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Steve Grogan Est. 2004
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
Kimani Vidal Oct 13 9:40am ET
Kimani Vidal

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal will be active for the Week 6 matchup against the Denver Broncos. The rookie back will get his first taste of NFL action on Sunday. Vidal figures to serve as depth behind J.K. Dobbins with Gus Edwards (ankle) heading to the injured reserve. The Chargers also have Hassan Haskins on the roster, so he could be mixed in as well. Given Dobbins' injury history, Vidal is certainly someone to keep an eye on right now. He should be rostered in most dynasty leagues and is someone worth keeping on the radar if he gets involved this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Hodgins Oct 13 9:30am ET
Isaiah Hodgins

New York Giants wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins will be elevated from the practice squad for the second straight week. The Giants are going to once again be shorthanded at wideout with Malik Nabers (concussion) being sidelined for another week. Last week, Hodgins came up but only played 24 offensive snaps. It seems a bit odd that they didn't involve Hodgins more considering he was a part-time starter last season. He finished with 21 receptions for 230 yards and three touchdowns in 2023 with the Giants. Hodgins could see more snaps this week, but remains off the fantasy radar for Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Kendre Miller Oct 13 9:20am ET
Kendre Miller

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) is expected to be activated off the injured reserve ahead of the Week 6 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Miller appears to be set to make his season debut on Sunday. He figures to be mixed in as depth behind Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams. So far, Kamara has seen a heavy workload with nearly 20 carries per game. Possibly, the Saints gameplan changes with quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) being sidelined for a few weeks. Miller might find his way into a weekly role if New Orleans goes to a heavy run set. For now, Miller won't be worth stashing with Kamara and Williams healthy.

From RotoBaller

Curtis Samuel Oct 13 9:10am ET
Curtis Samuel

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel (foot, toe) logged a full practice on Saturday and has been removed from the injury report. As a result, he will play against the New York Jets on Monday night. The veteran pass-catcher got off to a quiet start this season but has been more involved lately, logging a season-high 56 percent snap share in Week 5. Still, he's averaging just 1.8 catches and 9.6 receiving yards per game this season, so he remains off the fantasy radar even with teammate Khalil Shakir (ankle) potentially sidelined once again. Even if Shakir is out, James Cook (toe), Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, and Dalton Kincaid all have more appeal than Samuel in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Whitehead Oct 13 9:03am ET
Jordan Whitehead

Tampa Bay Buccaneers S Jordan Whitehead (groin) is expected to play in Week 6's game against the New Orleans Saints, according to a source. He had been listed as questionable on the injury report after logging two limited practice sessions and one full session during the week.

From TheHuddle

Ray Davis Oct 13 9:00am ET
Ray Davis

Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis has emerged as a potential fantasy football option for Week 6 in the event that teammate James Cook (toe) isn't able to play on Monday night against the New York Jets. Cook missed practice on Thursday and Friday, returned in a limited capacity on Saturday, and is officially listed as questionable to play in the upcoming divisional game on national television. While recent reports suggest that Cook is expected to play on Monday, this remains a situation worth monitoring given that he missed two practices and was still limited in the third. In the event that Cook can't play, we'd see a much larger workload for rookie Ray Davis, who has been off to a relatively quiet start this season. In that scenario, Davis would rank as a high-end fantasy RB3 against a Jets defense that has played solid against running backs this year.

From RotoBaller

Haason Reddick Oct 13 8:30am ET
Haason Reddick

New York Jets pass rusher Haason Reddick, who continues to hold out amidst demands for a new contract, reportedly had an offer on the table for a lucrative one-year deal "that would have given him the opportunity to make up for the fines and make more money than he was originally scheduled to earn," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The deal, proposed early during the regular season, was "all but worked out" between the Jets and Reddick's agents at CAA, but the veteran defender declined to sign the contract. This appeared to be the final straw for both the team and the agency. The Jets have since been very public about their stance, essentially saying that the ball is in Reddick's court and he can come back whenever he's ready. Meanwhile, CAA parted with Reddick as a client this past week, seemingly frustrated by his resistance to a new deal and his willingness to rack up fines from missing games. At this point, there is real doubt about the likelihood that Reddick, who wants a multi-year deal that would make him one of the higher-paid pass rushers in the NFL, returns to the football field this season. As Rapoport notes, if he holds out beyond Week 13, he would not accrue a season, his 2024 contract terms would roll over to 2025, and we could see this entire saga repeat itself next year.

From RotoBaller

Marlon Humphrey Oct 13 8:23am ET
Marlon Humphrey

Baltimore Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey (ankle) is expected to play in Week 6's game against the Washington Commanders, according to a source. He had been listed as questionable on the injury report after participating in two of the team's three practice sessions during the week on a limited basis.

From TheHuddle

Matt Prater Oct 13 8:23am ET
Matt Prater

Arizona Cardinals PK Matt Prater (knee) is not expected to play in Week 6's game against the Green Bay Packers, according to a source. He had been listed as questionable on the injury report after being a limited participant in all three of the team's practice sessions during the week.

Fantasy Spin: The Cardinals elevated PK Chad Ryland from the practice squad Saturday, Oct. 12, but fantasy owners should be able to find more reliable options for their lineups on the waiver wire.

From TheHuddle

Matt Prater Oct 13 8:20am ET
Matt Prater

Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater (knee) is expected to be inactive for Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. If confirmed, it will be the veteran kicker's second consecutive absence. He had been perfect through four games, converting all 10 of his extra point attempts and all six of his field goal tries. The Cardinals have once again elevated Chad Ryland to kick in Prater's place. In his season debut last week, Ryland went 3-for-4 on field goals and also made his lone extra point attempt.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Oct 13 8:13am ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram (hamstring) is active for Week 6's game against the Chicago Bears.

Fantasy Spin: This will be Engram's first game action since the first week of the regular season. He had been listed as questionable on the injury report after being a limited practice participant throughout the week. He can be viewed as a starting option in all fantasy leagues.

From TheHuddle

Evan Engram Oct 13 8:10am ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) is officially active for Sunday morning's game against the Chicago Bears in London. The veteran tight end, who had been listed as questionable after logging three limited practices, returns to game action for the first time since Week 1. In the season opener, he was held to just one catch on four targets. However, Jacksonville has done a better job of incorporating its tight ends lately, relying on Brenton Strange for nine catches, 55 yards, and two touchdowns over the last three weeks. Engram is an effective playmaker who ranks among the top 12 tight ends for this week in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Gabriel Davis Oct 13 8:10am ET
Gabriel Davis

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) is officially active for Week 6 against the Chicago Bears in London. Davis had been listed as questionable after logging three consecutive limited practices, but in the end, he'll avoid his first absence of the 2024 season. Through five games this year, Davis has caught 12 of 25 targets for just 159 yards through the air. Despite handling a heavy snap share, he has seen reduced opportunities in Jacksonville's offense, including over the last three weeks. He can be kept out of lineups fantasy lineups once again in Week 6, especially now that Evan Engram (hamstring) is back and set to command significant volume.

From RotoBaller

Jeremiah Ledbetter Oct 13 8:03am ET
Jeremiah Ledbetter

The Jacksonville Jaguars have declared OG Cole Van Lanen, OT Javon Foster, DE Jeremiah Ledbetter, DE Tyler Lacy and LB Myles Cole inactive for Week 6.

From TheHuddle

Daniel Carlson Oct 13 5:40am ET
Daniel Carlson

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson will have to hope for his team to get drives into his field-goal range when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, though that could be wishful thinking. The Steelers have allowed the fourth-least fantasy points per game to opposing kickers this season, mainly due to their strong defense. The Las Vegas offense does not match up well with any good defense, so we could see another game in which Carlson has too few kick opportunities to be fantasy-relevant. He's made 8/10 of his field goals and is a perfect eight-for-eight on extra points, but that's not been enough volume to make him worth starting in fantasy leagues. He should remain on waivers as he is the 27th-ranked kicker in RotoBaller's Week 6 fantasy football rankings.

From RotoBaller

Gabriel Davis Oct 13 3:40am ET
Gabriel Davis

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) is likely to suit up for Sunday's overseas matchup with the Chicago Bears. The wideout has battled various ailments over the last few weeks. However, a knee injury forced him to practice in a limited capacity throughout the week. With that in mind, Davis hasn't had more than three catches in a game this season. He also hasn't scored a touchdown. With Evan Engram (hamstring) also expected to play in London, Davis' chances of staying involved consistently during the contest aren't favorable. Fantasy managers should keep him out of the starting lineup, assuming he officially gets the green light to get on the field.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Oct 13 3:30am ET
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) continues to trend toward returning for Sunday's meeting with the Tennessee Titans. He's currently listed as questionable. However, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, the signal-caller should play if he has a "solid pre-game workout." Despite entering the 2024-25 campaign with plenty of hype, Richardson hasn't delivered, throwing for 654 yards, three touchdowns, and six picks while completing just 50.6% of his throws. As a result, he's a risky fantasy option no matter the opponent, although his outlook will improve slightly if Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and Josh Downs (toe) suit up in Week 6. Fortunately, both players are expected to get on the field.

From RotoBaller

Zamir White Oct 13 3:20am ET
Zamir White

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (groin) is "considered a long-shot to play" in Sunday's game against the Steelers. The 25-year-old missed a few practices during the week, although he was on the field in a limited capacity on Friday. However, it appears he'll miss his second straight game, so his next chance to suit up will be for the Week 7 meeting with the Los Angeles Rams. Without White in the equation, Alexander Mattison should handle most of the carries out of the backfield, with Ameer Abdullah picking up some of the slack as his backup. But no matter who is atop the depth chart at the position, they are expected to have a challenging day against one of the most efficient run-stop units in the National Football League, something for fantasy managers to consider before setting their lineups.

From RotoBaller

Audric Estime Oct 13 12:30am ET
Audric Estime

Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime (ankle) was activated from the IR heading into Sunday's divisional clash with the Chargers. The 21-year-old rookie made his only appearance of the 2024-25 campaign in Week 1 versus Seattle. Estime had only two carries for 14 yards in that one. He also injured his ankle, putting him on the shelf. With that in mind, Estime's fantasy potential is severely limited in Week 6, assuming he sheds his questionable designation, considering Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin are the top options out of the backfield. However, the Broncos offense has struggled this season, so anyone on that side of the ball is hard to trust.

From RotoBaller

Chad Ryland Oct 13 12:20am ET
Chad Ryland

The Arizona Cardinals elevated kicker Chad Ryland from the practice squad heading into the Week 6 meeting with the Packers. With Matt Prater (knee) questionable, the team may look to Ryland to handle the kicking duties. He looked good in Week 5 against the 49ers, making three of his four field goal attempts, one of which secured the win for the Cardinals. However, with rain and wind in the forecast in Green Bay, fantasy managers in need of a kicker may want to look elsewhere.

From RotoBaller