Everyone has heard of the Zero-RB draft strategy. However, how does it work? Fantasy players don’t avoid that position the entire draft. Instead, you focus on other positions early in the draft before targeting running back starting in the fifth or sixth round.
Ideally, you load up at the wide receiver position in the early rounds, grabbing two star-caliber guys. Fantasy players also want to draft an elite quarterback and tight end before picking their first running back with this draft strategy. The point of this strategy is to sacrifice the running back position to have a star-studded lineup everywhere else.
Below are running backs I am targeting this year when using a Zero-RB draft strategy.
- 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Best Ball Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Zero RB Running Back Draft Targets
Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN): ADP 105.3 | RB35
Many had high hopes for Spears heading into the offseason. Unfortunately, the Titans signed Tony Pollard to a significant contract in free agency. Yet, the former Tulane star is one of my favorite mid-round running back draft picks this year. He had the fifth-best explosive run rate (7%) and the ninth-best yards after contact per rushing attempt average (2.92) among running backs with at least 100 attempts last season (per Fantasy Points Data). While Pollard won’t completely disappear into the background, Spears could become the lead running back in Tennessee.
Gus Edwards (RB – LAC): ADP 114.7 | RB38
J.K. Dobbins has gotten some hype recently. Yet, I can’t stop drafting Edwards, especially when using a Zero-RB draft strategy. The veteran is coming off the best season of his career, totaling 13 rushing touchdowns, the third-most among running backs and the fifth-most in the NFL. He was the RB20 in 2023, averaging 10.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Dobbins has a significant injury history. Therefore, don’t be surprised if Edwards is the featured running back in Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman’s run-heavy offense, especially near the goal line.
Chase Brown (RB – CIN): ADP 121.3 | RB41
Some believed Zack Moss would replace Joe Mixon as the lead back in Cincinnati earlier this offseason. However, Brown has been the talk of training camp and could take the starting role away from the veteran before Week 1. Brown had a higher explosive run rate (9.1% vs. 3.1%) and yards after contact per attempt (3.09 vs. 2.29) than Moss did in his five games without Jonathan Taylor last year. While fantasy players should expect both running backs to have a meaningful role, Brown has significantly more upside.
Jaleel McLaughlin (RB – DEN): ADP 166.3 | RB53
The Broncos backfield is a wide-open competition. However, McLaughlin is the only one I will draft. He impressed as a rookie, averaging 11.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game and 6.9 yards per rushing attempt in the four contests with at least seven attempts. McLaughlin had the 12th-best explosive run rate among running backs with at least 75 rushing attempts in 2023 (per Fantasy Points Data). Don’t be surprised if Sean Payton views him as his next Alvin Kamara and gives McLaughlin a significant workload, especially in the passing game.
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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.