Fantasy Football's Zero Running Back Money League Cheat Codes

Discover Fantasy Football’s Zero Running Back Strategy to Dominate Your Money League!

Fantasy Football’s Zero Running Back is a unique and sometimes controversial approach to roster building in fantasy football. This strategy challenges traditional drafting norms by deprioritizing the selection of running backs in the early rounds, instead focusing on more stable and predictable positions like wide receivers, quarterbacks, and tight ends. Delves into this money league strategy, explaining what it is, why you might want to use it, and how to execute it effectively.

This article is based on a video on the IDP+ YouTube Channel, summarized by IDP+ Ai, and edited by an IDP+ staff member.

What is Fantasy Football’s Zero Running Back?

Zero RB is a strategy that acknowledges the running back position is inherently fraught with danger and unpredictability. Rather than trying to predict which running backs will get injured, fantasy football’s Zero RB prioritizes filling other starting roster spots with more reliable options like wide receivers, high-value quarterbacks, and tight ends. This strategy is built on the premise that the rest of the contributors to a Best Ball money league roster can offer more stability than running backs, who are more prone to injury.

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Misconceptions about Zero RB

Critics of Zero RB often dismiss it as merely trying to predict or capitalize on injuries. However, Zero RB is more than that. It recognizes that most high-draft-position running backs are likely to get hurt, and it plans for this by focusing on other positions first.

The Inherent Risks of Running Backs

Running backs face a high risk of injury due to the nature of their role, which involves running through the dense, dangerous areas of the field where they are tackled by large defenders. This increases their likelihood of injury compared to other positions. The 1970s era of workhorse running backs, like Walter Payton, is long gone. Nowadays, most teams use split backfields, and few backs get more than 55-60% of snaps or carries in a season.

Evolution of the NFL and Running Back Usage

The NFL has evolved significantly over the years, with teams increasingly moving away from relying on a single workhorse back. Modern NFL offenses often employ split backfields, where multiple running backs share the workload. This shift reduces the overall fantasy value of individual running backs compared to previous decades.

Replacement Value: Running Backs vs. Receivers

One of the key principles of Zero RB is understanding the replacement value of running backs versus receivers. When a top receiver gets hurt, they are often replaced by a much less capable backup, leading to a significant drop in production. In contrast, when a running back gets injured, their replacement often steps into a similar role and workload, making it easier to find valuable replacements on the waiver wire or later in drafts.

Benefits of Fantasy Football’s Zero Running Back

Zero RB provides a strategic advantage by leveraging the predictability and stability of wide receivers, quarterbacks, and Tight Ends while acknowledging and planning for the high injury rates among running backs. This approach diversifies roster-building strategies and can create a more stable and high-scoring team.

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2023 RB Examples

To illustrate the effectiveness of the Zero RB strategy, let’s examine the top 24 running backs’ performances and injuries in the 2023 season. Out of these top 24 running backs, a significant number missed multiple games due to injuries or underperformed relative to their draft position. And here are just a few of the more notable names from last season you may recognize.

Nick Chubb: Injured in Week 2, and missed the season.
Saquon Barkley: Missed three games, and underperformed in 5 games
Rhamondre Stevenson: Missed pivotal games, and was average overall.
Jonathan Taylor: Missed seven weeks, and rightfully struggled.
Aaron Jones: Only Played 11 games and around 50% of the snaps.
Najee Harris: Played all season but had a mediocre season.
Josh Jacobs: Missed 3 games and performed below expectations.
James Conner: Missed five weeks, and underperformed in 5 games.

Money League Key Points

Running back injuries can be common and can significantly impact fantasy performance.
Investing heavily in early-round running backs carries a high risk due to their propensity for injury.
Fantasy Football’s Zero RB strategy leverages the depth and reliability of other positions to build a more resilient roster.

Zero RB Roster: Key Considerations

Monitor the Draft for Other Zero RB Drafters

Keep an eye on the number of teams adopting the Zero RB strategy. If too many teams are using it, consider pivoting to avoid competition for later-round running backs.

Stop Drafting Wide Receivers After Five or Six Picks

Once you’ve filled your starting lineup and added a backup or two, focus on drafting running backs. Additional wide receivers provide diminishing returns in the later rounds.

Target-Specific Running Back Archetypes

Unloved Starters: Early season gap fillers who may not be highly valued but can provide steady production early on.
Split Backfields: Embrace uncertainty and target both 1A and 1B backs in uncertain backfields to maximize opportunities.
Running Backs with Defined Roles: Players with specific roles, such as passing game backs or hurry-up offense backs.
Handcuffs: Later-round picks for injury replacements who can step into significant roles.
Rookies: Late-round potential starters who may emerge as valuable assets.
Backups of Untrusted Starters: Target backfields with unreliable starters, betting on the backups to take over.

The Zero RB strategy offers a compelling and effective approach to fantasy football roster building. By understanding the inherent risks of the running back position, leveraging the depth of other positions, and embracing the principles of replacement value, Zero RB teams can gain a strategic advantage over traditional money league and Best Ball draft strategies.

This article’s original core content was provided by The IDP+ Bets’ Joel Wirth and repurposed by the IDP+ Staff using AI.

Fantasy Football’s Zero Running Back Money League Cheat Codes