Best Ball Scout Championship
Wed Apr 17 9:26am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
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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Dynasty | Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is skipping the workout portion at the NFL Scouting Combine, Dynasty Analysis: No surprise here, really. Sanders is protecting his own interests and his Father is pulling some pretty tight strings as well. In some ways, Sanders controls his own destiny as he's one of very few players who doesn't necessarily need the NFL paycheck to lose leverage. In the end, he's likely going to be a top-five pick, but that team is also going to need some assurance that he's willing to play for them as well. Regardless, he looks like a solid first round rookie pick this Spring.
Dynasty | Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty won't do on-field workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine. Dynasty Analysis: A sure-fire first round draft pick, Jeanty really has little to gain and more to lose should he not perform as well as expected. Instead, he'll work out at his Pro Day and hope to solidify his draft stock. He's been a popular mock draft target of the Broncos and Cowboys, though anything can (and likely will) happen there. Jeanty projects as a solid rookie draft pick, perhaps even the 1.01 in traditional formats this Spring.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty will only participate in medical evaluations and team interviews at the 2025 NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis this week, according to his agent. Jeanty will do on-field drill during Boise State's Pro Day. Not unlike some of this year's top prospects, the 21-year-old will not work out in front of NFL scouts this week in Indy, but it shouldn't negatively affect his draft stock at all as the likely top RB off the board this year. In his final year with the Broncos in 2024, Jeanty was extremely productive, carrying the ball 374 times for 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, adding an FBS-best 5.25 yards after contact. He also had 23 receptions for 138 yards and another score through the air. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues may want to be worried about the massive volume he had in college, but he should immediately be a starting back in the NFL in his rookie season.
From RotoBaller
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will not throw at this week's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis and will instead focus on his interviews with teams. Sanders will then throw at his Pro Day with four draftable Colorado wide receivers. Sanders and Miami QB Cam Ward are the favorites to go No. 1 overall in April's NFL draft to the Tennessee Titans, if they stay in the top spot. In his two seasons with the Buffaloes with his dad coaching him, Sanders threw for 7,364 yards, 64 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Although his father was one of the most athletic cornerbacks in NFL history, the 23-year-old Sanders is seen as more of a pocket passer, which could limit his fantasy upside at the next level.
From RotoBaller
The Carolina Panthers informed veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson that they will not attempt to re-sign him in free agency this offseason. Thompson, 30, has been with the team since they drafted him 25th overall in 2015 out of the University of Washington, but he has been able to play in only six games the last two years because of injuries. His 752 tackles rank fourth in franchise history, behind only Thomas Davis, Luke Kuechly and Mike Minter. Thompson had a career-high 135 tackles in 2022 but broke his ankle in Week 2 of the 2023 season and then tore his Achilles in Week 4 of 2024. He was named a captain for the Panthers in five of his seasons and recorded 470 solo tackles, 12 sacks, 54 tackles for loss, 32 QB hits, three interceptions, 26 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and four fumbles recoveries (one returned for a TD) in his 123 games (112 starts).
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons DT David Onyemata is more likely to be a salary cap casualty this offseason than DT Grady Jarrett, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns impending free-agent QB Jameis Winston said one of his goals moving forward is to limit the critical mistakes he makes during games.
From TheHuddle
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Dynasty | Free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers is reportedly looking for a good team to sign on with if he continues playing. Dynasty Analysis: Well, that seemed obvious from the start. Rodgers seems willing to keep playing but it's unclear if any competitive teams would honestly even want him. His up-and-down play combined with his off-the-field attention may just be too much for someone to stomach. However, it only takes one and a team like Pittsburgh or the Rams (should they move on from Matthew Stafford) could make sense. Regardless, Rodgers' dynasty value has pretty much cratered.
Dynasty | Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is likely to hit free agency. Dynasty Analysis: This really isn't much of a surprise. The Vikings have JJ McCarthy as their quarterback of the future and invested a lot in him. Darnold was a revelation for most of the season but faded just a touch in the last few games. While he could be back in Minnesota, it seems likely he'll land some kind of a deal elsewhere, like Las Vegas or New York. Regardless, he's certainly proved capable of being a starter and should be a solid QB2 at worst for the next few years. His dynasty value has certainly been rehabilitiated.
Free-agent S Keanu Neal (Steelers) has announced his retirement from professional football.
From TheHuddle
Washington Commanders impending free-agent DE Dante Fowler is a player the Commanders likely will look to re-sign this offseason, but he may ask for more money than the team is willing to pay, in the opinion of CommanderWire's Bryan Manning.
From TheHuddle
Miami Dolphins impending free-agent DT Calais Campbell likely will receive interest from Dolphins if he decides to play again next season, in the opinion of DolphinsWire's James Trefry.
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The Los Angeles Chargers may decide to keep LB Joey Bosa for the 2025 season because LB Khalil Mack is eligible for unrestricted free agency and cannot be brought back under the franchise tag. Bosa is slated to make $25.36 million during the upcoming season but nearly half of that comes from a $12.36 million roster bonus which would be due in March, so the Chargers are likely to make a decision about his fate within the next few weeks.
From TheHuddle
Philadelphia Eagles CB James Bradberry could be released during the offseason in order to create salary cap space, according to ESPN.com's Dan Graziano. The 31-year-old has one year remaining on his current contract.
From TheHuddle
ESPN's Dan Graziano writes that it's possible that Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews could be a salary cap casualty this offseason. The 29-year-old is scheduled to make $11 million in 2025 -- a $4 million roster bonus due on March 17 and $7 million in salary. Andrews' salary cap number is $16.9 million, and because none of his salary is guaranteed, the team would save $11 million if they release him before his roster bonus is due. In addition to his major gaffes in the playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills, there were stretches in 2024 where fellow tight end Isaiah Likely looked to have surpasses him in the passing game. However, Graziano doesn't discount that Andrews has been extremely reliable in his career with the Ravens and has plenty of chemistry with quarterback Lamar Jackson. Despite coming off a crucial lost fumble and dropped pass in the postseason, Andrews finished as the TE5 in fantasy and had a career-high 11 touchdowns.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans impending free-agent WR Robert Woods is interested in re-signing with the Texans this offseason.
From TheHuddle
Detroit Lions impending free-agent CB Carlton Davis and S Ifeatu Melifonwu could receive interest from the New York Jets during free agency since both played for Jets head coach Aaron Glenn in Detroit, in the opinion of ESPN.com's Rich Cimini.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent DT Sheldon Rankins (Bengals) could be a possible option for the Dallas Cowboys depending on his asking price, in the opinion of CowboysWire's K.D. Drummond.
From TheHuddle
Updating a previous report, Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford is allowed to talk with other teams so he and the team can determine his worth, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Fantasy Spin: Stafford is being allowed to see what other teams are willing to pay him, but he is still a member of the Rams at this point. Fantasy players should monitor the situation to see where Stafford will start in 2025. He probably will be a high-end No. 2 quarterback in most fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
