Don’t Lose the Plot: Why Zero RB Remains a Winning Strategy in Best Ball

By Tim Goldberg (@FireUpFantasyTG)

May 9, 2025

The 2024 fantasy football season brought a legitimate resurgence at the running back position.

After years of declining investment in Best Ball, names like Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry,

Josh Jacobs, and breakout stars like De’Von Achane and the Gibbs–Montgomery combo in

Detroit reminded everyone just how impactful elite RB production can be.

Naturally, this sparked a wave of hot takes:

“Zero RB is dead.”

“Time to pivot to Hero RB.”

“Balance is back.”

But here’s the truth: don’t lose the plot.

Zero RB was never about saying running backs don’t matter. It’s about understanding where

value lies and that hasn’t changed. In fact, it may be stronger than ever heading into 2025.

Zero RB Is a Philosophy, Not a Reaction

Let’s get something clear: Zero RB isn’t about fading RBs just to be contrarian. It’s a

structural approach that works by leveraging three core truths:

• RBs are volatile and fragile.

• Elite WRs provide more predictable spike-week scoring.

• You can patch together RB production later using ambiguous backfields, injury

breakouts, and young emerging talent.

With the market swinging back toward early RBs, the opportunity for leverage has returned

and sharp drafters know it.

Why 2025 Draft Room Dynamics Favor Zero RB

Early in 2025 Best Ball drafts show a clear trend: the field is buying back into RBs. That

creates a dream environment for Zero RB drafters.

WR Are Falling Down the Draft Board

Elite WRs like A.J. Brown, Garrett Wilson, Ladd McConkey, Tyreek Hill, and Terry

McLaurin are now slipping into the late second and third rounds. Meanwhile, players like

Davante Adams, Rashee Rice, DeVonta Smith, and Zay Flowers are dropping to the 4th

round, while DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, Jaylen Waddle, Cooper Kupp, and Chris Olave are

being targeted in Round 6. This creates plenty of opportunities to mix and match these players

into your lineups, crafting unique, talented rosters at values we didn’t have last year.

Sure, some of these ADP slides may be tied to age, health or poor statistical performances in

2024. However, these players could easily bounce back to their previous form and make a splash.

Big plays are what you’re chasing, they’re the difference-makers that help you advance and puts

you in position to chase the money and the glory.

RB Supply Is Deeper Than Ever

Thanks to a loaded rookie class and evolving usage trends across the NFL, valuable running

backs are available well into the double-digit rounds. Some of the most intriguing names include:

• Cam Skattebo

• Bhayshul Tuten

• Jaydon Blue

• Devin Neal

  
  

These rookies come with explosiveness, upside, and paths to opportunity, perfect Zero RB

targets.

There’s also a reliable group of veterans like Zach Charbonnet, Jordan Mason, Travis

Etienne, Rhamondre Stevenson, Tyjae Spears, Tank Bigsby and Trey Benson many of

whom have either clear roles or strong contingent upside. The best part? They’re consistently

available in rounds 10-15, providing affordable backfield depth without the early-round

investment.

Beyond that, there’s a cluster of late-round dart throws in Rounds 18–20 that might not feel

great to click; Raheem Mostert, Zack Moss, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Nick Chubb, who’s still

a free agent. While these names may not inspire confidence, they don’t have to. If one of them

rounds out your RB room, you’re not asking for consistent production, you just need the

occasional spike week. And these players have proven they can deliver exactly that when called

upon.

As more teams embrace multi-back systems, younger RBs are earning meaningful snaps earlier,

while veterans continue to get chances to show they’ve still got the juice. Both trends reinforce

the Zero RB approach.

And as training camp and preseason approach, we’ll get a clearer picture of rosters, usage, and

depth charts, likely revealing even more late-round options. This is your chance to get ahead of

the market and secure some 200+ ADP backs before they flash in August and their draft stock

skyrockets

Defensive Adjustments Could Spark a WR Surge

If 2024 was “the year of the RB,” smart money should expect defensive coordinators to adjust.

To counter rising RB usage, we’ll likely see:

• Fewer two-high safety looks (Cover 2)

• More single-high formations and stacked boxes

• More run blitzes and gap-shooting

That could stifle some ground games, but it opens the door for wide receivers, especially in

deep one-on-one matchups against thinner coverage.

The NFL evolves quickly. Trends don’t hold forever.

If 2024 was a step back for WRs, 2025 might be a full-on bounce-back year.

Savvy drafters won’t chase last year’s production, they’ll anticipate the correction, so don’t get

left behind.

Advanced Strategy Bonus: Easier Stacking, Savvier Builds

One of the most underrated benefit of Zero RB that often goes overlooked: it makes team

stacking easier.

By not burning early picks on RBs, you’re free to prioritize:

• Elite QB–WR stacks

• Premium QB–TE combinations

Even better: you can add the backup RB from the same team later, creating a well-

constructed stack between your QB and a pass-catching RB2.

These RB2s, often third-down specialists, play high-leverage PPR snaps, especially in passing

downs and trailing game scripts. They’re not just insurance, they’re weekly contributors with

spike potential in the same games as their quarterback.

What People Get Wrong About Zero RB

Let’s debunk the myth:

Zero RB does NOT mean ignoring RBs and praying.

A strong Zero RB build usually includes:

• 6–7 RBs from Rounds 7–20

• Elite contingent upside backs (one injury from RB1 status.

• Ambiguous backfield bets

• Pass-catching specialists with weekly spike potential

You’re not fading the position, you’re playing the numbers.

In Best Ball, obviously we know you don’t need to pick the right RB each week, so this allows

you to draft for spike week potential and let the format handle the rest.

Don’t Draft for Yesterday, Draft for This Year

Yes, Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley smashed last year. And yes, many of us still wake up

in cold sweats after passing on them for Chris Olave or Marvin Harrison Jr. It happens.

But obsessing over results-based regret is a losing game.

Instead, ask yourself this:

What is the market overcorrecting to right now?

The answer is simple: Running backs.

So while others stampede back into early RB land, exploit the inefficiency:

• Stockpile WR alphas

• Build premium stacks

• Snag explosive, flexible RBs late

Final Word: Zero RB Isn’t Dead, It’s Evolving

If your draft room is racing for RBs in the early rounds, sit back and let them.

Your Goal:

• Draft elite WRs

• Grab an anchor QB or TE if the value hits

• Fill your backfield with cheap, high-upside darts

• Win all the money

Don’t panic when someone grabs a “stud RB” in Round 1. You’re playing the long game. The

structural edge still favors Zero RB, especially in Best Ball formats.

Stay disciplined.

Trust the process.

Build smarter, not trendier.

AND DON’T LOSE THE PLOT.