It is officially NFL Best Ball season at Underdog Fantasy, and they are celebrating with a $10 million Best Ball Mania II contest that pays out $2 million to the winner and $1 million to the runner-up. This is the largest fantasy contest in history and is certainly more interesting than mock drafting against bots.
We know what you are thinking, isn't it too early to draft a Best Ball team? Not at all. New players can get up to four free entries, and the $1 million winner from last season's Best Ball Mania tournament drafted his team in June! Here is a look at the million-dollar team he drafted:
Underdog Best Ball Mania III Strategy
While best ball is the closest thing to season-long fantasy that the DFS world has to offer, a lack of waiver wires and postgame roster setting clearly changes the way you should approach best ball drafts. Here are a handful of tips to help you draft a winning roster for this year's Underdog Best Ball Mania contest.
Roster Construction is Crucial, Have a Plan
There are dozens of strategies you can tap into when drafting your season-long fantasy team, but without the ability to play waivers, you have to come into your best ball draft with a rock-solid draft plan. Do your own research and put together your own plan, but here are our thoughts for each position:
QB Draft Plan: Target 2 top 15 players and avoid drafting a third. This typically means taking two QBs in your first 10 picks. This can be a tough concept for season long owners, as many prefer to wait until round 8 or later to draft their QB1. However, we need to get 20+ points out of our QB each week, but can't afford the roster slot a third QB would take up. Had last season's winner drafted a third QB over Amon-Ra St. Brown or Rashaad Penny in rounds 12 or 13 he would not have won.
RB Draft Plan: The number of running backs you draft should be determined by where you draft them. Our recommendation is to stick to your board at the top of the draft. If there is a run on WRs in rounds 1-3, take two solid RBs and you should only need to draft 4. Forget about the zero-RB strategy, it is a proven loser in best ball formats. We need to have 2 running backs in our first 5 picks, and 4-5 by the end of the draft.
WR Draft Plan: We try to draft at least 7 wide receivers, but 8 seems like the magic number here. You are starting 3 every week, and more often than not, a fourth will end up in your slot. This means we need to value the position at the top of the draft. Aim for 4 WRs in your first 7 picks, and gamble on big-upside guys late in the draft.
TE Draft Plan: We have always been fans of waiting as long as possible on your tight end and then grabbing two in the middle of the draft, but if you have followed that trend over recent years you have likely gotten burned by the lack of depth at this position. There is quality and upside at the top of the 2022 tight end class, so move guys like Kelce, Andrew, and Pitts up your board and grab them if the value is there. However, don't feel obligated to reach on a player like Dallas Goedert if there is a run on tight ends. Simply wait for the run to end, load up everywhere else, then grab two quality players in rounds 8-12. Last year's winner won with Noah Fant (round 8) and Mike Gesicki (round 12).
Chase High-Ceiling Players
Boom-or-bust players have a tendency of killing our season-long fantasy teams because they are in our lineups every week, torturing us with their volatility. In best ball leagues, we get the benefits of those high-ceiling games without having to start them in down weeks.
Clearly, wide receivers are typically looked at as boom-or-bust plays, but this applies to running backs as well. Looking at last year's winner, Rashaad Penny played on a team with a highly productive run game, but he was only going to be fantasy-relevant if Chris Carson went down with an injury. That happened, and Penny went for 20+ in 4 of the final 5 games of the 2021 NFL season.
It is important to update your default rankings before entering any Underdog Best Ball drafts. This will guarantee you are aware of when you should be selecting your sleepers and avoid any issues of missing out on players you like, simply because they are buried on the default rankings.
Find our Underdog Best Ball Mania III player rankings below. We update these rankings at least two times per week this time of the year. You can also elect to download them as a spreadsheet at the bottom of the rankings table.
Rank
Player
Team
Bye
ADP
1
Jonathan Taylor
IND
14
1.2
2
Christian McCaffrey
CAR
13
3.1
3
Cooper Kupp
LAR
7
2.5
4
Justin Jefferson
MIN
7
4.3
5
Najee Harris
PIT
9
8.4
6
Austin Ekeler
LAC
8
7
7
Ja'Marr Chase
CIN
10
5.4
8
Travis Kelce
KC
8
12.5
9
Derrick Henry
TEN
6
6.5
10
Joe Mixon
CIN
10
12.4
11
Dalvin Cook
MIN
7
10.7
12
Stefon Diggs
BUF
7
9.2
13
Mark Andrews
BAL
10
16.4
14
Davante Adams
LV
6
11.5
15
D'Andre Swift
DET
6
17.1
16
Deebo Samuel
SF
9
17.6
17
CeeDee Lamb
DAL
9
14.1
18
Kyle Pitts
ATL
14
31.5
19
Alvin Kamara
NO
14
19.9
20
Aaron Jones
GB
14
19.5
21
Javonte Williams
DEN
9
24.1
22
Leonard Fournette
TB
11
23.8
23
Tyreek Hill
MIA
11
21.6
24
Mike Evans
TB
11
19.2
25
Nick Chubb
CLE
9
22.8
26
Darren Waller
LV
6
42
27
A.J. Brown
PHI
7
25.2
28
Tee Higgins
CIN
10
25.7
29
George Kittle
SF
9
46.5
30
Saquon Barkley
NYG
9
27
31
James Conner
ARI
13
30.5
32
Josh Allen
BUF
7
27.1
33
Keenan Allen
LAC
8
28.3
34
Jaylen Waddle
MIA
11
35.5
35
Ezekiel Elliott
DAL
9
40.7
36
Breece Hall
NYJ
10
45.8
37
David Montgomery
CHI
14
49
38
Antonio Gibson
WAS
14
61.1
39
Patrick Mahomes
KC
8
38.8
40
Cam Akers
LAR
7
37.7
41
Michael Pittman
IND
14
32.6
42
T.J. Hockenson
DET
6
80.5
43
D.K. Metcalf
SEA
11
43.8
44
Diontae Johnson
PIT
9
38.9
45
Travis Etienne
JAX
11
55
46
Terry McLaurin
WAS
14
45.2
47
Justin Herbert
LAC
8
44.5
48
Marquise Brown
ARI
13
39.2
49
J.K. Dobbins
BAL
10
52.7
50
Dalton Schultz
DAL
9
76.3
51
Josh Jacobs
LV
6
62.3
52
Courtland Sutton
DEN
9
50
53
Rashod Bateman
BAL
10
59.5
54
Jerry Jeudy
DEN
9
48
55
Lamar Jackson
BAL
10
49.8
56
Chris Godwin
TB
11
51.3
57
Allen Robinson
LAR
7
52.3
58
Elijah Mitchell
SF
9
67.5
59
Gabriel Davis
BUF
7
54.8
60
Kyler Murray
ARI
13
61
61
Kenneth Walker
SEA
11
86.4
62
Michael Thomas
NO
14
62.3
63
Cordarrelle Patterson
ATL
14
85.4
64
JuJu Smith-Schuster
KC
8
56.2
65
Joe Burrow
CIN
10
67.7
66
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
KC
8
80
67
Jalen Hurts
PHI
7
64.8
68
Darnell Mooney
CHI
14
64.3
69
Treylon Burks
TEN
6
72.5
70
Miles Sanders
PHI
7
78.7
71
Brandin Cooks
HOU
6
62.2
72
Drake London
ATL
14
69.8
73
Brandon Aiyuk
SF
9
83.1
74
Elijah Moore
NYJ
10
68.8
75
Amon-Ra St. Brown
DET
6
71.5
76
Tony Pollard
DAL
9
88.5
77
Dallas Goedert
PHI
7
93.5
78
Christian Kirk
JAX
11
92.6
79
Damien Harris
NE
10
91.6
80
Russell Wilson
DEN
9
76.9
81
AJ Dillon
GB
14
72.7
82
DeVonta Smith
PHI
7
73.7
83
Dawson Knox
BUF
7
97.9
84
DeAndre Hopkins
ARI
13
75.1
85
Tom Brady
TB
11
75.3
86
Mike Williams
LAC
8
33.3
87
Amari Cooper
CLE
9
45
88
DJ Moore
CAR
13
37.5
89
Dak Prescott
DAL
9
84.7
90
Adam Thielen
MIN
7
75.8
91
Chase Edmonds
MIA
11
107.4
92
Allen Lazard
GB
14
101.6
93
Zach Ertz
ARI
13
110.3
94
Skyy Moore
KC
8
82.9
95
Matthew Stafford
LAR
7
91.3
96
Hunter Renfrow
LV
6
86.1
97
Russell Gage
TB
11
94.2
98
Kareem Hunt
CLE
9
96.6
99
Robert Woods
TEN
6
105.4
100
Devin Singletary
BUF
7
104.2
101
Tyler Lockett
SEA
11
89.6
102
Rashaad Penny
SEA
11
116.7
103
Aaron Rodgers
GB
14
100
104
Melvin Gordon
DEN
9
109.8
105
Chris Olave
NO
14
96.5
106
James Cook
BUF
7
105.2
107
Pat Freiermuth
PIT
9
121.8
108
Ronald Jones
KC
8
127
109
Christian Watson
GB
14
101.9
110
Dameon Pierce
HOU
6
122
111
Isaiah Spiller
LAC
8
135.8
112
Michael Gallup
DAL
9
109.2
113
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
KC
8
103.8
114
Michael Carter
NYJ
10
139.8
115
Mike Gesicki
MIA
11
125.7
116
Trey Lance
SF
9
100.3
117
Garrett Wilson
NYJ
10
97.8
118
Jameson Williams
DET
6
115.5
119
Rob Gronkowski
TB
11
126.7
120
Chase Claypool
PIT
9
109.9
121
Trevor Lawrence
JAX
11
145.7
122
Rondale Moore
ARI
13
119.2
123
Nyheim Hines
IND
14
149.4
124
Derek Carr
LV
6
108.6
125
Kadarius Toney
NYG
9
110.3
126
Tim Patrick
DEN
9
129.1
127
Rachaad White
TB
11
130.7
128
Robert Tonyan
GB
14
133.4
129
Tua Tagovailoa
MIA
11
132.9
130
Tyler Boyd
CIN
10
114
131
Cole Kmet
CHI
14
146.2
132
Jalen Tolbert
DAL
9
155.8
133
James Robinson
JAX
11
153.6
134
Kenny Golladay
NYG
9
123.8
135
Kirk Cousins
MIN
7
122.7
136
Irv Smith
MIN
7
141.4
137
Alexander Mattison
MIN
7
125.4
138
Rhamondre Stevenson
NE
10
123.7
139
Mecole Hardman
KC
8
127
140
DeVante Parker
NE
10
133.9
141
Jahan Dotson
WAS
14
145.2
142
Deshaun Watson
CLE
9
113.1
143
Jarvis Landry
NO
14
136.2
144
Darrell Henderson
LAR
7
148
145
Jakobi Meyers
NE
10
136.5
146
Justin Fields
CHI
14
135
147
Jamison Crowder
BUF
7
138.9
148
Kenneth Gainwell
PHI
7
161
149
David Bell
CLE
9
152.3
150
Albert Okwuegbunam
DEN
9
140
151
D.J. Chark
DET
6
150.8
152
Van Jefferson
LAR
7
147
153
Hunter Henry
NE
10
149.4
154
K.J. Osborn
MIN
7
155.6
155
Tyler Allgeier
ATL
14
143.9
156
George Pickens
PIT
9
151.6
157
Jameis Winston
NO
14
156.8
158
David Njoku
CLE
9
160.4
159
Sammy Watkins
GB
14
173.9
160
Raheem Mostert
MIA
11
175.6
161
Tyler Higbee
LAR
7
157
162
Alec Pierce
IND
14
162.5
163
Daniel Jones
NYG
9
170.7
164
Joshua Palmer
LAC
8
167.1
165
Khalil Herbert
CHI
14
170.5
166
Corey Davis
NYJ
10
159.5
167
Marvin Jones
JAX
11
177.7
168
Gus Edwards
BAL
10
166.8
169
KJ Hamler
DEN
9
174.5
170
Jamaal Williams
DET
6
181.2
171
Zach Wilson
NYJ
10
156
172
J.D. McKissic
WAS
14
189.1
173
John Metchie
HOU
6
187.5
174
Tyrion Davis-Price
SF
9
171.3
175
Robby Anderson
CAR
13
175.1
176
Noah Fant
SEA
11
166.4
177
Odell Beckham
179.1
123.5
Proj
178
Hayden Hurst
CIN
10
184.4
179
William Fuller
166.5
110.3
Proj
180
Matt Ryan
IND
14
162
181
Curtis Samuel
WAS
14
183.3
182
Donovan Peoples-Jones
CLE
9
183.9
183
Gerald Everett
LAC
8
171.1
184
Brian Robinson Jr.
WAS
14
188.1
185
Ryan Tannehill
TEN
6
178.6
186
Laviska Shenault
JAX
11
200.4
187
Devin Duvernay
BAL
10
206.4
188
Logan Thomas
WAS
14
183.2
189
Marlon Mack
HOU
6
188.9
190
Jared Goff
DET
6
191.6
191
Evan Engram
JAX
11
188
192
Wan'Dale Robinson
NYG
9
191.2
193
Keaontay Ingram
ARI
13
202.2
194
Kendrick Bourne
NE
10
196.8
195
D'Onta Foreman
CAR
13
200.7
196
Darrel Williams
KC
8
195.7
197
A.J. Green
ARI
13
189.2
198
Nico Collins
HOU
6
203.1
199
Austin Hooper
TEN
6
201.6
200
Carson Wentz
WAS
14
198.8
201
Taysom Hill
NO
14
188.4
202
Julio Jones
--
--
195
203
Justyn Ross
KC
8
208.1
204
C.J. Uzomah
NYJ
10
209.7
205
Hassan Haskins
TEN
6
204
206
Marcus Mariota
ATL
14
209.8
207
James Washington
DAL
9
205.9
208
Davis Mills
HOU
6
203.7
209
Parris Campbell
IND
14
212.3
210
Isaiah McKenzie
BUF
7
213.1
211
Trey McBride
ARI
13
213.2
212
Amari Rodgers
GB
14
213.7
213
Byron Pringle
CHI
14
211.3
214
Sony Michel
MIA
11
205.9
215
Sterling Shepard
NYG
9
210.6
216
Bryan Edwards
ATL
14
207.7
217
Mark Ingram
NO
14
211.8
218
Zamir White
LV
6
208.7
219
Romeo Doubs
GB
14
211.6
220
Randall Cobb
GB
14
214.1
221
Tyquan Thornton
NE
10
214.3
222
Samaje Perine
CIN
10
214.7
223
Emmanuel Sanders
BUF
7
215.1
224
Calvin Austin
PIT
9
215.6
225
Jauan Jennings
SF
9
215.6
226
Darius Slayton
NYG
9
215.7
227
O.J. Howard
BUF
7
215.7
228
Quez Watkins
PHI
7
215.3
229
Jelani Woods
IND
14
215.4
230
Jalen Guyton
LAC
8
214.6
231
Kenny Pickett
PIT
9
210.8
232
Brevin Jordan
HOU
6
209.9
233
Kenyan Drake
LV
6
212.4
234
Zay Jones
JAX
11
213.4
235
Cameron Brate
TB
11
211.7
236
Chuba Hubbard
CAR
13
212.9
237
Velus Jones
CHI
14
213
238
D'Ernest Johnson
CLE
9
212.8
239
Cedrick Wilson
MIA
11
214.2
240
Chris Evans
CIN
10
214.5
241
James White
NE
10
213.8
242
Khalil Shakir
BUF
7
214.2
243
Mo Alie-Cox
IND
14
213.6
244
Terrace Marshall
CAR
13
214.7
245
Mitchell Trubisky
PIT
9
214.6
246
Trey Sermon
SF
9
214.8
247
Matt Breida
NYG
9
215
248
Damien Williams
ATL
14
215.1
249
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
TEN
6
214.9
250
Jared Cook
LAC
8
215
251
Marquez Callaway
NO
14
214.9
252
Jonnu Smith
NE
10
215
253
Ricky Seals-Jones
NYG
9
215.5
254
Danny Gray
SF
9
215
255
Kyren Williams
LAR
7
215.1
256
Drew Lock
SEA
11
215.1
257
Cole Beasley
--
--
215.2
258
Malik Willis
TEN
6
215.5
259
Tylan Wallace
BAL
10
215.5
260
Matt Corral
CAR
13
215.5
261
Greg Dulcich
DEN
9
215.6
262
Braxton Berrios
NYJ
10
215.5
263
Pierre Strong
NE
10
215.6
264
Baker Mayfield
CLE
9
215.6
265
Harrison Bryant
CLE
9
215.5
266
Zack Moss
BUF
7
215.6
267
Deonte Harris
NO
14
215.6
268
Myles Gaskin
MIA
11
215.7
269
Adam Trautman
NO
14
215.7
270
Eno Benjamin
ARI
13
215.7
271
T.Y. Hilton
IND
14
215.7
272
Chris Carson
SEA
11
215.7
273
Desmond Ridder
ATL
14
215.7
274
Josh Gordon
KC
8
215.5
275
Isiah Pacheco
KC
8
215.6
276
Tyler Conklin
NYJ
10
215.7
277
Jimmy Garoppolo
SF
9
215.6
278
Antonio Brown
--
--
215.6
279
Ke'Shawn Vaughn
TB
11
215.8
280
Justin Jackson
LAC
8
215.8
281
Tommy Tremble
CAR
13
215.8
282
Noah Brown
DAL
9
215.8
283
Demarcus Robinson
LV
6
215.8
284
Anthony Schwartz
CLE
9
215.8
285
Nelson Agholor
NE
10
215.9
286
Jonathan Williams
WAS
14
215.9
287
Jerick McKinnon
KC
8
215.9
288
Scott Miller
TB
11
215.9
289
Josh Reynolds
DET
6
215.9
290
Tyler Johnson
TB
11
215.9
291
Abram Smith
NO
14
215.7
292
Daniel Bellinger
NYG
9
215.7
293
Boston Scott
PHI
7
215.8
294
Benny Snell
PIT
9
215.8
295
Ihmir Smith-Marsette
MIN
7
215.8
296
Snoop Conner
JAX
11
215.8
297
Dan Arnold
JAX
11
215.8
298
Salvon Ahmed
MIA
11
215.8
299
Tyler Badie
BAL
10
215.8
300
Antoine Wesley
ARI
13
215.8
Underdog Best Ball Mania III FAQs
It is important to understand exactly how the Best Ball Mania tournament works at Underdog, and we address the most important topics in the FAQ section found below.
What is the entry fee?
Best Ball Mania III has a $25 entry fee.
What is the payout structure?
Best Ball Mania III is the biggest fantasy football contest ever. There are $10 million in total prizes available with the winner taking home $2 million and the second place finisher winning $1 million. The top 75,200 finishers win at least $35.
What are the entry limits?
There can be a max of 451,200 total entries. The top 75,200 entries will advance through the first round, which ends after week 14 of the NFL season. Each owner can enter the contest a maximum of 150 times.
What is the Underdog Best Ball roster format?
You will draft a total of 18 players. From that group, you will start 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, and one Flex each week.
Do I need to set my lineup?
No, once you draft your team, you are done with managing your roster. Underdog will automatically set your best possible lineup for each week after the games have been completed.
How does scoring work?
Underdog Best Ball scoring always ustilizes a .5 PPR scoring format. This means you will receive a half-point per reception. All other scoring is standard, with intereceptions worth -1 point and fumbles worth -2 points. Review the full Underdog NFL scoring rules prior to drafting.
How do Underdog Best Ball drafts work?
Most players elect to do Underdog's fast drafts, which can be completed in under 30 minutes. However, slow drafts are also available, with each owner receiving 8 hours per pick. Drafts are snake drafts with the last pick of each round receiving the first pick in the next round. Draft order is selected randomly at the start of the draft.
How do I use the free entry received with my Underdog promo code?
If you sign up using the Underdog promo code EWB you will receive a 100% deposit bonus. This means you will receive $25 free with a $25 deposit, or 1 free Best Ball Mania entry. This offer caps at $100, or 4 free Best Ball Mania entries.
Aaron White graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Economics. His industry experience includes projects for the Chicago Cubs, The Sporting News, and QL Gaming Group. He covers the NFL and NBA for EatWatchBet.
