Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Zero RB vs. Hero RB vs. Balanced Builds

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Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Zero RB vs. Hero RB vs. Balanced Builds

Fantasy football drafts can be unpredictable, but having a plan before you're on the clock can make it much easier to navigate the early rounds.

One of the biggest decisions fantasy managers face is how aggressively to target running backs. Some drafters are willing to wait several rounds before addressing the position, while others want an elite running back anchoring their roster. And plenty of fantasy managers would rather avoid committing to either extreme.

That's where popular fantasy football draft strategies such as Zero RB, Hero RB and balanced roster construction come into play.

There isn't one strategy that's guaranteed to produce a championship roster. Your draft position, league settings and the players available when you're on the clock should all influence your decisions.

With that in mind, let's break down three popular fantasy football draft strategies and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

All ADP references come from FantasyPros' half-PPR ADP, and ADP may change after this article is published.

Fantasy Football Strategy for 2026 Drafts

Zero RB Strategy

The Zero RB strategy is exactly what the name suggests -- at least to an extent. Instead of spending premium draft capital on running backs, a Zero RB drafter generally uses the opening rounds to build advantages at wide receiver and potentially quarterback or tight end.

The exact cutoff varies, but a Zero RB roster may go five or six rounds without selecting a running back.

There are a few reasons this strategy can be appealing.

Running back is an inherently volatile position. Injuries, committees and changing roles can create valuable fantasy running backs throughout the season. Every year, there are backs selected in the later rounds -- or sometimes not drafted at all -- who eventually emerge as weekly fantasy starters.

Meanwhile, a Zero RB drafter can potentially leave the opening rounds with several high-end wide receivers and an elite option at quarterback or tight end.

The strategy can be particularly appealing in PPR leagues, where loading up on high-volume receivers can give your roster a strong weekly foundation.

Of course, there's considerable risk.

If you wait until the middle rounds for your first running back, you'll probably enter the season with question marks at RB1 and RB2. You will likely need to hit on a breakout candidate, correctly identify an ambiguous backfield or aggressively work the waiver wire throughout the season.

Zero RB also shouldn't be forced. If an elite running back falls significantly beyond his expected draft position, passing on him simply because you decided beforehand to use Zero RB can turn a strategy into a mistake.

Best suited for: PPR leagues, drafts where wide receiver value falls early, and fantasy managers comfortable being aggressive on the waiver wire.

Hero RB Strategy

Hero RB offers something of a compromise between loading up on running backs and avoiding them entirely.

With this strategy, you draft one high-end running back -- usually in the first or second round -- and allow that player to anchor the position. You then spend the next several rounds targeting wide receivers and potentially an elite quarterback or tight end before returning to running back later in the draft.

The appeal is fairly straightforward.

If your early-round running back performs as expected, you have a potential difference-maker at one of fantasy football's most important positions without sacrificing the opportunity to build an excellent group of pass-catchers.

Instead of needing to find two starting running backs in the middle and later rounds, as you might with Zero RB, you only need to find your RB2.

That makes Hero RB a particularly interesting strategy when you're drafting early enough to land a running back you believe has elite volume and overall RB1 upside. This year, that likely means being able to select Jahmyr Gibbs or Bijan Robinson, meaning you’ll likely need at least a top-three pick.

The downside is that a lot depends on your "hero."

An injury or disappointing season from that early running back can leave the roster vulnerable because you intentionally passed on other quality backs in subsequent rounds. Hero RB also becomes less appealing if the elite running backs are already off the board by the time you pick.

Best suited for: Drafters who can secure an elite running back early but still want to prioritize wide receivers throughout the opening rounds.

Balanced Draft Strategy

You don't have to commit to a catchy roster-building philosophy.

A balanced draft strategy is built around taking value as it comes rather than entering the draft determined to select — or avoid — a particular position.

A balanced roster might begin RB-WR-WR-RB. Another could start WR-RB-TE-WR. The important part isn't following a predetermined positional sequence. It's building a roster without creating a major weakness at one position.

The biggest advantage of this strategy is flexibility.

If your league mates aggressively draft running backs, you can take advantage of falling wide receivers. If everyone is loading up on receivers, you may be able to land running backs you weren't expecting.

This approach also reduces your reliance on hitting late-round home runs at one specific position. Ideally, you'll leave the early and middle rounds with viable starters throughout your lineup while using the later rounds to chase upside.

The potential downside is that a balanced roster can sometimes lack an overwhelming positional advantage. A Zero RB team might have an incredible receiving corps. A Hero RB roster could have an elite RB1 alongside several high-end receivers. A balanced team can be solid everywhere without necessarily being exceptional anywhere.

That isn't automatically a bad thing. It simply puts more emphasis on consistently finding value throughout the draft.

Best suited for: Almost any league format, particularly for fantasy managers who want to react to their draft room rather than force a predetermined strategy.

Which Fantasy Football Draft Strategy Is Best?

There isn't a universal answer.

Zero RB can be excellent when your league aggressively pushes running backs up the board and allows elite receivers to fall. Hero RB becomes appealing when you can secure a true difference-maker at running back. A balanced approach can work when the board doesn't present an obvious reason to lean heavily toward either position.

That's why one of the most important pieces of fantasy football draft strategy is remaining flexible.

You might enter a draft expecting to use Zero RB and suddenly have Bijan fall into your lap at 1.06. You might plan on Hero RB only to watch your preferred running backs disappear before your first pick.

Your strategy should help guide your decisions, not dictate them.

Ultimately, the best fantasy football draft strategy is the one that allows you to consistently capitalize on value while building a roster with enough upside to win your league.

Here’s some other fantasy football content to check out:

Fantasy Football Strategy FAQ

What is the Zero RB strategy in fantasy football?

Zero RB is a fantasy football draft strategy in which managers avoid selecting running backs during the early rounds. Instead, they prioritize positions such as wide receiver, quarterback and tight end before targeting running backs in the middle and later rounds. The thinking is that the RB position is more volatile than other positions due to injuries.

What is the Hero RB strategy?

Hero RB involves selecting one elite running back early in the draft and then waiting several rounds before selecting another. The goal is to have a high-end RB1 anchoring the position while using other premium picks to build strength at wide receiver, quarterback and tight end.

Is Zero RB a good strategy in PPR leagues?

Zero RB can be particularly appealing in PPR leagues because receptions increase the value of high-volume wide receivers and pass-catchers. However, whether the strategy makes sense ultimately depends on draft position, league settings and the players available when you are on the clock.

Should I draft a running back or wide receiver in the first round?

That depends on which players are available and your league's scoring format. Rather than deciding beforehand that you must draft a running back or wide receiver with your first selection, it can be beneficial to compare the available players and select the one who offers the best combination of value, workload and fantasy upside.

What is the best fantasy football draft strategy?

There is no single draft strategy that works best in every league. League size, scoring format, starting lineup requirements, draft position and the decisions made by other managers should all influence your approach. Staying flexible when drafting and taking advantage of value can be more important than strictly following one predetermined strategy.

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