We've reached the end of my 12-part fantasy football mock draft series, where I'm drafting from every spot — 1 through 12 — in a standard 12-team Yahoo league to break down how draft strategies evolve based on pick position. As always, I used the Yahoo Fantasy Plus Instant Mock Draft tool and drafted solo. The format is half-PPR, with the following roster construction: QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, TE, FLEX, K, D/ST and six bench spots.
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Operating from the 12th pick and then the turn, I opted to implement a Zero-RB build. Let's run it!
Rounds 1-3: No RBs over here
1.12 Malik Nabers (NYG - WR)
2.1 Brian Thomas Jr. (JAC - WR)
3.12 Jalen Hurts (PHI - QB)
Roster assessment after Round 3
Nabers fell a few spots below ADP, so that was an early gift in this draft. I was between Thomas and Puka Nacua and settled on BTJ because Davante Adams poses more of a threat near the red zone than Travis Hunter. BTJ also has the healthier QB.
At the turn in Round 3, I added Jalen Hurts, securing elite weekly QB1 production with rushing upside in a top-tiered fantasy offense. The early trio gives me a stable foundation to build around while waiting on RB value to surface.
Rounds 4-6: It's finally time
4.1 Sam LaPorta (DET - TE)
5.12 Tetairoa McMillan (CAR - WR)
6.1 D'Andre Swift (CHI - RB)
Roster assessment after Round 6
This portion of the draft allowed me to complete the core of my Zero-RB strategy. Grabbing a TE with top-five potential is essential because the tier break following LaPorta and TJ Hockenson is steep. LaPorta's numbers dipped from his rookie campaign, but tallying over 700 yards with at least seven TDs is a safe floor.
In Round 5, I snagged a promising rookie in Tetairoa McMillan, who should be Carolina's top receiving option. Bryce Young needed a big-play type of X receiver and Tet is indeed him.
I finally dipped into the running back pool in Round 6 with D'Andre Swift. His former OC and now HC, Ben Johnson, should maximize his skillset as both a runner and pass catcher, so landing him as my RB1 while going Zero-RB is a win.
Rounds 7-10: Give me all of the rest of the RBs
7.12 Jaylen Warren (PIT - RB)
8.1 Jordan Mason (MIN - RB)
9.12 Jaydon Blue (DAL - RB)
10.1 Keon Coleman (BUF - WR)
Roster assessment after Round 10
Nailing high-upside backups is key when going Zero-RB. Since I'm light at RB through six rounds, that was my focus at this stage in the draft. I went with Jaylen Warren, since he's the presumed starter for the Steelers. He'll eventually be in a committee with rookie back Kaleb Johnson, but should still garner enough looks in the passing game to remain fantasy relevant.
Mason and Blue are two backs who could force their way onto the field as the season progresses. Aaron Jones is declining and turns 31 in December. The Cowboys' RB situation remains fluid as we head into the final week of the preseason, so those are two players that fit my needs.
I rounded out this tier with Keon Coleman. The Bills didn't add much competition to the receiver room, so I'm expecting Coleman to level up as a more reliable red-zone option for Josh Allen as he enters his second season.
Rounds 11-15: Building out the depth
11.12 Braelon Allen (NYJ - RB)
12.1 Austin Ekeler (WAS - RB)
13.12 Dont'e Thornton Jr. (LV - WR)
14.1 Vikings DST (MIN - D/ST)
15.12 Jake Elliott (PHI - K)
Roster assessment after Round 15
Rounding out the roster, I scooped up bruiser Braelon Allen with a chance to carve out early-down and goal-line duties in New York. Ekeler, while aging, finds himself in an interesting spot with Brian Robinson Jr. on the trade block. No one really knows who'll lead the committee between Chris Rodriguez, Ekeler or popular sleeper Jacory (Bill) Croskey-Merritt. Croskey-Merrit was gone, so I went with Ekeler, knowing he'll likely still be involved in the pass game. Dont'e Thornton Jr. is a late-round flier with speed and size who could shine in Las Vegas. I closed out the draft with a rock-solid Vikings defense and reliable kicker Jake Elliott.
Final Thoughts
This Zero-RB build allowed me to secure top-tier starters at wide receiver, quarterback, and tight end while patiently collecting upside backs in the middle-to-late rounds. In doing a ton of mock drafts over the past week, I don't advise going Zero-RB beyond Round 5 because running backs tend to fly off the board.
If Swift weren't there, I'd be in a challenging position, likely having to rely on backups as my starters in the RB spots. When getting a back-end draft pick, I favor robust RB, Hero-RB and WR-heavy strategies in the early rounds — it leaves less room for error.
Should you land the last pick in the draft, remember you'll have the choice to follow or set the trends. Sometimes you'll have to get your guy well ahead of ADP. But, don't pass up the value that will inevitably fall into your lap. No matter which strategy you choose, read the board and settle on picks that give you balance with some upside.
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