Fantasy football heats up as the summer progresses. As August approaches and NFL training camps begin, the drums get louder and the same tune resonates throughout the season: fantasy football is just around the corner, and there will be plenty of discussion and countless articles and podcasts debating the best draft strategies needed to win this year.
There's a truism in fantasy football that any draft strategy can work if you select the right players. This article presents several draft strategies, including some that are rarely used. One of these strategies might be right for you.
Hero RB
In recent years, the hero RB strategy has become popular and successful. The idea is simple: draft an anchor bell-cow RB in the first round and attack the other positions. When executed well, this strategy gives fantasy managers a supercharged build capable of scoring at high levels at multiple positions. Also, as we have seen in recent years, “punting an RB2” allows drafters to avoid a lot of the RB dead zone mines.
The 2024 season is a good time for draftees to implement a hero RB build. Christian McCaffrey will be joined in the first round of the draft by ADP with Bijan Robinson, Breece Hall, and Jameel Gibbs. Any of these players offer RB1 overall potential and high weekly ceilings. Drafteeers can get an edge against most of the league with a RB, then attack a WR, early TE, and elite QB before drafting an RB2.
This season, the hero RB can also be tailored with a modified approach. RBs that were first-round picks in previous seasons are now dropping to the second or third round as draftees attack the WR position early and often. A modified hero RB approach of selecting a WR in the first round and options like Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, and De'Von Achane in the second round is easy to implement. This approach gives draftees access to an elite alpha WR tier and high-scoring RBs.
Here's an example of how to execute a Hero RB strategy (using current NFFC ADP)
- 1.04 Breece Hall, R.B., NYJ
- 2.09 Jaylen Waddle, WR, MIA
- 3.09 DJ Moore, WR, CHI
- 4.04 Zay Flowers, WR, BAL
- 5.09 Mark Andrews, TE, BAL
- 6.04 Anthony Richardson, QB, IND
- 7.09 Jackson Smith-Njiba, WR, SEA
In this configuration, all of the NFFC starting positions are filled except for RB2, with Andrews and Richardson having positional advantages at TE and QB, and plenty of firepower at the WR position.
Zero RB
Zero RB is appealing to many drafters. It avoids early RBs entirely, opts for a “safer” position by avoiding position and injury pitfalls, and emphasizes WRs. A well-executed zero RB lineup has firepower at WR, flex, TE, and QB. There are multiple definitions of this strategy, but the general premise is that you fill all positions before selecting a RB. Some zero RB enthusiasts argue that you need to build up WR depth throughout the draft to get an even stronger edge at the position. Capturing the flex position is paramount to success with this strategy.
It is possible to zero in on RBs, and the current ADP environment makes it possible. Draft personnel are embracing the WR position and increasingly prioritizing WR1s over their corresponding RB1s in on-the-clock decisions. In the NFFC ADP, 8 of the first 12 selections are WRs. The momentum of WRs is creating a gravitational force that is pushing the traditional RB dead zone lower and lower, pushing WR2s and WR3s higher.
Unlike the previous Zero RB pioneers who had to contend with a collection of handcuffs and satellite backs for a starting RB, today's draftees have an abundance of starting RBs to choose from. In 2021, low-end RB1s were routinely selected in the early to mid-second round. In 2024, players like Travis Etienne, Devon Achan and Isaiah Pacheco will be routinely available for selection in the third round. This ADP shift has moved low-end RB2s and high-end RB3s into the acceptable range.
Here is an example of how to implement a zero RB strategy:
- 1.02 C.D. Lamb, W.R., Dal
- 2.11 Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF
- 3.11 Malik Neighbors, WR, NYG
- 4.02 George Pickens, WR, PIT
- 5.11 Kyle Pitts, TE, ATL
- 6.02 Lamondre Stevenson, RB, NE
- 7.11 Tony Pollard, RB, TEN
Robust RB
In modern fantasy football, no one says “well done” to a fantasy manager who picks 3 or 4 RBs in a row at the start of the draft. Eyebrows are raised and questions are asked such as “how can you keep up with a WR?” Some of your leaguemates call these drafters dinosaurs because they don't see the “advantages” of picking a WR early and avoiding a RB.
A strong RB start isn't very common, but it can translate to a big statistical advantage. In theory, a strong RB start could mean 15-20 points per game between the three players in your lineup. Getting 50+ points from your RB and flex is enough of a selling point to get a WR to go after you.
There were 12 running backs who averaged 15+ PPR points last season. Traditional late 2nd and 3rd round running backs have a lot of flaws, but guys like Ahchan and Etienne are the complete opposite. These guys are young and have incredible potential. There are multiple plus offensive running backs in the 2nd round, including Taylor, Barkley, and Derrick Henry. There are a lot of guys in this range who could make sense in a scenario where they finish as an RB1.
A solid RB composition is the ultimate “zig while others zig” strategy, especially this season, allowing drafters to ignore the WR boat race and draft less desirable positions.
Bimodal RB
The Bi-Modal RB strategy carries over from Best Ball but also appeals to redraft managers looking for a unique approach. This strategy blends a hero RB with a robust RB while also giving drafters a depth-based WR advantage.
A common bimodal approach is to draft two RBs in the first 2-3 rounds, draft another RB in the traditional RB dead zone (rounds 3-7), and then hold off on a RB until the final round.
With this strategy, you might only have 4 or 5 RBs on your roster, but 3 of them are reliable sources of volume and production. You can allocate an extra pick to a WR, and you also have the opportunity to draft a high-end QB and TE. WR ADP wins are often in the 4th-9th rounds, and the bimodal approach allows drafters ample opportunity to select a WR.
Bully TE
The Bree TE is a largely ignored strategy in standard PPR leagues, and for good reason: most seasons there simply aren't enough TEs capable of putting up impactful numbers against ADP opponents at WR and RB, but could 2024 be a viable year for the Bree TE?
In 2023, six TEs scored 200+ PPR points. There would have been seven if Mark Andrews hadn't been injured. Over the past three seasons combined, there were a total of eight TEs who surpassed the 200-point threshold. It's easy to be skeptical that 2023 is a one-and-done season, but given the combination of youth and high target getters among the league leaders, we might see it again.
The current TE ADP market also makes this strategy a reality. Last season, Travis Kelce was routinely selected in the first round of drafts. This year's TE1, Sam LaPorta, will be selected late in the third round. Draft goers can potentially draft a TE1 and a TE2 without spending a ton of draft capital. There is unusual depth and quality at the position this season, and the overall TE1 competition is more open. Suddenly, starting two TEs is both realistic and affordable.
Below is an example of how to execute the Bully TE strategy.
- 1.03 Tyreek Hill, W.R., Missing
- 2.10 Travis Etienne, RB, JAC
- 3.10 Sam Laporta, TE, DET
- 4.03 Trey McBride, TE, ARI
- 5.10 Calvin Ridley, WR, TEN
- 6.03 Keenan Allen, WR, CHI
- 7.10 Jalen Warren, RB, PIT
There's a lot of offensive power in this setup: Hill has overall WR1 potential, Etienne should be an RB1 scoring force all season, and LaPorta and McBride are overall TE1 potential and project to be high-level target earners in a plus offense.
Early QB
In 2023, early QBs were pushed up in ADP. The market reacted sharply to position scoring in 2022. QBs like Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts soared in ADP, with Allen routinely being selected in the second round of the draft and Hurts and Mahomes not far behind. As the summer progressed, Lamar Jackson's ADP rose, and the gravitational pull of QB ADP pushed him closer and closer to the Big 3.
The QB1 dominance that draftees expected only partially materialized. Allen and Hurts each scored 15 TDs and Jackson finished QB4, while Mahomes was a disappointment, finishing QB10 in PPG. Even more shocking to early QB draftees was the success of QB2. Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy, Jared Goff and Jordan Love all ranked among the top seven scorers at the position. Frustration levels grew as players like CJ Stroud came off waivers.
The ADP market has changed dramatically this year. Allen, Mahomes and Hurts are available in the 4th round, at least a round and a half cheaper than their 2023 prices. Having multiple QBs in the lower QB1 range and upper QB2 range is appealing, but it's hard to deny the value of a guy like Allen in the 4th round. Even with the mystery box at WR, Allen is a Teflon fantasy asset. Hurts is right on the money.
It's also possible that the market is right and the statistical advantage of an elite early QB is negligible compared to a 6th-7th round QB, but it's also possible that the elite scoring advantage returns in 2022 and having a player like Allen on your team could change the league.
Late Round QB/TE
We've discussed the benefits of selecting a QB and a strong TE in the early rounds, but what about ignoring these positions entirely? Pairing a QB and a TE in the later rounds gives drafters more opportunities to stuff their roster with WRs and RBs. This approach offers the potential for strong RB scoring, explosive high-level WRs, and multiple paths to finding these types of results. Drafters who employ this strategy can begin their draft with five RBs and five WRs in the first 10 rounds. While opponents “waste” valuable picks on one-and-done positions, drafters who select QBs and TEs in the later rounds focus on two positions that are often synonymous with winning the league.
This strategy also favors drafters who strongly believe they can draft valuable and mispriced QBs and TEs late in the draft. Every year there are TEs who outperform their ADP and some that come off the waiver wire. QBs are no exception.
At the current NFFC ADP, QBs like Matthew Stafford, Deshaun Watson and Kirk Cousins are routinely available in the 11th round and beyond. There are also some attractive players available in this range at TE. Luke Musgrave, Dalton Schultz and Cole Kmet are all up there for draftees waiting for a TE.
Value-Based Draft
Most people think of a value-based draft as being as simple as drafting the best player available within a set of rankings the drafter follows, with some consideration of ADP. VBD goes beyond this.
Using projections, Value-Based Draft participants select the player in their position group with the greatest statistical advantage over the next player: Travis Kelce was the VBD favorite in previous seasons.
To execute this strategy, it is important to ensure the quality of your projections and that they meet the scoring and lineup requirements of your league. A league that starts with 3 WRs and a flex will have different VBD priorities than a league that starts with 2 WRs and 2 flexes.
A balanced lineup
Balanced lineup drafters are an approach that counters positional vulnerability. While multiple strategies presented in this article are based on sacrificing certain spots to gain advantage elsewhere, the balanced lineup approach does the opposite. This strategy is based on filling the lineup with the best players available. These drafters select the best available player in the first round, and from that point on, all on-the-clock decisions lean towards positions that are not yet filled.
This approach has many flaws, but in theory it could provide a balanced advantage early in the season against draft picks who turn to the waiver wire to fill needs.
(Top photo of Sam LaPorta: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY)
