Does Zero RB mean you draft zero running backs?
No. It means you wait on the position and skip running backs in the early rounds. You still draft them, just later, after you have built up your receivers and tight end.
Zero RB
Zero RB is a draft strategy where a manager waits on running backs and instead loads up on wide receivers and tight ends with early picks.
Zero RB is a fantasy football draft strategy in which a manager deliberately avoids taking running backs in the early rounds, instead stacking wide receivers and maybe an elite tight end with the first several picks. The idea is that wide receiver production is steadier and easier to predict from year to year, while running backs get hurt more often and see their value swing wildly. By waiting, a manager can grab several pass catchers who score consistently, then fill the backfield later with cheaper options.
The strategy also takes advantage of how running back value changes during the season. Injuries hit the position hard every year, so starters lose jobs and backups suddenly become valuable. A manager following Zero RB can pick up those new starters off the waiver wire or trade for them, often at a bargain price. Instead of betting big on one or two running backs staying healthy, the manager collects a bunch of cheap options and hopes a few hit.
Zero RB carries real risk. If the late-round running backs and waiver picks do not pan out, the team can be stuck with a weak backfield all season. It also works best in point-per-reception leagues, where wide receivers get extra value for catches. Many managers use a softer version of the approach, taking just one running back early and then waiting on the rest.
Common questions
Is Zero RB better for PPR or standard leagues?
It tends to work better in PPR leagues, because wide receivers earn a full point per catch, which boosts the players you are drafting early.
What is the biggest risk of Zero RB?
The risk is that your late-round running backs and waiver wire adds never become reliable starters, leaving your team short at a position where most opponents are strong.
Related terms
Fanademy ranks every player by value over replacement under your league's scoring. The free top five at each position is public; the full board is $5 a month or $40 a year.
See plans and sign up