To win in Best Ball, you need a sharp, intentional roster construction strategy and a diverse but focused player portfolio. This article breaks down my Best Ball roster construction do’s and don’ts, in the hope of helping you build a smart, risk-aware player portfolio.
If you are new to Best Ball, you may want to start with my Best Ball Beginners Guide! Once you’re up to speed, we also have a few more Best Ball Strategy articles you can check out! Now, let’s talk roster construction.
The Foundations of Best Ball Roster Construction
Before diving into the specifics, let’s revisit what makes Best Ball unique:
- Optimal Lineups: Each week, the platform auto-starts your best players.
- No In-Season Management: What you draft is what you live with.
- Injury, Bye Week & Spike Week Mitigation: Drafting with a range of outcomes in mind is essential.
- Advancement-Based Payouts: Most Best Ball tournaments (e.g., Best Ball Mania) pay out based on weekly advancement, then playoffs.
Best Ball Do’s: What You Should Be Doing
1. Prioritize Structure Before Players
Roster construction is the single biggest edge in Best Ball. Common builds include:
- 3-5-8-3 (QB-RB-WR-TE)
- 2-5-9-2 (QB-RB-WR-TE)
- 2-6-8-2 (QB-RB-WR-TE)
- 3-4-9-2 (Zero RB builds)
The key is matching positional investments to your overall strategy:
| Strategy | Ideal Construction | Notes |
| Anchor RB | 2-5-9-2 | Draft one RB early, fill in value later |
| Hero WR | 2-6-8-2 | WR early, load up on RBs mid-rounds |
| Double-Anchor QB | 2-5-9-2 | Two early QBs, no need for a 3rd |
| Late-Round TE | 2-5-8-3 | Chase TE value late, triple up in R14-18 |
2. Stack Strategically
Stacking (pairing a QB with one or more of their pass-catchers) increases correlation:
- Primary Stack: QB + WR/TE
- Double Stack: QB + 2 WR/TE from the same team
- Bring-Back Stack: Opponent WR/TE from the same game (for spike weeks)
💡 DO target stacks with high shootout potential or playoff weeks (e.g., Eagles vs Bills in Week 17).
3. Balance Floor and Ceiling
You need:
- Consistent Role Players: Target touch consolidation (e.g., RBs with pass-catching work)
- Spike Week Contributors: High aDOT WRs, big-play RBs, and boom/bust types
Tip: Aim to draft players who can win a week, even if they’re not weekly starters.
4. Use ADP as a Tool, Not a Rule
- Get exposure to players at ADP or better
- Play the ADP Game: Let values fall to you
- But… take your guys when it matters, especially when building stacks or when late risers haven’t caught up
5. Build a Diversified Portfolio
Drafting 50+ teams? Track your exposures:
- Anchor Players: Limit core players to ~ 25-30% exposure
- High Variance Players: Cap at 15-20%
- Sleepers / Fliers: Rotate regularly
Use spreadsheets or tools like:
- BestBallHub (formerly Spike Week)
- Rotoviz Exposure Tracker
- FantasyPros Best Ball Tools
Best Ball Don’ts: Common Pitfalls to Avoid
1. Don’t Punt Positions Entirely
Zero RB and Late-Round QB work, if done right. But don’t ignore positional needs:
- 2-QB builds must include two QBs who will start all year
- If you go late-round TE, draft at least three
- If you don’t have an elite RB, don’t wait until Round 12 to start
2. Don’t Over-Stack or Force It
Not every team needs three teammates. Over-stacking can reduce your weekly ceiling.
- Avoid WR-WR-QB trios where both WRs rarely hit together (e.g., possession WRs from the same team)
- Don’t chase low-upside stacks (e.g., QB30 with TE2 on his team)
3. Don’t Draft Redundancy
Avoid same-role redundancy:
- Don’t draft multiple pass-catching RBs on teams with mobile QBs
- Don’t take three slot receivers on the same team archetype
- Spread out your bye weeks, skill sets, and usage types
4. Don’t Chase Handcuffs on Your Own Team
Drafting Bijan Robinson? Don’t take Tyler Allgeier, either. You’ll never get both to hit.
Instead:
- Target other teams’ handcuffs (e.g., if someone else drafts Isiah Pacheco, you can take Elijah Mitchell late)
5. Don’t Ignore the Playoff Weeks
In Best Ball Mania, Weeks 15-17 are everything.
- Draft players with shootout matchups
- Stack across teams that play each other in Week 17
- Build for upside, make sure your WR7 or RB5 can break a slate
Player Portfolio Strategy: Sample Build
Here’s what a diversified, strategy-aligned portfolio might look like across 50 drafts: (These are just examples)
Quarterbacks (2-3 per team)
| Player | Exposure | Stack Target | Note |
| Jalen Hurts | 12% | A.J. Brown, Goedert | Anchor QB |
| Tua Tagovailoa | 10% | Hill, Waddle | Stack for shootouts |
| Jordan Love | 8% | Watson, Reed | Late-round value |
| Anthony Richardson | 10% | Pittman, Downs | Spike week upside |
Running Backs (5-6 per team)
| Player | Exposure | Archetype | Note |
| Bijan Robinson | 10% | Bellcow | Anchor RB builds |
| James Cook | 12% | RB2 upside | Good stack with Allen |
| Tyjae Spears | 15% | Late-round pass-catcher | Spike week candidate |
| Zach Charbonnet | 8% | Handcuff + standalone | Correlated with a Walker injury |
Wide Receivers (8-9 per team)
| Player | Exposure | Archetype | Note |
| Chris Olave | 15% | WR1 ceiling | Mini stack with Carr |
| Jaylen Waddle | 12% | Stackable upside | Explosive WR2 |
| Josh Downs | 10% | Slot role + ARich stack | Floor WR5/6 |
| Rashid Shaheed | 10% | Boom/Bust | Great for best ball late rounds |
Tight Ends (2-3 per team)
| Player | Exposure | Archetype | Note |
| Jake Ferguson | 15% | High-volume TE2 | Great for value builds |
| Chigoziem Okonkwo | 12% | Athletic upside | Late spike week potential |
Final Thoughts: Draft With a Plan
Best Ball is won on structure, upside, and correlation, not volume alone.
Remember:
- You don’t have to be perfect, you just need the right structure and a few spike week players to crush the playoffs.
- Drafting with intention separates sharks from fish.
- Diversification protects your bankroll and increases the odds of at least one of your teams reaching the final week. Hopefully in the BIG Money!
Before you go, check out Club Fantasy’s 2025 Best Ball Fantasy Football Rankings!
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