How to succeed with a Zero WR draft approach
One of the most successful fantasy football strategies - if executed correctly - is to zig when the rest of your league mates zag.
The previous two seasons, that tactic led many fantasy players to the "Zero RB" strategy, which dictates that owners forego the running back position in the early rounds in favor of wide receivers. Those who succeeded in finding mid-round running back value were often rewarded with league titles thanks to a strong wide receiver corps built in the early rounds.
But the secret's out: Zero RB is rampant in fantasy drafts, to the point where it's far less effective as a basic strategy. Sure, you can still wait on running backs, but with more league mates opting for a WR-WR-WR start to the draft, those elite wide receiver options become scarce earlier than ever.
So what's the solution? The same as it is every year: To zig when everyone else is zagging. And in 2016, that means going Zero WR. (Note: this post is geared toward standard leagues; this strategy is less effective in PPR formats, but if you're feeling brave, more power to you.)
Benefits
Ignoring the wide receiver position over the first four or five rounds of the draft should enable you to absolutely load up on running backs. And given how the position has been largely shunned so far this draft season, there is incredible value in each of the first five rounds - and beyond.
Injuries among the top running back options in 2015 have raised major alarm bells this season - but there's no guarantee that trend will continue this year. And with the number of true workhorse backs dwindling further, the more three-down options you can secure, the better off you'll be.
You're also far more likely to hit on a mid- or late-round wide receiver than you are a running back in that same range. And even if you don't, you will have accumulated such significant trade capital with your early-round running backs that you should have no trouble addressing weaknesses via trade.
Drawbacks
It's no secret that the NFL is more pass-heavy than it has ever been - and that has had a dramatic impact on fantasy scoring and roster construction. And if you opt for running backs over wide receivers in the first five or six rounds, you'll be missing out on enormous value at WR.
Here's the list of wide receivers you'll likely miss out on if you use your first four picks on running backs/quarterbacks/tight ends:
That means you're looking at snagging the WR25 as your No. 1 wide receiver - and that's only if you have an early fifth-round pick. If you're selecting at the back end, you'll likely miss out on Michael Floyd, Eric Decker and Donte Moncrief. That leaves players like Allen Hurns, Larry Fitzgerald, Josh Gordon and Emmanuel Sanders as your top options. Not great.
Consider, also, the heavy investment you're putting into the most volatile position in fantasy football. Aside from a handful of options, the majority of running backs are a bad stretch or injury away from being replaced - in some cases, for good. The risk factor at running back is alarming.
Sample roster
Here's what your first 10 picks might look like using a Zero-WR approach, depending on where you're selecting in your draft (using 12-team standard ADPs as of Aug. 10):
Early First-Round Pick
| RD # | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | RB Todd Gurley (LA) |
| 2 | RB Doug Martin (TB) |
| 3 | RB Mark Ingram (NO) |
| 4 | QB Andrew Luck (IND) |
| 5 | RB Jeremy Hill (CIN) |
| 6 | WR Emmanuel Sanders (DEN) |
| 7 | RB Giovani Bernard (CIN) |
| 8 | WR Marvin Jones (DET) |
| 9 | TE Julius Thomas (JAC) |
| 10 | WR Tavon Austin (STL) |
Analysis: Landing three top-12 running backs comes at a cost, with a Sanders-Jones-Austin WR trio likely the worst in the league at the start of the season. This is a mostly balanced team, but you'll have to be a savvy waiver wire manipulator to make inroads at wide receiver.
Middle First-Round Pick
| RD # | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | RB David Johnson (ARI) |
| 2 | RB Devonta Freeman (ATL) |
| 3 | RB C.J. Anderson (DEN) |
| 4 | RB DeMarco Murray (TEN) |
| 5 | QB Russell Wilson (SEA) |
| 6 | TE Travis Kelce (KC) |
| 7 | WR Tyler Lockett (SEA) |
| 8 | WR Sterling Shepard (NYG) |
| 9 | WR Stefon Diggs (MIN) |
| 10 | RB Bilal Powell (NYJ) |
Analysis: Two of the top pass-catching backs in the NFL anchor this roster, which features solid depth across the four skill positions. There's a lot of speculative capital with Lockett, Shepard and Diggs, but all three possess enormous upside. This Zero WR roster works.
Late First-Round Pick
| RD # | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | RB Lamar Miller (HOU) |
| 2 | RB Jamaal Charles (KC) |
| 3 | RB Latavius Murray (OAK) |
| 4 | RB Carlos Hyde (SF) |
| 5 | QB Drew Brees (NO) |
| 6 | WR Allen Hurns (JAC) |
| 7 | RB Danny Woodhead (SD) |
| 8 | WR DeSean Jackson (WAS) |
| 9 | WR Torrey Smith (SF) |
| 10 | TE Jimmy Graham (SEA) |
Analysis: This roster carries the most RB capital of the three, with four no-doubt No. 1 backs and a fifth in Woodhead who is among the most undervalued players at the position. You may not be enamored with the Hurns-Jackson-Smith trio, but you can easily trade to upgrade here.
There's no one correct way to draft a team, which is the beauty of fantasy football. And if you want to load up early on running backs and take your chances on landing solid receiver value later on, you can still build a juggernaut - provided you follow up a strong draft with productive trades and solid waiver wire work.
The most important element of Zero WR is that it's nothing like Zero RB - and that just might be the best part of the strategy. Stockpiling No. 1 rushers while everyone else is fixated on receivers will allow you to corner a pivotal market - and if you handle your roster the right way, you can turn that surplus into a fantasy football championship.