The Zero RB approach, which prioritizes elite wide receivers and tight ends in the early rounds of a fantasy draft, defined much of the 2025 conversation among league managers.
Rookie Breakouts Light Up the Backfield
RJ Harvey surged to RB19, while TreVeyon Henderson climbed to RB20 and Quinshon Judkins settled at RB24. Cam Skattebo’s promising start was cut short by a knee injury, leaving him at RB35, but the early upside was enough to spark optimism.
Injury Ripple Effects
Veteran backs faced a mixed bag of outcomes. Kaleb Johnson touched the ball only 28 times for 69 yards across ten starts, while Chuba Hubbard lost his starting role and fell to RB42. Joe Mixon missed the entire season with a knee injury, and James Conner managed just three appearances because of foot problems. Isiah Pacheco finished as RB51, a disappointing result for owners who expected a breakout.
Under the guidance of coach Andy Reid, Zach Charbonnet flourished, outperforming his ADP to finish as RB23 with 730 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Aaron Jones remained a reliable option, and rookie Bijan Robinson showed flashes of potential. Meanwhile, Mike Tomlin’s Steelers utilized Kareem Hunt in a complementary role, and veteran depth players such as Mike Washington Jr., Jonah Coleman, Kenneth Gainwell, Rico Dowdle, Brashard Smith, and Kareem Hunt provided depth throughout the season.
Strategic Outlook for 2026
The success of Zero RB in 2025 was largely credited to a deep draft class that supplied high‑upside running backs later in the draft, allowing managers to sidestep low‑upside committee backs. However, analysts warn that the 2026 class appears thinner, suggesting that the strategy may need reevaluation before the next season.