For more content on draft strategies, check out my article on the Zero RB strategy from last week!

Draft one or two running backs within the first five rounds to secure locked-in, workhorse RBs. Then, don’t draft any other RBs until you fill out the rest of your starting lineup. Then, you’ll prioritize RBs that have a clear pathway to leading their backfield in touches, receptions, or touchdowns (or a mixture of these).

The “hero” on your team will be one of the elite RBs, i.e. Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs, etc. Hitting on one running back in the late rounds of drafts is the difference between nailing or failing when implementing Hero RB. Doing so will result in your squad having a dominant starting lineup with strengths at every single position.

Jadarian Price: The Seahawks rookie doesn’t provide much in the pass-catching category. But he’s on a great offense with massive TD potential.

Kenneth Gainwell: Gainwell is an excellent receiving back, and would be thrust into a major role if Bucky Irving’s injury continues to bother him.

Bhayshul Tuten/Chris Rodriguez Jr.: The Jaguars’ backfield is going late in drafts, and Tuten falls into the criteria of “RB to take once the lineup is entirely filled except for your second RB.” One of these two RBs (if not both) has an excellent shot of being highly productive this season.

Jonathan Brooks: Rumors have been swirling all offseason about a major role being on the way for Brooks. The former second-round pick is in line to have a massively underpriced ADP if he usurps Chuba Hubbard.

Rico Dowdle: We saw Rico Dowdle’s ceiling last season when he was thrust into a more vital role. He scored 28 or more PPR points three times. He meets all the criteria of the ideal Hero RB late-round selection.

Rhamondre Stevenson: Even with an anticipated breakout on the way for TreVeyon Henderson, Stevenson is expected to be the goal line back for an excellent offense, and he’s going late.

This tactic is far more balanced, and far less risky, than the Zero RB strategy. The upside here, especially if you only take 1 RB with your first 5 picks, is that you then only need to hit on one late-round RB to have a dominant starting lineup, rather than needing two with the Zero-RB approach. The risk here is that you are one injury away from being in serious trouble at the RB position. Grabbing the backup (handcuff) running back for your first RB selection with this strategy is highly recommended.

To demonstrate how this strategy works in practice, as well as provide an example of what a team may look like, I mock drafted in the WalterPicks app (which you can do also BTW). I had the second pick in this mock. This is what my Hero RB team ended up looking like:

Starting with Jahmyr Gibbs is a fantastic way to begin a Hero RB build. Drafting George Pickens, A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Terry McLaurin provides us with four wide receivers that can put up a WR1 week on any given week. We’re projecting Kenneth Gainwell to have a substantive role on the Bucs’ offense, and for Jonathan Brooks to see tons of work in the Panthers’ backfield.

After you complete a mock draft or real draft in the WalterPicks app, you’re given a report card. Here was mine for this mock:

Walter knows when you’re trying to implement a strategy, and it will tell you if you did it correctly!