One of the most-often quoted nuggets of advice in fantasy football drafts is that in order to win, “you need to zig when other people zag.”
While that’s a pretty easy ditty to remember, it’s a little more difficult to accomplish. And how does one go about all this zigging and zagging anyway?
In its simplest terms, the idea here is that it’s easy to follow the crowd — whether you’re using the most popular fantasy analyst’s cheat sheet or focusing on ADP value when you’re drafting. But if everyone is doing the same thing, the person who bucks the trend has an opportunity to gain a significant advantage.
One way to do this is by using what’s called the Zero RB strategy.
2025 POSITION RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST | Overall
What is the Zero RB strategy?
What’s now known as the Zero RB strategy was first introduced in 2013 by fantasy football analyst Shawn Siegele in his groundbreaking article “Zero RB, Antifragility, and the Myth of Value-Based Drafting.”
While it’s impossible to outline his complete theory here (without the threat of legal action), the basic idea is that fantasy football drafters have historically placed too much importance on running backs. Sure, the best ones are the stars who rack up big numbers both rushing and receiving. But they often get hurt and/or underperform, making it hard to live up to their high draft position.
Siegele’s revolutionary idea was to use that volatility to one’s advantage by passing on not only the top running backs, but most all of the projected starting running backs in the early rounds of drafts. In place of them, target high-volume receivers (who typically get hurt less frequently) to gain a significant advantage at the position over every other team in the league. Focus exclusively on wideouts — and even get a starting tight end and quarterback — before turning to the running back position last. (Hence the “Zero RB” name.)
The running backs remaining on the draft board are going to be almost exclusively backups or role players. But that’s fine. Try to find the ones with the highest upside when injuries to the starters eventually come. Throw as many darts as you can and then scour the waiver wire for replacements during the season.
Does Zero RB really work?
Siegele certainly has an impressive track record with the strategy, winning the 2013 NFFC Primetime championship, as well as 11 NFFC Main Event league titles.
The idea behind it is to have an advantage over your opponents at all the other positions, while gradually improving your stable of running backs by the time the league playoffs roll around. That’s the primary takeaway: Your main goal isn’t to have the best team coming out of the draft, it’s to have the best one at the end of the season.
Zero RB wins in 2024
While no strategy is foolproof, fantasy managers who embrace Zero RB in the draft will usually be more aggressive in finding potential breakouts. Some running backs who delivered second-tier production after pick 100 last season:
Statistical info from FantasyData.com
The Bengals’ Chase Brown was the RB36 in drafts last season, but he finished as the RB10.
The Panthers’ Chuba Hubbard: RB42 -> RB13
The Buccaneers’ Bucky Irving: RB54 -> RB15
2023 wins included Raheem Mostert (RB 47 -> RB5), Kyren Williams (RB69 -> RB7), Jerome Ford (RB62 -> RB16)
Zero RB targets for 2025
So the big question is who might be among this season’s breakout running backs.
If you’re going to embrace the Zero RB strategy, you might consider players from among this group:
2025 ADP from NFFC.com
Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (Current ADP: 111, RB35)
Jordan Mason, Vikings (ADP: 115, RB36)
J.K. Dobbins, Broncos (ADP: 120, RB40)
Tank Bigsby, Jaguars (ADP: 147, RB43)
Trey Benson, Cardinals (ADP: 154, RB46)
Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars (ADP: 162, RB47)
Jaydon Blue, Cowboys (ADP: 169, RB49)
Jaylen Wright, Dolphins (ADP: 171, RB52)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Using the Zero RB strategy to win a fantasy football championship
