Is the Zero RB Strategy The Answer To Fantasy Football Success?

“Drafting a running back with your first round fantasy football pick is crucial for a successful season.”

How many seasons have you utilized this fantasy football strategy?

For years now, fantasy football analysts have voiced their expertise on drafting a running back in the first round (and sometimes second round) is the safest and most effective way to draft.

Or is it?

–AP Photo/Denis Poroy

Nothing is more exciting then heading into a new fantasy football season knowing that you’ve drafted a WR that puts up pretty size-able numbers.

Until they completely collapse.

Whether it’s injuries, new offensive coordinators, or just plain bad play, your season can literally go from energetic to Def-con 5 without consistent play from your wide receiver positions. And in 2014, these three players completely fell off the map from 2013.

But wait, there’s still hope.

Be prepared for fantasy football draft day traps

You’ve spent the off-season compiling information, forming a strategy, and getting your cheat sheets just right. In theory, you’re ready.

Yet somehow once draft night finally gets here you turn into a deer in headlights in the face of a clock winding down right before your very eyes. This year, arm yourself with the knowledge of these common draft day traps so you won’t fall into one.

Why let all that talent go to waste?

Fantasy football players and analysts alike could argue all day about what the best draft strategy is for each season.

You hear it all the time, “This is the year to grab your RB’s early.”

While the RB position is definitely the most scarce, I would argue it also the most risky. Which is why I actually would rather draft WRs early. But there are a few exceptions.

Is the “Bell Cow” worth your golden ticket?

Le’veon Bell was an absolute beast in 2014. We’ll spare you the stats. Anyone who drafted Bell in 2014 more than likely made the fantasy football playoffs and/or won their league.

He was that good.

A playoff knee injury forced Bell out for the rest of the season in 2014, followed by a MCL & PCL tear in week 8 of the 2015 season against the Cincinnati Bengals.

We all know the talent is there. But coming off of two serious knee injuries, should you draft Le’veon Bell with your first pick in the 2016 fantasy football season?