Running backs anchor early rounds in CBS Sports 2026 St. Jude Fantasy Football mock draft
Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson head the 12-team PPR exercise, with participants debating value on Puka Nacua and emerging draft strategies.
CBS Sports has released the second iteration of its 2026 St. Jude Fantasy Football PPR mock draft, a 12-team exercise conducted to support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through the "Draft-A-Thon" initiative. The publication, dated 20 August 2026, provides a strategic preview for the upcoming NFL season, highlighting emerging trends in player value and draft positioning within a standard PPR scoring framework.
The draft order saw running backs dominate the initial selections, with Jahmyr Gibbs taken first overall by Erik Guenther and Bijan Robinson selected second by Ben Mills. This pattern aligns with historical mock drafts where running backs consistently occupy the first two picks and the early to middle portion of the second round. The focus then shifted to wide receivers for the next four selections, featuring Ja'Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Puka Nacua’s selection at No. 6 overall by Ian Maguire drew particular attention, with Maguire describing the pick as a "steal" despite Nacua’s recent missed practice time due to a groin injury. Nacua, who was the No. 1 Fantasy receiver in the 2025 season, is expected to be ready for Week 1, and Maguire noted that his roster includes depth options such as Zay Flowers, Luther Burden III, and Jakobi Meyers should Nacua require time to ramp up.
As the draft progressed into the latter half of the first round and into the second, the emphasis returned to the backfield. Kenneth Walker III was selected at No. 13, followed by Saquon Barkley at No. 16 and Derrick Henry at No. 18. Participants employed diverse strategies, with some managers adopting a "Hero-RB" approach, while others pursued receiver-heavy builds. For instance, OJ Webber and Frank Addeo both started with three wide receivers in the first round, a strategy considered viable for middle-of-the-round draft slots.
The mock draft utilised a scoring system that awards six points for touchdowns, one point per 10 yards rushing or receiving, one point per 25 yards passing, and one point per reception. The league format features a starting lineup of one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, and two FLEX spots, with six reserves over a 14-round draft.
CBS Sports notes that these mock drafts are part of a broader series of exercises conducted throughout August to benefit the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The publication encourages readers to participate by donating to the hospital, with additional information available regarding the Draft-A-Thon initiative.
