Note: I know not everyone has time to read long articles these days, so I’m starting a new summer series that gets to the point and lays out the data in a condensed and concise format. I’ll call it “Quick Takes” This is the second installment of the series.
The Zero RB draft strategy has always been the ultimate contrarian approach to draft day. But that’s never been more true than in 2020 when it seems so vital to snatch up multiple running backs in the early rounds. And don’t get me wrong, I’m using the robust-RB approach in many of my drafts this year.
However, the Zero RB strategy is not dead yet. We just have to know who to target when taking this approach. Here’s what I look for when identifying middle and late round running backs to target when drafting Zero RB:
- RB in an ambiguous backfield
- Not a true handcuff, some standalone appeal
- Pass-Catchers
- Athleticism
- TD upside
- Good offense
- League-Winner Upside
Kareem Hunt: 2020 Zero RB Target
Kareem Hunt is the ultimate Zero RB target. He checks all of those boxes. He’s elite in the passing game, as we saw during his time in Kansas City where he caught more than 50 passes in 2018. And Hunt was the primary pass-catching back in Cleveland last year once he returned from suspension in Week 10. Nick Chubb was dominating the touches in Weeks 1-9 without Hunt, enjoying a 12-percent Target Share. But when Hunt entered the picture, that number dropped to five-percent. Hunt came in and averaged 5.6 targets per game over the final eight games, garnering more than 75-percent of the backfield receiving work over that span.
Hunt proved to have standalone value, while he and Chubb split snaps almost equally upon his return. Hunt was PPR RB24 from Weeks 10-17. When identifying zero RB targets, we want to find guys with that league-winner ceiling. Hunt has that. But what Hunt also has that most other backs around his ADP and later don’t, is the floor. We can start Hunt week-to-week even without a Chubb injury and know we’re going to get a safe RB2/RB3 performance. That makes him so much more valuable when tackling this contrarian strategy.
And Hunt’s ceiling is the highest of any of the zero RB targets. If Chubb goes down, Hunt will slide into a massive opportunity share. He would have the backfield to himself, absorbing all the carries, receptions, and touchdowns. Hunt would instantly become a top-five running back. We don’t even have to assume that he can do it, we’ve seen it from him already.
With an ADP in the sixth round, Hunt is an awesome value for anyone taking the Zero RB or a modified Zero RB approach in their 2020 drafts.
