Willing to Lose 2.25

Larejo is a mid-stakes tournament mastermind who specializes in outmaneuvering 150-max players with a small number of entries

As The Scroll has evolved over the years, I’ve tried (to some success) to adjust Willing to Lose with it. What does this mean? Well, if you’re relatively new here, in 2025, The Scroll is fully comprehensive. It’s now at the point where no stones are left unturned. You’re prepared, informed, and ready for each and every slate. But this piece, as just one element of the larger docket, is intended to bring it all together for some of you crazies out there looking to battle the thousands upon thousands for life-changing money (Millionaire-Maker tournaments, typically) while not risking thousands upon thousands of dollars.

The challenge is obvious. This won’t happen very frequently. There is no get-rich-quick scheme. So you have to put in the time and effort – sometimes weeks, months, years. It’s why you need to consume all of the other content at One Week Season, as well. Because you won’t get the best plays here, and you likely won’t get the second tier either. But what you will get is a core (usually a three-pack) or strategies that I am deploying without consulting others (for the most part). Said another way: this article should always represent me being me, and in turn, you being you in building lineups.

Crash the leaderboards

PFP the OWS pennant

I’m a believer that ownership matters. I’m also a believer that ownership doesn’t matter if you are charting your own path in a given lineup. As long as you are thinking uniquely (through the lens of your own thinking), you can be comfortable that your lineup won’t be duped. And the only way to think uniquely is to build opinions, be bold over time, and sharpen, sharpen, sharpen your process. Your outlook should always be positive, that one of these weeks it’s going to all come together for you.

So, read on at your own discretion – especially if you’re looking for sometimes irrational inspiration – and then choose if you agree or disagree. That’s the beauty of writing content, and that’s the beauty of consuming it! 

Here’s where I’ll be lining up on Sunday…

Joe Burrow + Ja’Marr Chase + Brenton Strange + CeeDee Lamb