“The anchor holds despite the storm.”
A cornerstone, a bedrock, a security blanket — think of it what you may, but an anchor can provide peace of mind amidst turmoil and strife. To have something to fall back upon, to root and hold you in place, should not be underappreciated.
Akin to ships at sea trying to moor themselves in a storm, the “Anchor RB” strategy is centered around selecting a foundational player at the position to “anchor” your core before focusing on high-end receivers for the following several selections, before eventually closing out the draft with one or two more RBs after rounds six or seven.
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Anchor RB Fantasy Football Draft Strategy
The Anchor RB strategy (also commonly referred to as the Hero RB or modified Zero RB strategy) presents an alternative option for season-long fantasy managers who are looking to pivot away from the traditional RB-RB-WR-WR start but are not willing to take the inherent risks of the Zero RB idea of abandoning the RB position entirely early on.
Reduced Volatility
The reduced volatility of having one workhorse player supported by several late-round selections with upside, compared to ignoring RB until the middle portion of a draft and throwing several fliers out instead, is appealing to many and has caught fire in popularity over the last several seasons since its introduction. Its ease of use and strong success rate in high-stakes tournaments means the Anchor RB method is here to stay.
Both options have merits, especially with the continued pull towards PPR formats rather than standard.
Avoid RB Dead Zone
Both options also attempt to avoid the dreaded RB dead zone when possible (a term created by Establish The Run’s Jack Miller — an idea that RBs drafted between rounds 3-6 traditionally have a poor return on investment and a higher chance of busting). Running backs drafted within this “dead zone” have averaged fewer points than their WR counterparts, creating a drag on win rates. To combat the bust rate, the Zero RB strategy ignores selecting all RBs within the first six rounds to minimize exposure risk. In contrast, the Anchor RB strategy pins its hope upon the top-tier player, outperforming all expectations and then being supported by later selections.
TiptoeingThrough a Minefield
Both options also acknowledge the belief that drafting RBs is like tiptoeing through a minefield — attempting to avoid injuries, committee situations and Wally Pipp scenarios is extremely difficult. That said, Anchor RB is willing to flirt with fire within this “dead zone” for the potential of a season-winning breakout, or as Pat Kerrane kindly put it, an “epic, season-named-after-you result.”
Volume is King
Fantasy managers looking to move on from a traditional draft strategy in favor of the Anchor RB option need to remember that volume is king. Hone in on finding an RB that faces as little competition for touches as possible to ensure the highest weekly floor of points. Nearly every team within the NFL has employed some rotational backfield to preserve the health of their players, but a proper “Anchor” option should be given at least 60% of the overall volume, including all the goal-line carries. Additionally, an RB who is a weapon within their team’s passing game is a bonus.
Anchor RB Fantasy Football Draft Targets
We acknowledge that the above criteria will drastically whittle down the available candidates. Still, coming to a draft prepared with your shortlist of prospective anchor options is paramount. Should your Anchor RB remain healthy for the season, they can propel you into the playoffs, similar to what Christian McCaffrey did in 2023.
Here are a few players to consider if you wish to join the growing number of Anchor RB truthers.
Christian McCaffrey is the most obvious choice. There is a good reason why he is universally ranked as the RB1 entering 2024. He averaged over 21 touches and 126 total yards per game, and he remains in the prime of his career. McCaffrey is heavily utilized as a check-down option by Brock Purdy in the passing game. His 67 receptions ranked third-most at the position last year. Additionally, he led all RBs with 16 red-zone targets. He is expensive to acquire but well worth the investment.
Breece Hall silenced all doubters last year. Despite being eased back into action from his knee injury, he was too talented to keep down. From Week 5 onward, Hall averaged over 20 touches per game, including prolific usage as a receiver (his 76 receptions on 95 targets led the position). A healthy Aaron Rodgers under center will decrease those totals, but fantasy players should expect his rushing numbers to more than make up the difference. He led all RBs in runs of over 30 yards. Let that sink in for a moment.
Saquon Barkley’s exodus from the New York Giants is a revelation in his fantasy outlook. Mired behind a woefully inept offensive line the last several seasons and crippled by injuries, Barkley’s once bright career experienced a sharp tarnish he is looking to remove. Entering his age-27 season, he is the undisputed leader atop the Philadelphia Eagles RB depth chart and will see bell-cow usage in 2024. He averaged over 20 touches per game last year and exhibited explosiveness when afforded a hole to run through.
Jonathan Taylor is another strong anchor RB option. His averages last year were erratic due to injuries (both his own and Anthony Richardson‘s), but when he finally returned healthy after Week 7, he handled 21 touches per contest, averaging nearly 100 yards per game. Only 25 years old, Taylor has plenty of upside and could easily finish as the overall RB1 as defenses contend with a more balanced Indianapolis Colts offense this year.
Target players within this tier (RB1-RB7, specifically), and avoid RBs within the aforementioned dead zone of rounds 3-6. Running backs currently residing within that range include Rachaad White, Isiah Pacheco, James Cook, Kenneth Walker, Joe Mixon and Alvin Kamara.
More Fantasy Football Draft Advice
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