What is Hero RB Draft Strategy? (2023 Fantasy Football)

Hello, FantasyPros community! As your trusted source for everything fantasy football, today, we’re diving into an intriguing draft strategy that could potentially be the secret ingredient to your next championship: The Hero RB draft strategy. We will break down what it is, how to effectively execute it, and why it could be your ticket to the top of the leaderboard.

What Is The Hero RB Draft Strategy?

To understand the Hero RB draft strategy, let’s first decipher what it stands for. Hero RB (Running Back) implies selecting a single dominant, highly consistent running back in the early rounds while delaying further RB selections until the later rounds. The primary objective here is to capitalize on the positional depth and relative variance of other positions, such as Wide Receiver (WR), Tight End (TE), and Quarterback (QB).

Benefits of the Hero RB Draft Strategy

Maximizing Elite Talent: By grabbing an elite running back in the first round, you ensure a consistent weekly point scorer on your roster. These backs are often three-down players who contribute not only in the running game but also in the passing game. They are bell-cow players who get a significant number of touches every game, providing a high floor for fantasy points.
Positional Depth: One of the critical strengths of the Hero RB strategy lies in the depth available at the WR position. There’s a high chance that the overall fantasy point difference between WRs drafted in the second or third round compared to those in the later rounds isn’t as significant as with RBs. Hence, waiting on WRs can still land you high-upside, productive players.
Favorable Variance: By focusing on other positions after securing your top-tier RB, you can target players with breakout potential. This strategy allows you to tap into the positional variance in the mid-rounds, enhancing the chance of getting a ‘steal’.

Executing the Hero RB Strategy

Securing Your Hero: In the first round, aim to draft an elite, workhorse RB. Look for players with little competition in their backfield and a proven track record of high performance. These backs are the fulcrum of their offense and are guaranteed high usage, equating to dependable fantasy production.
Focusing on WRs and TEs: After securing your top-tier RB, it’s time to shift focus. Start targeting high-volume, high-upside WRs and TEs in the next several rounds. The goal is to build a strong receiving corps that can outscore your opponent’s team most weeks.
Finding RB2 Value: In the middle-to-late rounds, look for value at RB. These could be backs in timeshares or those with clear paths to more substantial roles due to injury or underperformance by the starter. These RBs often carry significant upside at a bargain price.
QB Selection: Don’t rush to draft a QB. With the depth at this position, you can still land a solid, top-10 quarterback in the middle or later rounds. This patience allows you to build depth at the RB and WR positions.

Conclusion

The Hero RB strategy is an exciting approach that can pay dividends if executed correctly. It provides a robust framework for team building, allowing for balanced strength across all positions. While there are always inherent risks in any strategy, the potential payoff from the Hero RB strategy is worth considering in your upcoming drafts. Good luck, FantasyPros!

Remember, the most successful fantasy players adapt and adjust strategies based on how their drafts are unfolding. So while the Hero RB strategy is a potent approach, keep an open mind, and stay flexible.