The 2025 NFL season is right around the corner, and fantasy football drafts are in full swing. It’s time to talk draft strategies for the running back position. When it comes to RB draft strategy fantasy football 2025, there are many avenues to take. We’ll break down some top running back draft tips 2025 below. Plus, find out how fantasy football running back tiers and RB rankings strategy can help you build winning teams. 

If you haven’t already, check out Fantasy Alarm’s 2025 Fantasy Football Draft Guide. You can find fantasy football rankings, sleeper draft targets, top rookies, draft strategies, and more. Without further ado, let’s talk RB draft strategy, fantasy football 2025 tips.

 

 


 

Early-Round vs. Late-Round Running Back Draft Approaches

The RB draft strategy fantasy football 2025 conversation must begin with how early (or late) you should select running backs. There are both early-round and late-round approaches that can be successful if used correctly. Either way, you must pay attention to fantasy football running back tiers when using some of the below running back draft tips 2025. Let’s dive in. 

Zero RB

This RB draft strategy fantasy football 2025 requires focusing on other positions in the early rounds while avoiding running backs until later. This usually means drafting wide receivers, tight ends, and even a quarterback before you take your first running back. Obviously, Zero RB means missing out on the elite fantasy football running back tiers and hoping for some value in later rounds. The goal is to target safer, more consistent players in the early rounds while banking on late-round breakouts at running back. 

Hero RB

This is similar to the Zero RB strategy, but it features one key difference. Hero RB involves drafting one elite running back in the first or second round, and then waiting until the later rounds to take your second and third RBs. The idea is to lock in one reliable, high-volume running back early while also targeting some top-end wide receivers, tight ends, or a quarterback. Then, you’re focusing on the lower fantasy football running back tiers to round out that position. 

Robust RB

This draft strategy features taking multiple running backs early in the first few rounds and loading up on the top fantasy football running back tiers. Using this RB draft strategy fantasy football 2025 often means drafting three RBs in the first four rounds. You’re prioritizing the position right away to secure high-end running backs with trustworthy volume and established production. Plus, it allows you to take a shot at an upside pick if you have two safer options already on the team. 

Balanced RB

This RB rankings strategy involves aspects of all three above approaches. The plan is to draft a mix of early-round running backs and later-round values to create a more well-rounded roster. You’ll likely want to draft a top RB in the first two rounds, but also prioritize having three running backs by the end of the 6th-8th rounds. This RB draft strategy fantasy football 2025 allows you to get top options at wide receiver, tight end, or quarterback while still having a balanced running back position. 

 

 


 

How Many Running Backs Should You Draft?

Now that we’ve outlined the most common running back draft tips 2025, let’s dive deeper into how many RBs you should select. Answering this question sometimes depends on which RB draft strategy fantasy football 2025 you deploy. 

If you use the Zero RB strategy, getting enough running backs in the later rounds is important. Chances are, one or two of the RBs you take won’t develop into every-week starters. However, you’re hoping that injuries or mid-season workload changes help you hit on a couple of those late-round guys. Taking at least four of these upside RBs is a good starting point. You’ll also want to be active on the waiver wire early in the season. 

As for the Hero RB strategy, you know you’ll have one bell-cow running back in hand early. After that, taking shots on 3-4 more in the lower fantasy football running back tiers is a good idea. One of those, by the way, could be the direct handcuff and/or backup to the RB you took in the first or second round. Still, you’ll need to hit on at least one other guy, similar to the Zero RB strategy. 

If you go with the Robust RB strategy, you’ll likely have at least three running backs on the roster early. In that case, you can wait on taking more until the last few rounds of the draft. Again, you may want to take a handcuff for one or two of your top RBs to create safety. With this strategy, you don’t need to load up on the position late because of how you prioritized things earlier on. You can also easily be satisfied with your top 3 RBs and figure it out later in the season on the waiver wire. 

With the Balanced RB strategy, getting 4-5 running backs is the way to go. You’ll likely end up with three trustworthy starters and then one or two backups with upside. The number of RBs to draft isn’t set in stone with this strategy because it depends on how your draft turns out. You could lock in two bell-cows early on and then be afforded to wait until later to take a couple more. 
 

 

 

Balancing RB Depth With Other Positions

When using an RB draft strategy fantasy football 2025, taking into account your positional depth is important. Again, this could change depending on which RB rankings strategy you prefer. 

For Zero RB and Hero RB strategies, you are right away prioritizing depth at wide receiver over running back. You are hoping to get 4-5 wide receivers and/or tight ends before even thinking about running back depth. Plus, grabbing a top-end quarterback is also likely more important to you than ensuring RB positional depth. 

Even so, the Zero RB and Hero RB draft strategies will result in loading up on later-round running backs to provide options. The early depth isn’t as important, but it’s still very crucial to have enough RBs on the roster. You’ll want enough depth to mix-and-match starting RBs throughout the season, especially since you didn’t lock in multiple starters in early rounds. 

Depth isn’t as important when using the Robust RB strategy. Ideally, you’ll walk away with three good running backs that you can start every week. In this case, having depth on your bench doesn’t matter as much. Aside from injuries, those bench guys ideally won’t sniff your starting lineup all season because you prioritized the position early. Conversely, this allows you to focus on depth at wide receiver because you’ll have more volatile options there. 

The Balanced RB approach requires prioritizing depth at every position, but in a well-rounded way. You’re hoping to have solid starters at running back, but also at wide receiver and tight end. Still, having good bench options at each spot is important because you didn’t go heavy on one during the draft. 

 

 


 

Adjusting Draft Strategy Based On Scoring Formats

Our RB draft strategy fantasy football 2025 also depends heavily on which scoring format you’re playing. Fantasy football running back tiers and running back draft tips 2025 can change whether you’re competing in a PPR, half-PPR, or standard league. It’s even more so with Super-Flex or 2QB leagues. Let’s take a closer look. 

The Zero RB strategy is much better suited for PPR or half-PPR leagues. In these formats, running backs simply aren’t as valuable as high-volume pass-catchers. Zero RB strategy allows you to load up 3-4 top wide receivers or tight ends to take advantage of the PPR format. It also creates more value in the pass-catching running backs who may go later in drafts. 

In a similar way, the Hero RB strategy is more useful in PPR leagues. You still get one top-tier running back, but you’re also prioritizing pass-catchers in the early rounds. In PPR or half-PPR leagues, the Hero RB strategy will be a more popular one as most fantasy football owners have this idea in mind. 

In non-PPR or standard leagues, the Robust RB draft strategy is the ideal approach. Since pass-catching and receptions aren’t as valuable, it boosts the importance of having multiple good running backs. In non-PPR leagues, it’s also harder to find decent value at RB in the later rounds because those pass-catching backs don’t carry as much weight. 

 

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