FALL 2022

AUTHORS

Andrew Heller, University of Pennsylvania (Moneyball Academy)
James Sohigian, University of Pennsylvania (Moneyball Academy)
Henry Bartz, University of Pennsylvania (Moneyball Academy)
Ethan Kawahara, University of Pennsylvania (Moneyball Academy)
Felix Wang, University of Pennsylvania (Moneyball Academy)

ABSTRACT

The Zero-Running Back (RB) draft strategy is to ignore RB until around the 6th round, and to draft the leftover RBs (usually consisting of high upside players or backups that might play or can be used for trade value). Instead focus high draft rounds on WRs, TEs, and QBs in the early rounds of the draft. We simulated fantasy football drafts over the 2010 to 2021 seasons to determine the efficacy of the zero-running back draft strategy.  From our data, the Zero – RB doesn’t work optimally and it is suggested that the Fantasy Football draft process is based primarily on luck; random year to year variation in player productivity.