Running Back Draft Strategy For Fantasy Football 2026: Kenneth Walker Leads RB Strategy Pillars
Fantasy

Running Back Draft Strategy For Fantasy Football 2026: Kenneth Walker Leads RB Strategy Pillars

Dwain McFarland breaks down the optimal RB draft strategy for the 2026 fantasy football season, highlighting his strategy pillars, values at ADP, site-specific fades and more.

Published Updated

Building a running back draft strategy for fantasy football 2026 starts with four questions:

  1. League-winning criteria: What does this position need to deliver to provide a meaningful edge?
     
  2. Supply and demand: How many do I need, and how many are available? League scoring and starting roster requirements are important factors that many fantasy players don’t consider.
     
  3. Value: Can I target mispriced assets that offer similar value at this position later? The more confidence we have in this answer, the more we can consider not spending early picks on the position. These players become pillars within our strategy.
     
  4. Draft-capital allocation: How much have I spent on this position? As a rule of thumb, the more we spend earlier in drafts, the less we will invest later, and vice versa.

Using these concepts alongside our fantasy football rankings, which account for your custom scoring and roster settings, we can build an adaptable draft framework.

Every season changes the math. Average draft position (ADP) shows where the market is paying for scarcity, ceiling and perceived safety—and where comparable production may be available later. 

The 2026 market reflects a changing NFL environment. More RBs are going early, with passing production down over the last three seasons, impacting non-alpha WR scoring.

Today, we’ll identify where to attack or wait at RB, plus the archetypes most likely to deliver league-winning production. My RB Tiers provide the foundation. The QB strategy is available now, with WR and TE coming soon.

Elite Running Backs Still Matter For Fantasy Football

When an alpha RB hits, few assets create a larger weekly advantage in fantasy football.

Since 2021, RBs have accounted for the majority of top-three points-per-game finishes among flex-eligible players with at least eight games played:

  • PPR: 53% RB, 47% WR
  • Half-PPR: 73% RB, 27% WR
  • Standard: 100% RB, 0% WR

In PPR, elite RBs hold only a slight edge over WRs at the very top. However, RBs dominate the top-end outcomes in half-PPR and standard formats, where rushing production and touchdowns matter more.  

That advantage has become more relevant as passing production has fallen. In 2025, NFL teams averaged 225 passing yards per game—the lowest mark since 2008.

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That doesn't mean we don't want alpha WRs—we do because they are rarer than ever. And in PPR formats, WRs still hold an edge over the last five years outside of the top-three performers.

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Want access to the rest of my 2026 QB draft strategy? Code DWAIN gets you 10% off and access to all of my content (and more!) for 2026.

How Many Points Do League-Winning RBs Score?

For the sake of this activity, I will use PPR data since most managed-league platforms still use PPR.

Using RBs who delivered at least 1.5 wins above replacement (WAR) allows us to assess historical performance across more than just ESPN leagues. That threshold is associated with reaching the playoffs 45% or more of the time.

Below is a breakdown by ADP from 2021 to 2025:

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The total count is the number of RBs drafted in each range. The WAR count is the number who reached 1.5 WAR or higher, while hit rate is the percentage of drafted RBs in that range who reached the threshold.

Three takeaways stand out:

  • The average PPG across all rounds equals 17.8.
     
  • The highest WAR hit rates came in the first three rounds, then fell sharply.
     
  • In Rounds 1-2, target backs with realistic 20+ PPG paths. Later, demand at least a plausible 16-18+ PPG path.

The RB dead zone remains alive. Middle-round RB drafters often overpay for the wrong RBs. We must be highly selective.

Chase ceiling, but adjust for cost. Early RBs need league-winning paths, while later picks should offer discounted upside that provides contingent value or have plausible outs to expand their role dramatically.

In typical 12-team leagues with 16 roster spots, Rounds 17+ are waiver territory. Don't plan on the waiver wire saving your season with a league winner. They rarely emerge. We have one in the last five years in Kyren Williams. However, undrafted RBs delivered replacement-level production ranging between -0.5 and +0.5 WAR. Those are your 10-11.5 PPG options (roughly the RB30 level).

Which RB Archetypes Win Leagues?

Not all RB profiles are created equal. To identify the profiles most associated with elite outcomes, I bucketed RBs into archetypes by the percentage of fantasy points generated through receiving:

  • Receiving: 55%+
  • Dual Threat: 40-55%
  • Balanced: 25-40%
  • Rushing: Under 25%
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Takeaways and additional context:

  • Receiving and dual-threat RBs accounted for eight of 14 20+ PPG seasons, or 57%.
  • Balanced and rushing RBs accounted for 21% each.
  • Balanced archetypes emerge more often below 20 PPG.
  • Rushing archetypes are particularly dependent on work inside the five-yard line and favorable game scripts.

Receiving and dual-threat backs offer the clearest path to elite production. Receptions raise both floor and ceiling, allowing them to remain productive when their teams trail.

Balanced RBs can still become league winners, but they need rushing volume and touchdowns. Rushing-heavy RBs are not automatic fades, but their path is narrower: they need quality offenses, goal-line control and enough wins to sustain scoring opportunities.

That is why we want to avoid RBs from terrible teams when chasing 20+ PPG ceilings—especially rushing archetypes. Jonathan Taylor illustrated this last year: when the Colts faltered, his favorable scripts and scoring chances disappeared.

The 2026 Running Back Fantasy Football Draft Strategy

Most leagues start two RBs and a flex. In a 12-team league, that creates demand for 24 weekly RB starters before flex usage; if half of flex spots are RBs, roughly 30 backs start every week.

RB demand is close to WR demand in two-WR leagues. In three-WR formats, the opportunity cost of taking an RB over a comparable WR rises. Additional flex spots increase the value of both positions.

  • Early rounds: Target legitimate 20+ PPG paths with receiving work, stable volume, goal-line control, and strong offensive environments.
     
  • Middle rounds: Avoid empty volume. Prioritize defined edges in receiving usage, touchdown equity, role growth or team context.
     
  • Late rounds: Chase contingent value over replacement-level veterans.
     
  • Format matters: Be more aggressive in half-PPR and standard. In PPR and three-WR formats, require stronger RB value before bypassing elite WRs.

Draft RBs for season-changing outcomes—not merely projections that can keep your lineup afloat.

Okay, let's dive into the players.

I will reference ADP from the following sites. Scoring and the number of starting WRs and flex spots drive ADP.

  • Yahoo: 0.5 PPR; 2 WR + 1 FLEX
  • ESPN: PPR; 2 WR + 1 FLEX
  • Sleeper: PPR; 3 WR + 1 FLEX
  • Fantasy Life Championship on RTSports: PPR; 2 WR + 2 FLEX

Rounds 1-3 Fantasy Football RB Targets and Fades

RBs are coming off the board earlier in 2026. That, paired with multiple high-end options in their prime, makes RB-RB builds more viable—especially in 2 WR, 1 FLEX formats. I prefer to leave drafts with at least one RB in the first two rounds.

Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson are deserving of the first two picks in all formats. They are elite dual-threat options in their prime.

But let's dive into a few of the other names. My primary goal is to highlight the guys who are the best values with legit 20+ PPG ceilings and overpriced options with ceiling concerns.

SF_49ers-logo.svgChristian McCaffrey | 49ers

  • Age: 30.3 (Post-Prime)
  • Fantasy PPG (23-25): 24.5, injured, 24.5
  • Role & Archetype: Every-Down, Dual-Threat
  • ADP: Mid-Round 1

McCaffrey is at an age where the cliff can arrive quickly, and his efficiency declined last year. Still, fading a dual-threat back who has finished RB1 overall in each of his past two healthy seasons—at 24.5 PPG—is difficult. CMC scored 13.9 PPG as a receiver alone last year, handled 80% of carries inside the five, and remains in Kyle Shanahan’s elite scheme.

I prefer Ja’Marr Chase and Puka Nacua in PPR and half-PPR, while age concerns can justify taking Jaxon Smith-Njigba ahead of CMC.

Consider 2v2 starts: CMC with Drake London/A.J. Brown versus JSN with Kenneth Walker/Derrick Henry. Which do you like more? Use our Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator to test builds. Here, ESPN ADP gave me CMC, then Brown in Round 2.

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Action Plan

CMC is a viable mid-round 1 RB target in all formats, still checking most of our requirement boxes for massive upside.

BUF_bills-logo.svgJames Cook | Bills

  • Age: 27 (Late Prime)
  • Fantasy PPG (23-25): 13.7, 16.7, 17.8
  • Role & Archetype: Near-Every-Down, Rushing (Dual Potential)
  • ADP: Round 1-2 Turn 

Cook is a big-play demon on a good offense behind a good offensive line. And now there are rumblings they could finally unleash his upside in the passing game—a calling card in college—under Pete Carmichael. The great part: if he remains a rushing archetype, it is one of the offenses where we feel good about that profile. 

The projections below assume a 45% route participation rate, only a 1% bump over last year. If I move that to 55%, Cook adds another point to his ceiling projection. There is a path to a 22+ PPG ceiling. Cook would be my RB3 if we had more certainty around the receiving role.

Action Plan

Cook is a viable target in all formats; he is cheapest on ESPN and Sleeper.

OAK_raiders-logo.svgAshton Jeanty | Raiders

  • Age: 22.8 (Prime)
  • Fantasy PPG (25): 14.3
  • Role & Archetype: Every-Down, Balanced (Dual Potential)
  • ADP: Round 1-2 Turn

Jeanty is the No. 3 prospect all-time in the Rookie Super Model. Historically, those players have turned into top-six RBs 100% of the time by Year 3. Most posted two top-six finishes by Year 3.

The question is whether Jeanty can accomplish that in Year 2. I am betting on yes, along with Alex Cupps—whose model also loved Jeanty. The second-year RB demonstrated he can handle a massive workload on the ground and as a receiver in college and as a rookie. Those backs don't grow on trees.

While I don't love the Raiders offense, the addition of Tyler Linderbaum and the return of Kolton Miller gives the offensive line a boost, and Klint Kubiak is a plus schemer. With Brock Bowers as the only real target competition, Jeanty could beat his 14% target share from last year, which was No. 7 in the NFL.

One of my favorite aspects about Jeanty: I have the Raiders projected as the No. 28 scoring offense, and he still projects as the RB10, separated by less than 0.1 points from multiple other RBs in better offenses. There is a ton of meat on this bone. If Las Vegas is just an average offense, the 22+ PPG ceiling is in play.

Action Plan

Jeanty is in play on ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo as a Round 2 pick. He is a SMASH on ESPN as a mid-Round 2 option. I prefer him slightly more in PPR over half-PPR, where his receptions can protect the downside of the offense.

KC_chiefs-logo.svgKenneth Walker | Chiefs

  • Age: 25.9 (Prime)
  • Fantasy PPG (23-25): 13.3, 16.5, 11.3
  • Role & Archetype: Near Every Down, Balanced
  • ADP: Mid to Late-Round 2

Walker averaged 16.5 PPG in 2023 with a 60% snap share. He is a near lock for that or more in Kansas City, where the backups are not high-end options. Last season in the NFL playoffs, Walker averaged 23.4 points per game in three games with Zach Charbonnet injured.

He offers the big-time playmaking ability we want, and there is significant untapped potential in the passing game, where early camp reports have him highly involved. While not a standout receiving prospect, Walker’s NFL data points to untapped potential. His 1.40 YPRR and 21% TPRR both rank 13th over the last two seasons—benchmarks in line with top-three RBs historically (1.43 YPRR, 20% TPRR).

On a team desperate for receiving help, Walker should have his best receiving campaign yet, which unlocks the path to 20+ PPG.

Action Plan

Walker is a STRATEGY PILLAR, making him a HIGH-PRIORITY TARGET in all formats as a great mid-to-late Round 2 pick. If you go WR in Round 1 with Chase or Nacua, he is a fantastic RB option. If you take Gibbs or Robinson in Round 1, he gives you a juicy RB-RB start.

CIN_bengals-logo.svgChase Brown | Bengals

  • Age: 25.8 (Prime)
  • Fantasy PPG (23-25): 4.5, 15.9, 16.6
  • Role & Archetype: Near Every Down, Balanced
  • ADP: Mid-Round 2

Brown has flashed in the second half of the season in consecutive years. Last year, he averaged 22.3 PPG with Joe Burrow's return, including a 14% target share and an 86 Utilization Score.

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The biggest question mark with Brown is whether the Bengals will give him a full-time role without an injury to the RB2, which opened the door each of the last two years. Samaje Perine was a nuisance around the goal line and in the two-minute drill.

Brown isn't an elite receiving RB, but the Bengals have a hole behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in a high-volume passing attack. That opens the door to a 20+ PPG campaign if Brown ascends into an every-down role. 

Zain "News Zhar" Dhanani is feeling it on Brown, ranking him No. 5 overall.

Action Plan

I prefer Brown in PPR formats over half-PPR. He is a SMASH on ESPN as a Round 2-3 turn pick. And pick 19 on RTSports is appealing due to the PPR/2-FLEX format.

Round 1-3 Site-Specific Fades:

  • De'Von Achane | Dolphins | Dual-Threat: Achane has the profile to overcome a bad offense, but Malik Willis could steal attempts inside the five-yard line and scramble more, impacting his targets. I am out on Achane in Round 1 on ESPN and Sleeper. I like him much more in Round 2 on Yahoo and RT Sports.
     
  • Jeremiyah Love | Cardinals | Balanced: Love is a fantastic prospect on a bad team where he could rotate. I want to draft Love in Round 3—where he goes on Yahoo and RT Sports. But his mid-Round 2 price tag comes with significant trade-off costs vs. WRs on ESPN and Sleeper.

Round 1-3 Hard Fades:

  • Kyren Williams | Rams | Split Backfield: Williams is in a great offense, but Blake Corum could turn this into an equally split backfield. Williams is not a plus in the receiving game, making him extremely TD-dependent. I am not even that into Williams in Round 4, unless he is perfect for my build.
     
  • Josh Jacobs | Packers | Off-field: Jacobs offers 1.5 PPG WAR upside, but he is not a league-breaking back with 20+ PPG potential. And now we have to worry about off-field issues with the NFL's investigation still open. There are too many other good players I can take in that range in Round 3, without the headache. In Round 4, where historical hit rates drop, I am willing to take the risk if I need an RB.

Fantasy Football RB Targets and Fades In Rounds 4-6

General draft guidelines based on how many RBs you have heading into Round 4:

  • Three: don't draft RBs; attack WRs
  • Two: draft 0-1 RBs; attack WRs; can attack elite TE or QB
  • One: draft a minimum of one RB and a maximum of two
  • Zero: draft a minimum of one RB, but two to three is optimal

In this range, we are prospecting for fantasy gold. It can be uncomfortable to risk so much on something that might not pan out. But we didn't pack up our bags and move across the country to rub two pennies together, Orson. We came to hit pay dirt and change our destiny! And your sister, Ida, is countin' on us.

NYG_giants-logo.svgCam Skattebo | Giants

  • Age: 24.6 (Prime)
  • Fantasy PPG (25): 16.5 (seven healthy games)
  • Role & Archetype: Committee, Dual-Threat
  • ADP: Mid Round 4

Skattebo was a dual-threat monster in college, and flashed the same potential as the starter in six healthy games last season. Over that span, he averaged 18.8 PPG, hogging the attempts inside the five-yard line and notching a 15% target share.

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There is a chance the new staff rotates more with Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary. But I asked Zain the Zhar in Slack about the concerns:

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We will monitor this in the coming weeks, but don't let this scare you too much. Skattebo could miss, just like many of the other Round 4 and 5 options could. But when we get it right, he has the path to a ceiling many others don't. Check please.

The good news is that Skattebo is fully back to practice after a season-ending injury in 2025. 

To be safe, I reduced his efficiency in the projections in case the impact lingers. I also kept Tracy and Singletary involved. There is room for additional upside within the range of outcomes below:

Action Plan

Skattebo provides a realistic shot at 16+ PPG and offers outlier 20+ PPG potential if he runs pure. He is a HIGH-PRIORITY TARGET across all formats.

Note: This is also the range I would consider Josh Jacobs. Finding 16-18 PPG isn't easy, and most RB picks in this range aren't league-winners.

JAC_jaguars-logo.svgBhayshul Tuten | Jaguars

  • Age: 23.6 (Early Prime)
  • Fantasy PPG (25): 5.7
  • Role & Archetype: Committee, Balanced
  • ADP: Rounds 5-7

Tuten bombed as a rookie, but his historical comps offer promise when you consider that Travis Etienne is gone, leaving Chris Rodriguez as his primary competition for touches. While Tuten didn't hit big plays as a rookie, it was a small sample size, and we should still lean on his collegiate profile for the bigger picture.

He was a big-play hitter in college and was a far more prolific receiving option than Rodriguez. Tuten would have been the RB2 in the Rookie Super Model in the 2026 class.

Tuten is another pick that isn't for the faint of heart. But this is the new price for upside RBs with drafters getting more sophisticated. If taking a player like Tuten makes you queasy, you should probably draft two RBs before Round 3 or make sure you are in position to get Skattebo in Round 4.

The ceiling projection below doesn't represent a world where he takes on a massive role:

Action Plan

Tuten is a HIGH-PRIORITY TARGET and STRATEGY PILLAR when you start light at RB and need upside. We can circle back in later rounds for early-season, projectable volume with less upside if necessary.

SEA_seahawks-logo.svgJadarian Price | Seahawks

  • Age: 22.9 (Pre-Prime)
  • Fantasy PPG: Rookie
  • Role & Archetype: Early Down, Rushing
  • ADP: Rounds 6-7

Price doesn't come with preloaded pass-game chops, but he was an explosive runner in college, busting 19% of his attempts for 10-plus yards. And to be fair, he played with Jeremiyah Love, which might have impacted playing time on pass downs.

He also stuck his landing spot. If he is an early-down back with goal-line prowess—which also aligns with camp reports—this is the right team to make it work. The Seahawks love to pound the rock and have a great defense to keep trailing scripts in check.

With Zach Charbonnet unlikely to play early in the season, and maybe even until November, the door is open. There are some concerns that Price could start slow and then get squeezed by Charbonnet. That is possible, but most of his historical comps that landed on weak depth charts seized opportunities immediately. And if he booms, Price could lock down the backfield.

I have taken a conservative approach with Price's projections given all the moving parts, but expect him to outperform these early in the season.

Action Plan

Price is a PRIORITY TARGET across all platforms if you are looking for your upside RB2 or RB3.

Note: Yes, RTSports drafters LOVE their RBs. Be prepared when you enter the Fantasy Life Championship for a chance to win $500K!!!

Round 4-6 Honorable Mentions:

  • David Montgomery | Texans | Balanced: Montgomery has shouldered significant workloads in the pass. There is a hint of dead zone to his profile, but the Texans traded for him and want to run the ball more. Woody Marks was not very good on the ground last year. Montgomery is a viable RB2 if you are in need in Round 5 on most sites and in Round 7 on ESPN.
     
  • Quinshon Judkins | Browns | Rushing: Judkins lands here based on reports that he could have a larger portion of the passing-down work in 2026. On a bad team like the browns that is a requirement. For now, he is an honorable mention, since Dylan Sampson is a good receiving back. But Judkins now at least has a path to fantasy viability. Judkins is in his prime and is a viable target if you wait for your RB2 in Round 5.

Round 4-6 Site-Specific Fades:

  • Bucky Irving | Buccaneers | Balanced: Irving has the profile to provide significant upside, so he is not a hard fade. But Kenneth Gainwell's presence on pass downs has legit camp legs. And Sean Tucker could also be involved at the goal line. I am fading Irving on Sleeper, where he is drastically mispriced at pick 34. He is in play in Round 5 on Yahoo and ESPN, but I prefer Tuten and Price at cheaper price points. If you need to take two swings in Rounds 5-6, Irving can make sense with Tuten/Price.
     
  • TreVeyon Henderson | Patriots | Balanced: Henderson showed he can break fantasy leagues last season when Rhamondre Stevenson was out. But he is mispriced on Sleeper and RT Sports as a Round 4 pick. Henderson is a good upside swing on ESPN and Yahoo in Rounds 6-7.

RB Targets In Rounds 7-9 Of 2026 Fantasy Drafts

Guidelines for this section of the draft, depending on how many backs you already have on your roster heading into Round 7:

  • Four: don't draft another RB; attack your positions of weakness
  • Three: draft a minimum of one RB and a maximum of two
  • Two: draft a minimum of one RB and a maximum of two
  • One: draft a minimum of two RBs and a maximum of three
  • Zero: draft three RBs

Not everyone in this range is a fade, but there aren't many options that I am enthusiastic about. I prefer to have three RBs before this point in 2026.

CAR_panthers-logo.svgJonathon Brooks | Panthers

  • Age: 23.2 (Prime)
  • Fantasy PPG (injured): N/A
  • Role & Archetype: Committee, Balanced
  • ADP: Borderline Round 9 (climbing fast)

The 2024 Round 2 NFL Draft pick has received rave reviews from camp after missing most of the last two seasons due to an ACL tear. He was an explosive RB in college and is now knocking on Chuba Hubbard's door.

He is one of the last RBs you can grab with league-crushing potential and a reasonable path to the starting role. After all, we saw Hubbard lose his starting gig to Rico Dowdle last year.

Action Plan

Brooks is a HIGH-PRIORITY TARGET on ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo. He is an absolute steal on ESPN and Sleeper, but I anticipate that changing with Hubbard injured. Thus, I went ahead and put him in the Round 7-9 bucket.

  • ESPN: 130, RB37 → STRATEGY PILLAR - take before ADP
  • Sleeper: 138, RB44  → STRATEGY PILLAR - take before ADP
  • Yahoo: 107, RB36 → STRATEGY PILLAR
  • Fantasy Life Championship on RTSports: 70, RB29 

Round 7-9 Honorable Mentions:

  • Blake Corum | Rams | Rushing: Corum won't be an easy start, but could fill in on bye weeks as a 1B option to Kyren Williams. His contingent value is massive as a Round 9 pick if something happens to Kyren Williams.

Round 7-9 Hard Fades:

  • Tony Pollard | Titans | Balanced: Pollard is in his post-prime era, and his efficiency hasn't been the same since tight-rope surgery. The Titans could be better on offense, which would help his case, but the team could easily look at other options if it is struggling. Pollard is a fade in Rounds 7-8. There are similar projectable volume options later if that is your thing.
     
  • Chuba Hubbard | Panthers | Balanced: Hubbard lost the grip on the RB1 role last year to Rico Dowdle and is now dealing with a hamstring injury in camp. The camp buzz on Jonathon Brooks has been strong. An RB without a strong grip on the starting role in a volatile offense = No thank you.

Late-Round (10+) Fantasy Football RB Targets and Fades

Guidelines for this section of the draft, depending on how many backs you already have on your roster heading into Round 10:

  • Five: don't draft another RB
  • Four: draft a minimum of zero and a maximum of two, depending on how early you took your other four backs (i.e., if they were all by Round 6, you don't have to take any more)
  • Three: draft a minimum of one and a maximum of three, depending on how early you took your other three backs
  • Two: draft a minimum of two and a maximum of four, depending on how early you took your other backs and how many picks you have left

For this section, we will go quick-hitter style, but that doesn't mean there aren't backs I really like in this range.

Oh no, I passed on projectable volume earlier in my draft and have three upside players that might not have a role in Week 1:

  • Jordan Mason | Vikings | Rushing: Mason is similar to guys like J.K. Dobbins, Rico Dowdle and Tony Pollard but goes much later. He is a rushing archetype, but the Vikings could rebound in a big way as a scoring offense in 2026. Mason is the favorite per camp reports to handle more of the workload, including opportunities inside the five-yard line. Mason is one of my favorite late-round RBs (Round10). HIGH-PRIORITY TARGET.
     
  • Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Commanders | Rushing: JCM is the favorite for early-down work in Washington. He flashed explosive playmaking ability last season and now gets to play with Jayden Daniels, who will create wider run lanes. Bill has also been working on his pass-down chops. Bill is a great late-round RB pick in Round 10. HIGH-PRIORITY TARGET.

Pass-down options with contingent upside:

  • Kenneth Gainwell | Buccaneers | Receiving: Gainwell popped last year with the Steelers and is now the RB2 in Tampa Bay. He has been handling pass-down work often throughout camp. He is a better pick in PPR than standard leagues. He goes in Round 10 in most leagues.
     
  • Rachaad White | Commanders | Dual Threat: White is operating as the primary receiving back in camp, but has a three-down skill set. He hasn't been a hyper-efficient runner, but there is a path to him in an every-down role. He is a Round 10 pick.

TD-dependent RBs with contingent upside:

  • Chris Rodriguez Jr. | Jaguars | Early-Down: C-Rod is the favorite to get work inside the five-yard line. And it isn't a given that Tuten will lead the way. He is a Round 11-12 pick.

Clear-cut handcuffs in good offenses:

These backs are only benchwarmers, but should an injury strike the starter, they would catapult into valuable fantasy assets. They are mostly Round 12-14 picks. On Yahoo, they are Round 12-13.

Running Back Additional Strategy Guidelines

I have noted specific breakdowns in each RB section for 2WR leagues, but I will summarize them again here for ease of reference. Additionally, you will find 3WR league approaches.

Note: Always make adjustments based on the ADP using your league platform. The goal is to maximize your picks.

Two WR + Flex Leagues

Round-by-Round Guidelines

These bullets refer to how many RBs you should have rostered by the time you reach the final round in the range (i.e., by Round 6 in Rounds 4 to 6).

  • Rounds 1 to 3: Minimum of zero RBs and a maximum of two rostered; one is optimal
  • Rounds 4 to 6: Minimum of one RB and a maximum of three rostered; two to three is optimal
  • Rounds 7 to 9: Minimum of two RBs and a maximum of four rostered; three is optimal
  • Rounds 10+: Minimum of four RBs and a maximum of seven rostered

Three WR + Flex Leagues

Adding another starting WR pushes WRs up and other positions down in our draft plan. However, it impacts my RB approach less than TE and QB. So, the roster guidelines from above for RBs remain the same. However, I am more willing to embrace the minimums, and the optimals are less set in stone in each draft range, especially if WR values make it to me.

General Fantasy Draft Strategy Tips

  • Monitor how your draft is going compared to the ADPs. If your leaguemates use sources other than the rankings and draft queue for the site, they could draft very differently.
  • Pay attention to your opponents' needs between your pick and your following selection. For example, if it is Round 7 and they all have a QB, then you can take a calculated risk to pass on the QB to take another position, knowing they shouldn't draft two. One caveat to this rule: if the players behind you don't know what they are doing or are new to fantasy, don't assume they won't take the QB—they just don't know better.
  • Pay attention to the names at the top of the draft queue by position. If there is a player you want and their name is near the top of the list in the draft room, don't be afraid to reach. When players are on the clock and unsure who to take, they often default to names at the top of the queue.
  • Practice, Practice, Practice. You can do this using the Draft Champion Mock Draft Simulator.

Players Mentioned in this Article

  1. Christian McCaffrey
    ChristianMcCaffrey
    RBSFSF
    PPG
    20.9
    Proj
    299.0
  2. Ashton Jeanty
    AshtonJeanty
    RBLVLV
    PPG
    12.7
    Proj
    226.8
  3. James Cook
    JamesCook
    RBBUFBUF
    PPG
    15.7
    Proj
    249.0
  4. Kenneth Walker
    KennethWalker
    RBKCKC
    PPG
    12.2
    Proj
    229.5

Published Updated