Fantasy Football All-Bench RB Strategy: Round Out Your Draft With These Backup Running Backs (2025)

Brett introduces his league-winning strategy for 2025 fantasy football leagues, the All-Bench RB Strategy. He outlines his strategy with top RB sleeper targets.

Every year, I write about the merits of an #AllBenchRB strategy during the season. It is a strategy employed in fantasy football leagues that can lead to success for fantasy players if implemented correctly.

Then I had an epiphany when @RealTalkRaph said to me, “Brett, your All-Bench RB strategy would work for the draft!” Mind Blown!

For those who may not remember or forgot how it works, let me share again what I mean by the #AllBenchRB strategy, and then I'll share some of my favorite RB targets to draft in the later rounds.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Dynasty rankings

What is #AllBenchRB?

The premise of this strategy is simple: Roster and hold as many RBs as possible.

Why in the world would anyone do such a thing?

RBs are lottery tickets! As a result of scarcity, injury risk, and higher attrition, bench RBs have a significantly higher probability to not only get a big opportunity, but also secure THE big Opportunity that helps win leagues, aka a bell cow role. This is why RBs receive the highest bids on the waiver wire. In turn, you can help your team by saving precious FAAB dollars by selecting them in advance. Lastly, do you play to win with more of the top players or fill out a roster with streamable players and play the matchups?

If you play to win, you must take risks and think ahead. Having one of your bench RBs hit can win you a ship. Drafting another fringe WR3 like DeMario Douglas or Cedric Tillman can win you a spot in line at Shake Shack. Sorry, Demario and Cedric, I mean no disrespect; you both do something I could only dream of by playing in the National Football League. Let's move on to whom to target to make this strategy work.

Who to target?

• Players on teams with dubious RB situations
• Players on teams with strong run games
• Talented back-ups that have a high probability of booming if given the opportunity
• Players on teams with an injury-prone RB1
• Anyone next in line!

Alright Rotoballers. It’s time to take a look at my favorite picks to fill out the back of your roster. Getting as many of these players onto rosters is key

My Top Homies - First Tier

• Jordan Mason
• Zach Charbonnet
• Tank Bigsby
• Tyjae Spears
• Ray Davis
• Trey Benson
• Isaac Guerendo
• J.K. Dobbins
• Jaylen Wright
• Rico Dowdle
• Blake Corum
• Tyler Allgeier

Should Tyjae Spears be more involved in the offense next year? 🤔pic.twitter.com/KAcDVvcsc5

— SleeperTitans (@SleeperTitanUp) June 30, 2025

Second Tier

• Braelon Allen
• Nick Chubb
• Roschon Johnson
• Rachaad White
• MarShawn Lloyd
• Jerome Ford/Dylan Sampson
• Will Shipley
• Kareem Hunt
• Cam Skattebo

Nick Chubb's 92 yard touchdown from 2018 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jBtICVz8hB

— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) June 24, 2025

Third Tier

• DJ Giddens
• Kendre Miller/Devin Neal
• Elijah Mitchell
• Keaton Mitchell
• Audric Estime
• Miles Sanders
• Kenneth Gainwell
• Antonio Gibson
• Sean Tucker
• Isaiah Davis

Reminder that Colts Rookie RB DJ Giddens is REALLY good.

In 2024 - Giddens had:

1,343 Rushing Yards
258 Receiving Yards
8 Touchdowns

A PERFECT complement to Jonathan Taylor.
pic.twitter.com/gVRs0CfWHJ

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) May 26, 2025

Here’s what we know, based on history from past seasons. There will be players on this list who will help fantasy managers win games. There will be players on this list who will help fantasy managers win several games. There will be players on this list who help fantasy managers win championships. There will be players not even named on this list that do all of the above.

Then, there will be players on and off this list who will yield substantial FAAB bids on the Waiver Wire. You can fill your bench with WRs that, in the best-case scenario, finish the season with 700 yards and five touchdowns, and streamable TEs and QBs. You can load that bench with a bunch of lotto tickets, increasing the odds that one will break through and have a significant impact on your season. Some of the names may be ugly and unappealing, but an ugly victory is better than a pretty loss.

Sincerely,

Brett Mitchell @BrettMitchellFB

More Fantasy Football Analysis