Everyone has heard of the Zero-RB draft strategy. However, the Zero-WR strategy rarely gets mentioned. Yet, it’s one of my favorite draft strategies because of the depth at the wide receiver position.
How does the Zero-WR draft strategy work? Like a Zero-RB strategy, you don’t avoid that position the entire draft. Instead, you focus on other positions early in the draft before targeting wide receivers starting in the fifth or sixth round.
Ideally, you load up at the running back position in the early rounds, grabbing two star-caliber guys. Fantasy players also want to draft an elite quarterback and/or tight end before picking their first wide receiver with this draft strategy. The point of this strategy is to sacrifice at the wide receiver position to have a star-studded lineup everywhere else.
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Fantasy Football Draft Targets
Round 9 & 10 Targets
Matthew Golden (GB): ADP 96.3 | WR42
The Packers ended a 23-year drought by selecting Golden with their first-round NFL Draft pick. That should stress how much the team likes the former Texas star and feels they need a difference maker on the outside. Unfortunately, Jayden Reed is dealing with a foot injury and severely struggled in the second half of last year. Meanwhile, Golden has been Green Bay’s top wide receiver in training camp. Don’t be surprised if the Packers trade Romeo Doubs or Dontayvion Wicks during roster cutdown, creating even more work for Golden.
Ricky Pearsall (SF): ADP 96.5 | WR43
San Francisco traded away Deebo Samuel earlier this offseason. Meanwhile, Brandon Aiyuk likely won’t be ready for Week 1 coming off a torn ACL. Furthermore, Jauan Jennings is battling a calf injury for the second time this offseason. Unfortunately, Pearsall missed the first six weeks of last year recovering from a gunshot during an attempted robbery. Yet, the former Florida star averaged 21.6 PPR fantasy points per game in the three contests with six or more targets, scoring three receiving touchdowns. Pearsall is one of my favorite draft targets.
Emeka Egbuka (TB): ADP 107.8 | WR46
Reportedly, Chris Godwin won’t start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but likely won’t play the first few games as he is still recovering from a dislocated ankle. Furthermore, Jalen McMillan suffered a significant neck injury and will miss the first half of the season. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Egbuka’s ADP has skyrocketed after having an outstanding training camp. Fantasy players need to grab the former Ohio State star at his current ADP, if you still can, as it will only go up from here.
Late-Round Targets
Keon Coleman (BUF): ADP 123.2 | WR49
The former Florida State star had four receiving touchdowns as a rookie, the second-most on the team despite ranking seventh with 29 receptions. Coleman has had an impressive training camp. Furthermore, he could turn into Josh Allen’s top wide receiver in 2025, especially with Khalil Shakir dealing with a high-ankle sprain. Last year, his first-read target share in the red zone (28.1%) led the team, 10.5% higher than any other Bill (per Fantasy Points Data). Coleman has become a popular breakout candidate and is one of my favorite late-round sleepers.
Marvin Mims Jr. (DEN): ADP 155.7 | WR57
Mims was the WR22 from Week 13 through Week 18, averaging 17.5 PPR fantasy points per game, a higher average than A.J. Brown (16.2), Tyreek Hill (14.9), and his teammate Courtland Sutton (15.1). More importantly, his efficiency was on par with or better than several superstars, including Justin Jefferson, Puka Nacua, Nico Collins, and Brian Thomas Jr. Those four superstars each had at least a 71.8% route participation rate. By comparison, Mims had a 28.1% route participation rate last season. He is primed for a third-year breakout with enough volume.
|
Player |
Route Participation* |
Target Per Route Run* |
Yards Per Route Run* |
Fantasy Points Per Route Run* |
|
Justin Jefferson |
92.2% |
26% |
2.66 |
0.55 |
|
Puka Nacua |
71.9% |
38% |
3.59 |
0.75 |
|
Nico Collins |
71.8% |
29% |
2.94 |
0.62 |
|
Brian Thomas Jr. |
82.8% |
26% |
2.56 |
0.57 |
|
Marvin Mims Jr. (Full Season) |
28.1% |
28% |
2.78 |
0.72 |
|
Marvin Mims Jr. (Week 13-18) |
41.1% |
32% |
4.37 |
1.12 |
* via Fantasy Points Data
Cedric Tillman (CLE): ADP 200.3 | WR64
While Jerry Jeudy was the WR12 last season, averaging 14.2 PPR fantasy points per game, Tillman was the Browns’ top wide receiver following the Amari Cooper trade before suffering a season-ending concussion. According to Fantasy Points Data, Tillman had a better target per route run rate (22% vs. 18%), yards per route run average (1.69 vs. 1.67), first-round target share (25.7% vs. 23.5%), and fantasy points per route run (0.41 vs. 0.30) than Jeudy during the five weeks where both were healthy following the Cooper trade.
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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.