Underdog Best Ball Strategies
By :: Papy324
Hello OWS family, and welcome to the 2022 season! It feels like last year just ended, but Week 1 prices are out, Best Ball drafts are in full swing, and training camp has begun! This article is going to touch on several Best Ball strategies that are all viable depending on how your draft progresses. The most important concept to remember is that you shouldn’t go into a draft with the idea of doing one specific strategy. You should let things unfold and pick the best strategy for that draft.
Strategy One: Hero RB
Guidelines
- One RB selected in the 1st or 2nd round
- No other RBs selected until rounds 7-9
Preferred Roster Construction
2-6-8-2
Hero RB gets its name from the idea that you select one RB in the 1st or 2nd round (your hero) and then ignore the position for at least the next five picks. It’s not uncommon in a hero RB build to wait until the 9th round before selecting your second RB. Be brave. The idea of the strategy is that by waiting on RB, you can lock up elite players at the “onesie” positions while adding your favorite high upside WRs in the early middle rounds. This strategy also leverages the idea of avoiding the “RB dead zone,” roughly thought of as rounds 3-7. Below is an example of what a Hero RB team might look like:
This team used its 7th/8th round picks on RBs (plus Hines falling). It made me feel uncomfortable drafting five RBs. When I use a Hero RB strategy and draft my second RB later, I’ll typically roster six RBs. This squad also lacks an elite TE, which made me want to use an extra roster spot at the position. You can see the benefits of Hero RB as this team was able to come away with a fearsome foursome at WR of Evans/Brown/Robinson/Cooks, while not looking entirely unstable at RB.
Strategy Two: Superhero RB
Guidelines
- Two RBs selected in the 1st and 2nd round
- No other RBs selected until round 9
Preferred Roster Construction
2-5-8-3
Superhero RB (these names sure are creative) is the same thing as Hero RB, doubled. Instead of selecting one RB in the first two rounds, you aim to use both your first two picks on RBs and then lay off the position until at least round 9. You want to leverage avoiding RBs in rounds 3-7 while packing your bags full of high upside WRs. The goal of Superhero RB is to be less vulnerable to your top RB getting injured, while also hoping that you manage to nail two studs who fill your RB slots all year. Below is an example of what a Superhero RB team might look like:
This team used its 7th round pick on an RB for stacking/falling ADP purposes, but only drafted five RBs, and didn’t take 4th/5th RBs until the late rounds. Superhero RB teams tend to come from early draft slots where you can land two studs (Taylor/Jones) who you hope to fill your RB spots most weeks. While this team managed to land two studs at RB, and strong players at the onesie positions, it’s clearly weaker than its Hero RB counterpart at WR, sporting Allen/Smith/Lockett/Moore as its top four options.
