With the Fantasy season rapidly approaching and many managers drafting soon, here is a list of a few of the most common draft strategies, including our pick for this year’s draft and three tips to secure a strong draft.

Strategies

Hero RB: For this strategy, take an elite RB early and wait to draft another RB until after/at Round 5. This works especially well with a top two pick, where your “Hero RB” is either Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs.

Zero RB: In this strategy, forgo drafting an RB in any of the first 5 Rounds, then load up on them throughout the rest of the draft. This is not an ideal strategy for this year given the RB Dead Zone, but best works if you are able to snag a Top-4 WR in the first.  

Double RB: In the final RB strategy, grab two RB’s in the first two rounds of your draft. Given the amount of wide receiver depth as well as lack of running back depth this year, taking two RB’s early is something you should heavily consider. Given it is the strategy that will apply to the most draft positions and most scenarios, Double RB is our pick for this year’s best draft strategy. 

Tips

Avoid the RB Dead Zone

Contrary to recent seasons, the 2026 Draft is much more shallow at the RB position. Compared to years past which featured breakouts from currents stars Bucky Irving (2024, APD 175), Kyren Williams (2023, Largely Undrafted), and Devon Achane (2023, ADP 122), the ’26 Draft features a much more condensed scale of talent at the RB position. This year, Rounds 5-7 — the RB Dead Zone — features roughly 12 RB’s projected in this range, yet many are not worth the inflated ADP they are positioned at. While they are serviceable as a potential FLEX play or as bench RB’s, many of these players will struggle to consistently perform as an RB2 for managers. Take 2 RBs in the first 4 Rounds to avoid this. 

Wait on QB

QBs are always a difficult topic in Fantasy Drafts, and for good reason. It's hard to ignore the value a draft pick like Josh Allen gives you (finished as the QB1 or QB2 every year over the past five seasons), even if his ADP is in the third round. Comparatively, fantasy history has shown us that waiting for a QB and loading up in the early rounds on WR’s, RB’s, and TE’s has paid off. Take for example Brock Purdy (2023, ADP Outside of Top 12 QBs), Baker Mayfield (2024, ADP QB21), or Jalen Hurts (2022, ADP Outside Top 10 QBs), all  of whom were both drafted late and finished in the Top 5 QBs. With late-round QBs consistently outperforming their ADP every year, it is better to stock up on other talent in the early rounds and wait on drafting a Quarterback.

Know what  league you’re in

One of the easiest ways to give yourself the best chance at winning your league is knowing your league’s settings. To start, know your league’s roster type. Although most standard leagues have 1 QB, 2 RB’s, 2 WR’s, 1 TE, and one FLEX spot, many leagues vary from this archetype. 

In general, if your league has an increased number of players at one position, that position group should become a higher priority on your draft board. Take for example, a three WR league; WRs in similar ranges as RBs and TEs should be taken higher then their counterparts, due to the WRs being in higher demand. 

Secondly, know if you are playing in a Standard, Half PPR (Point Per Reception), or Full PPR league. RB’s are most susceptible to this setting — either rising or falling several positional ranks. When playing in a Half PPR or standard format, RBs that catch the ball aren’t as important as RBs who score touchdowns, yet in a full PPR format, RBs that catch the ball are far more valuable than those that don’t. For example, RBs like Jonathan Taylor, who finished RB4 last year in PPR and RB2 in Half PPR are better options in Half-PPR leagues, while running backs like Christian McCaffrey, who had 102 REC in 2025, are better options in Full-PPR leagues.

SLUH’s Top 3 (Hypothetical) Fantasy Leaders/Defensive Points in the Season Opener 

1. Tyler Kozminske: 89 rushing yards, 67 receiving yards, 5 receptions, one receiving touchdown, one rushing touchdown - 32.6 fantasy points

2. Pat Stein: 82 rushing yards, 33 passing yards, and two rushing touchdowns, 2 2PT conversions- 25.5 Fantasy Points

3. Tristen Johnson: 75 receiving yards, 5 catches - 12.5 fantasy points

D/ST: four interceptions, six sacks, two points allowed - 31 fantasy points