Building a Champion: Scuba_Eli

Our first league champion lifts the trophy yet again - in this instalment of the annual 'Building a Champion' series, we break down how Scuba_Eli built their 2025 Championship Team.

We specifically cover the 8 players they started during the Championship week that got them over the line - 2 players are missing from that lineup that have powered Scuba_Eli through many years of wins (including their first Championship winning QB); Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Both have been huge pickups at great value - Kelce traded for a 2020 1st, Chris Herndon and Matt Breida in 2019 and Mahomes picked with the 8.11 pick in the startup draft way back in 2018.

Only one player remains from Scuba_Eli's original Championship squad - Stefon Diggs, who has been with them from the start.

The total capital Scuba_Eli spent on their roster was:

4 1st Round Picks 1 3rd Round Pick $304 FAAB

1 2nd Round Startup Pick

Let's dive in:

QB: Caleb Williams

Drafted 1.6 in 2024

A high pick for a QB, Williams has become a QB1 after a slower rookie season. Now under Ben Johnson, Williams# QB6 season helped Scuba_Eli to the #1 seed, and should be a good weekly option for future playoff pushes, even with Mahomes at the other QB spot. Another good performance against San Francisco was the highest scorer of Scuba_Eli's team in Championship week.

RB: Aaron Jones

Traded for in 2022 with leathershoe4 - acquired Aaron Jones for 2023 1st and 2023 3rd

Since the trade for Jones, he has had a solid run of seasons in GB then in Minnesota. This year has not been great for Jones, but a solid performance (including a touchdown) in the Championship week helped get Scuba_Eli the win.

RB: Jaylen Warren

Added from waivers for $1 in 2022

One of a number of impactful waiver pickups, Scuba_Eli picked up Warren 3 years ago for almost nothing just before the season started. Since then, Warren has had a number of solid RB2 years, including a Week 16 performance where he went off against Detroit, securing Scuba_Eli the victory against RobbieK.

WR: George Pickens

Drafted 1.11 in 2022

A late first round pick, Pickens has been a volatile asset in his first few years in the league, but exploded in 2025 in Dallas, notching the overall WR4 on the year. Pickens was a huge part of Scuba_Eli's year, clocking in seven weeks with over 15 fantasy points, and 5 over 20 points.

WR: Puka Nacua

Added from waivers for $101 in 2023

Easily one of the best (if not the best) waiver pickups in league history, Nacua has been at the top of the league as a WR since being drafted. This year, Nacua was the overall WR2, with a high baseline and huge ceiling. Nacua won the Fantasy MVP award, highlighted by a 40.5 point performance in Week 16; leading Scuba_Eli to the highest single week total of the year.

TE: Brenton Strange

Added from waivers for $202 in 2024

Having benched Kelce (which turned out to be the right call) Scuba_Eli started Brenton Strange. Strange had a solid snap count and target share all year, and put in his contribution to Scuba_Eli's team in the final week.

FLEX: Stefon Diggs

Drafted 2.11 in the Startup Draft in 2018

Diggs has now been on Scuba_Eli's roster for 8 seasons, with 5 of those being WR1 seasons. Their first helped Scuba_Eli to a Championship in 2018, and this year an overall WR20 year contributed in getting them the #1 seed. 101 yards and a TD in Championship Week was their highest non-QB score, proving Diggs can still contribute at 32.

FLEX: DJ Moore

Drafted 1.11 in 2018

Another player on Scuba_Eli's roster since 2018, Moore has been a solid player their whole career, turning in a WR2 performance almost every year. This year was a down one for Moore, finishing at only the WR30 in Chicago, but a big performance in Week 16 helped get Scuba_Eli to the Championship - loyalty pays off.