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Are Zero RB builds viable in 2025 fantasy football drafts? John Johnson breaks down the Zero RB strategy, how it works, and if it is viable in 2025.
The Zero RB draft strategy in fantasy football, in which fantasy managers prioritize drafting multiple wide receivers before selecting a single running back in their drafts, has been very popular in recent years. It's regularly touted as the best strategy to build league-winning teams.
This isn't some stroke of genius, though. It's obvious that when most leagues are based on point-per-reception scoring rules, in which players are rewarded the equivalent of gaining five or 10 yards just for making a catch, wide receivers, whose job is to catch the ball, are automatically more valuable.
But last season, Zero RB drafters were punished heavily, and many of the league's best players to own were running backs. With NFL defenses shifting to stop deep passing plays more and more, it could be a sign that the landscape is shifting. So, is Zero RB still a viable draft strategy in 2025? Let's dive in!
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Why Was Zero RB A Bad Fantasy Football Strategy Last Season?
There was an anomalously high number of injuries to key wide receivers last season. A.J. Brown, Puka Nacua, CeeDee Lamb, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Tee Higgins (no surprise there), Rashee Rice, and Nico Collins all missed significant time and/or were hampered heavily due to their injury issues.
That's not normally the case. The running back position tends to deal with more injuries than WRs, and we shouldn't expect that to repeat itself every season, but last year was bad for WRs. We expect things to lighten up this season, of course.
If you made a good WR pick this season, I have bad news.
* Tyreek Hill (Tua)
* Puka Nacua (knee)
* Nico Collins (hamstring)
* Cooper Kupp (ankle)
* Mike Evans (hamstring)
* Rashee Rice (knee)
* Jaylen Waddle (Tua)
* Chris Godwin (ankle)
* Marquise Brown (collarbone)
* Rashid…— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) October 22, 2024
It's not as if a lot of those players have dipped in ADP as a result, and those who have will likely see their ADPs recover to more reasonable (higher) spots as the 2025 season draws nearer. This situation should help us see that 2024 shouldn't be the biggest driving factor in our evaluation of the Zero RB strategy.
Instead, averaging things out over the past few seasons, WRs have a slight edge on running backs in scoring. That's also not something we should base our strategy entirely on, but it is significant.
What Are The Pros Of Zero RB Builds In Fantasy Football?
The pros are that you can make sure you have the best chance of a consistent, high-scoring, elite receiver on your roster with your first-round pick and a few steady guys in the next few rounds. Of course, there are running backs who can provide this utility, though.
Additionally, in leagues where most fantasy managers tend to draft receivers early, you can ensure that you don't miss out on these players. A true alpha WR1 is immeasurably important to a team's success. It's generally easier for WRs to put up explosive weeks. Just look at Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase.
HAVE A NIGHT JA’MARR CHASE.
🐅 11 catches
🐅 264 yards
🐅 3 TDs
🐅 11 first downs
🐅 55.4 PPR points pic.twitter.com/VMSqEGUO4J— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) November 8, 2024
Most of the massive performances of 40 or more PPR fantasy points come from receivers rather than running backs in any given season. I'm excluding quarterbacks because they're not part of this conversation, and the scoring rules naturally favor them, especially those with rushing upside.
But nailing your pick on an elite receiver can give you a nearly insurmountable advantage, especially in the fantasy football playoffs. WRs take less of a beating from constant tackles and pass-blocking against defensive ends and linebackers than receivers, who are generally tackled less often and assigned to block smaller defenders.
CEEDEE LAMB HAS 20.2 POINTS IN THE FIRST HALF THANKS TO THIS TOUCHDOWN ‼️
pic.twitter.com/SZL97dE5r8— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) December 24, 2023
A 100-yard, one-touchdown performance from a wide receiver is almost guaranteed to be worth more PPR fantasy points than that performance from a running back because rushes don't count for extra points. Most running backs, even those in the elite category, are also very prone to having down games in the fantasy playoffs.
So naturally, it might seem like taking receivers early is clearly the best strategy. But it's not that simple.
What Are The Cons Of Zero RB Builds In Fantasy Football?
There are many cons of a Zero RB build, but let's focus on a few key areas. For one, we have to talk about positional value. It's generally easier to find good wide receivers later in fantasy football drafts than it is to find good running backs. This happens for a few reasons.
For starters, it's usually easier to identify which player on any given team will be that team's leader in backfield touches heading into the next season. Rookie running backs with high draft capital and backs with a history of success are near locks to be their team's workhorses.
Fantasy seasons are typically won and lost on the backs of a team's running backs. It's by far the most important position in fantasy football.
Like it or not, it just is what it is. As for why that is?
A lesson in scarcity and positional value from@AdamHarstad: #DMsWithAdam pic.twitter.com/c1bXVamSJs
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) June 12, 2020
The fact is that the top-tier running backs are the most valuable players to draft because of positional scarcity. It's much harder to find league-winning RBs later in drafts. WR rooms tend to be a bit murkier, and the nature of receptions counting for a full point means that even mediocre wideouts who get spammed with targets can be highly valuable.
In ancillary roles, it's much more difficult for backs to have such an impact. Players who are hyped as ready to take over their team's RB1 role tend to get drafted much higher than WRs who are primed for a breakout season. Just look at WRs like Rice and Terry McLaurin from last year.
It’s called Zero-RB, T. You draft zero RBs in the first five rounds. So if Alvin Kamara and Saquon Barkley get clipped, it doesn't hurt you. But now you've got bonafide RB1s in Mark Ingram and Matt Breida off waivers. pic.twitter.com/DSZNYq60uU
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) August 30, 2022
Even in cases where a team's starting running back goes down, you rush to pick up his backup on waivers, hoping you just got a free starting running back to replace your garbage RB, who is doing absolutely nothing and dragging your team down. Sometimes that doesn't work out, either.
The pool of fantasy-viable running backs is simply smaller than that of receivers, so it's harder to nail your later-round picks because the good ones are usually all gone by the middle rounds. And that makes things tough. Additionally, you'll have very little depth at the position.
On teams with non-balanced builds, injuries to positions you lack depth in, or even more than one quality starter, can put you in a position where you're forced to get incredibly lucky with free-agent acquisitions, waiver wire pickups, or rip yourself off in a trade with another fantasy manager.
What's The Best Fantasy Football Draft Strategy?
This might shock you, but taking a balanced approach is probably the best idea! Having a firm grasp on which rookies are most likely to have great first seasons is a huge help with this because you can steal extra starters in the later rounds and build impressive depth.
But even rookie running backs are often taken in the early rounds. Just look at Las Vegas Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty and Los Angeles Chargers tailback Omarion Hampton. Jeanty is locked in as a first-round pick -- which is a horrible idea -- and Hampton is often going inside the first four rounds.
Fastdraft Origins, Flex 4…doesn’t matter
Omarion Hampton’s ADP is too damn HIGH@JagSays jumped on Degens and we broke down all the ADP you can take advantage of as a savvy Best Baller
Full pod 🔗in the comments ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/neBipt9oSW
— FantasyNerdBoi (@NerdBoiTakes) June 1, 2025
Running back ADPs get pushed up in drafts because of that positional scarcity. So, taking at least one early is probably a good idea. You can even take a back in the first round and follow that up with three straight receivers and probably be in pretty good shape.
But try to understand that RB is still an important position in fantasy football. Even if they don't get points for their rushes, and it's harder for them to put up three straight monster weeks in the fantasy playoffs, they're still valuable for getting you to the end.
If you have to go Zero RB, at least make sure you draft Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner. He's always underrated!
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