Everyone has heard of the Zero-RB draft strategy. Meanwhile, the Zero-WR strategy doesn’t get as much love from the fantasy football community. Yet, it’s one of my favorite draft strategies every year.
How does the Zero-RB or Zero-WR draft strategy work? You don’t avoid running backs or wide receivers 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 or wide receiver, depending on which Zero-draft strategy you use.
Fantasy players want to load up at the other position (running back or wide receiver) early in the draft. Ideally, you also want to secure a top-three quarterback and an elite tight end with these strategies. The point is to sacrifice running back or wide receiver to have a star-studded lineup at other positions.
- Consistency Series: QB | RB | WR
- Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
- Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
Zero-WR Draft Strategy Targets
Zero-WR Draft Targets
DJ Moore (WR – CHI): ADP 52.3 | WR20
Mostly, everyone is excited about Moore this season. Yet, his ADP is still outside the first four rounds. The veteran has spent his career playing with sub-par quarterbacks with the Carolina Panthers. Yet, the former Maryland star has been a consistent WR2 since his rookie season. Moore totaled at least 1,150 receiving yards or seven touchdowns in four consecutive years.
Meanwhile, the star wide receiver showed off a strong connection with Justin Fields during the preseason. Last year, the fantasy community saw A.J. Brown have a career season after getting a quarterback upgrade. Don’t be surprised if that happens for Moore this season.
Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT): ADP 80.3 | WR34
The veteran wide receiver was the WR9 in 2021, averaging 13.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Johnson finished second in the NFL with 169 targets and had eight receiving touchdowns, a career-high. Unfortunately, he was only the WR39 last year, averaging 8.1 fantasy points per game after scoring zero touchdowns.
Yet, Johnson had a 27% target share, the 13th-highest among wide receivers. Furthermore, the veteran finished seventh in the NFL with 147 targets (8.7 per game), down only 1.3 targets per game compared to 2021. Had he scored 6.7 touchdowns last season (his career average entering the year), Johnson would have been the WR19.
Jahan Dotson (WR – WAS): ADP 91.7 | WR36
Dotson quietly led all rookies in receiving touchdowns (seven) despite missing five games and playing several others limited. Removing his first three games back from a nagging hamstring injury (where he played under 67% of the snaps in every contest), the rookie would have averaged 12.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game last season. Over a 17-game pace, he would have been the WR11.
The former Penn State star is prime for a sophomore-year breakout. Dotson ran a route on all but one of Sam Howell‘s 44 preseason dropbacks, earning a 25.7% target share, nearly twice as high as any other player on the team.
Nico Collins (WR – HOU): ADP 172.3 | WR59
After trading away Brandin Cooks in the offseason, Collins will take over as the Texans’ No. 1 wide receiver. Last season, he was the WR48 on a points-per-game basis, averaging 7.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per contest, only 0.4 fewer than George Pickens. Yet, his ADP is nearly eight rounds later than the Pittsburgh receiver.
The former Michigan star finished second in contested catch rate (66.7%) among wide receivers despite Davis Mills ranking 43rd in catchable pass rate last season. Thankfully, Houston drafted C.J. Stroud, giving the young receiver a legit franchise quarterback. Collins is an under-the-radar third-year breakout candidate.
QBs & TEs to Target with Zero Draft Strategies
Whether fantasy players use a Zero-RB or Zero-WR draft strategy, you want to secure an elite quarterback and tight end. Fantasy players can use their top two picks on a quarterback and tight end, then load up at running back or wide receiver before switching to the other position. Another option is to target one quarterback or tight end early and the other in the fourth or fifth round.
Below are two quarterbacks and two tight ends I am targeting when using a Zero-RB or Zero-WR draft strategy.
Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI): ADP 22.7 | QB3
Hurts had a breakout season in 2022, finishing as the QB1 on a points-per-game basis. Furthermore, the superstar has been a force in the run game since taking over as the starter. The former Oklahoma star has totaled 23 rushing touchdowns over the past two years. Yet, he has even more rushing upside this season.
The Eagles lost Miles Sanders in free agency. Unless the team adds Jonathan Taylor, Philadelphia will need to lean on Hurts more in the run game this year. Last season, the superstar quarterback finished second in the NFL with 13 rushing touchdowns. He could easily have 17 rushing touchdowns in 2023.
Justin Fields (QB – CHI): ADP 45.7 | QB7
From Week 5 through Week 16, Fields was the QB5, averaging 24.1 fantasy points per game. While the former Ohio State quarterback was a fantasy star because of his legs, he was a better passer than people give him credit for.
Fields finished eighth in air yards per attempt (8.9), seventh in red zone completion percentage (62.2%), fourth in red zone accuracy rating (7.4), and 16th in deep ball accuracy rating (5.9) last season. Yet, those numbers should improve this year with the addition of DJ Moore. He is my dark horse candidate to end the year as the overall QB1.
Travis Kelce (TE – KC): ADP 5.7 | TE1
While he isn’t worth taking with the 1.01 pick, Kelce is a top-five selection this season. The future Hall of Famer scores like a top-10 wide receiver or running back every year. Furthermore, he gives fantasy players a significant weekly advantage after finishing as the TE1 in four of the past five seasons.
Last year, the veteran averaged four more half-point PPR fantasy points per game than any other tight end. He also led all wide receivers and tight ends in yards after the catch. Anyone using a Zero-RB or Zero-WR draft strategy should make drafting Kelce their top priority.
Darren Waller (TE – NYG): ADP 57.7 | TE5
The veteran was the TE2 in 2020, averaging 9.1 targets and 14.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Unfortunately, Waller has struggled with injuries, missing over 40% of the games the past two years. However, he is prime for a bounce-back season in New York.
Last season, the veteran led all tight ends in deep targets (13) despite missing nearly half the year. Furthermore, Waller finished second in yards per reception (13.9), fifth in yards per target (nine), and 11th in yards per route run (1.69) among tight ends. More importantly, Waller has built a strong connection with Daniel Jones.
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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.
