How does the Zero-RB draft strategy work? You don’t avoid running backs during the entire draft, just the first handful of rounds. Typically, you wait until the fifth or sixth round to draft your first running back using this strategy. You want to load up at other positions instead of targeting RBs early.
Ideally, you want to secure a pair of stud wide receivers, a top-tier tight end, and a superstar quarterback. The point of this strategy is to sacrifice at running back to have a star-studded lineup at other positions.
Below are seven running backs I am targeting this year when using a Zero-RB strategy. I want to leave my draft with at least four of the following players on my team.
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2023 Zero-RB Running Back Draft Targets
Cam Akers (LAR): ADP 55.3 | RB22
Akers is probably the most polarizing player in fantasy football. Some love him, while others believe he’s extremely overrated. Yet, that’s good news for the believers, as it pushes his ADP lower than it should be.
The first half of last season was a nightmare for Akers. However, he was the RB2 over the final four weeks, averaging 18.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per contest. Akers forced a missed tackle on 22.7% of his rushing attempts in those games. Meanwhile, he set career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns last year despite all the issues early in the season. More importantly, the Rams didn’t add anyone to challenge his featured role this offseason.
James Conner (ARI): ADP 61.7 | RB24
Many won’t draft Conner because of his age, name, or the team for which he plays. However, the veteran is the perfect Zero-RB draft target because of his projected role. The Cardinals improved the offensive line during the NFL Draft instead of drafting a running back.
Conner averaged 21.3 touches and 17.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over his final seven games last season. Furthermore, he averaged over 4.7 yards per rushing attempt in four of the final five games last year. The Cardinals lack proven weapons, meaning they will run the veteran into the ground. Don’t be surprised if he has a career-high in touches this year.
David Montgomery (DET): ADP 72.7 | RB28
While he never turned into a fantasy superstar, Montgomery has been a consistent RB2 for fantasy players despite playing on a poor Chicago offense. Last year, he was the RB23, averaging 10 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite splitting the backfield work with Khalil Herbert and Justin Fields.
Montgomery has never finished lower than the RB25 in any season of his career. He was brought in to replace Jamaal Williams in Detroit. Last year, Williams led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (17) and finished second in goal touches (22). While Jahmyr Gibbs is getting all the attention from the media, Montgomery will quietly outperform his ADP.
James Cook (BUF): ADP 83.3 | RB31
Last year, everyone had high hopes for Cook. Sadly, the rookie running back struggled, ending the season as the RB45 while averaging only six half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, the second-year running back is a popular breakout candidate.
The Bills lost Devin Singletary in free agency, replacing him with Damien Harris. Unfortunately, Harris has missed 28% of the contests over the past three seasons because of injury. Meanwhile, 13.5% of Cook’s rushing attempts went for 10 or more yards last year. He also finished first in breakaway run rate (12.1%). Josh Allen and the coaching staff expect a big year from Cook, as should fantasy players.
Antonio Gibson (WAS): ADP 93.3 | RB34
Gibson had a disappointing 2022 season. It started during the preseason, as Brian Robinson Jr. stole the starting job, forcing Gibson into a reserve and special teams role. The former Memphis star averaged only 9.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game – a career low.
I expect a bounce-back year in 2023. Gibson will take over as the full-time pass-catching running back with J.D. McKissic gone. Meanwhile, Eric Bieniemy turned Jerick McKinnon into a low-end RB2 last season despite having only 72 rushing attempts, thanks to 56 receptions and nine receiving touchdowns, both career highs. More importantly, the Commanders’ coaching staff has repeatedly mentioned Gibson during offseason workouts.
De’Von Achane (MIA): ADP 117.3 | RB41
The entire fantasy football community is holding its collective breath, waiting for Dalvin Cook to sign somewhere. Wherever the veteran lands, it will screw up some running back’s fantasy value. Hopefully, it’s not Miami, as Achane has top-12 potential.
Last season, the Miami backfield combined to score 352.2 half-point PPR fantasy points. Had one player gotten 60% of that work, they would have been the RB12 last year and the RB8 the year before. Achane will have no trouble earning the lead role over Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. if the Dolphins don’t sign Cook.
Roschon Johnson (CHI): ADP 161.3 | RB51
Chicago signed D’Onta Foreman to pair with Khalil Herbert before drafting Johnson this offseason. However, fantasy players should take advantage of the rookie’s cheap ADP while they still can. The former Longhorn could be this year’s Dameon Pierce – a rookie running back that beats out the veteran competition around him and becomes an RB2 for fantasy players.
If Johnson didn’t have to share the Texas backfield with Bijan Robinson, he likely would have been a second-round draft pick. The rookie is already the team’s best pass protector. More importantly, the coaching staff has repeatedly mentioned the former Longhorn this offseason. Don’t be surprised when Johnson leads the team in rushing attempts as a rookie.
More Players to Target & Avoid
- Pat Fitzmaurice: (Targets | Avoids) (Premium)
- Andrew Erickson: (Targets | Avoids) (Premium)
- Derek Brown: (Targets | Avoids) (Premium)
- Fantasy Football Sleepers for Every Team (Premium)
- How to Identify Fantasy Football Busts (Premium)
- Erickson’s Guide to Drafting Players on Good Offenses
- Fantasy Football Draft Values for Every Round
- Predicting First-Round Bust Candidates
- DBro’s Wide Receiver Lottery Tickets
- Erickson’s Running Back Lottery Tickets
- Players to Target in Each Round (v2 | v3)
- Players to Avoid in Each Round
- Late-Round Draft Targets
- Late-Round QB Targets in Superflex Leagues | More QB Sleepers
- Late-Round RB Targets | More RB Sleepers | July RB Targets
- Late-Round WR Targets
- Late-Round TE Targets
- Deep Dart Throw Draft Targets
- WRs to Target in the RB Dead Zone (v2)| RBs to Avoid in the RB Dead Zone | RBs to Target in RB Dead Zone
- Identifying the Next WR1s | Identifying the Next RB1s
- 2022 Duds That Will Become 2023 Studs
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.