Zero RB Draft Strategy & Roster Construction (2026 Fantasy Football)

There are many ways to build your fantasy football teams. One of the more popular draft strategies is Zero RB.

Zero RB Fantasy Football Draft Strategy

What is Zero RB?

The Zero RB draft strategy is an approach where you avoid drafting running backs in the early rounds, instead loading up on elite players at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end before attacking the running back position later. I like to implement this strategy more in PPR leagues rather than in standard scoring formats.

Here is a rough blueprint I tend to follow for a Zero RB roster build:

Rounds 1-4: Draft elite pass-catchers and an elite quarterback.
Rounds 5-10: Target running backs with upside.
Late Rounds: Stockpile running backs with high ceilings or high-profile handcuffs.

For this exercise, let’s say you have a middle-round pick in your upcoming PPR draft. Using FantasyPros’ average draft position (ADP), we can get an idea of who to target in each round. (ADP in brackets for each player.)

Rounds 1-4 Targets

We are looking for top-tier wide receivers, tight ends and possibly a quarterback. Looking at ADP around the sixth pick, our options would be:

Round 1: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (5.3), Amon-Ra St. Brown (7.5), CeeDee Lamb (9)
Round 2: Drake London (16.5), Brock Bowers (20.3), Trey McBride (21.8)
Round 3: Josh Allen (26), Chris Olave (27.5), DeVonta Smith (32), Malik Nabers (33.3), Zay Flowers (36)
Round 4: Ladd McConkey (41.5), Colston Loveland (41.8), Jaylen Waddle (45), Lamar Jackson (45.8)

After the first four rounds, you could have a team that looks like this:

QB1: Lamar Jackson
WR1: Amon-Ra St. Brown
WR1: Zay Flowers
TE1: Brock Bowers

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Rounds 5-10 Targets

This is where you load up on running backs with as many starters or who possess upside. Using ADP, here are some of the ball-carriers available in these rounds:

D’Andre Swift (56.5)
Bhayshul Tuten (60.3)
Jadarian Price (68.5)
Jaylen Warren (75)
Chuba Hubbard (78)
Tony Pollard (78.5)
Rhamondre Stevenson (85)
RJ Harvey (88)
Rico Dowdle (91.5)
Kenneth Gainwell (98.5)
J.K. Dobbins (101.8)
Blake Corum (105)
Rachaad White (108)
Jonathon Brooks (112.5)
Aaron Jones (113)
Jordan Mason (125)

Almost every single one of these backs is the No. 1 RB for the respective team. The rest are in line to split touches and could potentially become the starter.

Late-Round Targets

Use the end of the draft to fill out the rest of your roster with high-volume potential players. Some of my favorite late-round targets (ADP of picks 120 or later) include:

Jordan Mason (125)
KC Concepcion (130)
Jayden Higgins (133)
Tyler Shough (136)
Stefon Diggs (140)
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (147)
Brenton Strange (151)
Alvin Kamara (157)
Chig Okonkwo (157)
Cam Ward (161)
Tank Bigsby (177)
Jaydon Blue (215)
De’Zhaun Stribling (204)

Bottom Line

At the end of the day, there isn’t one “perfect” draft strategy.

Zero RB isn’t about ignoring the running back position — it’s about maximizing value and taking advantage of the position’s volatility. You’re betting that you can build a dominant roster everywhere else and find starting-caliber running back production later through upside picks and in-season waivers.

Stay flexible during the draft, and don’t be afraid to zig when everyone else zags.