davante Adams Oct 13 12:10am ET
Davante Adams

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) "could wind up staying" with the team. Schefter didn't elaborate. However, it adds another dynamic to what has already been a volatile situation. The wideout will miss another game on Sunday due to a hamstring injury, with many still believing his days with the Raiders are over. But at this point, fantasy managers aren't as concerned with who he is playing for as long as he gets back on the field. As far as the Week 6 meeting with the Steelers is concerned, Jakobi Meyers (ankle) is doubtful, so it could be a rough day for Aidan O'Connell. Still, the door is open for Tre Tucker and DJ Turner, who both logged over 50 snaps in Week 5, to get more involved. Alex Bachman and Tyreik McAllister may also enter the equation, although Brock Bowers still has the best chance of being the top fantasy pass-catcher for Vegas in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Oct 12 10:41pm ET
Jauan Jennings

Dynasty | 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings had just three catches for 27 yards in a win against Seattle Thursday night. Dynasty Analysis: Much like his teammate Brandon Aiyuk, Jennings has had one blow-up game (11/175/3) and four clunkers that have resulted in just 14 catches for 229 scoreless yards. Jennings is looking like a boom or bust player each week and dynasty managers are going to need to feel pretty desperate to trust him on a weekly basis at this point.

Kenneth Walker III Oct 12 10:41pm ET
Kenneth Walker III

Dynasty | Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker had 32 rushing yards, eight catches and 37 receiving yards with one touchdown in a loss against the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: The yardage totals for Walker weren't good but eight catches and a touchdown made his night a good one, at least in PPR leagues. Even better, Walker continued to dominate backfield touches as he had 22 compared to the six from Zach Charbonnet. Walker is a prime trade target for a contending dynasty team as he's become one of the more consistent running backs in the game.

D.K. Metcalf Oct 12 10:39pm ET
D.K. Metcalf

Dynasty | Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf had three catches for 48 yards in a loss against the 49ers on Thursday night. Dynasty Analysis: Metcalf had 11 targets, but he and Geno Smith are just not on the same page. After three straight 100-yard games, Metcalf now has just seven catches for 103 scoreless yards over his last two games. He did have a long touchdown called back because of a penalty, but things seem to be going sour for Seattle in a hurry as they've lost three straight and seem to be losing their way a bit. Metcalf will likely bounce back but this is notable in future weeks as lineup decisions are being made.

Michael Pittman Jr. Oct 12 10:00pm ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) plans to play Sunday in the team's Week 6 road matchup against the Tennessee Titans. A few days ago, there was talk that Pittman could miss multiple weeks with a back injury and began the week with back-to-back non-participant designations at practice. His fortune changed on Friday when he was able to log a limited session, and he is reportedly traveling with the team to Nashville ahead of the divisional tilt, per Stephen Holder of The Athletic. It's excellent news for the Colts, who should also have second-year wide receiver Josh Downs (toe) and quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) active for the contest as well. Reports are that the 27-year-old will "play through" the nagging back injury, so it's possible he is operating at less than 100% and could have his snap count monitored. Tennessee's defense has been difficult for opposing offenses this season, so expectations should be tempered due to his health and the poor matchup.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Oct 12 9:50pm ET
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (toe) is expected to be active for the team's Week 6 road matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Despite logging two DNPs this week and being listed as questionable, the second-year wideout will reportedly suit up, according to Stephen Holder of The Athletic. Teammate Michael Pittman Jr. (back) traveled with the team and also plans to play in the contest against the Titans. Downs has been a PPR monster over the last two weeks, racking up 17 catches, 151 yards, and a touchdown on 21 targets. However, it's worth noting that most of this production came with veteran quarterback Joe Flacco under center in stead of second-year QB Anthony Richardson (oblique). Richardson is also slated to be active for Sunday's outing, so the 23-year-old wideout could return to a lower-volume role. Still, he could see more work than usual with Pittman dinged up. Regardless, the Titans' defense has been one of the more staunch units against opposing offenses, so look for Indy's unit to have their hands full.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Oct 12 9:40pm ET
David Montgomery

The Detroit Lions and running back David Montgomery have agreed to a two-year $18.25 million extension, locking the veteran RB up through the 2027 season, per Adam Schefter. Montgomery had two years remaining on the three-year $18 million deal he inked in 2023, but the team saw fit to extend an integral part of their offense. The new contract includes $10.5 million in new guaranteed money, and Detroit handcuffs him and backfield mate Jahmyr Gibbs for the foreseeable future. Since 2019, the former third-round pick's 43 rushing scores are good for ninth-most in the league. The 27-year-old has been one of the more consistent fantasy backs this season despite fluctuating yardage outputs, scoring a touchdown in each of his first four outings. He'll look to keep that streak going in Week 6 on the road against the Cowboys.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Oct 12 9:20pm ET
Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) is scheduled to make his 2024 debut next Sunday when his team hosts the Cincinnati Bengals in a home matchup, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. It will be his first regular-season action since Week 2 of last season when he was forced from the Browns' contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers after suffering a gruesome, complex knee injury. It's unclear what capacity that will be in, and it is fair to wonder whether or not he'll be on a snap count, but it's a remarkable feat for the 28-year-old. For one more week, it will be running backs D'Onta Foreman and Jerome Ford shouldering the load in the backfield before the former second-round pick's return. When that comes to pass, Chubb will likely make this backfield a three-man rotation until he is healthy -- or effective -- enough to siphon touches away from his teammates. That duo will face an Eagles squad in Week 6 that's let up the eighth-fewest yards on the ground to opposing defenses (515) but the third-most yards per carry (5.0).

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Oct 12 9:00pm ET
Adonai Mitchell

Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell caught four of his seven targets for 38 yards in the team's Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite a decent target share, Mitchell saw a very low snap share, playing a total of just 19 in the game. With Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and Josh Downs (toe) trending to play, Mitchell will likely see a similar snap share again in Week 6. On top of that, Mitchell and the Colts will be up against the Titans' secondary, a unit that's allowed the lowest receiving yards/game as well as the fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs. Mitchell is better left on the bench in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Joe Flacco Oct 12 8:30pm ET
Joe Flacco

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco had an outstanding Week 5 performance, completing 33 of his 44 passes for 359 yards in the team's loss. Flacco's starting status for Week 6 against the Titans is up in the air, with QB Anthony Richardson (oblique) tracking to play but still a game-time decision. If Flacco were to start, he would make for a deeper streaming option, with the Titans secondary allowing the fewest passing yards this season at a 124/game average. Fantasy managers in 2QB/Superflex leagues should stay up to date on the news on Sunday morning, should they need a last-minute replacement.

From RotoBaller

Alec Pierce Oct 12 8:10pm ET
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce popped in the team's Week 5 loss, grabbing all three of his targets for 134 yards and a touchdown. He'll now gear up for a Week 6 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, the team allowing the fewest points to opposing WRs this season. While Pierce has led the team in yards with 386, he comes in fourth in total target share at 12.1%. On top of that, reports suggest that the Colts will be starting QB Anthony Richardson (oblique) in Week 6, which may lower the team's passing volume as opposed to if they were to start QB Joe Flacco. While there remains the possibility that Pierce can catch a few deep shots like he has in weeks past, it's a hard thing to bank on in such a tough matchup. Fantasy managers can view Pierce as a WR4/5 option in Week 6, with him currently slated as the WR46 in our staff's half-PPR rankings.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Oct 12 7:53pm ET
David Montgomery

Updating a previous report, Detroit Lions RB David Montgomery's contract extension is for two years and $18.25 million, with $10.5 million in new guaranteed money, per source on Saturday, Oct. 12. The extension keeps Montgomery with Detroit through 2027.

From TheHuddle

David Montgomery Oct 12 7:33pm ET
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions RB David Montgomery agreed to a contract extension on Saturday, Oct. 12, that will keep him with the team through 2027, per source. The financial terms of the extension were not immediately disclosed.

From TheHuddle

Jamal Adams Oct 12 7:33pm ET
Jamal Adams

Tennessee Titans S Jamal Adams (hip) is 'frustrated' with his role after playing just one snap in Week 4, per source on Saturday, Oct. 12.

From TheHuddle

Tyler Goodson Oct 12 7:30pm ET
Tyler Goodson

Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson ran the ball five times for 26 yards in Week 5, also grabbing three targets for 31 yards through the air. Goodson was involved in the absence of Jonathan Taylor (ankle) but played a secondary role to RB Trey Sermon in last week's loss. With Taylor out again in Week 6, Goodson will remain involved in the backfield once again. He is in for a tougher matchup, facing a Titans defense that has allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs this season. While Goodson may see an increase in volume after a nice showing last week, it's too much of a speculation to start him with confidence in most formats. He is currently the RB48 in this week's staff's half-PPR rankings.

From RotoBaller

Trey Sermon Oct 12 7:20pm ET
Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon ran the ball ten times for 38 yards and a touchdown in the team's Week 5 loss. He also reeled in six catches for another 25 yards through the air. Sermon is slated to be Indy's lead back once again when they face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Although he has replaced Jonathan Taylor (ankle) in his absence, running back Tyler Goodson has also seen a sizable role, getting five carries in the team's Week 5 loss. Sermon will face a tougher defense in Tennessee, as they have allowed the 11th least fantasy points to opposing RBs this season. Given the tougher matchup, and what could potentially be a split in opportunities with Goodson, Sermon doesn't make for a strong start in Week 6. Fantasy managers replacing Taylor can look his way, but he should otherwise be viewed as a RB3 option. He is currently the RB31 in our staff's half-PPR weekly rankings.

From RotoBaller

Josh Reynolds Oct 12 7:10pm ET
Josh Reynolds

Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger) has been placed on the injured reserve ahead of the Week 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The organization was hopeful that Reynolds would only miss one game after having a minor finger surgery. Clearly that wasn't the case as Reynolds will now sit out the next four weeks. The absence of Reynolds should mean more playing time for Lil' Jordan Humphrey, Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin. Between the trio, Humphrey has the biggest upside after a 48-yard performance last week.

From RotoBaller

Joe Mixon Oct 12 7:03pm ET
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) is expected to play in Week 6, per source on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Fantasy Spin: There's been nothing to suggest that Mixon will see a limited workload in his first game back, so fire him up without hesitation. He's an RB1 entering Week 6.

From TheHuddle

Gus Edwards Oct 12 7:00pm ET
Gus Edwards

Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards (ankle) has been placed on the injured reserve ahead of their Week 6 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Edwards hasn't practiced all week and it doesn't sound like his injury is going to get better anytime soon. That being said, Edwards will head to the IR and miss the next four games. Edwards has taken a backseat to J.K. Dobbins over the last two weeks. The first two weeks Edwards saw 29 carries, but only had nine rushing attempts over the last two games. Dobbins has run away with the lead back gig, which means Edwards' absence won't make a huge impact. Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal could see a few touches, but Dobbins is going to be the primary running back going forward.

From RotoBaller

Denzel Ward Oct 12 6:53pm ET
Denzel Ward

Cleveland Browns CB Denzel Ward (hamstring) is expected to play in Week 6, per source on Saturday, Oct. 12.

From TheHuddle