Guest of the League
The Big League 3 (est. 2011) Est. 2010
FFL: Week 6 | NFL: Week 6

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 6

Player Notes
David Njoku Oct 11 2:40pm ET
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) will suit up for Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Njoku returned to action last week, but he couldn't make it through the whole game. He finished with one reception on three targets for 14 yards before exiting. Njoku missed time in the beginning of the season due to an ankle injury. Now, Njoku appears to be healthy and ready to get back on the field. There is no word of him being limited, so fantasy managers should expect Njoku to be a full-go for Sunday. He should be considered a low-end TE1 for Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Oct 11 2:40pm ET
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis will make the start under center during the upcoming Week 6 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Levis has been dealing with a shoulder injury that forced him to exit early in Week 4. He appears to be good to go after the Titans bye in Week 5. Levis has struggled with six interceptions and three fumbles through four games this season. It appears the organization is sticking with him despite his early struggles. He'll get a favorable matchup against the Colts defense, but Levis still isn't anything more than a low-end QB2.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Shakir Oct 11 2:30pm ET
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) didn't suit up for Friday's practice, which is now the third straight day that he has sat out. Shakir is in danger of missing his second straight game, but still has a chance to practice on Saturday. Head coach Sean McDermott recently said that Shakir is day-to-day, so fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried about it. If Shakir sits, Keon Coleman would move into the No. 1 wideout role. The rookie wideout finished with one reception on five targets for 49 yards and a touchdown last week without Shakir. He figures to once again have a bigger role if Shakir is unable to play.

From RotoBaller

James Cook Oct 11 2:20pm ET
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (foot, toe) was unable to suit up for Friday's practice session. Cook hasn't been able to practice all week, which puts him on the wrong side of questionable ahead of the Week 6 matchup against the New York Jets. It's worth noting that the Bills do play on Monday, so Cook will get another chance to practice on Saturday. If he sits, Ty Johnson and Ray Davis would likely split up the workload in the backfield. Neither of them have done much of anything on the field this season. Davis has rushed 26 times for 75 yards, which is 2.9 yards per carry. Fantasy managers should consider Davis a shaky RB3 if Cook sits out.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Mason Oct 11 2:13pm ET
Jordan Mason

Dynasty | 49ers running back Jordan Mason had 73 rushing yards, one catch, and nine receiving yards before leaving Thursday night's game with a shoulder injury. Dynasty Analysis: Mason was on his way to a big night before leaving with the ailment. It's said to be a sprained AC joint but further tests will diagnose the severity. Mason has been phenomenal in place of Christian McCaffrey, but this injury could keep him out for a bit. With McCaffrey "ramping up" his football activities and Isaac Guerendo looking sharp, the run for Mason as a temporary RB1 may be coming to its end. He's a great hold in dynasty leagues but the "sell to a contender" window may have shut.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jordan Mason Oct 11 2:13pm ET
Jordan Mason

Dynasty | 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo had 99 rushing yards in a win against Seattle Thursday night. Dynasty Analysis: Much of Guerendo's damage came on a 76-yard gain that put the game away, but dynasty owners won't complain too much. The Shanahan system is historically the best for running backs and Guerendo's one cut and go style looks to fit in nicely. With Jordan Mason dealing with a shoulder injury and Christian McCaffrey still out, Guerendo could be next in line to start in nine days. He needs to be on rosters everywhere and likely should have been already.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Brandon Aiyuk Oct 11 2:13pm ET
Brandon Aiyuk

Dynasty | 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk had two catches for 37 yards in San Francisco's win against Seattle Thursday night. Dynasty Analysis: Aiyuk has had one strange season. After a long and frustrating holdout that culminated in a big contract, Aiyuk has one game with eight catches and 147 yards and the other four combining for just 15 catches and 204 total receiving yards. He's also failed to score a single touchdown all season. Aiyuk has been historically streaky, but this run has been a surprise considering the team's financial commitment to him and steady quarterback play. If you believe in him, this could be a time to buy in dynasty leagues.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Brandon Aiyuk Oct 11 2:13pm ET
Brandon Aiyuk

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.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Zach Charbonnet Oct 11 2:13pm ET
Zach Charbonnet

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.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Geno Smith Oct 11 2:13pm ET
Geno Smith

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.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Geno Smith Oct 11 2:13pm ET
Geno Smith

Dynasty | Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith completed 30-of-52 passes for 312 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in a loss against the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: The game line looks fine, but Smith did most of his damage with the game already out of reach. Smith, now 34, has 1,778 passing yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions on the season. Considering the fact he's posted a 50/20 touchdown-to-interception ratio over the past two seasons, this is concerning. Seattle is likely not looking to Sam Howell any time soon, but a few more losses could put Geno's job on the hot seat. He looks like a fading hold in dynasty leagues at the moment and nothing more than a QB2 or bye-week fill-in at the moment.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Nick Chubb Oct 11 2:00pm ET
Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns running backs Nick Chubb (knee) and Nyheim Hines (knee) have both been ruled out for the Week 6 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. Both Chubb and Hines opened their 21-day practice windows last week but remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list and will not make their 2024 debuts this weekend. There next chance to return will be in Week 7 versus the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. The 28-year-old Chubb should be stashed in the majority of fantasy formats, but it's still unclear when exactly he'll return, and when he does, the Browns figure to ease him back in after he suffered a gruesome knee injury in Week 2 of 2023. At least for another week, Jerome Ford will lead the Browns' backfield and will be a low-upside RB2/3 against Philly given how bad Cleveland's offense has looked in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Tank Dell Oct 11 2:00pm ET
Tank Dell

Fantasy managers who selected Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell haven't seen much production yet, but there's some hope that could change in Week 6 with Houston at New England. The second-year pass-catcher could be in line to improve on a disappointing 71st ranking among fantasy receivers, as team-leading wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is set to miss at least the next month on injured reserve. Dell has at least four targets in every game in which he has appeared and also has carried the ball six times, however, so Houston at least seems committed to keeping him involved. He should be considered a boom-or-bust flex option with the Texans playing a decent New England pass defense.

From RotoBaller

Stefon Diggs Oct 11 2:00pm ET
Stefon Diggs

Now that Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is on injured reserve, fellow receiver Stefon Diggs figures to be Houston's top pass-catching option ahead of a Week 6 game at New England. The 30-year-old plays a different role than Collins within the Houston offense, but an already good volume play (82% of snaps, 8.2 targets per game) could become even better in the coming weeks. Through five weeks, the Texans rank second in the NFL in passing yards per game. Even though Houston is playing a decent Patriots pass defense, Diggs deserves a starting lineup spot as a regular first read on a top passing offense.

From RotoBaller

C.J. Stroud Oct 11 2:00pm ET
C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud faces one of the NFL's worst teams on Sunday when the Texans visit New England. There hasn't been anything resembling a sophomore slump for the second-year quarterback, who has been good if not overwhelming for fantasy managers who drafted him as an every-week starter. The Patriots, meanwhile, have been a mess. The New England offense's inability to score has put immense pressure on their defense, which is paying the price. The Patriots rank near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed (27th), net yards per attempt (29th), pressure percentage (28th), and passer rating allowed (25th). Given the talent advantage Houston enjoys in this matchup, Stroud can be started confidently.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Schultz Oct 11 1:50pm ET
Dalton Schultz

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz is a playable option with a decent matchup in Week 6 against the New England Patriots. The 28-year-old has had a disappointing fantasy season so far, but the silver lining is that his target percentage has gone up three weeks in a row and he's still an every-down player, averaging nearly 87% of Houston snaps. Further, Houston's targets leader, receiver Nico Collins, is now on injured reserve. At this stage, fantasy managers have to be realistic with their expectations for the former Dallas Cowboy: he'll play most of the game and earn a handful of targets on a good offense, but he's dependent on touchdowns for game-changing weeks.

From RotoBaller

Zay Jones Oct 11 1:40pm ET
Zay Jones

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said that wide receiver Zay Jones (hamstring) will not suit up in Week 6 at Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Jones was reinstated earlier this week after being suspended for the first five games of the season. However, the 29-year-old is nursing a hamstring injury and won't make his 2024 debut until at least Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night. For now, he belongs on the waiver wire in the majority of fantasy leagues. When healthy, Jones will serve as receiver depth for the Cardinals behind rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch. He'll be battling for playing time with the likes of Zach Pascal and rookie Xavier Weaver. In just nine games with the Jaguars in 2023, Jones had 34 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdown grabs.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Oct 11 1:30pm ET
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that quarterback Justin Fields will make another start in Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders, with Russell Wilson (calf) being active on Sunday to back him up. Wilson is recovering from a calf strain that has kept him out all year to this point. He was able to finally return to full practice this week and will serve as Fields' backup on the road in Vegas this weekend. Fields hasn't been amazing as the starter under center, but he's done enough to lead the team to a winning record and has limited the turnovers. The 25-year-old has completed 67.6% of his pass attempts with five touchdowns and one interception while also rushing for 172 yards and three scores on the ground. However, he's going to need to keep playing well to hold off Wilson now that he's past his calf issues. Against the struggling Raiders this weekend, Field has QB1 upside.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Oct 11 1:30pm ET
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (knee) logged a full practice on Friday and is on the "upswing" with his trajectory. Warren will be listed as questionable to play in Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, but the Steelers are optimistic about his status. Earlier in the week, head coach Mike Tomlin considered Warren doubtful to face the Raiders, but apparently he's made good progress with his knee since then. The 25-year-old was unable to play in last week's loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. If he's able to return on Sunday on the road at Allegiant Stadium, he'll continue to mix in sparingly behind lead back Najee Harris in what is an excellent matchup. Still, fantasy managers will be hard-pressed to be excited to use Warren as a flex play given what he's done so far in 2024. He's averaging a career-low 3.9 yards per carry on just 14 rushing attempts through three games.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Taylor Oct 11 1:20pm ET
Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) will not play in Week 6 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. It will be Taylor's second straight missed game after he suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although Taylor's ankle sprain is considered to be minor, the 25-year-old was unable to practice all week, and his status will also be in question for Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins. Trey Sermon (collarbone) was also on the injury report this week, but he practiced in full on Thursday and is in line to serve as the team's lead back for the second straight week. Sermon had 10 carries for 38 yards and a touchdown and also caught six passes in last week's loss to the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. This Sunday's matchup against Tennessee isn't as strong, but with Taylor out, Sermon will once again be in play as at least an RB3/flex option for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller