Zero RB is a draft strategy where you pass on running backs in the first five rounds of fantasy football drafts and prioritize other positions, with a focus on wide receivers. Then, you take several shots on running backs in the mid-to-late rounds to try to build your running back room.
Since you’re relying on your wide receivers to carry your fantasy team with this strategy, you must make the most of these early picks. That means we want to consider the wideouts with the best combination of floor and upside.
On this page, you’ll find some of my top wide receivers to target for Zero RB teams.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Wide Receivers to Draft
CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL)
CeeDee Lamb is one year removed from a 135-catch, 1,749-yard season with 12 touchdowns, finishing as the second-highest scoring wideout and fourth-ranked Flex player in half-PPR formats that season.
While Lamb is coming off a disappointing season where he averaged 14.2 fantasy points per game, that was with Dak Prescott missing a chunk of the season. Despite the decreased production, Lamb was still WR10 in 2024.
The Cowboys alpha wideout has now racked up 100+ catches in three consecutive seasons. With the Cowboys maintaining a pass-heavy offense, Lamb has a strong floor to go along with his high upside.
We’ve seen Dallas upgrade their wide receiver room with a field-stretcher in George Pickens, which should give Lamb more room to make plays after the catch in the short-to-intermediate passing game.
Add in the fact that the Cowboys made a minimal investment in running back — replacing Rico Dowdle with Javonte Williams and selecting Jaydon Blue in the sixth round — and it’s hard to see this team ranking outside of the top five in passing volume.
With that in mind, expect Lamb to finish among the top scorers in fantasy football this season.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was terrific down the stretch last season, racking up 63 catches for 811 yards and five touchdowns in his last 10 games. During this stretch, Smith-Njigba ranked as the WR13 in fantasy points per game.
Despite that, we’re able to draft Seattle’s top target in the third round as the 19th wide receiver off the board, according to average draft position (ADP).
While the track record is extremely limited, we’re talking about a former first-round receiver who finally came into his own last season.
The transition from Geno Smith to Sam Darnold isn’t that much of a downgrade. You can argue this is outweighed by the improvement in play-caller, going from Ryan Grubb to Klint Kubiak.
It’s also worth noting that the Seahawks replaced DK Metcalf with Cooper Kupp, who looked like a shell of his former self last season.
Even in what should be a run-heavy offense, Smith-Njigba is going to dominate targets, making him a terrific value at his current cost. Pairing him with two proven studs like Lamb and Hill is a great way to kick off your Zero RB build.
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