Fast Five: Bargain boxes Buzz would be ripping right now

Fast Five is a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's something to think about.

This time? Five boxes Buzz would be ripping right now ... all from the bargain section.

BACK TO SCHOOL ... RIGHT NOW
2021 Onyx Vintage Collection College Football box
These aren't actually out yet -- it's merely in pre-order mode for a November release -- but this one is Onyx's take on the new NCAA NIL rules that allow current athletes to make money on their name, image and likeness right now rather than when they are done with their college days. College football and college basketball figure to be the biggest deals on this front and this one includes a pair of autos in a box along with two other cards. Bryce Young's start has the word "Heisman" attached already and the other certified autos of his all have had pro-type dollar signs attached, not mere college award-winner prices. These boxes figure to be a bit hit and miss -- the big names will pay for a few boxes, others probably won't -- but at their present price I think they are worth the risk moreso than a lot of other releases out there. College NIL autos will have a longer shelf life than your typical draft picks cards as the booster crowd will be interested as well as the school fans -- and they won't have NFL cardboard to trump them until further down the line. I'm sure more stuff is coming but the other other one of these releases on the tarmac is a multi-sport approach. This one is solely football so that gives it the edge for me. Once Panini America's fully licensed NIL stuff starts, those will be the first-look but these are not far off.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

GOOD VALUE IN THE PAST
2021 Donruss NFL blaster box
I have not spotted this one yet out in the wild but basic Donruss NFL blasters and mega boxes have been a favorite of mine off and on in the last five years as the array of inserts, parallels and base cards showing past and present stars as well as those Rated Rookies have been fun finds and in some cases have paid off well. I'm not as sold on the secondary prices of basic key RCs right now -- they will settle down -- but the iconic card future potential value is there. If you want to play it safe and just want Rookie Cards, grab a factory set of this one ... it's also available now but arriving later this fall.

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KEEP IT SIMPLE ... 
2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Photo Baseball Edition
Ever get a little skeptical about the chase for new stuff and the bummers of prices or not being able to find boxes that you might land at a lower price later? I'll admit it ... I do ... and at those times I ponder safe, simple approaches and one option like that is a repack like this -- a release where there's an autographed item in every pack. Signed photos are the norm here -- and there are inevitably packs that won't generate a monster pull (just like anything else) -- but wouldn't it be cool to find any of those autos seen here for $50? There are redemptions for premium items as well ... making the chase even bigger.

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GOOD VOLUME & POTENTIAL
2013 Panini USA Baseball boxed set
You get seven autos per box here and any one of those might be Jack Flaherty, Alex Bregman, Matt Chapman, Michael Conforto, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bradley Zimmer, Mickey Moniak or Andrew Vaughn among others. I know it's not always easy to keep track of who's in what year for USA Baseball stuff -- and there are a lot of names you won't know as they didn't advance beyond perhaps this team -- but any number of those names on anything more than a basic auto will have a good shot at paying for a good chunk if not all of your box ... and then you have nine other hits and a set, too.

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ONE ROOKIE CARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED ... 
2015 Topps NFL factory set
You get some rookie variations as a set-topper along with a Rookie Relic card, too, in this one but there's a Rookie Card in this one that I know I have had but probably didn't hold that has turned out to be just as interesting here as the RCs of Stefon Diggs, Jameis Winston, Todd Gurley, David Johnson, Tyler Lockett, Amari Cooper and others here. The difference? It's an RC without the RC logo and it's the Rookie Card of former punter turned (beloved) radio/Internet blowhard turned WWE announcer Pat McAfee. He actually sells better than most of them as he doesn't have a lot of card appearances in general and this is his only RC. (I'm grabbing one of these right now ... and probably more as I didn't do a bunch of this one back when it arrived. Plus, wax boxes are pricier if you can even find them.)

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What would you want to see in a future Fast Five? Let Buzz know on Twitter or email.

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Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

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