Zero RB Targets for 2024 Best Ball Drafts

I've been a proponent of Zero RB drafting for years and 2024 sets up well for the strategy with how the draft landscape has shifted. After the top 11 players at the position, RBs as a whole have been pushed down the draft board. This makes it easier than ever to wait on the RB position and has largely eliminated the dreaded 'RB dead zone' with just a few exceptions.

Of course, structural drafting is only part of the story, we still need to make the right picks within those teams. Not all RBs are created equal and some are better fits for certain roster types than others.

With that in mind, I'm going to dive into some of my favorite selections when drafting Zero RB teams on Underdog Fantasy so far this year.

Middle Round Zero RB Targets for 2024 (Rounds 7-12)

David Montgomery (ADP: 73.8)

Last season David Montgomery finished as the RB8 in half PPR scoring (through Week 17) but he is currently being drafted as the RB19 in the early seventh round of best ball drafts.

His team situation may have even improved as Detroit invested heavily in their defense and still has an elite offensive line. An improved defense should help keep the Lions in positive game scripts, creating plenty of work for both Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Detroit averaged the third most points per game in 2023 and are bringing back all of their key offensive pieces. Montgomery had 17 carries inside the five-yard line last season, tied for fourth most in the NFL. As long as he retains that role he has a pretty high fantasy floor, and if Gibbs ever misses time he could step into a workhorse role in one the best offenses in the NFL.

Drafting four or five WRs along with an elite QB or TE (or both) through the first six rounds and then grabbing Montgomery in the seventh is my favorite way to start a Zero RB build. Montgomery provides a great floor/ceiling combo to make him the ideal building block when you don't invest early draft capital in the RB position.

James Conner/Trey Benson (ADP: 93.7 and 102.6)

The price for both Arizona RBs is really nice in my opinion. In the eight games Kyler Murray played last season, James Conner averaged 16.6 half PPR points per game which would have made him a top-five fantasy RB. Arizona upgraded their offense at key spots via the NFL Draft and free agency with the additions of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jonah Williams. With their franchise QB back to full health, this should be a much better unit in 2024.

Conner and rookie Trey Benson will obviously have to compete with one another for touches, but as long as it is just the two of them there should be enough work to go around. If they both remain healthy all season they may not smash this ADP but their costs are low enough that they won't hurt your best ball rosters either.

Jan 1, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) stiff arms Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell (24) in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

It's reasonable to expect that Conner will start the season as the lead back, but he is 29 years old and in the final year of his deal so there is a high probability that Benson features more as the season goes along. It is important to understand the texture of the roster you are drafting to determine which player is better for that specific roster. If you need the early-season production, Conner is your guy. If you have a solid starter or two, I like the late-season upside that Benson provides. 

Both players have excellent contingent value in the event that the other misses time and Arizona even has what looks like a favorable schedule for the fantasy playoffs. All of this adds up to make the two Arizona RBs high-priority picks when I'm on the clock in the eighth round.

Jaylen Warren (ADP: 91.4)

Similar to Arizona, the Steelers backfield duo are being drafted in a very similar range to one another. While I don't mind drafting Najee Harris, Warren is one of my favorite picks on the board in most drafts, but especially Zero RB builds. He was one of the most efficient RBs in the NFL last season with the following ranks among RBs with at least 75 carries:

• 5.2 YPC (tied for 3rd)
• 3.68 yards after contact per attempt (3rd)
• 56 missed tackles forced (tied for 5th)
• 135.5 elusive rating (2nd)

He will now play in an Arthur Smith offense which should heavily feature the rushing attack. Smith is famously good at one thing, designing an efficient run game, and the Steelers have the perfect thunder and lightning combo to carry their offense. Harris may handle more volume of the two but Warren's efficiency, role in the passing game, and big play potential make him the player I am targeting more in drafts.

Late-Round Zero RB Targets for 2024 (Rounds 13+)

Bucky Irving (ADP: 174.8)

It was an up-and-down offseason for Bucky Irving as he was a popular prospect heading into the draft cycle but then bombed the NFL Combine and fell to the fourth round. Despite this, he landed in one of the best possible situations for early career production for a fourth-round pick. Irving will slot in behind Rachaad White who has been one of the least efficient rushers since he entered the NFL.

Irving may not have tested as a good athlete, but he was ultra-productive in college and showed a well-rounded game on film. In 2023, White's 78% snap share was second only to Christian McCaffrey among RBs and his 62% rush attempt share ranked third. This is partly due to the fact that White stayed relatively healthy and played in all 17 games, but it is still a larger workload than his talent would suggest he should earn.

Tampa Bay also has a new offensive coordinator who has spoken highly of both RBs which creates the potential for different usage patterns. I want to bet against White suddenly becoming an efficient rusher and Irving is most likely to be the beneficiary if the Bucs decide to scale back his role as a rusher. Of course, as with all of these backs, there is also the contingent upside if White misses time this season.

Ty Chandler (ADP: 151.8)

The Vikings brought in free agent RB Aaron Jones to lead their backfield but there isn't a lot of depth behind him so I expect Chandler to serve as the primary backup. Jones will turn 30 this season and he has never been a workhorse. Chandler should be involved in the weekly game plan and has solid contingent value if Jones misses time.

Minnesota isn't my favorite offense to buy into but the prices are pretty good and they have enough talent to outperform expectations if J.J. McCarthy ends up being decent. Chandler is a good athlete who flashed a bit in the passing game last season and was by far the most efficient rusher when compared to Alexander Mattison and Cam Akers. He has a good shot to top last season's total of 123 touches and he showed a legit single game ceiling in Week 15 when he put up 157 total yards and finished as the RB4 on the week.

Chandler has a pretty secure role for a 13th-round pick in best ball and is someone I like to tack on as a fourth or fifth RB on my Zero RB teams.

Khalil Herbert (187.3)

This one may seem a bit out of left field after the Chicago Bears made D'Andre Swift a priority signing in the offseason to bolster their backfield. Swift may be a good receiving back but he has been up and down as a rusher.

Khalil Herbert vs D'Andre Swift career rushing metrics:

Herbert comes out ahead in all categories despite having played in worse offenses than Swift has for most of his career. I feel pretty confident that Herbert is the better pure rusher of the two. Second-year back Roschon Johnson is also in the mix, but he didn't flash anything special as a rookie.

If Herbert stays in Chicago I expect him to carve out a real role for himself as the most talented rusher on the team, and a good shot at earning the goal line work. With the revamped Chicago passing attack this could suddenly become an offense that creates plenty of scoring opportunities.

There is also the potential that Herbert gets traded once we get into training camp and we face the ugly reality of offseason injuries. It's not a guarantee but if he gets traded I think it is more likely he ends up on a team expecting to compete this season. This gives us multiple outs to Herbert finding a fantasy-relevant role in Chicago or elsewhere which makes him the perfect option to round out a Zero RB build.