Scott Fish Bowl Draft: A Fantasy Football Extravaganza
The Scott Fish Bowl draft is an annual event that kicks off the fantasy football season. Known as the largest fantasy football draft, it brings together thousands of participants in 12-team leagues while raising significant funds for charity. With unique scoring rules and the ability to construct rosters in various ways, the Scott Fish Bowl draft offers a thrilling experience for fantasy football enthusiasts.
Scoring Quirks and Roster Builds
One of the distinguishing features of the Scott Fish Bowl draft is its scoring system. It includes double points for tight end catches and first downs, distance-based field-goal kicking, and the option to play multiple kickers. Additionally, kick and punt return scoring adds an extra element to the game, with 100 return yards in a game worth a whopping 20 points. This unique scoring setup challenges participants to think strategically and consider players who excel in these areas.
Furthermore, the draft allows for flexibility in roster builds. While there are mandated positions for each weekly lineup, such as one quarterback, one running back, one wide receiver, and one tight end, participants have the freedom to choose how they construct their rosters. This means that players can opt for unconventional strategies, such as playing multiple tight ends or focusing on a particular position.
Navigating the Draft and Waiver-Wire Strategy
The Scott Fish Bowl draft consists of 22 rounds, with each team having an 11-player bench. With approximately 240 quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends being drafted, participants must make strategic choices to build a competitive team. It’s important to note that only about half of the kickers are typically drafted in most leagues, making the waiver-wire less valuable as the season progresses.
Top Picks and Strategies
Taking a closer look at one participant’s team in the Scott Fish Bowl draft can provide insights into different drafting strategies. Here is a breakdown of their early picks and the rationale behind them:
1. Josh Allen: The participant chose Josh Allen as their first pick, recognizing his strong performance as the top fantasy quarterback in the second half of the previous season. Despite concerns about losing Stefon Diggs as a target, the participant believes that Allen’s success is not solely dependent on one wide receiver.
2. Garrett Wilson: This pick was a bet on Aaron Rodgers, as Wilson has the potential to achieve peak Davante Adams-like numbers with Rodgers as his quarterback. The participant acknowledges that Rodgers only needs to be average post-Achilles for this pick to pay off.
3. Drake London: The participant strategically selected Drake London to disincentivize other teams from taking their desired second quarterback. Stacking quarterbacks is a common strategy in the tournament-style Scott Fish Bowl draft.
4. Kyle Pitts: This pick was part of a plan to secure Kirk Cousins as the participant’s second quarterback. Although it required waiting for 24 more picks, the participant was willing to take the risk and endure the potential second-quarterback run in the meantime.
5. Kirk Cousins: Mission accomplished on the stack strategy with this pick. The participant is fully committed to the Atlanta Falcons’ offense and believes that Cousins can overcome his Achilles injury with modern surgical advancements.
Exploiting Value and Building Depth
As the draft progresses, participants must identify value picks and build depth on their rosters. The participant in question made several calculated choices to maximize their team’s potential:
6. James Cook: This pick was aimed at securing a player with a solid floor, even if he may not be the primary goal-line back. The participant recognized Cook’s consistency as an RB10 in the second half of the previous season.
7. Tee Higgins: The participant opted for Tee Higgins, considering his similar usage to Ja’Marr Chase when both are healthy. They expressed confidence in the absence of any potential holdout due to CBA rules.
8. D’Andre Swift: Although the participant admits that this pick may be considered a reach, they have faith in the Bears’ offense and believe Swift has a good chance of being the goal-line go-to and the team’s primary third-down back.
9. Marquise Brown: The participant was surprised to find Marquise Brown available at this point in the draft. They view him as the high-floor option among Patrick Mahomes’ receivers, given the age of Travis Kelce and the potential for a lengthy suspension for Rasheed Rice.
10. James Conner: The participant took advantage of James Conner falling to them, despite being ranked ahead of Swift in the Scott Fish Bowl universe. They believe Conner will start the season as the primary back and dismiss the hype around third-round pick Trey Benson.
Strategies for Success
In addition to the early picks, the participant made several intriguing selections in later rounds:
11. Bo Nix: This pick may be considered a reach, but it ensures that the participant has a certain starter with offensive head coach Sean Payton, whom they highly respect. Nix’s college experience and potential upside in case of a Kirk Cousins injury influenced this decision.
12. Jameson Williams: Although some wide receivers were elevated due to return yards, the participant remained agnostic about Jameson Williams. They acknowledged his upside but did not want to reach for him.
13. Cole Kmet: The participant believes that the market is overrating the competition for targets at the tight end position. With minimal defensive attention, they expect Kmet to perform well and potentially finish as a top-10 tight end.
14. Curtis Samuel: This pick was a gift for the participant, considering they had already drafted Josh Allen as their quarterback. They had initially shown interest in Keon Coleman but pivoted to Samuel based on positive vibes surrounding him in Buffalo.
15. Jaleel McLaughlin: The participant reached for Jaleel McLaughlin, viewing him as an ideal zeroRB option. They see him as an arbitrage De’Von Achane and believe he has a chance to make an impact with the touches he receives.
16. Tyrone Tracy Jr.: Although the participant missed out on Kendre Miller, they opted for Tyrone Tracy Jr. as a potential third-down option, given their lack of faith in Devin Singletary’s receiving abilities and pass-blocking skills.
17. Malachi Corley: This pick may be considered a reach late in the draft, but the participant believes the Jets’ interest in Malachi Corley during the actual NFL draft indicates they have high expectations for him. They anticipate him being heavily utilized in the slot.
18. KaVontae Turpin: The participant chose KaVontae Turpin based on Bill Belichick’s endorsement of him as the best returner in the NFL. With new rules allowing returns, Turpin could provide significant upside if teams decide to allow them.
19. Isaac Guerendo: The participant sees Isaac Guerendo as a top handcuff and a valuable late-round pick. They believe the 49ers’ decision to trade up for him indicates he had a starter-grade evaluation by draft experts.
20. Gabe Davis: The participant selected Gabe Davis based on his status as a starter for the Jaguars. While he may be overlooked by others, the participant sees potential value in him.
21. Lucas Krull: This pick is a wild spec play based on Lucas Krull’s attendance at Tight End University, where he learned from top tight ends such as Travis Kelce and George Kittle. The participant hopes that Krull can emerge as a sleeper in Sean Payton’s offense.
22. Michael Penix Jr.: To ensure rostering four quarterbacks, the participant selected Michael Penix Jr. as Kirk Cousins’ handcuff. While the chance of Cousins getting benched is minimal, having a backup with some upside provides added security.
Conclusion
The Scott Fish Bowl draft offers a unique and challenging fantasy football experience. With its scoring quirks, freedom in roster construction, and tournament-style format, participants must employ various strategies to build competitive teams. By carefully analyzing early picks, exploiting value in later rounds, and making calculated decisions, participants can increase their chances of success in the Scott Fish Bowl draft.