Do you prefer hunting for running backs all season long, or loading up on the position on Draft Day with the hope that you don't have to chase them? 

It's a trick question. 

If you're worth your salt as a Fantasy manager, you're always going to be on the lookout for running backs off the waiver wire (and in trade) all season regardless of who you draft. That's even if you're one of the very lucky ones who don't have to replace an injured or underperforming running back during the year. 

So if you're chasing running backs all year in all ways possible, you might as well not over-prioritize the position on Draft Day.

I think one thing you should count on is a majority of your league taking one running back with their first two picks. Almost everyone will begin their draft with one receiver and one running back. That's because more and more people are gravitating toward taking the elite-level wide receivers earlier than ever (especially in PPR -- they score more and aren't as fragile). Taking one of each, usually with the receiver first, offers flexibility for your next few picks and balance for how you build your roster.

Does this mean the Hero-RB strategy (one RB with your first four or more picks) is the right approach? No. It's going to be popular, but I wouldn't overlook another running back slipping into Round 2 or 3 and becoming a value pick for your roster. 

So then Heavy-RB (two RBs with your first two or three picks) is still reasonable? It is if the value matches up. You will see at least two managers in every draft take two running backs with their first three picks, and it might even be with their first two picks. I wouldn't blame them for it if there weren't wide receivers they valued when they were up in the early rounds. 

Then is the Zero-RB strategy worthless? No way. You should be thrilled if you can get two elite-tier receivers with your first two picks and then follow it up with excellent values at non-RB positions with your next two picks. There will be running back values in Round 5 and beyond -- but you have to be OK with the realization that you won't begin the season with consistent stat producers. 

The keyword in all three of those answers? VALUE. That's the name of the game in Fantasy drafts, regardless of position. You should never pass up a value, a bargain, or a steal.  

That's why it doesn't make sense to commit to one of the three common running back strategies before your draft. You should know about them and be open to all three of them, and maybe prefer one of them to the others, but let the draft dictate which path you take.

Regardless of these scenarios, I still think it's worth it to finish your draft with as many as seven running backs on your squad. Take as many shots as you can on runners who can become starters. You'd rather begin the year with them on your team than the waiver wire. 

Pre-draft homework: 

* Do receptions count for a full point? If they don't then you should prioritize running backs immediately. You could do the same in half-point PPR, too.

* Figure out where the elite running backs end in your mind and the startable-but-not-as-good running backs begin. For me, Tier 4 is where the first big drop-off is, then another at Tier 6 in PPR, Lottery Tickets in non-PPR. You're going to want running backs before these tiers run out ... unless you don't because you love Zero-RB. 

* Take some time to target three or four late-round running backs. Look for guys in strong offenses who have an older runner in front of them, or an unproven runner in front of them. Some of my faves: Ty Chandler, Jordan Mason, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Trey Benson and Ray Davis.

Dave's Tiers updated through Aug. 30: QB | RB | WR | TE | K/DST

Running back PPR tiers

Round 1
Tier 1
C. McCaffrey SF Christian McCaffrey SF
B. Hall NYJ Breece Hall NYJ
B. Robinson ATL Bijan Robinson ATL
J. Taylor IND Jonathan Taylor IND
S. Barkley PHI Saquon Barkley PHI
Round 2
Tier 2
J. Gibbs DET Jahmyr Gibbs DET
K. Williams LAR Kyren Williams LAR
I. Pacheco DET Isiah Pacheco DET
T. Etienne NO Travis Etienne NO
D. Henry BAL Derrick Henry BAL
J. Jacobs GB Josh Jacobs GB
Round 3
Tier 3
R. White WAS Rachaad White WAS
J. Cook BUF James Cook BUF
K. Walker III KC Kenneth Walker III KC
A. Kamara NO Alvin Kamara NO
J. Mixon HOU Joe Mixon HOU
D. Achane MIA De'Von Achane MIA
Rounds 5-6
Tier 4
J. Conner ARI James Conner ARI
D. Montgomery HOU David Montgomery HOU
Z. White NO Zamir White NO
N. Harris NYG Najee Harris NYG
J. Williams DAL Javonte Williams DAL
B. Robinson Jr. ATL Brian Robinson Jr. ATL
Round 7
Tier 5
A. Jones MIN Aaron Jones MIN
T. Pollard TEN Tony Pollard TEN
R. Stevenson NE Rhamondre Stevenson NE
D. Swift CHI D'Andre Swift CHI
R. Mostert LV Raheem Mostert LV
Round 8
Tier 6
C. Brown CIN Chase Brown CIN
Z. Moss CIN Zack Moss CIN
T. Spears TEN Tyjae Spears TEN
J. Warren PIT Jaylen Warren PIT
Rounds 9-10
Lottery Tickets
J. Brooks CAR Jonathon Brooks CAR
D. Singletary NYG Devin Singletary NYG
G. Edwards LAC Gus Edwards LAC
C. Hubbard CAR Chuba Hubbard CAR
R. Dowdle PIT Rico Dowdle PIT
N. Chubb HOU Nick Chubb HOU
J. Ford WAS Jerome Ford WAS
T. Chandler NO Ty Chandler NO
A. Ekeler WAS Austin Ekeler WAS
J. Dobbins DEN J.K. Dobbins DEN
Round 11+
Fantasy Backups
E. Elliott LAC Ezekiel Elliott LAC
J. Mason MIN Jordan Mason MIN
J. McLaughlin DEN Jaleel McLaughlin DEN
B. Corum LAR Blake Corum LAR
T. Tracy Jr. NYG Tyrone Tracy Jr. NYG
T. Benson ARI Trey Benson ARI
R. Davis BUF Ray Davis BUF
B. Irving TB Bucky Irving TB
J. Wright MIA Jaylen Wright MIA
M. Lloyd GB MarShawn Lloyd GB
Z. Charbonnet SEA Zach Charbonnet SEA
K. Vidal LAC Kimani Vidal LAC
D. Cook DAL Dalvin Cook DAL
T. Bigsby PHI Tank Bigsby PHI
C. Steele PHI Carson Steele PHI
A. Estime NO Audric Estime NO

Running back non-PPR tiers

Round 1
Tier 1
C. McCaffrey SF Christian McCaffrey SF
B. Hall NYJ Breece Hall NYJ
B. Robinson ATL Bijan Robinson ATL
J. Taylor IND Jonathan Taylor IND
S. Barkley PHI Saquon Barkley PHI
J. Gibbs DET Jahmyr Gibbs DET
K. Williams LAR Kyren Williams LAR
Rounds 2-3
Tier 2
D. Henry BAL Derrick Henry BAL
I. Pacheco DET Isiah Pacheco DET
T. Etienne NO Travis Etienne NO
J. Jacobs GB Josh Jacobs GB
R. White WAS Rachaad White WAS
J. Cook BUF James Cook BUF
K. Walker III KC Kenneth Walker III KC
Rounds 3-4
Tier 3
J. Mixon HOU Joe Mixon HOU
D. Achane MIA De'Von Achane MIA
A. Kamara NO Alvin Kamara NO
D. Montgomery HOU David Montgomery HOU
J. Conner ARI James Conner ARI
Rounds 5-6
Tier 4
Z. White NO Zamir White NO
N. Harris NYG Najee Harris NYG
J. Williams DAL Javonte Williams DAL
B. Robinson Jr. ATL Brian Robinson Jr. ATL
Round 7
Tier 5
A. Jones MIN Aaron Jones MIN
T. Pollard TEN Tony Pollard TEN
D. Swift CHI D'Andre Swift CHI
R. Mostert LV Raheem Mostert LV
R. Stevenson NE Rhamondre Stevenson NE
C. Brown CIN Chase Brown CIN
Z. Moss CIN Zack Moss CIN
Rounds 8-9
Tier 6
T. Spears TEN Tyjae Spears TEN
J. Brooks CAR Jonathon Brooks CAR
G. Edwards LAC Gus Edwards LAC
D. Singletary NYG Devin Singletary NYG
C. Hubbard CAR Chuba Hubbard CAR
R. Dowdle PIT Rico Dowdle PIT
J. Warren PIT Jaylen Warren PIT
N. Chubb HOU Nick Chubb HOU
J. Ford WAS Jerome Ford WAS
Rounds 10
Lottery Tickets
J. Dobbins DEN J.K. Dobbins DEN
T. Chandler NO Ty Chandler NO
E. Elliott LAC Ezekiel Elliott LAC
J. Mason MIN Jordan Mason MIN
A. Ekeler WAS Austin Ekeler WAS
J. McLaughlin DEN Jaleel McLaughlin DEN
B. Corum LAR Blake Corum LAR
T. Tracy Jr. NYG Tyrone Tracy Jr. NYG
T. Benson ARI Trey Benson ARI
B. Irving TB Bucky Irving TB
R. Davis BUF Ray Davis BUF
J. Wright MIA Jaylen Wright MIA
M. Lloyd GB MarShawn Lloyd GB
T. Bigsby PHI Tank Bigsby PHI
Z. Charbonnet SEA Zach Charbonnet SEA
K. Vidal LAC Kimani Vidal LAC
C. Steele PHI Carson Steele PHI
D. Cook DAL Dalvin Cook DAL

Which sleepers, breakouts, and busts should you target and fade, and which RB shocks the NFL with a top-10 performance? Visit SportsLine now to get cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that nailed Deebo Samuel as a bust last year, and find out.

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