The hero RB strategy is one of my favorite ways to approach a draft. If you can grab an elite running back early that carries the position group for your team and stack out the rest of your roster, you’re in great shape. The RB2 spot should be the weakest spot on your team, but part of the theory is that we often see deeper running backs ascend to new heights, ala Tony Pollard and Rhamondre Stevenson last season.
For this build, I wanted to make my lineup as strong as possible outside of RB2 before grabbing some high upside plays at running back.
Let’s dive into our latest fantasy football mock draft. Practice makes perfect, and the best way to prepare is by using our free Draft Wizard Mock Draft Simulator.
- Snake Draft Pick Strategy: Early | Middle | Late
- Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
- Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
Mock Draft: Hero RB Strategy (2023 Fantasy Football)
1.05 – Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC)
I’m happy to take Ekeler as my hero running back in this strategy. Two years ago, I pounded the table for Ekeler as a trade target after the first few weeks saw him morph into the Chargers’ goal line back. Admittedly, I was skeptical he would retain that role and his value last season. You already know how that went, and we should see more of the same this year.
There just aren’t many backs who are their team’s main ball carrier on early downs, pass catcher on any down, and consistently getting work around the goal line. Ekeler excels in each of those roles, and this offense just might strike lightning this year with Kellen Moore.
2.08 – Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)
There are so many good receivers in the game today. It can certainly be an advantage to lock up a stud running back in Round 1 and let a guy like Garrett Wilson fall into your lap in Round 2. Wilson dominated as a rookie, flashing a special blend of route running, hands, and ball skills. It’s not a stretch to draw Davante Adams comparisons when you turn on the film, and you’ve got to think Wilson was a factor in Aaron Rodgers‘ decision.
Regardless, the only thing that could hold Wilson back is the strong defense and running game the Jets will deploy. Even so, he has an opportunity to soar to new heights this season.
3.05 – Tee Higgins (WR – CIN)
Looking to stack receivers with my hero running back, Higgins is as good as it gets for a WR2 spot. He often gets knocked because he isn’t the WR1 on his own team, and I get it, but that type of usage in an elite offense is all you can ask for. Higgins technically played all 17 games but left week 1 with a concussion, suffered an ankle sprain before Week 5 in which he ran six routes, and a hamstring strain limited him to one route in week 14. Take away those three games, and Higgins’ point total goes from 14.9 to 15.6, enough to push him up to the WR12.
4.08 – Calvin Ridley (WR – JAC)
I’m all in on Calvin Ridley this year. Getting him as my third wide receiver after a hero running back feels like a steal. Ridley doesn’t come with the safety net that Higgins does after being out of football for two years, but the upside as a third wide receiver is tantalizing. If Ridley can return to the form we last saw from him, or anywhere close, we could be getting a WR1 to go with Higgins, Wilson and Ekeler. That’s far from a guarantee, but I believe in the Jaguars’ offense and Trevor Lawrence taking another jump forward.
5.05 – Justin Herbert (QB – LAC)
When you think about stacking an offense, typically, a quarterback and wide receiver come to mind. In this case, I’ll stack a quarterback with a pass-catching running back. The stack is an added benefit of getting Herbert here before the tier of high-end quarterbacks drops off. Herbert led the league in money throws and pressured completion percentage last season while sitting at number two in play-action completion percentage and number three in true completion percentage.
The Chargers added Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, Quentin Johnston at receiver, and a clean bill of health for Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. It’s time for Herbert to take the next step.
6.08 – Darren Waller (WR – NYG)
One of the main benefits of a hero running back strategy is the ability to not only load up on wide receivers but also to grab a quarterback and/or tight end early. Waller appears to be back in the elite tier of tight ends operating as the top target for the G-men. It doesn’t hurt that head coach Brian Daboll has experience working with Rob Gronkowski, while offensive coordinator Mike Kafka helped lead an offense with Travis Kelce.
In the Giants’ second preseason game, Waller was targeted on the first three pass plays of the game and is looking primed to be Daniel Jones‘ go-to option in the passing attack.
7.05 – George Pickens (WR – PIT)
It’s not a necessity, but the central idea behind the hero running back approach is to fill out your starting lineup before dipping back into the running back pool. With that in mind, I’m continuing to stack upside wide receivers with one of my breakout picks for this season. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada is reportedly opening up the playbook for George Pickens and letting him operate with a full route tree. If Pickens can open up more underneath routes to his vertical game, he could be in for a big year.
8.08 – Khalil Herbert (RB – CHI)
After filling out the rest of my starting lineup, it’s time to find my RB2. Herbert nearly made my breakout list for this season, but it’s tough to see how the carries will shake out in Chicago with D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson joining the squad. Even with Foreman and Johnson on board, I’m confident that Herbert’s explosiveness will shine through. He’s efficient enough to plunge into RB2 territory on a limited workload, but if he takes the bulk of the work, he could wind up as a true breakout and a perfect pick for this build.
9.05 – Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)
Courtland Sutton’s value has followed the path of a roller coaster the past few seasons, and particularly through the offseason. Sutton was the subject of many trade rumors but ultimately stays in Denver with Russell Wilson and Sean Payton. With Tim Patrick out for the season and KJ Hamler waived/injured, Sutton has an opportunity to be a primary target of Wilson’s yet again, but this time in a potentially competent offense. I’ll take a swing on him as a depth wide receiver here.
10.08 – Jeff Wilson RB – MIA)
I’m still not quite sure why Jeff Wilson’s average draft position (ADP) is so low, especially after Dalvin Cook signed with the Jets. He’s listed as a co-starter with Raheem Mostert in one of the best rushing systems in the NFL. After joining the Dolphins midway through last season, Wilson carried the ball at least 13 times in four of eight contests and carried nine times in two others. The expectation is that this will be a split backfield, and I’m happy to get half of it in the 10th round.
11.05 – Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT)
Although Jaylen Warren’s role is up in the air, I’m willing to make a bet on it and against Najee Harris. One of the least efficient backs in the league the last three years, Harris has always relied on volume without any legitimate competition behind him. That could change this season, as Warren is expected to take on an expanded role. He showed how explosive he can be in a limited role as a rookie, and those are the players I want to take a shot on late to round out my running back room.
12.08 – Nico Collins (WR – HOU)
The Texans let go of Brandin Cooks and brought in Robert Woods, but it’s Nico Collins who is expected to see the biggest boost among the Texans’ pass catchers. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Collins posted the second-highest contested catch rate at 66.7% and the fourth-highest true catch rate at 112%. The biggest question for Collins is how far he can expand his game beyond that. He’s been unable to take a big step forward thus far, but perhaps CJ Stroud can help him unlock a new level.
13.05 – Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN)
Similar to Warren, Tyjae Spears is another playmaking backup running back capable of churning out some big plays. The difference is that Spears was a much better prospect but also backs up an absolute tank in Derrick Henry. Still, it might be wise for the Titans to consider King Henry’s workload. It’s likely they had that in mind when they drafted Spears, and considering the offense lacks weapons outside of Henry and Hopkins, they should have a plan for Spears.
14.08 – Van Jefferson (WR – LAR)
Outside of Cooper Kupp, the Rams’ offense is severely lacking pass catchers. Van Jefferson has generated some positive reports out of camp and is expected to be Matthew Stafford‘s number two target. Jefferson was on the right track in 2021 when he recorded 802 yards and six touchdowns before an injury-plagued 2022 season. I like his chances to get back on track this season and return value on his ADP.
15.05 – Juwan Johnson (TE – NO)
Johnson’s stock has dipped a bit with Foster Moreau joining the Saints, but don’t overlook him late in drafts. He is the clear pass-catching tight end and coming off a season of 508 yards and seven touchdowns. He now gets improved quarterback play and another year of experience playing tight end after converting from receiver.
My draft results can be found here.
- QB: Justin Herbert
- RB: Austin Ekeler
- RB: Khalil Herbert
- WR: Garret Wilson
- WR: Tee Higgins
- WR: Calvin Ridley
- TE: Darren Waller
- FLEX: George Pickens
- B: Courtland Sutton
- B: Jeff Wilson Jr.
- B: Jaylen Warren
- B: Nico Collins
- B: Tyjae Spears
- B: Van Jefferson
- B: Juwan Johnson
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