Guest of the League
USFFL Est. 2015
FFL: Week 11 | NFL: Week 11

Best Ball Scout Championship

Wed Apr 17 9:26am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 11

Player Notes
Jonathan Mingo Nov 14 10:00am ET
Jonathan Mingo

New Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jonathan Mingo will make his team debut on Monday against Houston, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports. The former second-round pick lasted fewer than two years with the Carolina Panthers, who shipped him and a seventh-round pick to Dallas for a fourth-rounder at the trade deadline. Mingo had 12 catches on 26 targets in nine games with the Panthers this year, keeping him well off the fantasy radar. Even with the change of scenery, it's difficult to envision Mingo making much of an impact on a Cowboys offense playing without quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) for the rest of the season.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Nov 14 9:40am ET
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who will turn 41 years old next month, told reporters that he is leaning toward returning for the 2025 season. The veteran quarterback is under contract for another year with the Jets, which would be his 21st season in the NFL. Asked if he still wants to play next season, Rodgers said, "I think so, yeah." New York is 3-7 through 10 games and earlier this season fired head coach Robert Saleh. Once a fantasy lineup stalwart, the former MVP has mostly been relegated to a QB2 option in Superflex leagues during his Jets tenure.

From RotoBaller

Christian Barmore Nov 14 9:20am ET
Christian Barmore

New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore (blood clots) is likely to practice for the first time since the diagnosis on Thursday, according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The star tackle has not played at all this season after posting a career-best 8.5 sacks and 64 tackles in 2023. The 2021 second-round pick earned a four-year extension from New England earlier this year that made him the highest-paid defensive player in team history. For now, Barmore remains on the non-football illness list, but practicing once again would be an encouraging step that puts him on track to return.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Nov 14 8:30am ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown will take on the division-rival Washington Commanders on Thursday night football in Week 11. The 27-year-old has failed to find the end zone since Week 7 but has averaged 92.2 receiving yards per game and has just one game with fewer than 80 yards receiving all year. This matchup is going to determine who ends up as the No. 1 seed in the NFC East heading into Week 12, and the Eagles will be looking Brown's way often to keep the pressure on a Washington defense that has started to turn things around over the past few weeks. The Commanders are a solid matchup, and recently acquired cornerback Marshawn Lattimore will not be making his Washington debut this week. Consider the Eagles star receiver a top-five option in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

DeVonta Smith Nov 14 8:30am ET
DeVonta Smith

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith will face off against the Washington Commanders on Thursday night football in Week 11. The 26-year-old has had some limitations in practice the past few weeks due to a hamstring injury, but he was again left off of the final injury report and is a full go for the team's Week 11 divisional matchup. Smith was not needed last week against a spiraling Dallas team, seeing just three targets and tallying only 14 yards receiving. With that said, the team will need all hands on deck to stop Washington Thursday night, and with newly acquired cornerback Marshawn Lattimore not making his Commanders debut, the Eagles will look to exploit the below-average pass defense. Smith has had some disappointing outings since the Week 5 bye, but he is still a strong WR2 option and remains a must-start in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Goedert Nov 14 8:30am ET
Dallas Goedert

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert will take on the Washington Commanders on Thursday night football in Week 11. The 29-year-old made his return to the field last week from a hamstring injury and found the end zone on a limited snap count. He picked up a DNP on Monday in practice with an ankle injury but was left off the final injury report Wednesday and is good to go for Thursday night. Washington is middle of the pack against fantasy tight ends this season, so the matchup should not scare anyone away from starting Goedert. With that said, there is a chance the Eagles will take a run-heavy approach in the contest to keep the high-powered Washington offense off the field as much as possible, potentially leading to a light target share for the veteran. Consider Goedert a fringe TE1 in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Jake Elliott Nov 14 8:30am ET
Jake Elliott

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott will face off against the Washington Commanders on Thursday night football in Week 11. The 29-year-old had his second-best fantasy performance of the season last week against the Dallas Cowboys, nailing two short field goals and converting all four of his extra-point attempts. The Commanders' defense is much better than the Cowboys at the moment, so expecting another easy outing for the veteran is a bit of a stretch. However, there is a real chance this game becomes a shootout with two high-powered offenses vying for the No. 1 spot in the NFC East, leading to a solid night for Elliott. Consider the Eagles kicker a boom-or-bust streamer like we have for the majority of this season in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Hurts Nov 14 8:20am ET
Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will face off against the division-rival Washington Commanders on Thursday night football. The 26-year-old is the QB1 overall since the Eagles' Week 5 bye, averaging 28.1 fantasy points per game. His four-game streak of no turnovers came to an end early last week against the Dallas Cowboys, but Hurts was able to turn things around quickly and score four total touchdowns en route to a dominating win. Both Washington and Philadelphia's defenses have performed well over the past few weeks, but there is no reason to believe both high-powered offenses won't be trading scores back and forth the majority of the night. While some of his weapons were limited in practice in a short week, the Eagles will head into the game at full strength in that regard, making Hurts a top-three fantasy option for Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Saquon Barkley Nov 14 8:20am ET
Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will take on the Washington Commanders on Thursday night football in Week 11. The 27-year-old had a quiet Week 10 performance against the Dallas Cowboys that left fantasy managers frustrated. He failed to find the end zone and tallied 78 yards which was just the second time this year that he had fewer than 100 total yards in a game. Barkley should see more usage this week in a divisional showdown for first place in the NFC East against a Washington defense that has turned things around over the past few weeks. The matchup should not worry fantasy managers, but they do rank top 15 against opposing fantasy running backs. With all of that said, Barkley is a set-it-and-forget-it RB1 facing off against his division rival.

From RotoBaller

Chuck Clark Nov 14 1:13am ET
Chuck Clark

New York Jets S Chuck Clark (ankle) was designated to return from the Reserve/Injured list on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

From TheHuddle

Josh Reynolds Nov 14 12:53am ET
Josh Reynolds

Denver Broncos WR Josh Reynolds (hand) was designated to return from the Reserve/Injured list on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

From TheHuddle

Mike Edwards Nov 14 12:40am ET
Mike Edwards

The Tennessee Titans have released safety Mike Edwards, according to Jim Wyatt of the team's official website. Edwards signed with the Titans just one week ago after being granted his release by the Buffalo Bills. While Edwards sought a fresh opportunity elsewhere, his stint in Tennessee proved to be quite short-lived. He was inactive during his only game as a Titan last weekend, and prior to that, he had only played seven snaps for the Bills in 2024. Edwards will now hit free agency for the second time this month.

From RotoBaller

Harrison Bryant Nov 14 12:30am ET
Harrison Bryant

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant (ankle) did not participate in practice on Wednesday. Bryant has filled a depth role in Las Vegas season, catching just nine passes for 86 yards through eight games. Although the 26-year-old has been serving as the backup to Brock Bowers recently, he'll drop down to No. 3 on the depth chart with the imminent return of Michael Mayer (personal). Between ranking third on the depth chart and battling a significant ankle issue, Bryant can be avoided in all fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Austin Ekeler Nov 13 10:10pm ET
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler is expected to revert to the No.2 spot on the depth chart on Thursday evening but is still a viable flex option in PPR formats, facing the Philadelphia Eagles. Over the past two weeks, Ekeler has operated as the lead option out of the backfield in Washington. During this small stint, he scored three times, averaging 17.7 PPR points per game. However, with Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) slated to return, fantasy managers should expect Ekeler to return to his third-down role. During Weeks 1 through 8, Ekeler eclipsed double-digit PPR points in five straight games and caught at least two passes in each contest. With a high implied point total (48.5), fantasy managers could expect this game to open up, which could set the 29-year-old up for several pass-catching opportunities, making him a flex option in PPR formats.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Nov 13 10:10pm ET
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin should be poised for another productive showing on Thursday evening against the Philadelphia Eagles. Since Week 3, McLaurin has been one of the top wideouts in fantasy as he has averaged 17.8 PPR points per game during this span while scoring six total touchdowns. In addition, he has seen 6.8 targets per game in the stretch, with 84.0 yards per game. Last weekend, McLaurin tallied over 100+ scrimmage yards for the fourth time this season. Even though he will face a tough Philadelphia secondary that has allowed the 12th-fewest PPR points to opposing wideouts, this game should open up given how explosive both offenses can be, which sets up McLaurin well for another strong outing.

From RotoBaller

Noah Brown Nov 13 10:10pm ET
Noah Brown

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown should be viewed as a risky flex option in Week 11 facing the Philadelphia Eagles. After enjoying two solid showings in Weeks 8 and 9, Brown took a step back last weekend as he tallied only 33 yards and 6.3 PPR points against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite the poor output, Brown has continued to see consistent looks from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Since Week 6, Brown has seen at least six targets in all but one game and a high of eight. While both the Eagles and Commanders could light up the scoresheet on Thursday, Brown still carries some inherent risk as he has fallen below double-digit PPR points in three of his past five games making him a flex option with risk.

From RotoBaller

Josh Oliver Nov 13 10:10pm ET
Josh Oliver

Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (hand, wrist) was officially listed as limited in the team's first practice of Week 11. The 27-year-old has dealt with a wrist issue for weeks at this point, but it hasn't forced him to miss any in-game action. However, the hand designation is news as it had not been previously mentioned on the team's injury report. That he could practice in a limited fashion is likely good news for his status this Sunday when the team squares off against the Tennessee Titans. Still, he'll have two more opportunities to elevate his participation before the road tilt. Oliver was used a decent amount in Week 10's 12-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars (4/52 on six targets) despite teammate T.J. Hockenson's increased involvement in the offense (8/72 on nine targets). If he can't play this coming Sunday, TE Johnny Mundt figures to pick up more snaps when the team travels to Nashville.

From RotoBaller

Zach Ertz Nov 13 10:10pm ET
Zach Ertz

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz should be viewed as a low-end TE1 heading into a Week 11 tilt against the Philadelphia Eagles. Last weekend, the veteran tight end saw a team-high in targets, which was an excellent bounce-back showing for him as he saw just one in Week 9. Since Week 6, Ertz has scored double-digit PPR points in three games and caught at least four passes in all but one. With Washington lacking a proven No.2 wideout, Ertz has seen consistent targets throughout the season. Even though he is facing a tough Eagles defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points to opposing tight ends this season, Ertz should still see a solid workload, making him a low-end starting option in PPR formats.

From RotoBaller

Zane Gonzalez Nov 13 10:10pm ET
Zane Gonzalez

Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert (hip) has been ruled out for Thursday's contest, which will likely result in Zane Gonzalez getting the call from the practice squad. Gonzalez also served as the starting option last weekend and hit both of his attempts and all three of his extra points. With how impressive the Washington offense has looked this season, Gonzalez should be given ample scoring opportunities on Thursday. However, given his career 80.9% FG%, he does carry some inherent risk playing on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles. Fantasy managers looking to stream a kicker should look elsewhere this week for a more stable contributor.

From RotoBaller

Van Jefferson Nov 13 10:00pm ET
Van Jefferson

Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson (quad) was officially a non-participant for the team's first practice ahead of Week 11. The fifth-year wideout is a new addition to the injury report, as he seemingly picked up a quad ailment sometime between Sunday's victory over the Washington Commanders and Wednesday. Jefferson may have sustained the injury during the win. However, it did not seem to hamper him as he operated in his typical capacity as Pittsburgh's WR2 despite not recording a reception. The severity of the injury is unknown, but head coach Mike Tomlin did not comment on the 28-year-old, suggesting it might not be that big a deal. If the former Florida Gator can't suit up for this weekend's divisional clash against the Baltimore Ravens, it would open the door for newly acquired wideout Mike Williams to see an uptick in usage.

From RotoBaller