The King's Best Ball Targets and Avoids

Scott "The King" Engel lists his targets and avoids for best-ball drafts in high-stakes leagues like the FFPC in order to prepare professional fantasy football players for draft day.

There are still a lot of opportunities for Best Ball drafting, and it’s better to get in one now as we are closer to the regular season and we have a lot more information.

Here are the latest views on some guys to target and avoid if you’re going to dive into the dangerous but prolific Best Ball waters of our favorite high-stakes fantasy football site, the FFPC. You can draft for as low as $35 or play for higher stakes.

Editor's Note: For a limited time, we are offering all new FFPC players a $25-off coupon for any contest! You can play a $35 contest or a $70 contest, we'll give you $25 off either one! Whether you want to play a Best Ball challenge, join a Dynasty Startup, or try FFPC's unique Terminator challenge (best ball spin-off), there's a $25 discount waiting for you! All you have to do is be a new FFPC customer, sign-up for any game on FFPC through one of the above links, and the $25 discount will be automatically applied to your account!

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Dynasty rankings

Best Ball Targets and Avoids

Target Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill together. It’s the only way I would recommend taking a QB early. After 16 weeks of Fantasy play last year, Mahomes was the No. 1 QB and Hill was the top WR.

Avoid Devonta Freeman. He remains an injury risk and could miss games and portions of games.

Target Calvin Ridley. He should be more consistent this season and has upside in all receiving categories. We’ll say the same about Mike Williams.

Avoid David Montgomery. He may get caught in a pure committee situation and his weekly upside may be limited.

Target Dalvin Cook. Do it early. His final preseason outing was a sign of things to come. He had an offseason where he didn’t have to rehab or recover from any major injury. He is explosive and versatile.

Avoid Joe Mixon. He is going to have to work hard for his yardage this year behind a shaky offensive line and his weekly ceiling is going to be capped often.

Target Baker Mayfield. He is being overdrafted in seasonal leagues, but he is going to have some very big games. He’s an upside play and better for Best Ball formats.

Avoid Jarvis Landry. He does not score enough and will be heavily overshadowed by Odell Beckham Jr.

Target Michael Gallup. He is ready to become a more frequent playmaker for Dallas.

Avoid Kenny Golladay. The Detroit offense will be very methodical and heavily based around the ground game and high percentage passing.

Target Marques Valdes-Scantling. He is going to be very boom or bust this year, but you will appreciate his better outings for Best Ball purposes.

Avoid Austin Ekeler. His numbers were uninspiring when he was asked to start last season and he may end up sharing some work with Justin Jackson.

Target Deshaun Watson. He continues to evolve as a passer, his receiving crew has also improved, and he must carry the Houston offense.

Avoid Cooper Kupp. Once play begins for real he may start to come along slowly as he continues to make his way back from last year’s knee injury. He needs more time to reclaim his best form.

Target Kalen Ballage. He may end up being Miami’s preferred goal-line runner and has big-play potential, as evidenced by a 75-yard TD run late last season against Minnesota.

Avoid Alshon Jeffery. He is a regular injury risk and is not the upside play in the Philadelphia offense.

Target Tre’Quan Smith. His fundamentals have improved and he is going to deliver some prolific outings this season.

Avoid Vance McDonald. He may be good for some TDs and some quality seasonal production, but he only had one game above 70 receiving yards last season.

Target Jared Cook. The TE has often flourished in the New Orleans offense and Cook had a career year with a lesser QB in Oakland in 2018.

Avoid Chris Carson. He tends to get banged up and Rashaad Penny will be the guy who rips off the longer runs and receptions out of the Seattle backfield.

Target Antonio Brown. He is going to want to quiet everyone with his on-field performances and there are going to be some outstanding performances you will enjoy.

Avoid Tevin Coleman. He proved last season he could not be a very prolific lead RB and Matt Breida may outplay him in some games.

Target Ben Roethlisberger if you decide to wait on a QB. He is coming off one of his best seasons ever and has lost No. 1 wideouts previously and still succeeded. Hines Ward, Mike Wallace and Santonio Holmes all have come and gone, and Roethlisberger has continued to come through with big games.

Avoid Derrick Henry. He is a big tease who has never played well over an extended period of time. There may be a few impressive performances, but too many down ones to make him worth it.

Target Mark Andrews. He flashed at times with some long receptions as a rookie, and will possibly be Lamar Jackson’s most dependable target in 2019. He will look for Andrews frequently in key passing situations, especially near the goal line.

Avoid D.J. Moore. Cam Newton’s shoulder woes may resurface as an issue as the season wears on. There may not be enough above-average outings to satisfy you in a Best Ball format.

Target Damien Williams. He will indeed be the unquestioned lead RB on the league’s best offense.

Avoid Emmanuel Sanders. He is returning early from an Achilles injury and that could lead to more compensatory issues and missed time.

Target Robby Anderson. Sam Darnold should continue to improve and Anderson is very capable of delivering some impressive outings.

More Best-Ball League Strategy