There are several draft strategies for fantasy football leagues, but none is more popular than Zero RB. This is where you load up on wide receivers in the first few rounds — perhaps even taking an elite quarterback or tight end — before taking your first running back. Usually, this type of strategy involves you waiting until the sixth round for your RB1.
Then, in the later rounds, you’re supposed to load up on running back handcuffs or those in ambiguous situations with room to grow in opportunity. The idea here is to take multiple swings on high upside running back sleepers as you try to build your RB room with a high return on investment.
On this page, we’ll take a closer look to see if a Zero RB strategy was effective in 2024 to determine if you should use this in 2025.
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Was A Zero RB Fantasy Football Strategy Effective in 2024?
The answer is no, a zero RB strategy was not effective in 2024, which was a year where we saw a resurgence in running back production. Just take a look at the top 20 FLEX in half-PPR scoring (minimum 10 games) from FantasyPros Weekly Scoring Leaders.
| Rank | Player | Points Per Game | Position |
| 1 | Saquon Barkley | 21.2 | RB |
| 2 | Ja’Marr Chase | 20.0 | WR |
| 3 | Jahmyr Gibbs | 19.8 | RB |
| 4 | Derrick Henry | 19.2 | RB |
| 5 | Bijan Robinson | 18.3 | RB |
| 6 | Jonathan Taylor | 16.8 | RB |
| 7 | Alvin Kamara | 16.5 | RB |
| 8 | Josh Jacobs | 16.2 | RB |
| 9 | Kyren Williams | 15.9 | RB |
| 10 | Joe Mixon | 15.9 | RB |
| 11 | James Cook | 15.7 | RB |
| 12 | Justin Jefferson | 15.6 | WR |
| 13 | Tee Higgins | 15.5 | WR |
| 14 | De’Von Achane | 15.3 | RB |
| 15 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | 15.2 | WR |
| 16 | Puka Nacua | 15.2 | WR |
| 17 | Chuba Hubbard | 14.7 | RB |
| 18 | Nico Collins | 14.7 | WR |
| 19 | Malik Nabers | 14.6 | WR |
| 20 | David Montgomery | 14.6 | RB |
Should You Use a Zero RB Strategy in 2025?
No, you should not use a Zero RB strategy in 2025. With defenses deploying two-high at an increased rate, it’s become a lot more difficult for explosive plays in the passing game. Teams are starting to lean on the running game once again, especially in the red zone. There were 11 running backs with 10+ touchdowns last season, and four of them eclipsed 15 scores.
Despite running backs significantly outperforming wide receivers, the market hasn’t adjusted. We’re seeing players like Derrick Henry and De’Von Achane go in the second round. You can build a strong roster by starting with at least one RB in your first two picks due to how undervalued they are.
When Can You Use a Zero RB Strategy in 2025?
There is one exception where it feels fine to use a Zero RB strategy. That’s in a league where you start three receivers and a FLEX with full-PPR scoring. It’s also good if the league is in a large-field tournament with an overall prize. This is where you need to build a super-team to take home top overall, so hitting it big on a late-round RB is even more important here.
With that said, in any other type of league, I’d recommend going with a well-balanced approach that is slightly RB-heavy, especially in the early rounds.
Final Thoughts
Remember, it’s never wise to go into a draft with a set strategy in place. You want to be flexible with how the board falls to you. For example, if you notice that running backs are flying off the board, allowing you to secure wide receiver value, then it makes sense to pivot to a Zero RB approach.
Let’s say that you pick 9th overall, but CeeDee Lamb falls past ADP to you. Then, the second round rolls around, and Brian Thomas Jr. is somehow still on the board. After that, you’re shocked to see Trey McBride still available. This is a case where you can move towards Zero RB because you’re getting a lot of value in players coming at a cheaper price than usual.
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