Everyone has heard of the Zero-RB draft strategy. However, how does it work? Fantasy players don’t avoid that position the entire draft. Instead, you focus on other positions early in the draft before targeting running backs starting in the fifth or sixth round.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Auction Rankings
Ideally, you load up at the wide receiver position in the early rounds, grabbing two star-caliber guys. Fantasy players also want to draft an elite quarterback and tight end before picking their first running back with this draft strategy. The point of this strategy is to sacrifice at the running back position to have a star-studded lineup everywhere else.
Below are 11 running backs I am targeting this year when using a Zero-RB draft strategy. Ideally, I want to leave my draft with at least four of these running backs on my team.
Zero-RB Fantasy Football Draft Targets
Round 5 Targets
D’Andre Swift (CHI): ADP 56.8 | RB21
Everyone expected the Bears to spend an early pick in the NFL Draft on a running back. Instead, they waited until the seventh round to select Kyle Monangai, meaning Swift’s role as the lead running back is likely safe. Last year, he finished as the RB19, averaging 12.6 PPR fantasy points per game despite running behind an awful offensive line. Thankfully, Chicago significantly improved their offensive line this offseason. Furthermore, Swift was the RB15 on a points-per-game basis in 2022, the lone year with Ben Johnson as his playcaller.
David Montgomery (DET): ADP 59.4 | RB22
Montgomery has always been an underrated fantasy running back. He was the RB12 over the first 15 weeks last year, averaging 15.8 touches and 15.8 PPR fantasy points per game before suffering a knee injury. By comparison, Jahmyr Gibbs averaged 16.1 touches and 18.9 fantasy points per game playing alongside Montgomery. The veteran lacks spike week upside and should lose some touches to Gibbs this season. Yet, there is no reason to think Montgomery won’t remain Detroit’s goal-line runner and score double-digit touchdowns for the third consecutive year in 2025.
Round 6 Targets
RJ Harvey (DEN): ADP 62.8 | RB24
Unfortunately, Harvey’s redraft fantasy value took a significant hit after the Broncos signed J.K. Dobbins earlier this offseason. The rookie went from a potential top-12 guy to a low-end RB2. However, he has league-winning upside at his RB24 ADP. Harvey had over 1,500 rushing yards last year, leading the Big 12 in yards per attempt (6.8) and rushing touchdowns (22). Don’t be surprised if the rookie becomes Sean Payton’s new Alvin Kamara. He finished his rookie season as the RB3 despite splitting the backfield workload with Mark Ingram.
Kaleb Johnson (PIT): ADP 69.6 | RB27
Last year, Iowa had no meaningful passing offense. Yet, Johnson led the Big 10 in rushing yards (1,537) and touchdowns (21) while averaging 6.4 yards per attempt. While he will lose passing game work to Jaylen Warren, expect the rookie to take on the Najee Harris role in Arthur Smith’s offense. Last season, Harris was the RB20, averaging 12 PPR fantasy points per game despite averaging four yards per rushing attempt. Johnson is a more explosive runner than the veteran. Don’t bet against big running backs in Smith’s offense.
Round 7 & 8 Targets
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG): ADP 91.2 | RB30
While the Giants spent a fourth-round pick in the NFL Draft on Cam Skattebo, don’t kick Tracy to the curb. The former Purdue star was productive as a rookie once he pushed Devin Singletary out of the way. Tracy was the RB14 from Week 5 through Week 17, averaging 13.2 PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he ranked 10th in explosive run rate (5.4%) and missed tackles forced per attempt rate (19%) among 34 running backs with at least 100 rushing attempts during those 13 weeks (per Fantasy Points Data).
Cam Skattebo (NYG): ADP 94.2 | RB32
Fantasy players should consider drafting both New York running backs when using a Zero-RB draft strategy. Tyrone Tracy Jr. will likely start the year as the Giants’ lead running back, with Skattebo taking over as that role in the second half of the season. More importantly, both running backs can be factors in the passing game. Last year, New York had 591 pass attempts, the eighth-most in the NFL despite having an awful quarterback unit. Don’t be surprised if Tracy and Skattebo each have at least 45 receptions this season.
Round 9 & 10 Targets
J.K. Dobbins (DEN): ADP 117.4 | RB38
After missing 82.4% of the games over the previous three years with injuries, Dobbins mostly stayed healthy in 2024. The veteran finished as the RB24, averaging 14.8 PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, his 5.1% explosive run rate ranked 12th out of 31 running backs with at least 150 rushing attempts last season (per Fantasy Points Data). More importantly, Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram both finished as top-28 running backs on a fantasy points-per-game basis in 2017 and 2018 when Sean Payton was the New Orleans Saints’ head coach.
Jordan Mason (MIN): ADP 117.8 | RB39
Last year, Mason finished as the RB41, averaging 9.6 PPR fantasy points per game. However, he was outstanding early in the season, filling in for Christian McCaffrey, ranking as the RB5 over the first month, averaging 18.6 fantasy points per game, totaling 17.4 or more in all but one contest. More importantly, Mason could steal the lead role from Aaron Jones. According to Fantasy Points Data, Mason had a better explosive run rate (7.8% vs. 3.5%) and missed forced tackle per attempt rate (22% vs. 11%) than Jones last year.
Late-Round Targets
Jaydon Blue (DAL): ADP 140.8 | RB45
I have been pounding the table all offseason for Blue, as he is my favorite sleeper target. Blue has been standing out at training camp, earning first-team reps. Meanwhile, Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders had an explosive run rate of 2.9% or lower last year, ranking in the bottom 20 of 68 running backs with at least 55 attempts (per Fantasy Points Data). By comparison, Blue is an explosive runner with massive upside in the passing game, totaling six receiving touchdowns last season. He could be this year’s Bucky Irving.
Jerome Ford (CLE): ADP 164.2 | RB51
Unfortunately, Quinshon Judkins’ status for the 2025 season is in doubt. Therefore, Ford will likely see significant touches until the rookie is back in the lineup. Last year, the veteran averaged 14 PPR fantasy points per game in the six contests he played more than 20% of the snaps without Nick Chubb. Furthermore, Ford ranked fourth in yards per attempt (5.43), seventh in yards after contact per attempt (2.7), and eighth in explosive run rate (6.7%) among 46 running backs with at least 100 rushing attempts (per Fantasy Points Data).
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS): ADP 265.2 | RB68
Many expected the Commanders to use an early pick in the NFL Draft on a running back. Instead, they waited until the last round to select Croskey-Merritt. He only played in one game last year because of eligibility issues. However, the rookie was outstanding in 2023, totaling 1,190 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. More importantly, Croskey-Merritt has been the star of training camp, earning first-team reps. Don’t be surprised if the seventh-round rookie is this year’s Isiah Pacheco and is Washington’s starting running back by Halloween, if not sooner.
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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.
