With the decline in the number of lone lead running backs in the NFL and increase in the number of shared backfields and running backs by committee a new fantasy football draft strategy is emerging as a very viable option. This new strategy may be something to implore now, especially if you have a later pick, so that you can be ahead of the curve. In a few years there could be no lone running backs left in the league and every team could be giving at least two running backs equal touches. Use this strategy now and be on the frontier, so that you know how best to use it now, so you will have the advantage in a few years when it’s the only strategy.
This strategy consists of drafting one of the top tier QBs (Rodgers, Brees, Manning, Brady, Romo, Schaub) and only wide receivers for the first 3-5 rounds. Leaving you with your QB and all receiver spots filled and then in the middle rounds draft a stable of RBs, piling up around 5 of the middle tiered running backs knowing that every year that you should have two of those middle tiered guys make the jump to a #1 fantasy back for that year. Some examples of these types of backs would have been guys like Ray Rice, Rashard Mendenhall, Jonathan Stewart, Jamaal Charles, Beanie Wells, and Knowshon Moreno. Guys drafted in rounds 4-9 that could end up being a must start, or close to a must start, every week.
If you have a late 1st round pick and choose to go with this strategy you could end up with a team consisting of something like: Aaron Rodgers, Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith, and Dwayne Bowe as your first 4 picks. It’s hard to be upset with any team that has Dwayne Bowe as the 3rd wide receiver. For the next 5 or so rounds you would fill your roster with running backs giving you 5 picks that could get you: Ronnie Brown, Matt Forte, Arian Foster, Ahmad Bradshaw and CJ Spiller. Giving you 5 solid running backs to pick from, knowing that at least two of them will most likely emerge as every week starters on your team allowing you to play the matchups with your other guys to fill the flex position or fill in on bye weeks. That team looks good on paper and will for sure be competitive in any league.
If you have a late first round pick I highly suggest taking a look at this strategy, as the running backs that will be left after the 5th pick in the first round won’t be as dependable as the running backs of the past. With the emergence of the two-running back systems in the NFL, the days of drafting two running backs the first two rounds are gone and the days of having to draft a running back in the first round looks to be in rear-view mirror as well.
No related posts.