With wide receivers being pushed up draft boards at an increasing rate, it can be easy to feel locked out of the receiver position if you wait too long. More and more drafters are coming around to Zero RB as a draft tactic, and the key is always to hit on the correct type of running back when you choose to select one.
Typically, this strategy refers to waiting until round six or later for your first running back. In this article, we’ll touch on players with an average draft position (ADP) from the sixth round onwards.
The ADP in this article is based on FantasyPros Consensus PPR ADP covering four different platforms.
- Snake Draft Pick Strategy: Early | Middle | Late
- Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
- Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
Zero RB Targets (2023 Fantasy Football)
Tank Bigsby (RB – JAC) – 173.3
Everything the Jaguars have done this offseason regarding their running back room has shown that they don’t believe in Travis Etienne as a three-down back. Dating back to the combine when Doug Pederson stated, unprompted, that the team was looking to add another back and then selecting Tank Bigsby with the 88th overall pick in the draft.
Bigsby is a good short-yardage back, something that Etienne struggled with in 2022, turning 40 red zone carries into only four touchdowns. Bigsby can also play in the passing game, which allows him two avenues to high-value touches. Another elite handcuff in the late rounds.
Tank Bigsby fumbled? Wow. Sad to see his career over this early. Travis Etienne would NEVER*
*ETN’s 5 fumbles were the second most by any RB last year
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) August 27, 2023
Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PHI) – 192.3
The Eagles committee approach might be one we’re best served to stay away from, but the one thing in the pro column for Kenneth Gainwell is that he has a clearly defined role. The Eagles will continue to use him in the hurry-up offense and in passing-down situations, with beat writers suggesting he could have as many touches as any back in this backfield. If we cannot find ceiling outcomes, then defined roles are a fine fallback for Zero RB teams.
Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN) – 207.0
Preseason has seen Tyjae Spears’ ADP climb on best ball sites, but on Sleeper, it’s still lagging over 60 picks behind where you’ll select him in a best ball draft. Spears might not have an ACL, but he’s running well and looks explosive, with a mean stiff arm to boot. Derrick Henry is entering his age 29 season and can’t fight off Father Time forever, a task which will be even tougher with the tough-running Spears behind him, who put up 1586 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns in his final collegiate season.
I’m starting to come around to Tyjae Spears as someone I need to draft more of pic.twitter.com/4j14rpbg0h
— David Mendelson (@DMendy02) August 27, 2023
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