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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

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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Jayden Daniels Sep 2 12:00pm ET
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is entering his rookie season with some big expectations both on the ground and through the air. The LSU sensation amassed 3,812 passing yards with 40 touchdowns and four interceptions while running for another 1,134 yards and 10 scores on the ground. His dual-threat ability is the biggest reason he's as high as he is on fantasy draft boards despite not having the best receiving corps. He does still have a quality receiver in Terry McLaurin, but Daniels is projected to put up some big rushing numbers which will help bolster his fantasy points per game. In half-PPR redraft leagues, Daniels ADP is outside the top 100 meaning he can provide some very good value to teams looking for late quarterbacks.

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Raheem Mostert Sep 2 11:40am ET
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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel plans to utilize all three members of the backfield throughout the regular season. Joe Schad reports that McDaniel talked about getting Raheem Mostert, De'Von Achane, and Jaylen Wright all involved and proceeding with a hot-hand situation on some days if he feels like leaning on someone. This muddies the fantasy waters a bit when it comes to deciding on who to draft and who to start out of this backfield. While Achane still seems to be the number-one guy, especially when it comes to passing situations, Mostert should get plenty of opportunities while Wright will likely be peppered in. As of right now, Achane is ranked 18th, Mostert is 78th, and Wright is 145th in the RotoBaller half-PPR rankings.

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Clyde Edwards-Helaire Sep 2 11:30am ET
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Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) has officially been placed on the Non-Football Illness list, according to Field Yates. The veteran back will now miss at least the first four games of the season, leaving the backup role wide open. Carson Steele, the undrafted rookie, has made the most noise as the backup so far, but the signing of Samaje Perine becomes even more important as well. They should become a bigger part of the passing game than previously expected and could be underrated producers in PPR formats given the volume. Their opportunities are going to fluctuate with each game plan, so their value is a bit better in deeper leagues or dynasty formats in terms of Steele.

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Tyreek Hill Sep 2 11:20am ET
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (thumb) is set to be a full participant at practice on Monday. Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that he and Jaylen Waddle are both going to practice after being limited beforehand. Now that the team is entering the first week of the season, both receivers have no setbacks and they're good to go. Hill is being drafted in the top three in most fantasy formats with an ADP of exactly three. The superstar wideout was an MVP candidate for most of last season and he finished with 1799 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns while hauling in 119 of his 171 targets. A lot of the same is on the docket for this year as he's thrived under McDaniel's offense. Now that he's a full go, fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief for Week 1.

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Xavier Worthy Sep 2 9:20am ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy may not be relied on earlier in the season, according to some reports, but he seems to be well on his way to getting more opportunities already. Andy Reid reportedly doesn't like to rely on rookies too heavily to begin a season, but Worthy has drawn praise from the head coach himself as well as his All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The superstar signal-caller said he loved Worthy's route running and how he plays with physicality. Those two attributes while catching passes from one of the best to ever throw the ball could equate to some big performances. Worthy has a path to playing time with an inconsistent receiver corps and his cost is low enough in fantasy drafts to be worth a stash for later.

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Keon Coleman Sep 2 9:10am ET
Keon Coleman

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman has done all the right things through training camp and preseason. He's regularly received praise from the coaching staff through media quotes and interviews. Just a couple of weeks ago, offensive coordinator Joe Brady said Coleman was able to do everything physically asked of him. Now, the Bills general manager Brandon Beane added to all of the praise. He stated, "The young man is super competitive, he loves ball, he's not afraid, he's working his tail off, his teammates believe in him, he has fun out there, he's serious." After the offseason overhaul, Coleman is competing with Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel, and Khalil Shakir for targets. His ADP of 104.6 reflects that he may not be a huge part of the offense right away, but can be a solid stash for the long haul.

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Malik Nabers Sep 2 9:00am ET
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers had some scouts and draft analysts second-guessing if he should be drafted over Marvin Harrison Jr. last April. The sixth-overall pick amassed over 3000 receiving yards at LSU in three seasons and hauled in 189 receptions for 21 touchdowns. Now, he's stepping into the WR1 role for the Giants who are in a state of flux in terms of figuring out their best roster moving forward. Daniel Jones returns this year behind center and Nabers is ready to feast on a steady diet of targets throughout the season. Like Harrison, Nabers doesn't have much competition when it comes to playing time and his part of the offense. He's ranked 41st overall in RotoBaller's half-PPR draft rankings for a reason while his ADP sits at 50.

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Brian Thomas Jr. Sep 2 8:50am ET
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was the fourth wideout off the draft board this past April. Thomas was a four-star recruit going into college and put together a high-quality resume at LSU in three seasons. According to many scouts and outlets, Thomas was the fourth-ranked receiver after the "big three," but he stepped into one of the better situations. Calvin Ridley moved to Tennessee, Christian Kirk has been dealing with a calf issue during the preseason, and Gabe Davis seems to be Thomas' main competition for more snaps and targets. Thomas displayed all the necessary tools to be a very good contributor, especially after impressing a lot of the coaching staff during training camp and preseason. Right now, in half-PPR formats, Thomas is ranked 96th overall on RotoBaller's draft rankings. He has a clear path to playing time and could be a bench stash to eventually win leagues.

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Tank Dell Sep 1 10:30pm ET
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Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell has fully recovered from being shot in the leg during the offseason and enters the 2024 season without any limitations. He built a firm rapport with C.J. Stroud last season, and the two should continue to connect early and often this year despite the Texans adding Stefon Diggs to the offense. Dell currently projects as the Texans' primary slot receiver. He caught a 34-yard touchdown in Week 1 of the preseason. As of now, there's no clear sign whether Dell, Diggs, or Nico Collins will emerge as Stroud's favorite target, but it appears to be anyone's title to win. With that in mind, Dell might be more of a value than Diggs or Collins given that he has a lower price tag. He's being drafted 25 picks after Collins and seven after Diggs despite having consistent WR2 upside in fantasy football.

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Curtis Samuel Sep 1 10:20pm ET
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel should be a major contributor in the passing game this season. The veteran wideout has been a versatile player throughout his entire career and could now command a large portion of the targets vacated by Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. While Samuel might not be as flashy as someone like rookie Keon Coleman, he's a dependable veteran who has reportedly earned immense favor among the Bills' coaching staff. Managers should not discount the support Samuel seems to have from the coaching staff, which should be enough to get him on the field often in 2024. Samuel is an appealing mid-round draft pick and could work his way into WR3/FLEX territory early in the season if he has a strong rapport with quarterback Josh Allen.

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Puka Nacua Sep 1 10:10pm ET
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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) is coming off one of the most impressive rookie years in NFL history. Now, he'll look to build off his historic campaign as he enters his second season in the league. Nacua has been battling a knee injury this summer, but he's expected to be back to 100 percent for the Rams' upcoming season opener. Once again, Nacua will operate alongside Cooper Kupp while catching passes from Matthew Stafford. Managers interested in Nacua should be aware that Kupp still has the makings of an elite wide receiver and could command plenty of volume this year. Nevertheless, Nacua has shown that he deserves plenty of passes thrown his way, too. Whether there are enough opportunities for both of them to thrive remains unclear, but at the very least, Nacua is a high-end WR2 with upside.

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Jonathon Brooks Sep 1 10:00pm ET
Jonathon Brooks

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss at least the first four games of the regular season after he was placed on the PUP list amidst his torn ACL recovery. This will delay Brooks' NFL debut, and he'll face an uphill battle to emerge as the Panthers' No. 1 running back once he's healthy. While Brooks is undoubtedly the Panthers' franchise running back, it could be difficult for him to win the job over Chuba Hubbard in the middle of the season while recovering from a serious injury and still acclimating to the NFL caliber of play. In other words, a Week 5 return wouldn't necessarily mean he'd warrant a spot in your Week 5 starting lineup. At the very least, fantasy managers should tamper expectations when Brooks gets healthy and be prepared to exercise patience as he gets adjusted to the NFL.

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Dallas Goedert Sep 1 9:43pm ET
Dallas Goedert

Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert (oblique) returned to practice Sunday, Sept. 1.

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Rico Dowdle Sep 1 9:40pm ET
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle will play fewer special teams snaps as the team prepares to give him increased looks out of the backfield in 2024, head coach Mike McCarthy told the media. Dowdle is projected to operate alongside Ezekiel Elliott atop the Cowboys' running back room this season. While Elliott may technically open the year as the starter, Dallas feels very confident in Dowdle's ability to be a three-down back and plans to get him very involved this year. With an ADP of 127, he's currently being drafted 43rd among all running backs in fantasy football. He has legitimate FLEX value down the stretch and could sneak into the RB2 tier in the event that Elliott misses time.

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Christian McCaffrey Sep 1 9:40pm ET
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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey did not register a touch during the 2024 NFL preseason. Many teams choose to rest their stars, and McCaffrey certainly fits that description. He's healthy and ready to go ahead of the upcoming season. Undoubtedly the best running back in the NFL, McCaffrey is coming off the second RB1 finish of his career in fantasy football. He eclipsed 2,000 scrimmage yards for the second time in his career last season and delivered a 21-touchdown campaign, which was a career-high. As long as McCaffrey stays healthy, he's the favorite to lead all running backs in fantasy points.

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Clyde Edwards-Helaire Sep 1 9:20pm ET
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Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) was not seen at the portion of Sunday's practice open to the media, according to Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead Pride. Edwards-Helaire recently revealed that he's been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. While that kept him out of some training camp sessions, it's unclear whether the diagnosis explains his absence from practice on Sunday. The Chiefs' first injury report of the year will be released Monday, which should provide some more context regarding Edwards-Helaire's status and availability. In the event that he can't suit up Thursday, veteran Samaje Perine and preseason standout Carson Steele would round out the remainder of the backfield behind Isiah Pacheco.

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DeAndre Hopkins Sep 1 7:33pm ET
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Tennessee Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee) is 'preparing to play' in Week 1 but didn't say for sure that he would, he told reporters on Sunday, Sept. 1. 'Of course, I'm preparing to play,' said Hopkins. 'But, you know, there's measures (in place). We've got a long season, so I'm sure (the Titans) will make the right call.'

Fantasy Spin: Hopkins' comment is certainly a good sign, but the lack of a definitive answer means we'll have to keep an eye on the injury reports ahead of Week 1. Hopkins is a borderline WR2 entering the 2024 season.

From TheHuddle

Chris Jones Sep 1 7:00pm ET
Chris Jones

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (shoulder) is reportedly likely to suit up for the Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. The star pass rusher was able to return to practice last week. He was also on the field on Sunday, which is good news heading into Thursday's opener. Jones suffered a shoulder injury in early August and missed all of the preseason as a result. However, the five-time Pro Bowler shouldn't need too much time to get ready. Over the last two seasons, Jones has recorded 26 sacks in 33 games, so his presence on the field is huge for this defense. Fantasy managers should check back for another update on Monday when the injury report is released.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Sep 1 6:50pm ET
Rashee Rice

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice figures to be someone coming off fairly early in fantasy drafts. However, Rice is reportedly not being taken until sometimes the seventh or eighth round, according to the New York Post. There was some concern about Rice being suspended, but that won't happen this season. That means, fantasy managers in redrafts formats have nothing to worry about with Rice. It doesn't sound like Marquise Brown (shoulder) is going to be ready for the beginning of the season. The loss of Brown should only increase the value of Rice heading into the opener. Last season, Rice saw 102 targets during his rookie season with the team. The team hasn't added much competition, so Rice should remain the favorite wide receiver to quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs do have Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy, but Rice should still be a strong WR2 in basically all fantasy formats.

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Nick Chubb Sep 1 6:40pm ET
Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) is currently working his way back from an injury that cost him most of last season. The team has already placed the star back on the physically unable to perform list, which means he'll miss the first four games of the season. The hope is that Chubb would return to the field shortly after that, but that might not be the case. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says the goal should be getting Chubb back by mid-season. It's worth noting that the organization did not say this, but Cabot believes it'll take Chubb longer than expected considering he tore both his ACL and MCL last season. The Browns do have Jerome Ford who proved himself to be a viable option without Chubb last season. That being said, the Browns might play it safe and ride with Chubb until he feels fully healthy to return. At the end of the day, Chubb is going to return when he's ready, so fantasy managers expecting him to suit up in Week 5 might be disappointed.

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