The concept of the running back dead zone has been around for years, but with drafts becoming so wide receiver-heavy, some believe the dead zone is...dead. On Episode 886, JJ explains why that's not the case.

 Sign up on Underdog now and use promo code LATEROUND for a deposit match offer on your first deposit: https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-late-round-ff       Purchase the Late-Round Prospect Guide or Preorder the Late-Round Draft Guide: http://www.lateround.com/

The concept of the running back dead zone has been around for years, but with drafts becoming so wide receiver-heavy, some believe the dead zone is...dead. On Episode 886, JJ explains why that's not the case.   Sign up on Underdog now and use promo code LATEROUND for a deposit match offer on your first deposit: <a href="https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-late-round-ff">https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-late-round-ff</a>       Purchase the Late-Round Prospect Guide or Preorder the Late-Round Draft Guide: <a href="http://www.lateround.com/">http://www.lateround.com/</a>

Fantasy football doesn't have to feel so luck-driven. The award-winning Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast is a fantasy football show that helps you win through bite-sized, analytically-driven episodes. Instead of just drafting from a list of players and crossing your fingers with the hopes that those players produce, host JJ Zachariason provides a process to help you find breakout candidates, sleepers, busts and more. The approach is logical. It's strategic. And it wins.

The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast

The concept of the running back dead zone has been around for years, but with drafts becoming so wide receiver-heavy, some believe the dead zone is...dead. On Episode 886, JJ explains why that's not the case.   Sign up on Underdog now and use...

886: Reframing the Running Back Dead Zone

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/710f5005-978d-4143-8459-b34e0113040a/transcript

Are there any true historical comparisons for the Bears' pass-catchers this season? Is Ladd McConkey a draft target? Should we be fading market sentiment when it comes to going running back-heavy in drafts? JJ answers those questions — and more — on this week's mailbag episode.

Make sure to check out LateRound.com to order the 2026 Draft Guide. And while you're there, become a member! The new Members Hub is the place for rankings and tiers, data dumps, and more.

Are there any true historical comparisons for the Bears' pass-catchers this season? Is Ladd McConkey a draft target? Should we be fading market sentiment when it comes to going running back-heavy in drafts? JJ answers those questions &mdash; and more &mdash; on this week's mailbag episode.
Make sure to check out <a href="https://lateround.com/">LateRound.com</a> to order the 2026 Draft Guide. And while you're there, become a member! The new Members Hub is the place for rankings and tiers, data dumps, and more.

1119: Mailbag - Chicago's Pass-Catchers, Going Against ADP, and More

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f3133b25-ff78-47bf-a6ff-b4b300e8178d/transcript

JJ and Kitchen discuss the areas of your draft that could make or break your season, all of the latest training camp injury situations — including one of the craziest ones they can remember — rookie wide receiver preseason standouts, and more.

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All DraftKings Customers enter a lineup into the Best Ball $20 million Headliner Contest and receive a bonus ticket for a 2nd entry! Download the DraftKings app and sign up using https://bit.ly/LateRound2026 or promo code LATEROUND! The Crown is Yours! 

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org (CT). 18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. 1 per customer. Must enter a lineup into the NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. $25 entry fee. Bonus issued as 1 ticket to NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. Ticket reward is site credit valid for use only on NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. Ticket reward is single-use and expires at contest lock on 9/9/26. See terms at https://www.draftkings.com/promotions. Ends 9/9/26 at contest lock. Sponsored by DraftKings. #DKPartner

JJ and Kitchen discuss the areas of your draft that could make or break your season, all of the latest training camp injury situations &mdash; including one of the craziest ones they can remember &mdash; rookie wide receiver preseason standouts, and more.
----------
All DraftKings Customers enter a lineup into the Best Ball $20 million Headliner Contest and receive a bonus ticket for a 2nd entry! Download the DraftKings app and sign up using <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUR1WmJBUHQ4bFNwS2MtYXF5UlNiVGpsUXRIUXxBQ3Jtc0tuS2hVMExmY21LMGJJMFpfbWdVNHk4VV9HeGRMR25OOVpjbWRBb0I5eWhtTG5FQjZvY0IwTHUwUUlFSGh5cjhsekRxb20xemZFVUQ4aVZwOFR6TTFYMHRfanFBUGtQbWRpcG5ka3Z6TlNxNEt5a3lvNA&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FLateRound2026&amp;v=N2b0c1ZALhQ">https://bit.ly/LateRound2026</a> or promo code LATEROUND! The Crown is Yours! Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org (CT). 18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. 1 per customer. Must enter a lineup into the NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. $25 entry fee. Bonus issued as 1 ticket to NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. Ticket reward is site credit valid for use only on NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. Ticket reward is single-use and expires at contest lock on 9/9/26. See terms at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGZBR3ZXc2E0QU5yVDdSSTZPT2pDdkdSQlJmQXxBQ3Jtc0ttYk0wcnRuaHBPSEJoaHdkaGtEX2hfUU1Sdm10OTF6SS05VjRLSks0bFdQcU9TNHF6U004VF9uUVFIenNPemM0azFMUncyLTRBeVY4M1RrZHM0OGN4VHU2M0pNRFlhU2FfWEdsZGFVQkxnMWh2clBhTQ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.draftkings.com%2Fpromotions&amp;v=N2b0c1ZALhQ">https://www.draftkings.com/promotions</a>. Ends 9/9/26 at contest lock. Sponsored by DraftKings. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/dkpartner">#DKPartner</a>

The Show: Make or Break Areas of Your Draft, Camp News, and More

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7be913cb-78ec-4da2-9cbe-b4b201714cd7/transcript

JJ and Rich open the show with a discussion about average draft position risers and fallers before Mark Garcia of One Week Season and StatRankings joins the show. Mark explains why he’s not bailing on Zero RB this year, breaks down the Ashton Jeanty situation from Sunday, and much more.

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All DraftKings Customers enter a lineup into the Best Ball $20 million Headliner Contest and receive a bonus ticket for a 2nd entry! Download the DraftKings app and sign up using https://bit.ly/LateRound2026 or promo code LATEROUND! The Crown is Yours! 

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org (CT). 18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. 1 per customer. Must enter a lineup into the NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. $25 entry fee. Bonus issued as 1 ticket to NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. Ticket reward is site credit valid for use only on NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. Ticket reward is single-use and expires at contest lock on 9/9/26. See terms at https://www.draftkings.com/promotions. Ends 9/9/26 at contest lock. Sponsored by DraftKings. #DKPartner

JJ and Rich open the show with a discussion about average draft position risers and fallers before Mark Garcia of One Week Season and StatRankings joins the show. Mark explains why he&rsquo;s not bailing on Zero RB this year, breaks down the Ashton Jeanty situation from Sunday, and much more.
----------
All DraftKings Customers enter a lineup into the Best Ball $20 million Headliner Contest and receive a bonus ticket for a 2nd entry! Download the DraftKings app and sign up using <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUR1WmJBUHQ4bFNwS2MtYXF5UlNiVGpsUXRIUXxBQ3Jtc0tuS2hVMExmY21LMGJJMFpfbWdVNHk4VV9HeGRMR25OOVpjbWRBb0I5eWhtTG5FQjZvY0IwTHUwUUlFSGh5cjhsekRxb20xemZFVUQ4aVZwOFR6TTFYMHRfanFBUGtQbWRpcG5ka3Z6TlNxNEt5a3lvNA&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FLateRound2026&amp;v=N2b0c1ZALhQ">https://bit.ly/LateRound2026</a> or promo code LATEROUND! The Crown is Yours! Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org (CT). 18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. 1 per customer. Must enter a lineup into the NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. $25 entry fee. Bonus issued as 1 ticket to NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. Ticket reward is site credit valid for use only on NFL Best Ball $20M Headliner Contest. Ticket reward is single-use and expires at contest lock on 9/9/26. See terms at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGZBR3ZXc2E0QU5yVDdSSTZPT2pDdkdSQlJmQXxBQ3Jtc0ttYk0wcnRuaHBPSEJoaHdkaGtEX2hfUU1Sdm10OTF6SS05VjRLSks0bFdQcU9TNHF6U004VF9uUVFIenNPemM0azFMUncyLTRBeVY4M1RrZHM0OGN4VHU2M0pNRFlhU2FfWEdsZGFVQkxnMWh2clBhTQ&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.draftkings.com%2Fpromotions&amp;v=N2b0c1ZALhQ">https://www.draftkings.com/promotions</a>. Ends 9/9/26 at contest lock. Sponsored by DraftKings. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/dkpartner">#DKPartner</a>

Becoming a Best Ball Bro: Do We Have It All Wrong?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/addcd0d3-4d16-49ae-a1a1-b4b1011ab908/transcript

886: Reframing the Running Back Dead Zone

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