Fantasy
10/5/23
4 min read
2023 Underdog Fantasy Best Ball Resurrection Draft: What's Changed?
Underdog Fantasy released their in-season best ball contest. Best Ball Resurrection is a 33,600-entrant contest with a $30,000 prize for first place. You can use the promo code "33rd" to get up and running on Underdog Fantasy.
I’ll first post a draft board from my last Best Ball Mania 4 draft and another from my Best Ball Resurrection draft. I’ll highlight what’s changed in the draft landscape and then give my takes on players and games to target for Week 17.
Draft Landscape: What’s Changed?
Last Best Ball Mania 4 Draft
First Best Ball Resurrection Draft
Five Key Takeaways
1. Secure Your RBs
Drafters should aim to get at least two running backs by Round 8. Unlike in preseason best ball drafts, most of the ambiguity has been sorted in the NFL. You’re unlikely to find late-round draft darlings like Kyren Williams and De’Von Achane. There still will be some injuries to starting running backs that allow late-round picks to pay off, but it’s harder now.
2. Hardcore Market Adjustment
The market has adjusted hard. Here are some highlights: Achane is a two- or three-turn pick, Williams is going in the third round and A.J. Dillon is a 14th-rounder. The market has adjusted swiftly and significantly. Take advantage of this with players you feel have risen too high or fallen too hard.
3. Late-Round RBs to Target
Best ball managers planning to use late-round picks on running backs should consider Kendre Miller (15th round), Keaton Mitchell (16th round), Jordan Mason (undrafted), Trayveon Williams (18th round), Devin Singletary (17th round) and Sean Tucker (18th round). All of these running backs are, at worst, contingent upside players, and we can expect some to grow into standalone roles.
4. Don't Shy Away from Your Favorites
Don’t be afraid to be aggressive with ascending players. If there’s a player you like, there is a good chance the market wants them as well. For example, I tried to push Achane to the third round in my resurrection draft. Another user scooped him up before I could get him. Players like Achane expect to go higher in drafts over time, so don’t be afraid to go for him, even if it feels like a reach.
5. Underpriced Assets
Some underpriced players sticking out to me include:
- QBs: C.J. Stroud, Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence
- RBs: Brian Robinson, Aaron Jones, Miles Sanders
- WRs: Gabe Davis, Rashee Rice, Michael Gallup
- TEs: Dalton Kincaid, Dalton Schultz, Logan Thomas
5 Key Matchups in Week 17
1. Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos' defense is historically bad, putting all Los Angeles Chargers’ players in a smash spot in Week 17, assuming they’re healthy. Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen could be winning championships this year. Still, I’d be sure to sprinkle in some Quentin Johnston, Gerald Everett, Josh Palmer, Joshua Kelley and even Donald Parham against this all-time bad defense.
2. Atlanta Falcons vs. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are another bad defense. Bijan Robinson is already the 1.04 in best ball resurrection. With how the Atlanta Falcons offense is structured, taking a healthy amount of Robinson and Tyler Allgeier is necessary. Some cheap shares of Kyle Pitts and Drake London could also pay off in Week 17.
3. Indianapolis Colts vs. Las Vegas Raiders
This game is more of a bring-back affair. On the Indianapolis Colts' side, Anthony Richardson, the Colts' running backs and one or two pass catchers could go off. On the Las Vegas Raiders' side, Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers could feast against this terrible Colts secondary.
4. Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans
What C.J. Stroud is doing with a decimated offensive line is impressive. In Week 17, he and his pass catchers (mainly Nico Collins and Tank Dell) seem aligned for a smash spot vs. a terrible Tennessee Titans secondary. As a bonus, the Houston Texans also play the Titans in Week 15. The Texans' offensive line should get healthier, and Stroud should continue to improve, making Stroud, Collins and Dell priority targets.
5. Brandon Aiyuk vs. Washington Commanders
This last game could have gone several ways. You don't need me to tell you Miami Dolphins' players are good to draft or that the Philadelphia Eagles could score a lot against the Arizona Cardinals.
I’ll offer this for the San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Commanders; the Commanders' defense is a decent unit except for one glaring weakness: defending the deep pass. Enter Brandon Aiyuk, an ascending wide receiver, and the 49ers' main deep threat. Similar to how we saw A.J. Brown tear up the Commanders this past week, Aiyuk could go nuclear vs. Washington.
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