X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Born to Run - Starting RB/RB in Fantasy Football Drafts

Way back when I first started playing this wonderful game, this type of article would be superfluous. Obviously you should go RB/RB if you can. That was back in 2003 and for much of the 2000s, there was little debate over the optimal strategy - if you could get two quality RBs in the first two rounds, do it.

In the late 2000s, we started to see signs of a shift. It coincided - and this shouldn't be all that surprising - with the Calvin Johnson era. Since so many fantasy owners were taking RBs early, elite WRs were available later than they should've been. In 2007, Calvin's rookie year, WR1s outscored RB2s by a total of 381 points (all stats are ppr scoring). Since then, the WR1s have collectively outscored the RB1s in six of the last 11 years, including 2007. Specifically in 2015, WR1s outscored RB1s by a whopping 901 points. That's why in 2016, for the first time in my fantasy career, we saw a WR go first overall (followed by two more WRs). It was pretty obvious that 2015 was a huge anomaly - not necessarily in WR scoring, but in RB scoring. Since 2007, the lowest total of all the RB1s was 3,158 points back in 2007...except in 2015, where they scored 2,773. It was this type of research that led me to publish this article in 2016 on why you should zig while others zag and go with an early RB strategy. It turned out to be correct as RB1s bounced back considerably, outscoring WR1s by 86 points.

Last season, it was the WR1s that had a 2015 RB1s type season, putting up their lowest combined point total in the last 11 years en route to being outscored by the RB1s by 191 points. But people are wise to what happened in 2015 and don't want to fall into the same trap. Nevertheless, RBs are back dominating the first two rounds, leaving perceived elite WRs like Julio Jones, A.J. Green, and Mike Evans available in the second round. With everyone seemingly back to going RB early, is now the time to load up on WRs or perhaps go Zero RB? WR/WR can certainly work and so can Zero RB. The goal isn't to persuade you to commit to the RB/RB strategy, but rather to explain why it is viable and something you should not be afraid to do if it makes sense during your draft.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

One of the main arguments against the RB/RB approach is that RBs are the easiest to find on the waiver wire throughout the season. Last year, we saw a whole host of players emerge from relative obscurity to have a significant impact: Alvin Kamara, Alex Collins, Jerick McKinnon, Latavius Murray, Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, and Kenyan Drake are the ones that come to mind. There were others. Even if it is just for a week or two, like Chris Ivory when Leonard Fournette was dinged up or benched for a game, if we can constantly find RBs like that, why spend your first two picks in a draft on one?

I don't think the goal should necessarily be to rely on the waiver wire. You want to draft the most complete team. Ultimately, no player in fantasy is more valuable than the three down workhorse elite RB. If you can get one of them, you should. If you can potentially get two, you definitely should. As indicated above, elite RB1s typically outscore elite WR1s. RB1s are also more reliable on a week to week basis because their touch count is more consistent.

One of the most important factors, however, is the caliber of WR you can acquire later in the draft. Even more important, is the caliber of RB you can expect to get later in the draft. While it is still a bit early to dissect ADP, by the end of the third round, if you don't have two RBs, the next RB you draft will be ranked as a low end RB2 at best. At the same time, you can still draft legitimate WR1s well into the third round.

I want to keep this more theory based than player specific because obviously the guys at the top of the draft are all very good fantasy producers and we each have our own opinions on who we'd prefer. For that reason, don't get caught up on the specific names I use if you don't like those players - just replace them with similarly situated players you do like. As an example, you can grab legitimate WR1s like Davante Adams, A.J. Green, and Mike Evans in the middle of the second round. But you can also take legitimate WR1s like Doug Baldwin, Tyreek Hill, and Larry Fitzgerald in the middle of the third round. So what looks better, something like Kareem Hunt, Devonta Freeman, and Larry Fitzgerald or Kareem Hunt, Davante Adams, and Derrick Henry? Again, you can flip the players around to more suit your preferences, but the fact that you can secure legitimate WR1s in the third round and then legitimate WR2s in the fourth round should help illustrate how viable the RB/RB strategy is.

The RBs going beyond round two all have serious concerns - far greater concerns than the WRs. The odds of your third or fourth round RB busting completely appear to be much greater than the same happening to your third or fourth round WR. You should feel a lot better about securing a guy like Josh Gordon, Allen Robinson, or Alshon Jeffery in the fourth round than you would about Jay Ajayi, Rashaad Penny, or Derrius Guice. With the blurring of the lines between WR1s and WR2s and WR2s and WR3s, the drop off in the quality of your WRs should you go RB/RB will not be nearly as great as the drop off in the quality of your second RB if you exit the second round without one.

While it may be easier to find RBs on the waiver wire, it is easier to find WRs later in the draft. And you can still find those waiver RB darlings and extract value from them even if you have a loaded RB corps. With the depth of quality WRs and the fact that there are legitimate NFL WR1s available as late as the eighth or ninth rounds, loading up on RBs early is an excellent way to maximize the value of your team coming out of your draft.

 

More 2018 Fantasy Football & ADP Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
Max Scherzer

Cleared to Start on Saturday
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Kodai Senga

Could be "in Play" to Return Before All-Star Break
Ha-Seong Kim

Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim From Injured List
Christian Moore

Placed on Injured List With Thumb Sprain
Luis L. Ortiz

the Subject of Gambling Investigation
Jordan Lawlar

to Miss Multiple Weeks With Hamstring Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Receives Encouraging News on his Hand
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Jacob Monk

Sees Plenty of Work With Starters
Avonte Maddox

has Impressed Dan Campbell
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Chicago Bears

Ruben Hyppolite Shows Notable Improvement
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Daron Payne

Commanders Coaches Impressed With Daron Payne
Danny Gray

Makes Impression During Offseason Workouts
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dane Belton

Should Have a Role in 2025
Kaiir Elam

Flashes During Offseason Workouts
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Riley Greene

Homers Twice, Drives in Six on Wednesday
Max Muncy

Exits With Apparent Knee Injury
Christian Moore

Exits Early with Thumb Irritation
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Oronde Gadsden

an Active Pass-Catcher This Offseason
Brashard Smith

Speed Could be Put to Use
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
DET

James van Riemsdyk Joins Red Wings on One-Year Contract
Viktor Arvidsson

Traded to Boston
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
PHI

Dan Vladar Links Up With Flyers on Two-Year Deal
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Jeff Green

Signs One-Year Deal to Remain in Houston
Los Angeles Lakers

Jake LaRavia Lands with Lakers
Orlando Magic

Tyus Jones Signs One-Year Deal With Magic
Golden State Warriors

Kevon Looney Heads to New Orleans
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
Chase Elliott

Ends Winless Skid With Atlanta Victory
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Atlanta Victory
Carson Hocevar

Recovers From Big One to Finish 10th at Atlanta
William Byron

Caught up in Atlanta Big One but Retains Points Lead
Denny Hamlin

Top In-Season Challenge Seed Denny Hamlin Eliminated in Lap 70 Crash
Ty Dillon

Bottom Seed Ty Dillon Upsets Denny Hamlin to Advance in In-Season Challenge
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF