Does the Zero-RB draft strategy work? Fantasy football players have argued about it for years. The truth is it can work if executed correctly and if Lady Luck is on your side. Here are Zero RB fantasy football draft picks to target for 2025.
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Zero RB Fantasy Football Draft Picks to Target
How does the strategy work? You don’t avoid running backs during the entire draft, just the first handful of hands. Typically, you wait until the fifth or sixth round to draft your first running back using this strategy.
Instead of targeting running backs early in your draft, you want to load up at other positions. Ideally, you want to secure a stud wide receiver, an elite tight end, and a top-tier quarterback. The point of this strategy is to sacrifice at running back to have a star-studded lineup at other positions.
While the Zero-RB strategy works in all scoring leagues, it is the easiest to execute in PPR leagues. The reason why this strategy works best in PPR scoring leagues is that pass-catching running backs can offer top-24 performances some weeks. It is also a more appealing strategy in superflex leagues, as teams will let running backs slide as they load up on quarterbacks early in the draft.
This draft strategy isn’t ideal if you have a top pick in a 1QB league. You don’t want to pass on Bijan Robinson or Saquon Barkley. Instead, you want to use the Hero-RB strategy. Draft Robinson or Barkley in the first round, then wait till the later rounds to load up on running backs.
Types of Running Backs to Target
High Upside Backs
The key to successfully pulling off the Zero-RB strategy is to hit on the running backs in the later rounds. One type you need to target is high-upside running backs. These players currently don’t have the most upside but have a potential path to a top-12 finish.
Typically, these running backs are guys who have a shot at replacing the current starter with or without needing an injury. Some potential targets include Bhayshul Tuten and Jordan Mason.
Handcuffs
Handcuffing your running backs could be the key to winning your fantasy league. However, targeting other teams’ handcuffs is the key to successfully pulling off a Zero-RB draft strategy. Every year, running backs get hurt, whether for a few weeks or the rest of the season. The backup can fill the void and produce at a similar level most of the time.
Kenneth Walker III missed a career-high six games in 2024 with multiple injuries. His handcuff, Zach Charbonnet, averaged a rushing touchdown and 17.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game while filling in as the starter for Walker. Some other potential targets besides Charbonnet include Isaac Guerendo and Tyler Allgeier.
PPR Stars
It’s easier to execute a Zero-RB draft strategy in a PPR-scoring league because there is more depth at the running back position. Running backs who don’t provide much fantasy value on the ground are borderline worthless in non-PPR or standard scoring. However, they are excellent, safe floor players in PPR scoring and provide critical value when using a Zero-RB draft strategy.
Usually, any running back that averages 3.5 or more receptions per game typically scores at least 10 PPR fantasy points per contest. These running backs won’t win you the league, but they will provide a safe floor option for your RB2 slot. Some potential targets include Jaylen Warren and Dylan Sampson.
Early Season Fillers
Most of the running backs you draft will be lottery tickets or high-upside players. However, you will need a few stable options for the first couple of weeks of the season. These running backs can be the same PPR targets mentioned above.
They can also be running backs you can count on to start the year, but might get replaced or hurt after a few weeks. A couple of veterans you should target for the first few weeks of the season include Najee Harris and Aaron Jones.
Potential Zero RB Draft Targets
- Round 6: James Conner & David Montgomery
- Round 7: Quinshon Judkins & Aaron Jones
- Round 8: Brian Robinson Jr. & Jaylen Warren
- Round 9: Najee Harris & Zach Charbonnet
- Round 10: Jordan Mason & Travis Etienne Jr.
- Round 11: Bhayshul Tuten & Jaydon Blue
- Round 12: Trey Benson & Isaac Guerendo
- Round 13: Ray Davis & Rico Dowdle
- Round 14: Tyler Allgeier & Dylan Sampson
Derek Brown shares his outlook for a few of our top Zero RB fantasy football draft picks to target.
Jordan Mason (MIN)
Mason moves from San Francisco to Minnesota in an offseason trade to become Aaron Jones’ running mate/handcuff. Mason sustained a shoulder injury and an ankle injury last year. The bum ankle ultimately ended his season. In the brief six games, he played 64% or more of the snaps as the starter for the 49ers, with an average of 21.3 touches and 111.8 total yards. He was a top-24 fantasy option at the running back position in four of those six outings and an RB1 in 50% of them. Mason finished top six among running backs last year in explosive run rate (second), missed tackles forced per attempt (sixth), and yards after contact per attempt (third, per Fantasy Points Data). Mason is a top-shelf handcuff again this season who could offer some stand-alone value in Minnesota’s high-scoring offense.
Bhayshul Tuten (JAC)
Tugboat Tuten found a port in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Liam Coen and company hope that Tuten can pull their offense up the scoring ranks in 2025. Ok, that’s enough tugboat references. Tuten will compete from the jump for touches with holdovers Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby. Etienne looked like a shell of his former self last season, so Bigsby might be the most formidable adversary to a Tuten takeover. That doesn’t mean that Tuten and Bigsby couldn’t form a solid committee. Tuten has the juice to make the most of his touches. During his final collegiate season, he ranked tenth in yards after contact per attempt and breakaway percentage and eighth in elusive rating (per PFF). Tuten is an upside flier who could pay off handsomely in 2025, much like Bucky Iriving did last year.
Isaac Guerendo (SF)
Guerendo assumes the direct handcuff role for the 49ers in 2025 after Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell were jettisoned this offseason. Guerenedo earned this role last year when he was asked to assume the starting job. Guerendo had four games last year where he played at least 55% of the snaps, and he averaged 16.7 touches and 101 total yards. In weekly fantasy scoring in those outings, he finished as the RB10, RB2, RB25, and RB11. Guerendo was also an explosive player on a per-touch basis. Among 70 qualifying backs, he ranked sixth in explosive run rate and seventh in missed tackles forced per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). Guerendo is arguably the most valuable handcuff in fantasy football because if Christian McCaffrey were to miss any time, we know what we’d be getting weekly, and that’s RB1 production.
Tyler Allgeier (ATL)
Tyler Allgeier remains an elite handcuff option with some standalone flex appeal. Allgeier was the RB45 in fantasy points per game, as he finished as the RB36 or higher in 41% of his games last year. Among 46 qualifying backs, he ranked 22nd in missed tackle rate and 20th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). If Bijan Robinson were to miss any time, Allgeier would immediately vault into RB1/2 territory.
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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.
