Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Scott Fish Bowl 14 Review

Scott's fantasy football draft strategy guide on how he navigated the 2024 Scott Fish Bowl 14 draft. Read his fantasy football draft strategies, tips and review.

The annual Scott Fish Bowl is the largest high-profile fantasy football tournament in the industry. As highlighted by FantasyPros, the SFB is a 3,300-team tourney that is comprised of 275 teams. Receiving an email invitation from the ultimate fantasy football distributor of good vibes himself, Scott Fish, is one of the most satisfying moments of the year for a fantasy player.

SFB play began in 2010 and the annual drafts have now become one of the most anticipated events in fantasy sports. Fantasy football experts, fans, and celebrity participants all gather online or in person for friendly competition and to come together for a good cause. SFB is the main fundraising event for Fantasy Cares, the charitable organization dedicated to raising money for Toys for Tots among several other important efforts. Landing a spot in SFB means you have earned membership in the community of accomplished and respected fantasy football players.

The rules are tweaked every year. In 2024, participants have drafted 22-man rosters that include a starting lineup of 1 QB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, and 6 FLEX Spots.  It is a PPR superflex format that features six points for a TD pass, 0.5 points for a rushing or receiving first down, 0.25 points per rushing attempt, and TE premium scoring that includes 1.5 yards per catch and an extra point for a TE receiving first down. For 2024, kick and punt return scoring was added, with 10 points for a TD, and one point for every five return yards.

Scott Fish Bowl: 2024 Fantasy Football New York Draft Recap

Fantasy Football Draft Rounds One Through Four

While the SFB scoring is quite unique, the analysis here can also apply to many superflex and TE premium formats, and I also provide several player outlooks that can help you pinpoint targets in many other leagues. My draft was held live in New York City for the first 10 rounds, and via online slow draft on the Sleeper app thereafter. Please note that the draft also featured the Third Round Reversal twist. I was drafting from the No. 7 slot.

Round One: Patrick Mahomes – Sitting at the seventh slot in a superflex draft, I was a bit surprised that one of the top-4 elite quarterbacks slipped to me. But the fact that I was able to land Mahomes was just another reminder that every draft is different and you can never tell for sure who may be available when your turn comes up. I always let the draft come to me and had my top seven overall players queued up and then picked the top one left in my queue when it was my turn.

At the very least, I was hoping to land Anthony Richardson or C.J. Stroud. Getting Mahomes was quite satisfying, as I am anticipating a very good season from him with the additions of Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown.

Round Two: Sam LaPorta – Sometimes, the person drafting ahead of you will help make a decision when a close call is being mulled over.  In a TE premium format, I had LaPorta ranked just ahead of Travis Kelce, but also was tempted to connect the Kansas City QB with his top pass-catcher. When Kelce was picked one spot before my turn, the decision was easily made. I did prefer LaPorta because of the upside and youth if team context was not a consideration.

Round Three: A.J. Brown – The Eagles’ No. 1 WR and Marvin Harrison Jr. were the last two players left at their position before a clear drop-off to the next tier. The Arizona rookie has an obvious huge upside, yet I went with the more proven player who is coming off two consecutive 1,400-plus yard seasons with his current NFL team. Brown was the eighth WR off the board, so that position became my prime focus over a QB2 and an RB1. Saquon Barkley was also strongly considered, but I wanted a true fantasy WR1 in my top WR spot in the lineup.

Round Four: De'Von Achane – I was glad he was still available at my fourth round slot, because the weekly promise for a blow-up week is always on the table with Achane. He could prove to be a difference-maker in a very large overall field, or at least can help my postseason outlook. Health is certainly a concern, yet I would look to nab some good insurance picks at RB later, with an eye on one specific handcuff if possible. Achane may have also still been available because he will share rushing attempts in the Miami backfield, but I had to go with the high-ceiling option.

Sleeper Draft Board: Scott Fish Bowl New York, Rounds One Through 12

Fantasy Football Draft Rounds Five Through Eight

Round Five: Caleb Williams – My loose plan in a superflex format is to try and get two QBs in the first four rounds. I can also wait until the fifth, though, if the flow of the draft dictates that some comfortable options might slide into that round. I could just not pass on Achane a round earlier and was willing to see who was available for a QB2 target in the next round. Williams, who I have ranked No. 14 on RotoBaller.com, was a satisfying pick, as I think he can make an instant impact as a rookie, and if he does, I have another potential difference-maker in the starting lineup.

Looking at how the board progressed, the Bears rookie was the last QB left before I may have pivoted off the position and waited for a Kirk Cousins or Geno Smith. So it was rather fortunate to land Williams as the final one of my top 15 QB targets.

Round Six: Mike Evans – I was happy with a solid WR2 pick here. Evans is bankable for 75 or so receptions and double-figure TD catches. He has finished as a top-11 fantasy WR in three of the last four seasons and has a good rapport with Baker Mayfield.

Round Seven: DK Metcalf – This was a very fun pick to make. Walking away from the live draft table with Brown, Evans, and Metcalf was a good feeling. Seattle’s top WR averaged a career-high 16.9 yards per reception and is on the verge of an exciting 2024 season. New offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is going to aggressively hunt for big plays, and the Seahawks offense will hit on more of them after being ranked last in the NFL in offensive plays last year. Mike Macdonald’s defense won’t spend too much time on the field, and Metcalf is a true luxury option as a fantasy WR3 in any format.

Round Eight: Khalil Shakir – In an SFB format that now features return yards, Shakir gets a significant boost in fantasy appeal. He should at least be a top WR3 for Buffalo and he may also function as a kickoff and punt returner, too. If the Bills do want to give him a larger role on offense, Shakir will have earned it, so he can contribute for me whether he does more as a WR or is featured often as a returner.

Is Khalil Shakir the next great YAC WR?

He had 39 receptions last season and averaged 7.2 YAC per reception 👀

What WRs had 30+ receptions & over 7 YAC per reception as well? 👇🏻

▪️Deebo Samuel
- 8.8 YAC per reception w/ 60 receptions

▪️Rashee Rice
- 8.3 YAC per reception w/… pic.twitter.com/vfSSSlqcFf

— PPRFantasyTips (@PPRFantasyTips) July 15, 2024

Fantasy Football Draft Rounds Nine Through 12

Round Nine: Zack Moss – I did wait a while for my RB2, although I am a backer of Moss. He should be the prime rushing TD finisher for a top AFC offense. As noted by FantasyPros, in games when he played 50% of the snaps in 2023, Moss averaged 98.5 total yards.

Round 10: Devin Singletary – I doubled down on former Bills RBs who performed better after they left Buffalo. Like Moss, Singletary has never proven himself as a feature back over a full season. He does top the Giants depth chart, though, and as a Texan last year, Singletary rushed for 80-plus yards four times and 60-plus yards six times in his final nine games as a starter.

Round 11: Derek Carr – By this point, it was time to take a QB3, and while Carr certainly is an uninspiring pick, he does have a firm lock on a starting job.

Round 12: Joshua Palmer – The Chargers’ most proven pass-catcher is a fine value pick who is being heavily overlooked in all formats. He is Justin Herbert’s one returning receiver that he has a comfort level with, and this is a great spot to get a team’s likely No. 1 WR, even in a run-first offense.

Fantasy Football Draft Rounds 13 Through 16

Round 13: Jonnu Smith – The newest Dolphin is an intriguing value target in a TE premium format. Smith flashed some promise at times last season, and he now joins an explosive offense that can use a quality TE complement to their big-play WRs. Last year, the Dolphins were missing a player at the TE or WR3 position who could make frequent key catches when needed, on important passing downs and in the goal line area. Smith might fit nicely as a contrast to the Miami WRs and he also has some yardage after the catch abilities, too.

Round 14 – Rico Dowdle – I landed another one of my preferred value targets. Dowdle has a good shot to emerge as the No. 1 ball carrier and fantasy producer in a top NFC offense. Yes, Ezekiel Elliott might be the goal-line guy, but I will take the fresher RB who can provide more of a spark in every other facet.

Round 15: Curtis Samuel – Hey, I am not pretending that Shakir or Samuel will emerge as a version of prime Stefon Diggs, or anything close to a high-end fantasy WR2. But one of them will become a frequent enough option for Allen, and having both increases my chances of rostering one of Buffalo’s favored WRs, even if the guy who wins out is the third most productive pass-catcher on the team.  By this point, I was gleefully counting at least three of my last four picks as good value selections, with Smith potentially making it four in a row when the final results are counted.

Round 16: Jaylen Wright – I struck at just the right time to acquire the primary NFL backup to Achane. Knowing when to target Wright was all about a feel for when I couldn’t wait much longer to target him. When RBs such as Antonio Gibson and Ty Chandler were being taken just ahead of my slot, then I knew it was time to move on the Miami rookie. He will be viewed as another potential upside Dolphins RB if Achane or Raheem Mostert miss any time this season.

Sleeper Draft Board: Scott Fish Bowl New York, Rounds 13 Through 22

Fantasy Football Draft Results: The Late Rounds

Round 17: Colby Parkinson – The ex-Seahawk could be a deep sleeper with the Rams, as Tyler Higbee might not be available for an extensive period. Preseason reports so far have indicated that Parkinson has a legitimate chance to be Los Angeles’ top TE, and he is capable of being a YAC and TD producer if given an opportunity to take on a regular role in the offense.

Round 18: Devin Duvernay – In a kick return format, I will gladly take a two-time Pro Bowler.

Round 19: Nyheim Hines – If he is sufficiently recovered from the knee injury that wiped out his 2023 season, Hines can be a threat as both a returner and receiver out of the backfield for Cleveland.

Round 20: Eric Gray – I have seen some preseason posts among those who follow the Giants closely that Gray may be the top backup to Singletary and could even play a larger offensive role if the newcomer falters at all. See the below tweet/X post that highlights an excerpt from Sports Illustrated. Click on the post to read the full breakdown.

Eric Gray getting more and more early buzz.

Gray vs Tyrone Tracy feels a lot like old Samaje Perine vs Chris Evans summer debates from years back. (And a little like Zac Evans vs Kyren Williams)

The fantasy community is very hyped about Tracy, but Gray may be the handcuff plus pic.twitter.com/Y90jgABP1h

— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) June 9, 2024

Round 21: Drew Lock – Daniel Jones gets his final chance to show he can perform respectably with an improved WR corps. If he can’t get the job done, Lock is a very deep QB sleeper who will enjoy gunning the ball downfield to Malik Nabers and Jalin Hyatt, who was also still in my queue as a final pick.

Round 22: Tyler Bass – SFB rules in this league require a kicker, and Bass will fit the bill well enough.

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