FFPC Best Ball Tournament Draft | Hero RB Masterclass from the 1.09 (Ep. 2125)

August 11, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The FFPC $125 Best Ball Tournament is a tight-end-premium format with a $400,000 top prize. In this episode, Tom Strachan and Andrew Erickson draft from the 1.09 spot, executing a "Hero RB" build — a strategy that prioritizes elite wide receivers early while delaying running back investment until the middle rounds. The conversation is a real-time walkthrough of their decision-making, exposing the player evaluations, structural reasoning, and risk management that define a sharp best ball portfolio.

The Hero RB Framework in Action

The core strategy is visible from the first two picks. At 1.09, they select James Cook — a choice driven more by portfolio construction than pure ranking. "I don't take James Cook very often," Strachan notes, framing the pick as a way to diversify exposure across their teams. At 2.04, they take CeeDee Lamb over A.J. Brown, citing "no projection" with Dak Prescott and a fast-paced offense that "plays at such a fast rate of play." The logic is clear: in best ball, where you cannot make start-sit decisions, reliability and weekly floor matter enormously.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:40) **Draft Introduction and First Round Recap** - Tom and Andrew begin drafting in the FFPC $125 single quarterback best ball tournament from the 1.09 slot.
2 (01:21) **Pick 1.09: James Cook** - The duo selects James Cook, explaining their rationale for passing on JSN.
3 (03:29) **Pick 2.04: CeeDee Lamb** - With JSN gone, they select CeeDee Lamb over AJ Brown and Justin Jefferson.
4 (07:07) **Strategy Check and Tight End Premium** - The hosts discuss the FFPC's tight end premium format and the resulting draft dynamics.
5 (08:10) **Malik Nabers at the 2/3 Turn** - The conversation turns to Malik Nabers' rising ADP and the risks associated with drafting him.
6 (11:00) **Pick 3.09: Chris Olave** - They select Chris Olave, leaning into a "hero RB" build by taking another wide receiver.
7 (12:20) **Pick 4.04: Zay Flowers** - They continue the hero RB strategy by drafting Zay Flowers over running backs like Travis Etienne or Josh Jacobs.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Tom Strachan Andrew Erickson

Show Notes

Learn how to approach high-stakes leagues by joining Tom Strachan and Andrew Erickson for a new attempt at a $125 FFPC Best Ball Tournament draft!

Is Buffalo Bills RB James Cook trustworthy enough to build a hero-RB approach around? Can Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb bounce back? Plus, what happens when you punt a third quarterback in this format? What is the Washington Commanders' offensive outlook following Laremy Tunsil's injury? We also break down the Panthers' backfield and provide long-term comparisons between Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert.

The Pros take recent NFL Training Camp buzz and ADP trends into consideration when making their picks!

Timestamps: (May be off due to ads)

Intro - 0:00:00
Round 1 - 0:00:15
Round 2 - 0:02:46
FantasyPros Draft Assistant - 0:03:30
Round 2 (cont.) - 0:03:59
Round 3 - 0:06:26
Round 4 - 0:11:33
Round 5 - 0:17:06
Round 6 - 0:20:46
Round 7 - 0:29:40
Round 8 - 0:33:24
FantasyPros Twitch - 0:34:27
Round 8 (cont.) - 0:34:47
Round 9 - 0:42:05
Round 10 - 0:44:10
Round 11 - 0:47:18
Round 12 - 0:52:49
FantasyPros Discord - 0:56:09
Round 13 - 0:56:50
Round 14 - 0:59:49
Round 15 - 1:05:11
Round 16 - 1:09:40
Round 17 - 1:11:20
Round 18 - 1:19:47
Round 19 - 1:21:02
Round 20 - 1:22:42
Outro - 1:25:19

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