It’s the season of draft guides, rookie hype and “my guy” declarations — and running back strategy is once again at the center of the debate. Should you go Hero RB and snag a workhorse early? Fade the position entirely? Or load up on upside in the double-digit rounds?
FantasyPros’ Tom Strachan and Andrew Erickson broke it all down on their Best Ball stream, diving deep into roster construction, draft ranges and which late-round backs could swing leagues this year.
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2025 Fantasy Football RB Draft Strategies
Here’s a look at the running back strategies that matter in 2025 — and the players who fit them.
Hero RB: The Anchor That Frees Up Your Draft
Erickson’s go-to build is Hero RB (a.k.a. Anchor RB) — taking one elite back in the first or second round, then waiting until round six or later to fill out the rest of the room.
Why? Because that RB2 slot is the easiest to replace. As Erickson put it:
“Fantasy RB2 production is the most easily replaceable in your starting lineup. Having that RB1 locked in means you don’t have to reach for an RB2.”
It also gives you access to high-upside backs who tilt seasons — think Christian McCaffrey in 2023 or Saquon Barkley in his prime.
Ideal for: Balanced rosters that want early-round upside without sacrificing wide receiver value.
Zero RB: Building a Superteam-If You Hit
Zero RB means bypassing the position entirely in the first six rounds. The appeal? It lets you stack elite quarterbacks, tight ends and wide receivers while taking shots on undervalued or ambiguous backfields later.
It’s a risky build. You need several things to break right:
- Mid-round receivers must smash.
- Late-round backs must overdeliver.
- Star ball-carriers need to underperform or get hurt.
But with a deep rookie class and ambiguous depth charts across the league, 2025 could be a bounce-back year for Zero RB.
As Erickson noted:
“Last year’s rookies were glorified handcuffs. This year’s class is so much better — guys like Tyler Allgeier could be the poster boy for Zero RB.”
Ideal for: Experienced drafters who can identify late-round breakout candidates and manage roster fragility.
Double Hero RB: All-In on Volume & Upside
If Hero RB is a safety net, Double Hero RB is a leap of faith. It’s the “two studs early, then chill” approach, and it’s produced big winners. Pat Kerrane’s $2 million Best Ball Mania win came from this exact build.
But it comes at a cost:
“If your top two backs don’t hit, you’re toast,” Strachan said. “And you’ll be chasing wideouts for the next four rounds.”
Erickson’s concern? You miss out on the stacked wide receiver pool in rounds one and two. And you may lose access to rookie running back upside later because you’ve already invested early.
Still, if you believe in guys like Bijan Robinson + Bucky Irving/Saquon Barkley + Jonathan Taylor, it can work.
Ideal for: Confident drafters who want to bet on two high-volume backs and don’t mind missing elite wide receivers.
Draft Ranges That Matter: Where to Target RBs
Round 7-10: A Historically Profitable Zone
This range (picks ~73-110) has been gold in past years, yielding values like James Conner, Leonard Fournette and Melvin Gordon.
In 2025? It’s more murky. Options include Isiah Pacheco, Tony Pollard, Brian Robinson, Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.
None are perfect, but as Strachan put it:
“I still want exposure to this range — it’s where you find guys with a shot at volume or goal-line work.”
This isn’t the place to hammer running back, but mixing in one or two names makes sense.
Round 10-12: The Sweet Spot for Fragile Volume
This range offers backs with fragile but real starting roles — ideal if you’re behind at running back or going Zero RB.
Targets mentioned:
- Javonte Williams (early-season starter in Dallas)
- J.K. Dobbins (if he can stay healthy)
- Rachaad White (underrated standalone value in PPR)
“Rachaad White is one of the easiest clicks in full PPR,” Erickson said. “He catches passes, and he’s undervalued.”
Round 15 or Later: Deep Sleepers & Lottery Tickets
These are the Bucky Irving and Kyren Williams types — the ones who come out of nowhere to win leagues.
Top picks discussed:
- Trevor Etienne: Fourth-round rookie with receiving chops and a real shot in Carolina.
- MarShawn Lloyd: Forgotten second-year back who flashed pre-injury in Green Bay.
- DJ Giddens: Backup to Jonathan Taylor with a clear handcuff path.
- Jarquez Hunter: Explosiveness complement in L.A., could carve out a change-of-pace role.
Archetypes Over ADP: What Kind of RB Are You Drafting?
Forget the old-school “Dead Zone” label. It’s less about when you draft running backs and more about who they are.
Erickson summed it up well:
“If it looks and feels like a dead-zone back, it doesn’t matter where you draft him — he’ll still be a bad pick.”
Instead, target backs who:
- Can catch passes.
- Have paths to goal-line work.
- Are insulated by talent or draft capital.
Avoid the in-between guys — those who are meh across the board. They rarely move the needle.
Parting Advice: Try Every Build
Not sure which strategy fits you? Test them.
“Hop into $3 drafts on Underdog or use the Mock Draft Wizard,” Strachan advised. “You won’t know what feels right until you try them.”
And no matter your approach, keep an eye on camp news and preseason usage. Running back values move quickly, especially in July and August.
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