The 2026 NFL regular season is just around the corner. As Week 1 approaches, fantasy football drafts are taking place at a faster pace. While there isn’t a perfect draft strategy, the one thing fantasy players shouldn’t do heading into their draft is to “wing it” or “play it by ear.”
One of the most popular draft strategies is Hero RB, especially in PPR scoring leagues. Today, I give a quick breakdown of how a Hero RB draft strategy works, when to pick certain positions and which players to draft.
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Hero RB Fantasy Football Draft Strategy & Targets
What is the Hero RB Draft Strategy?
First and foremost, this draft strategy is best used in a single-quarterback league. Hero RB is where fantasy players use an early draft pick (almost always their first-round pick) on a star running back. This running back is the “hero” of their team and the only big-name running back fantasy players will draft. Fantasy players then spend the next several rounds loading up on wideouts.
Sometimes fantasy players can use an early pick on an elite quarterback or tight end. Doing that works better in a league where fantasy players only have two starting wide receiver spots in their lineup. That allows fantasy players to fill both receiver and FLEX spots and still have a pick left to select an elite quarterback or tight end before drafting their RB2.
Hero Running Backs to Target Early
Ideally, fantasy players want a top-two pick with this draft strategy, which would allow them to secure either Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs. The two superstars are the consensus top two running backs in fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and are likely the first two picks in nearly every 1-QB draft.
Let’s look at the list of running backs fantasy players should target as their “hero back” within the first two rounds:
- Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – DET) | ADP: 1.0 (RB1)
- Bijan Robinson (RB – ATL) | ADP: 2.0 (RB2)
- Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND) | ADP: 6.6 (RB4)
- James Cook (RB – BUF) | ADP: 10.8 (RB5)
- Ashton Jeanty (RB – LV) | ADP: 11.2 (RB6)
- Saquon Barkley (RB – NYG) | ADP: 14.6 (RB8)
- Chase Brown (RB – CIN) | ADP: 15.8 (RB9)
- Omarion Hampton (RB – LAC) | ADP: 16.6 (RB10)
- Derrick Henry (RB – BAL) | ADP: 20.0 (RB11)
- Kenneth Walker III (RB – KCR) | ADP: 20.6 (RB12)
As fantasy players can see, I am comfortable drafting nearly every running back in the top 12 of ADP as my hero running back. Furthermore, fantasy players can draft a superstar wide receiver in the first round, like Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Amon-Ra St. Brown, and still get a hero running back in the second round.
The one thing fantasy players will notice about my hero running back list is that Christian McCaffrey (5.6 ADP/RB3) and De’Von Achane (11.2 ADP/RB7) are missing. They are the only two backs in the top 12 I don’t want to draft when using a Hero RB strategy. Fantasy players need to avoid as much risk as possible with their hero running back, as an injury or bad season from them will sink your team.
Unfortunately, McCaffrey carries a high risk of injury. The last time the superstar had over 400 touches in a year, he missed 69.7% of games over the next two seasons due to injury.
Meanwhile, over 50% of Achane’s fantasy production during the past two years has come in the passing game. Furthermore, his fantasy production has been awful whenever anyone other than Tua Tagovailoa has been under center for Miami.
Pass-Catchers to Target
After landing your hero running back, fantasy players want to load up on wide receivers during the next few rounds. Fantasy players can also use one of these four picks on an elite tight end like Brock Bowers or Trey McBride. They could also target a superstar quarterback like Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson.
However, the depth at the quarterback position makes grabbing an elite one less appealing. Therefore, I would suggest drafting three of the wide receivers listed below and targeting one of the two elite tight ends between the second and fifth rounds.
- Drake London (WR – ATL) | ADP: 16.6 (WR7)
- A.J. Brown (WR – NE) | ADP: 20.8 (WR8)
- Rashee Rice (WR – KC) | ADP: 24.2 (WR10)
- Nico Collins (WR – HOU) | ADP: 25.2 (WR11)
- Chris Olave (WR – NO) | ADP: 28.2 (WR12)
- Zay Flowers (WR – BAL) | ADP: 37.6 (WR15)
- Emeka Egbuka (WR – TB) | ADP: 38.8 (WR17)
- Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ) | ADP: 39.8 (WR18)
- Tee Higgins (WR – CIN) | ADP: 41.8 (WR19)
- Ladd McConkey (WR – LAC) | ADP: 47.2 (WR20)
- Terry McLaurin (WR – WSH) | ADP: 53.0 (WR24)
- DJ Moore (WR – BUF) | ADP: 54.8 (WR25)
Mid-Round Running Back Targets
After grabbing a handful of pass-catchers, fantasy players should start looking for running back help in the sixth round. In this range, fantasy players want to draft a balance of safe-floor options and high-upside targets.
Ideally, fantasy players draft a balance of high-upside and safe-floor running backs over the next few rounds. However, never reach for a player just to fit a need.
- TreVeyon Henderson (RB – NE) | ADP: 52.2 (RB23)
- David Montgomery (RB – HOU) | ADP: 53.2 (RB24)
- Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAX) | ADP: 57.4 (RB25)
- Jadarian Price (RB – SEA) | ADP: 62.6 (RB26)
- Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) | ADP: 76.4 (RB28)
- Rico Dowdle (RB – PIT) | ADP: 82.2 (RB30)
- Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI) | ADP: 99.2 (RB34)
- Kenny Gainwell (RB – TB) | ADP: 104.2 (RB35)
- Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR) | ADP: 105.2 (RB36)
- Blake Corum (RB – LAR) | ADP: 106.2 (RB37)
David Montgomery, Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle and Kenneth Gainwell don’t have the most upside of these running backs. However, they are safe floor options that fantasy players can plug in their RB2 or FLEX spot and feel solid about getting double-digit PPR fantasy points from them most weeks.
Meanwhile, TreVeyon Henderson, Bhayshul Tuten, Jadarian Price and Jonathon Books are exciting young running backs with massive upside. However, fantasy players haven’t seen any of them play consistently at a high level in the NFL, and they may be part of a split backfield. They could be league winners or players you can’t trust in your lineup early in the season.
While Kyle Monangai and Blake Corum have some FLEX appeal as their team’s No. 2 running back, both players have massive upside. If D’Andre Swift or Kyren Williams misses significant time, Monangai and Corum would be weekly must-start top-12 running backs. They are the ideal balance of floor and upside as an RB3 for fantasy players who use a Hero RB draft strategy.
Mid-Round Quarterback Targets
If you can get Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson or an elite quarterback at value in the earlier rounds, don’t pass up that opportunity. However, I like waiting on quarterback when using a Hero RB draft strategy because all of the passers listed below have an ADP outside of the top 100 picks. I’m comfortable with any of them as my Week 1 starter.
- Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC) | ADP: 104.8 (QB13)
- Brock Purdy (QB – SF) | ADP: 107.1 (QB14)
- Bo Nix (QB – DEN) | ADP: 111.6 (QB15)
- Jared Goff (QB – DET) | ADP: 121.4 (QB16)
- Kyler Murray (QB – MIN) | ADP: 141.2 (QB18)
Mid-Round Tight End Targets
Fantasy players should have no problem taking Brock Bowers or Trey McBride when using the Hero RB draft strategy, especially if they can get either superstar tight end in the third round. Unfortunately, the tight end position isn’t as deep as the quarterback position. However, there are several solid starting tight end options fantasy players can draft around pick 100 or later.
- George Kittle (TE – SF) | ADP: 96.2 (TE9)
- Travis Kelce (TE – KC) | ADP: 101.4 (TE10)
- Isaiah Likely (TE – NYG) | ADP: 109.2 (TE11)
- Dallas Goedert (TE – PHI) | ADP: 111.8 (TE13)
- Dalton Kincaid (TE – BUF) | ADP: 123.2 (TE14)
Late-Round Running Back Targets
No matter what draft strategy fantasy players use, they should always target upside running backs in the final few rounds of drafts. However, hitting on these picks is even more critical when using a Hero RB draft strategy. Ideally, fantasy players can secure two or three of these running backs with an ADP outside of the top 120 picks:
- Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG) | ADP: 142.2 (RB44)
- Chris Rodriguez Jr. (JAC) | ADP: 149.2 (RB46)
- Tyler Allgeier (ARI) | ADP: 155.8 (RB48)
- Tyjae Spears (TEN) | ADP: 157.4 (RB49)
- Keaton Mitchell (LAC) | ADP: 156.3 (RB52)
- Jonah Coleman (DEN) | ADP: 163.3 (RB53)
Late-Round Wide Receiver Targets
Hopefully, fantasy players feel great about the wide receivers they drafted between the second and fifth rounds. But leaving your draft with only four wide receivers, no matter how good they are, isn’t a smart move. Like running backs, fantasy players should draft one or two upside wide receivers late in their draft with their final couple of selections. Here are a few options:
- Jalen Coker (WR – KC) | ADP: 145.8 (WR56)
- Rashid Shaheed (WR – SEA) | ADP: 146.8 (WR57)
- Denzel Boston (WR – CLE) | ADP: 166.4 (WR58)
- De’Zhaun Stribling (WR – SF) | ADP: 176.6 (WR60)
- Ja’Kobi Lane (WR – BAL) | ADP: 215.5 (WR74)
- Caleb Douglas (WR – MIA) | ADP: 251.1 (WR91)
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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.