Fantasy Football Draft: The Zero Running Back Strategy
By Bruce Lamb
Fantasy Football Draft: Zero Running Back Strategy
Taking the zero running back strategy in your NFL fantasy draft has become more popular now that the running back position in the NFL has morphed into a 2 man job. The good ‘ol days of having a 3 down back are just about over, with there only being a handful of 3 down backs left in the NFL. A result of this change is the zero RB draft strategy. Now, obviously this does not mean to not take a running back, what it suggests is to not take a running back until the later rounds.
I’ve done some mock drafts using this strategy and had some mixed results. To me, the only way this strategy makes sense is if you are playing in a PPR league. If you are playing in a standard, this strategy will make it tough for you to score well in your league unless you nail your RB picks (more on that later on). Another thing to really consider if you decide to take this approach in your draft is when you pick. If you pick 4th, and Brown, Jones, and Beckham are gone, who would you take at 4? Would you take Hopkins (word is he is ending his holdout)? What about AJ Green, or Dez Bryant that early? Picking in the top 3 or after pick 5 seems like the best area to use this strategy. Let’s take a look at a zero RB draft could look like.
Next: How to use the Zero RB Strategy
If you pick in the top 3, you could obviously have Brown, Beckham, or Jones, in that order. If you pick after 5, you could have Green, Hopkins, Bryant, Gronk, or Robinson. I just wouldn’t use a 4th, or 5th on those guys and pass on David Johnson, or Todd Gurley. If you have a chance to grab either one of those guys in either format you have to.
In round 2 the WR’s available will likely be Marshall, Nelson, Thomas, Evans, Jeffery, Allen, Cooks, Watkins, and Cooper. Plenty will be available to take in the 2nd round to pair with who you took in the 1st. In round 3 guys like Landry, Edelman, Cobb, Tate, Maclin, Benjamin, Baldwin, Hilton, and Decker. Round 4 will likely have Parker, Moncrief, Floyd, Brown, Matthews, Lockett, and Hurns. And that is without naming any tight ends other than Gronk.
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As you can see, there are plenty of receivers to take in the 1st 4 rounds and be able to justify it. Now, when do you take your first running back? I would target round 5 where you could still end up with DeMarco Murray, Langford, Hill, Gore, or Gordon. In the 6th you could grab your # 2 back by taking one of the above if they are still there, or take a shot on who wins the jobs of the Ravens, Dolphins, or Jaguars.
After that, you are looking at taking #2 backs or ones who have a time share. You could also take both if you grab a couple backs who play in a RB friendly system. You never know what can happen in the later rounds, as last year both Freeman and Newton went in round 8 or later in a lot of leagues and ended up being the leaders at their respective positions.
Next: Fantasy Football: QB Draft Strategy
I personally am not going to use this strategy in any of my drafts, I believe you must have a solid option as your #1 running back. I understand the thought process behind it, but to me there are a lot better receiving options that will be available later in your drafts compared to what you will have at the running back position.