20 Zero RB Candidates You Should Target in Fantasy Drafts

By Eric Moody | June 17, 2019

The goal of the Zero RB strategy is not to simply find value at the position in the mid to late rounds, the goal is to assemble a collection of running backs who have the potential to greatly outperform their average draft position or ADP. You are looking for running backs who become league winners due to an injury from last season or opportunity from underperformance by teammates. 

The first objective is to prioritize running backs who have a defined role in their offenses and can provide a few useable weeks. A running back’s ADP is useful in determining how fantasy drafters value the player. Analyzing the ADP of running backs who are part of a specific team’s committee will provide you with some intriguing insights into how others project the performance of these players. The second objective is to prioritize players who would be used as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. The more rushing attempts and targets a running back has per game provides them with more opportunities to generate fantasy points. You are targeting running backs that have the potential to play on all three downs. The third objective is to target productive offenses. Running backs tied to offenses that average a high number of total yards per game generally play a higher number of offensive snaps, see more opportunities per game, and touches in the red zone.

This article will share 20 running backs you should target in fantasy drafts this summer if you intend on executing a Zero RB strategy.

1. Lamar Miller, Houston Texas

Volume is hard to find at the running back position after the fifth round of fantasy drafts. Lamar Miller has averaged 19 opportunities per game in 44 career games with the Texans averaging nearly 13 PPR fantasy points per game. The Texans ran the fourth-most run plays last season. Miller is their No. 1 back, but hasn’t been the most effective rusher or receiver out of the backfield. The Texans did not add any notable running backs during the offseason. Miller primary competition for touches is D’Onta Foreman who is recovering from an Achilles injury. 

Miller has ranked outside of the top-25 in evaded tackles per game according to Player Profiler. He has never had the play speed or agility to transcend poor offensive line play. The Texans offensive line has ranked near the bottom of the league in Adjusted Line Yards the last three seasons (Miller arrived in Houston in 2016). Were you aware that Miller hasn’t been on a team with a Pro Football Focus run blocking grade of 70 or more since his rookie season in 2012? The Texans had made additions to their offensive line this offseason along with a blocking tight end and full back. Miller’s in a great position to thrive in 2019.    

2. Latavius Murray, New Orleans Saints

The Saints signed Murray to a four-year, $14.4 million contract to replace departed running back Mark Ingram. Did you know the Saints offense had the third highest rate of running back touches (61.5 percent) in the NFL over the last two seasons? Ingram averaged 13.1 rushing attempts and 3.5 targets in the 28 games he played with Saints running back Alvin Kamara.

The Saints have a history under head coach Sean Payton using a committee approach. Latavius Murray’s fantasy upside will be limited by Kamara, but he will see enough touches especially inside the 10-yard line to have standalone value. Murray will also run behind one of the top offensive lines in the NFL. The running backs in the Saints offense over the last two seasons have averaged 185 total yards and 36.5 PPR fantasy points per game. If Kamara were ever to miss a significant amount of time he would have RB1 upside. 

3. Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks led the NFL in rushing yards and finished last season with the second most rushing attempts. The team averaged 160 rushing yards per game which were an increase of more than 58 yards per game from the previous season. The Seahawks were able to achieve these numbers without substantial rushing contributions from quarterback Russell Wilson. The team has four out of five of their offensive linemen returning and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has reiterated publicly that the offense will remain run heavy in 2019. Penny was selected 27th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, but took a backseat to 2017 undrafted free agent Chris Carson. The Seahawks backfield will continue to operate as a committee. Carson is rehabbing from minor knee surgery.   

Rashaad Penny appears to be taking advantage of his first full NFL offseason, has been mentored by Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk, and has been handling the first-team reps at OTAs. Carson has an extensive injury history. The stars are aligning for Penny to breakout in his second season. At his current average draft position, he is a perfect target for those executing a Zero RB strategy.    

4. Dion Lewis, Tennessee Titans

Lewis played 61 percent of the Titans offensive snaps and touched the football or was targeted on 37 percent of them. He finished the season with negative rushing fantasy points over expectation, but positive receiving fantasy points over expectation. Lewis will have a role in the Titans running back by committee. Positive, neutral, or negative game flow could influence his number of opportunities per game. New Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith would be wise to use short passes to get Lewis in space.

        Derrick Henry didn’t have more than 2 receptions in any game last season and has never had more than 15 receptions in a full season. Would you select him at his current ADP? #FantasyFootball

The Titans will want to run the football in 2019 behind their talented offensive line to help quarterback Marcus Mariota. He has thrived on play-action formations throughout his career. Henry’s current average draft position is being driven by his fantasy production in December of the last two seasons. How effective can he be with 300 or more carries? The Titans signed Lewis to a four-year $19.8 million contract last March. He could meet or exceed the 214 touches he had back in 2018. Lewis is an excellent value at his current average draft position.

Ronald Jones     

5. Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers running back Peyton Barber started all 16 games last season and averaged 16.4 opportunities per game. Did you know he finished the season with negative rushing and receiving fantasy points over expectation? Many are quick to dismiss Jones because he had a rough rookie season. He was left off the gameday roster early last season and struggled with injuries missing four games with a hamstring injury. Jones is another running back who has taken advantage of his first full NFL offseason and has also made a positive first impression on new Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians and his staff. 

  Licht said the player who has impressed Bucs coaches the most this spring has been running back Ronald Jones. Optimism about the position between him and Barber this offseason …

The Buccaneers front office did not add any running backs in free agency or the draft. Jones was a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. This battle against Barber to be named the starter is one that he should win. 

At his current ADP, Jones’ opportunity in the Buccaneers offense provides him with the upside that many players at this stage of the draft do not have. 

6. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles

Sanders has all the intangibles to develop into a starting NFL running back with workhorse potential. He rushed for 1,274 yards and scored nine touchdowns on 220 carries during his final season at Penn State. One risk that could limit Sanders upside as a rookie revolves around Eagles head coach Doug Pederson. He has a tendency to split carries amongst multiple running backs on the roster. The Eagles backfield is unlikely to have a starting running back. The team also traded for Jordan Howard. Both will contribute, but Sanders’ ability as a receiver out of the backfield and a blocker gives an edge. The Eagles invested a second-round draft pick in him. I’d be surprised if Sanders isn’t provided opportunities to shine.

The Eagles have made numerous offseason moves to improve the depth and play of their offensive line. The team also have a creative play caller in Pederson. The running backs in his offenses since 2013 have averaged 22.5 rushing attempts, 98 rushing yards, 7.4 targets, 45 receiving yards, and 27 PPR fantasy points per game. Sanders’ ADP continues to rise, but he has the potential to help you win your league if Howard were ever to miss significant time. 

Quick Link: Check out FantasyData’s Dynasty Rookie Rankings. 

7. Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers

Jackson performed very well in limited opportunities last season finishing his rookie season with positive rushing and receiving fantasy points over expectation. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry on 50 carries and caught 79 percent of his 19 targets for 135 receiving yards. The seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft posted four consecutive seasons of 1,100 or more rushing yards. Jackson would have RB1 upside if Melvin Gordon or Austin Ekeler would ever struggle or miss time due to an injury like both of them did last season. Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt’s scheme is very running back friendly. Over the last three seasons, the running backs have averaged 23 rushing attempts and eight targets per game. Gordon’s injury history is well documented according to Sports Injury Predictor:

Gordon played 16 games for the 1st time in 2017, yet he dealt with lower-body issues again. First came a bone bruise to his left knee that rendered him questionable in weeks 3 and 4. That’s the same knee in which he tore his meniscus as a 2015 rookie and sprained the PCL late in 2016. Both injuries ended those seasons prematurely, and Gordon required surgery after the meniscus tear. He also landed on weekly injury reports with minor shoulder, foot and ankle issues but played through each ailment. Gordon saw a slight decrease in work last year, from 22.7 touches per game to 21.4. The dip came on the rushing side, though his 17.8 carries per outing still ranked 6th league-wide.

SIP classifies Gordon as a medium injury risk with a nearly 53 percent chance of injury this upcoming season. Jackson’s in an excellent position to outperform his average draft position. 

8. Royce Freeman, Denver Broncos

Royce Freeman was drafted No. 71 overall by the Broncos in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was outplayed by undrafted rookie Phillip Lindsay who finished last season with 1,278 total yards from scrimmage as the fantasy RB13 in PPR formats. Freeman dealt with a high ankle sprain that affected him for most of the season while Lindsay’s season ended prematurely due to a very serious wrist injury. The Broncos have a new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello. This is his first time in the role at the NFL level. Many expect that Lindsay will lead the Broncos backfield in touches, but it’s unlikely he will be a workhorse considering the severity of his injury. Both running backs finished 2018 with positive rushing fantasy points over expectation. Freeman had nearly as many evaded tackles and yards created. This is notable because he didn’t have as large a workload as Lindsay. These two up and coming running backs are likely to operate as a committee. 

The addition of Mike Munchak as the Broncos offensive line coach was not widely publicized, but it was one of the most important of the off-season. He is one of the top offensive line coaches in the NFL whose blocking schemes allow a running back’s talent to shine. Have you heard of Chris Johnson, Le’Veon Bell, or Eddie George? These are some of the backs who have thrived in Munchak’s blocking schemes. You cannot afford to miss out on selecting Freeman in fantasy drafts at his current average draft position.   

9. Ito Smith

Smith finished his rookie season with only two top-24 games and only scored 10 or more PPR fantasy points four times. He was unable to take advantage of the additional opportunities, as a result, of Devonta Freeman’s injury. Did former Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s scheme play a part in that? What about the offensive line? Smith is versatile and has a well-rounded skill set. He finished his last season at the University of Southern Mississippi with 1,415 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Smith was also very productive as a receiver out of the backfield with 40 receptions, 396 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. The Falcons front office did not select a running back until the sixth round of the NFL Draft which endorses Smith as part of a running back by committee with Devonta Freeman. The team also addressed their offensive line this offseason signing James Carpenter, Jamon Brown, and selecting two linemen in the first round of the NFL Draft.  

Smith’s current average draft position offers league winning upside considering Freeman’s multiple injuries over the last two seasons along with Dirk Koetter back in Atlanta as the Falcons offensive coordinator. It would be prudent to look ahead as opposed to the rear view mirror when it comes to Smith as you navigate fantasy drafts this summer.    

Darrell Henderson

10. Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams

Henderson finished his collegiate career at Memphis as the second-leading rusher behind DeAngelo Williams. The Rams drafted him No. 70 overall in this year’s NFL Draft. Henderson has very good play strength, agility, and play speed. He led the nation with 6.16 yards after contact per attempt. 

The Rams coaching staff does not appear to be sold on running back John Kelly or Malcolm Brown after trading up to select Henderson. Many would be shocked if Henderson does not open the season as the No. 2 running back for the Rams. Todd Gurley’s knee problems including arthritis are well publicized. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport even said his days as a “straight-up, every-down bell cow are probably over.” The Rams front office and coaching staff have confirmed this in many of their public comments. Gurley has averaged 24.2 opportunities per game over the last two seasons. Henderson will have standalone value running behind the Rams offensive line as the Rams look to reallocate Gurley’s touches. Head coach Sean McVay also mentioned the team could use more two-back formations in 2019. Henderson will find himself n the RB1 radar if Gurley were ever to miss time. 

11. Jaylen Samuels, Pittsburgh Steelers

Samuels continues to be criminally underrated at his current average draft position. He averaged 109 total yards per game in the three games teammate James Conner missed last season. Samuels also averaged five targets per game over the last four. He played multiple positions at North Carolina State which translates very well at the NFL level.


If Conner were ever to miss time due to an injury Samuels would have an opportunity to shine even more behind one of the NFL’s top offensive lines. As a right now, the Steelers are planning to reduce Conner’s workload in 2019. The team will find creative ways to get Samuels involved which will give him standalone value this upcoming season. 

12. Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings drafted Mattison with the 102nd pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He finished in the top 10 nationally in multiple statistical areas including rushing attempts (302), rushing yards (1,415) and rushing touchdowns (17). Mattison has all of the physical tools to be used as a three-down back.


Vikings starting running back Dalvin Cook has missed multiple games in each of his first two seasons. In 15 career games, he has averaged 17.2 touches in each of those games. The addition of Gary Kubiak this offseason as the assistant head coach and offensive advisors bodes well for the outlook of both running backs. Did you know that in 22 seasons as either an offensive coordinator or head coach his lead running back has averaged nearly 1,400 total yards? Mattison will firmly be on the RB1 radar if Cook were to miss time for a third consecutive season. 

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13. Jalen Richard, Oakland Raiders

Richard had a career season in Oakland last season finishing with 866 total yards. He tied with tight end Jared Cook for the most receptions on the team with 68. This was notable considering Richard only played 39.4 percent of the offensive snaps. He was very effective finishing the season with positive rushing and receiving fantasy points over expectation. The Raiders did draft former Alabama running back Josh Jacobs in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. The team also brought back Doug Martin. Richard was assigned a second-round tender during free agency which spokes volumes to the rest of the NFL how the Raiders valued him. Jacobs’s draft pedigree will result in a high number of touches, but two questions remain. Can he handle the physicality of NFL defenders considering the limited number of touches Jacobs was given in college? How effective will Jacobs be as a pass protector at the NFL level during his rookie season?


Raiders head coach Jon Gruden’s offenses have produced numerous running backs with 1,000 or more rushing yards in 10 out of 12 seasons as head coach. He’s also had a running back with 40 or more receptions in nine out of 12 seasons. Richard is essentially free at his current average draft position. He is someone to target at the end of fantasy drafts. 

14. Kalen Ballage, Miami Dolphins

Kalen Ballage’s rookie season was as forgettable as Adam Gase’s tenure in Miami. He was only given 44 touches last season, but did average 5.5 rushing yards per carry along with positive rushing fantasy points over expectation. Many assume that Kenyan Drake will be the starting running back for the Dolphins under the new coaching regime. Drake found himself in a similar scenario heading into last season with running back Frank Gore. Drake finished the season with 173 touches while Gore finished with 168.


It remains to be seen how first time NFL offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea will divide opportunities in the Dolphins backfield. With Gore now with the Buffalo Bills Ballage will play a role in the Dolphins running back by committee in 2019. 

15. Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens

Hill was drafted in the third round by the Ravens. Many consider him undersized, but his mental toughness, receiving ability, and very good agility have propelled him to success at Oklahoma State. Hill’s 1,142 rushing yards as a freshman were the most in Oklahoma State history and the fifth-most in Big-12 history. He followed that up with 1,400 yards as a sophomore. Hill’s numbers were significantly lower his junior season (998 total yards) due to fewer rushing attempts and two games missed due to a rib injury. He joins a crowded backfield that includes free agent acquisition Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards, and Kenneth Dixon. Hill should be able to beat out Edwards and Dixons in training camp to be named the No. 2 running back.      

The Ravens offense finished last season with the second most rushing attempts. The team transitioned from a pass-heavy team with Joe Flacco under center and a run-heavy team with Lamar Jackson under center with Greg Roman handling the play-calling duties. Roman was promoted to offensive coordinator by Baltimore earlier this year. He has five full seasons on his resume as an offensive coordinator. Roman’s teams have never finished lower than 8th in rushing. The Ravens last season rushed for 190 yards or more in five consecutive games. The first team to do that since the 1976 Steelers. The expectation is that Ingram will open the season as the starter and Hill as the change of pace option. Hill possesses RB1 upside in the Ravens offense if Ingram misses time.    

16. T.J. Yeldon, Buffalo Bills

Yeldon’s averaged 12.5 touches and 62 total yards per game since his rookie season in 2015. He is currently going undrafted in many fantasy football. Yeldon was drafted by the Jaguars early in the second round back in 2015. Many NFL Draft Analysts at that time believed he could become a three-down player considering his frame. Last season Yeldon was targeted 78 times finishing with 55 receptions and 477 receiving yards. He was signed by the Bills in free agency. The team’s backfield is crowded with LeSean McCoy who is in the final year of his contract, free agent acquisition Frank Gore, and rookie Devin Singletary who the Bills drafted in the third round. 

McCoy (2,821) and Gore (3,837) have accumulated a high number of touches between them over many seasons. It would be a surprise if both stay healthy the entire 2019 season. McCoy could even find himself being released this summer. It’s also not out of the realm of possibilities that Yeldon outperforms Singletary during training camp and the preseason. He could be the Bills top running back the second half of the season. Yeldon should be targeted late in fantasy drafts.          

17. Ryquell Armstead, Jacksonville Jaguars

Armstead accumulated 2,812 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns on 573 attempts in 47 career games. The Jaguars selected him in the fifth round of this year’s NFL draft. He will compete against Alfred Blue, Thomas Rawls, and David Williams to back up starting running back Leonard Fournette. Many expect Armstead to open the regular season as the No. 2 running back. He has very good play speed, strength, and one cut ability as a runner. Armstead has very similar characteristics to Fournette. 

Fournette has struggled with injuries in college and up to this point of his NFL career. He has also had disagreements with the Jaguars coaching staff and front office. The ground beneath Fournette’s feet in Jacksonville isn’t exactly stable.

Fournette has averaged 22.6 opportunities per game since his rookie season. The Jaguars will continue to lean heavily on the running game considering the investment made to their offensive line. The addition of quarterback Nick Foles under center will improve the passing game. All of these things add up to Armstead being a potential season changer.   

18. Damien Harris

The Patriots selected Harris in the third round of the NFL Draft and he could see considerable playing time as a rookie. Jeff Howe, of the Athletic, reported that running back Sony Michel had a knee scope this offseason. It relatively a simple procedure, but raises an eyebrow considering Michel’s knee issues. The Patriots backfield also includes James White and Rex Burkhead. Michel did average 16.1 rushing attempts per game in the 13 he played during his rookie season. The Patriots have consistently been one of the top offenses in the NFL over the last decade. This consistency also applies to the play of their offensive line with longtime coach Dante Scarnecchia. Harris could easily fill the role that Michel had in the Patriots running game if he misses time in 2019. 

19. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys

Pollard was selected by the Cowboys No. 128 overall in this year’s NFL Draft. This implies that the Cowboys are looking to reduce starting running back Ezekiel Elliott’s workload. Elliott has averaged 25.1 touches and 21.5 PPR fantasy points per game in 40 career games since 2016. This is the type of workload that Pollard would inherit if Elliott were ever to miss time. He could also help the Cowboys as a returner. Pollard returned 27 kicks for 667 yards and a touchdown last season for the Memphis Tigers. How will new Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore use Elliott and Pollard in 2019? Elliott will likely be given a steady workload, but Pollard should be stashed on your bench especially in deeper formats.     

20. Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers

Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones were both selected by the Packers in the 2017 NFL Draft. Both running backs have complementary skill sets and have supported each other since being drafted. Jones separated himself from Williams with a strong finish to the 2018 season. He produced high-end RB2 numbers from Week 8 to Week 14 ranking 17th in fantasy points per game. Jones averaged around 100 total yards and a touchdown per game over this time frame. The Packers are expected to be more run-heavy in new head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense. The running backs in the Tennessee Titans offense averaged 28 touches per game last season with LaFleur calling the plays. This would reduce quarterback Aaron Rodgers number of pass attempts per game which is a good thing considering the numerous injuries he’s dealt with in recent seasons. Williams and Jones’ statistical production since entering the NFL is eerily similar. 

Player Name Rushing Attempts Rushing Yards Receiving Targets Receptions Receiving Yards PPR Games
Jamaal Williams 274 1,020 75 52 472 255 30
Aaron Jones 213 1,174 53 35 228 253 22

This backfield is shaping up to be a running back by committee. Williams is the preferred Zero RB target given his current average draft position.

Eric Moody
Eric Moody is a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers Association). His writing has been featured at FantasyPros, Gridiron Experts, RotoViz, and TwoQBs. He has a lifelong passion for the game and even played at the collegiate level as an offensive lineman. Eric also participated in Dan Hatman's Scouting Academy in order to learn the process of player evaluation at an NFL level. When Eric provides advice, he uses game film, analytics, and statistics to help you understand his perspective. He enjoys time with his family, Netflix, music, bass guitar, and coffee
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