Fantasy Football Draft Strategy Zero RB Targets Part 2
We are back with Part 2 of our zero running back strategy backs to target. The zero running back strategy has become more and more popular over the years and has evolved with how NFL running backs are now used in real life. When executing this strategy an owner fades the position and loads up in other areas. Then the owner tries to hit on the position later in the draft. Here are some guys owners should target when using the zero RB strategy in their drafts. Only this time we go even deeper into drafts as you will have to load up on guys in hopes to hit on a dark horse.
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Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are being viewed as a blackhole for fantasy value this season despite the repeated success of their running backs year after year. David Montgomery is now in Detroit, and as someone who is a fan of D'Onte Foreman, I can confidently say that Herbert is a significantly more talented back. In 2022, he was outstanding when given the opportunity to be the lead back and the Bears didn't hesitate to give him a large workload. Something he will see much more this year. He hit at least 14 touches four times last year and in those four games, he totaled 456 yards and scored four TDs on 71 touches. Last season he averaged 5.7 yards per carry. No one wants the Bears wideouts because all the Bears do is run the ball, so why does no one want their lead running back on a team that has proven fantasy success at the position? While Justin Fields will steal some carries and touchdowns from the quarterback position, the fear of that has gotten out of hand. Herbert is a must-own if you are looking for RBs late in your draft. Currently, he's being drafted as an RB4.
Damien Harris, Buffalo Bills
James Cook is being drafted 35 spots ahead of Damien Harris right now, which is a massive mistake by the fantasy community. There is no chance, barring injury, that Cook has more carries or touchdowns than Harris this season. Cook may be more flashy and catch some passes, but he's not that guy you can just hand the rock to over and over and let him go. Cook hasn't even truly proved he's an excellent pass-catcher yet and going back to college it's clear he's not a goal-line guy. In 2022, he managed to rush for one TD on 89 carries behind inferior backs to Harris and while only catching more than two passes twice, he caught zero passes seven times. Over the past two seasons, Harris has rushed for 18 TDs. Harris is being undervalued while Cook is being overvalued. It's clear who you should be targeting in this Bills' backfield.
Jeff Wilson Jr, Miami Dolphins
It's a roll of the dice on which Dolphins' running back you want to draft. So, we are going to target the guy who is being drafted last because he's just as likely to be the top guy in Miami As Raheem Mostert and even more so than Devon Achane. Wilson was solid last year after getting sent to Miami from San Francisco and served as the lead back based on touches in a split-back system with Mostert. There is little reason to believe anything will be different this year, assuming Dalvin Cook doesn't come strolling into town. This is a simple value play. Achane is being drafted as the RB40, Mostert the RB49, and Wilson the RB56. Go with the best bang for your buck here.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
Patterson could absolutely flop on his face this season, but the upside in PPR leagues shouldn't just be ignored. The team has already made it clear he will be used more as a pass-catcher this season similarly to his breakout season in 2021. We don't think he's going to catch lightning in a bottle like he did in 2021, nevertheless, he could still have plenty of value in PPR leagues essentially as a short-area receiver who you can play in the RB slot. 80 carries, 40 receptions, and five TDs isn't a crazy projection for him and that number could spike if there is any sort of injury in that backfield or to a pass-catcher. With him being drafted at 193 overall, he's more than worth a shot.
Michael Carter, New York Jets
Somehow Carter is being drafted as the RB65 on a team where the RB1 is coming off a torn ACL. There is a chance Breece Hall is back in Week 1 and ready to roll, however, we have so many examples of this not being the case. Examples of either guys not making it back on time or not being themselves right away. Similar to Samaej Perine in Part 1 of this article, Carter could be a guy who bridges the gap for you for about a month while you add more stable backs through trades or the waiver wire. At the 211th overall pick, he's worth stashing on your bench and seeing how Hall's recovery goes.
D'Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars
This is a name no one is talking about. Johnson was outstanding when getting opportunities in Cleveland, but was buried behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt on the depth chart. He has an ability to break tackles and slam through defenders and we wouldn't be surprised at all if he approaches double-digit TDs this season. Unless Tank Bigsby outperforms him in camp, which we don't see happening, he will be the short-yardage and goal-line back. Travis Etienne was very good last year between the 20s and in the passing attack, but miserable down near the end zone. With 24 carries inside the five-yard line last year he only managed to score four TDs. Johnson was brought in to fix this specific issue.
