How does the Zero-RB draft strategy work? You don’t avoid running backs during the entire draft, just the first handful of rounds. Typically, you wait until the fifth or sixth round to draft your first running back using this strategy. You want to load up at other positions instead of targeting RBs early.
Ideally, you want to secure a pair of stud wide receivers, a top-tier tight end, and a superstar quarterback. The point of this strategy is to sacrifice at running back to have a star-studded lineup at other positions.
Below are running backs I am targeting this year when using a Zero-RB strategy. I want to leave my draft with at least four of the following players on my team.
- AFC Busts & League Winners: East | North | South | West
- NFC Busts & League Winners: East | North | South | West
- Snake Draft Pick Strategy: Early | Middle | Late
- Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
2023 Zero-RB Running Back Draft Targets
Antonio Gibson (WAS): ADP 93.3 | RB34
Gibson had a disappointing 2022 season. It started during the preseason, as Brian Robinson Jr. stole the starting job, forcing Gibson into a reserve and special teams role. The former Memphis star averaged only 9.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game – a career low.
I expect a bounce-back year in 2023. Gibson will take over as the full-time pass-catching running back with J.D. McKissic gone. Meanwhile, Eric Bieniemy turned Jerick McKinnon into a low-end RB2 last season despite having only 72 rushing attempts, thanks to 56 receptions and nine receiving touchdowns, both career highs. More importantly, the Commanders’ coaching staff has repeatedly mentioned Gibson during offseason workouts.
De’Von Achane (MIA): ADP 117.3 | RB41
The entire fantasy football community is holding its collective breath, waiting for Dalvin Cook to sign somewhere. Wherever the veteran lands, it will screw up some running back’s fantasy value. Hopefully, it’s not Miami, as Achane has top-12 potential.
Last season, the Miami backfield combined to score 352.2 half-point PPR fantasy points. Had one player gotten 60% of that work, they would have been the RB12 last year and the RB8 the year before. Achane will have no trouble earning the lead role over Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. if the Dolphins don’t sign Cook.
Roschon Johnson (CHI): ADP 161.3 | RB51
Chicago signed D’Onta Foreman to pair with Khalil Herbert before drafting Johnson this offseason. However, fantasy players should take advantage of the rookie’s cheap ADP while they still can. The former Longhorn could be this year’s Dameon Pierce – a rookie running back that beats out the veteran competition around him and becomes an RB2 for fantasy players.
If Johnson didn’t have to share the Texas backfield with Bijan Robinson, he likely would have been a second-round draft pick. The rookie is already the team’s best pass protector. More importantly, the coaching staff has repeatedly mentioned the former Longhorn this offseason. Don’t be surprised when Johnson leads the team in rushing attempts as a rookie.
More Players to Target & Avoid
- Pat Fitzmaurice: (Targets | Avoids) (Premium)
- Andrew Erickson: (Targets | Avoids) (Premium)
- Derek Brown: (Targets | Avoids) (Premium)
- Fantasy Football Sleepers for Every Team (Premium)
- How to Identify Fantasy Football Busts (Premium)
- Erickson’s Guide to Drafting Players on Good Offenses
- Fantasy Football Draft Values for Every Round
- Predicting First-Round Bust Candidates
- DBro’s Wide Receiver Lottery Tickets
- Erickson’s Running Back Lottery Tickets
- Players to Target in Each Round (v2 | v3)
- Players to Avoid in Each Round
- Late-Round Draft Targets
- Late-Round QB Targets in Superflex Leagues | More QB Sleepers
- Late-Round RB Targets | More RB Sleepers | July RB Targets
- Late-Round WR Targets
- Late-Round TE Targets
- Deep Dart Throw Draft Targets
- WRs to Target in the RB Dead Zone (v2)| RBs to Avoid in the RB Dead Zone | RBs to Target in RB Dead Zone
- Identifying the Next WR1s | Identifying the Next RB1s
- 2022 Duds That Will Become 2023 Studs
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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.
