Strategy in Action: Zero RB

Ryan McDowell Posted On April 22, 2017

A couple of weeks ago when I kicked off the April version of the DLF Mock Drafts, the series of dynasty startup mocks used to formulate our monthly average draft position data, I decided I should once again employ a variety of strategies in team building.

A little bit of background information first. I first came upon this rather simple idea late in the off-season of 2016. In the August mock drafts, I chose six varying startup draft strategies and tried them all while participating in each of the monthly mock drafts. My plan was to detail each approach in a series of article, but eventually I ran out of time before the 2016 NFL season kicked off. The timing all around was poor on my part since most drafts of this type had wrapped anyway.

Now, with more time and startup draft season right around the corner, I chose April’s mocks to try the venture with one more time. In this series of articles, I’ll explain the plan I entered with, players I chose and how the plan might have changed along the way. I’ll also attempt to objectively point out the pros and cons of each tactic as a potential team building blueprint.

Before I examine the next mock draft, let me explain some ground rules I gave myself. First, I chose a strategy for each league before setup, meaning I was not aware of my draft position beforehand. I also gave myself an out of sorts, acknowledging that I would not necessarily stick to the predetermined plan if a huge value was staring me in the face.

The Strategy

While some argue about the birth of this specific strategy, it was certainly my friend Shawn Siegele of Rotoviz who first tabbed it Zero RB. Shawn introduced the idea back in 2013 with a focus on seasonal leagues. I later borrowed much of his ideology in my Punting Running Backs article in 2014.

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For those of you who might have missed those articles years ago, the gist of the idea is to wait on drafting running backs. For many, this idea has been dismissed after the 2016 season saw a subtle rebirth of the running back position, along with struggles from many of the highly valued wideouts.

Regardless, it has seemingly weathered the storm and continues to be a thriving draft strategy used by dynasty players. The draft plan is not quite as Shawn’s title makes it sound, meaning you do not completely ignore the running back position, only for the first several rounds. We’ll dive into the reasoning for this idea a little later.

The Draft

Here’s how my mock draft went:

1.12 Michael Thomas, WR NO

2.01 AJ Green, WR CIN

3.12 Corey Coleman, WR CLE

4.01 Mike Williams, WR ROOKIE

5.12 Jordan Reed, TE WAS

6.01 Tyreek Hill, WR KC

7.12 Juju Smith-Schuster, WR ROOKIE

8.01 Tyler Lockett, WR SEA

9.12 Zach Ertz, TE PHI

10.01 Curtis Samuel, WR ROOKIE

11.12 Doug Martin, RB TB

12.01 Devontae Booker, RB DEN

13.12 Jamaal Charles, RB FA

14.01 Phillip Rivers, QB LAC

15.12 Taywan Taylor, WR ROOKIE

16.01 Wayne Gallman, RB ROOKIE

17.12 Isaiah Ford, WR ROOKIE

18.01 JJ Nelson, WR ARZ

19.12 Jared Goff, QB LAR

20.01 Chris Thompson, RB WAS

As expected, I did not choose a running back until the end of the eleventh round, grabbing both Martin and Booker with back-to-back picks. This means I could focus on stacking my wide receiver corps early in the draft, which is just what I did with Thomas, Green, Coleman and Williams with my first four picks before adding one of the top tight ends available, Reed.

I then returned to the receiver position, adding youngsters Hill, Smith-Schuster, Lockett and Samuel before taking the running back plunge. The current trend of late round quarterback also allowed me to wait at that position, though that is not necessarily part of the Zero RB blueprint.

I actually would’ve liked to have added at least one more runner in the late round instead of the rookie receivers, but the options were not very appealing, to say the least.

The Lineup

In these mock drafts, the supposed starting lineups consist of one each from the four key fantasy positions; quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end, along with four flex spots, which could be a RB, WR or TE.

QB- Rivers

RB- Martin

WR- Thomas

TE- Reed

FLEX- Green

FLEX- Hill

FLEX- Ertz

FLEX- Coleman

The starting lineup requirement of a minimum of just one running back makes this strategy very appealing and adding Martin gives this team one somewhat reliable option, despite the long wait to address the position. Across the four strategies I’ve documented so far, I think this could be the most competitive lineup yet. The depth at the pass-catcher positions, along with the solid quarterback in Rivers should make this team a contender from day one.

The Pros

Following the Zero RB plan should always result in some very nice depth at wide receiver. After all, most of the reasons to avoid the runners (injury likelihood, shortening career spans, NFL demand, positional competition) can be viewed as pros, or at least are not as much of a concern, for receivers.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, the current quarterback landscape will allow dynasty players to also wait on that position, meaning the entire first half of the draft can be dedicated to stacking a group of wide receivers that will serve as the cornerstone for years to come.

The Cons

The popularity of this strategy really became out of hand over the past couple of seasons, with wideouts being drafted 3:1 or more compared to running backs. One problem I encountered was trying to stick to this strategy when the league format suggested it was not the best idea. For example, in a contract league requiring at least two starting running backs, I formed by team based around young wide receivers and the results were disastrous. So, consider this strategy as a strong option in PPR leagues requiring just one running back, along with multiple flex spots.

The obvious downside that comes with this plan is an expected lack of production at the running back position. Typically, a Zero RB team would be filled with PPR specialists who could also serve as the starter should an injury occur.

The Next Steps

Drafting a team with the intent of essentially ignoring one position for the large part of the startup will obviously result in a weakness at that position. In turn, the need at the running back spot would put the dynasty owner in a position of always looking for additional resources to improve this area, either through the waiver wire or the trade market.

Finally, I wanted to mention one other off-shoot strategy that was born of Zero RB. During what I have come to refer to as MFL10 season, the months of February through April, when the true diehards are busy forming their respective MFL10 portfolios, I noticed many players I respect using a modified Zero RB that included taking one running back fairly early in the draft, sometimes as early as the first round, and then ignoring the position as the original strategy would suggest. This less stringent plan could be a good alternative for those who are a little unsure about completing bypassing the position or those who play in 2 RB leagues and can’t afford to wait until the double-digit rounds to acquire their first runner.

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Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.