As I sat down to write the recap to our latest 12-team, PPR mock draft, I got a text from a friend just starting his Fantasy Football prep. He said, “It’s got to be a running back year.” If that’s how you feel, then this mock draft was for you.
This is our third mock draft to benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as part of our 2025 Fantasy Football Today Draft-A-Thon. We have already exceeded our goal to raise more than $100,000 for St. Jude, which is awesome, but we’re not done. We appreciate all of your donations in helping us make that happen, and you can continue to donate by going here.
One way you can contribute to our Draft-A-Thon while also helping your Fantasy Football prep for this season is to take part in one of our mock drafts. And this one from Tuesday night was fun, especially in Round 1 with all of the running backs.
Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Christian McCaffrey, De’Von Achane, Ashton Jeanty and Derrick Henry all went in the first round. The FantasyPros Average Draft Position data has six running backs in Round 1 — Achane is at No. 13 overall — so this could be the norm.
In this draft, receivers like Nico Collins, Brian Thomas Jr. and Amon-Ra St. Brown fell to Round 2, and you can make a case for all of them to go in Round 1 in this format. But the managers in this draft preferred the running backs early.
It was a surprise that no one went RB-RB to start their team, and we only had Josh Jacobs and Chase Brown get selected in Round 2. It was also a surprise to see Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams and Bucky Irving fall to Round 3 since typically those running backs are selected in the second round.
Kenneth Walker III, Breece Hall, Omarion Hampton and James Cook also went in the third round, which meant we had 16 running backs drafted in the first 36 overall selections. And there were six managers who had two running backs through Round 3 (Adam Hawn, Larry Graham, Logan Kelley, Adam Aizer, Dan Gray and Tony Bisciotti).
Tony’s team was interesting because he started with CeeDee Lamb at No. 4 overall, and then he selected three running backs in a row with Brown, Irving and Chuba Hubbard, who can be his flex. His No. 2 receiver is Tetaiora McMillan, and he drafted his No. 4 running back (Tank Bigsby) before his No. 3 receiver (Stefon Diggs). You should check out the rest of his team to see if you like this roster build.
Two managers waited until Round 4 to draft their first running back (Grahame Kelley and Todd Rones). Grahame’s first running back was TreVeyon Henderson after he drafted Ja’Marr Chase, Trey McBride and Ladd McConkey from No. 1 overall. And Todd’s first running back was Alvin Kamara after he picked Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. and George Kittle from No. 11 overall.
Todd has elite pass catchers in Nabers, Thomas and Kittle, and he also added Calvin Ridley, who could be his flex, along with Jordan Addison and Jayden Reed. And I like how his running back corps came together with Kamara, David Montgomery, Jaylen Warren, Jaylen Wright and Raheem Mostert. Todd didn’t prioritize running back with his draft, but this should be a competitive roster, which you should check out below.
I had a Hero-RB build with my team after drafting Gibbs at No. 5 overall. I then drafted Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and Marvin Harrison Jr. with my next three picks before getting RJ Harvey in Round 5.
DeVonta Smith was incredible value in Round 6, and I couldn’t pass on David Njoku in Round 7. But then I built out my running back corps with Jordan Mason, Rhamondre Stevenson and Jaydon Blue with three picks in a row, and I added a sleeper in Round 12 with Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
I’m thrilled with this roster, including Drake Maye at quarterback and Demario Douglas also on the bench. This should be a competitive team in this league.
As a reference point for this mock draft, all touchdowns are worth six points, and we award one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving and one point for every 25 yards passing. We also award one point for every reception. We feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE and FLEX (RB/WR/TE) with six reserves for a 13-round draft.
Our draft order is as follows:
1. Grahame Kelley
2. Adam Hawn
3. Larry Graham
4. Tony Bisciotti
5. Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports Senior Fantasy Writer
6. Rhett Bates
7. Logan Kelley
8. Vincent Giovannoni
9. Mike Renta
10. Adam Aizer
11. Todd Rones
12. Dan Gray
Round By Round
Round 1
Pos
Team
Player
1
Grahame Kelley
J. Chase WR CIN
2
Adam Hawn
B. Robinson RB ATL
3
Larry Graham
S. Barkley RB PHI
4
Tony Bisciotti
C. Lamb WR DAL
5
Jamey Eisenberg
J. Gibbs RB DET
6
Rhett Bates
C. McCaffrey RB SF
7
Logan Kelley
D. Achane RB MIA
8
Vincent Giovannoni
J. Jefferson WR MIN
9
Mike Renta
P. Nacua WR LAR
10
Adam Aizer
A. Jeanty RB LV
11
Todd Rones
M. Nabers WR NYG
12
Dan Gray
D. Henry RB BAL
Round 2
Pos
Team
Player
13
Dan Gray
N. Collins WR HOU
14
Todd Rones
B. Thomas Jr. WR JAC
15
Adam Aizer
A. St. Brown WR DET
16
Mike Renta
J. Jacobs RB GB
17
Vincent Giovannoni
B. Bowers TE LV
18
Logan Kelley
A. Brown WR PHI
19
Rhett Bates
D. London WR ATL
20
Jamey Eisenberg
T. Hill WR MIA
21
Tony Bisciotti
C. Brown RB CIN
22
Larry Graham
L. Jackson QB BAL
23
Adam Hawn
T. Higgins WR CIN
24
Grahame Kelley
T. McBride TE ARI
Round 3
Pos
Team
Player
25
Grahame Kelley
L. McConkey WR LAC
26
Adam Hawn
J. Taylor RB IND
27
Larry Graham
K. Williams RB LAR
28
Tony Bisciotti
B. Irving RB TB
29
Jamey Eisenberg
D. Adams WR LAR
30
Rhett Bates
J. Smith-Njigba WR SEA
31
Logan Kelley
K. Walker III RB SEA
32
Vincent Giovannoni
B. Hall RB NYJ
33
Mike Renta
J. Allen QB BUF
34
Adam Aizer
O. Hampton RB LAC
35
Todd Rones
G. Kittle TE SF
36
Dan Gray
J. Cook RB BUF
Round 4
Pos
Team
Player
37
Dan Gray
J. Daniels QB WAS
38
Todd Rones
A. Kamara RB NO
39
Adam Aizer
J. Burrow QB CIN
40
Mike Renta
M. Evans WR TB
41
Vincent Giovannoni
G. Wilson WR NYJ
42
Logan Kelley
J. Hurts QB PHI
43
Rhett Bates
D. Moore WR CHI
44
Jamey Eisenberg
M. Harrison Jr. WR ARI
45
Tony Bisciotti
C. Hubbard RB CAR
46
Larry Graham
D. Metcalf WR PIT
47
Adam Hawn
J. Conner RB ARI
48
Grahame Kelley
T. Henderson RB NE
Round 5
Pos
Team
Player
49
Grahame Kelley
D. Swift RB CHI
50
Adam Hawn
C. Sutton WR DEN
51
Larry Graham
T. McLaurin WR WAS
52
Tony Bisciotti
T. McMillan WR CAR
53
Jamey Eisenberg
R. Harvey RB DEN
54
Rhett Bates
T. Pollard RB TEN
55
Logan Kelley
T. Hunter WR JAC
56
Vincent Giovannoni
J. Williams WR DET
57
Mike Renta
A. Jones RB MIN
58
Adam Aizer
X. Worthy WR KC
59
Todd Rones
C. Ridley WR TEN
60
Dan Gray
G. Pickens WR DAL
Round 6
Pos
Team
Player
61
Dan Gray
R. Rice WR KC
62
Todd Rones
D. Montgomery RB DET
63
Adam Aizer
J. Mixon RB HOU
64
Mike Renta
B. Robinson Jr. RB WAS
65
Vincent Giovannoni
K. Johnson RB PIT
66
Logan Kelley
J. Jeudy WR CLE
67
Rhett Bates
I. Pacheco RB KC
68
Jamey Eisenberg
D. Smith WR PHI
69
Tony Bisciotti
P. Mahomes QB KC
70
Larry Graham
M. Golden WR GB
71
Adam Hawn
B. Mayfield QB TB
72
Grahame Kelley
J. Waddle WR MIA
Round 7
Pos
Team
Player
73
Grahame Kelley
C. Kupp WR SEA
74
Adam Hawn
T. Kelce TE KC
75
Larry Graham
S. LaPorta TE DET
76
Tony Bisciotti
T. Bigsby RB JAC
77
Jamey Eisenberg
D. Njoku TE CLE
78
Rhett Bates
Z. Flowers WR BAL
79
Logan Kelley
R. Pearsall WR SF
80
Vincent Giovannoni
C. Godwin WR TB
81
Mike Renta
J. Meyers WR LV
82
Adam Aizer
C. Olave WR NO
83
Todd Rones
J. Addison WR MIN
84
Dan Gray
R. Odunze WR CHI
Round 8
Pos
Team
Player
85
Dan Gray
T. Hockenson TE MIN
86
Todd Rones
J. Warren RB PIT
87
Adam Aizer
T. Tracy Jr. RB NYG
88
Mike Renta
J. Williams RB DAL
89
Vincent Giovannoni
T. Etienne RB JAC
90
Logan Kelley
J. Dobbins RB DEN
91
Rhett Bates
D. Prescott QB DAL
92
Jamey Eisenberg
J. Mason RB MIN
93
Tony Bisciotti
S. Diggs WR NE
94
Larry Graham
C. Skattebo RB NYG
95
Adam Hawn
N. Harris RB LAC
96
Grahame Kelley
K. Murray QB ARI
Round 9
Pos
Team
Player
97
Grahame Kelley
D. Samuel WR WAS
98
Adam Hawn
Z. Charbonnet RB SEA
99
Larry Graham
B. Nix QB DEN
100
Tony Bisciotti
E. Egbuka WR TB
101
Jamey Eisenberg
R. Stevenson RB NE
102
Rhett Bates
Q. Judkins RB CLE
103
Logan Kelley
T. Warren TE IND
104
Vincent Giovannoni
D. Mooney WR ATL
105
Mike Renta
J. Jennings WR SF
106
Adam Aizer
J. Downs WR IND
107
Todd Rones
J. Fields QB NYJ
108
Dan Gray
I. Guerendo RB SF
Round 10
Pos
Team
Player
109
Dan Gray
K. Shakir WR BUF
110
Todd Rones
J. Reed WR GB
111
Adam Aizer
T. Spears RB TEN
112
Mike Renta
J. Ford RB CLE
113
Vincent Giovannoni
R. Davis RB BUF
114
Logan Kelley
L. Burden III WR CHI
115
Rhett Bates
E. Engram TE DEN
116
Jamey Eisenberg
J. Blue RB DAL
117
Tony Bisciotti
T. Kraft TE GB
118
Larry Graham
B. Tuten RB JAC
119
Adam Hawn
A. Ekeler RB WAS
120
Grahame Kelley
R. White RB TB
Round 11
Pos
Team
Player
121
Grahame Kelley
B. Allen RB NYJ
122
Adam Hawn
S. Perine RB CIN
123
Larry Graham
X. Legette WR CAR
124
Tony Bisciotti
K. Coleman WR BUF
125
Jamey Eisenberg
D. Maye QB NE
126
Rhett Bates
C. Tillman WR CLE
127
Logan Kelley
T. Allgeier RB ATL
128
Vincent Giovannoni
T. Benson RB ARI
129
Mike Renta
M. Andrews TE BAL
130
Adam Aizer
C. Loveland TE CHI
131
Todd Rones
B. Purdy QB SF
132
Dan Gray
B. Aiyuk WR SF
Round 12
Pos
Team
Player
133
Dan Gray
D. Kincaid TE BUF
134
Todd Rones
J. Wright RB MIA
135
Adam Aizer
C. Kirk WR HOU
136
Mike Renta
K. Hunt RB KC
137
Vincent Giovannoni
C. Williams QB CHI
138
Logan Kelley
M. Pittman WR IND
139
Rhett Bates
A. Richardson QB IND
140
Jamey Eisenberg
J. Croskey-Merritt RB WAS
141
Tony Bisciotti
K. Pitts TE ATL
142
Larry Graham
M. Lloyd RB GB
143
Adam Hawn
Z. Ertz TE WAS
144
Grahame Kelley
N. Chubb RB HOU
Round 13
Pos
Team
Player
145
Grahame Kelley
D. Sampson RB CLE
146
Adam Hawn
R. Johnson RB CHI
147
Larry Graham
B. Corum RB LAR
148
Tony Bisciotti
W. Marks RB HOU
149
Jamey Eisenberg
D. Douglas WR NE
150
Rhett Bates
W. Robinson WR NYG
151
Logan Kelley
J. Higgins WR HOU
152
Vincent Giovannoni
J. Goff QB DET
153
Mike Renta
T. Harris WR LAC
154
Adam Aizer
D. Goedert TE PHI
155
Todd Rones
R. Mostert RB LV
156
Dan Gray
J. Bech WR LV
Team by Team
Grahame Kelley
Rd
Pk
Player
1
1
J. Chase WR CIN
2
24
T. McBride TE ARI
3
25
L. McConkey WR LAC
4
48
T. Henderson RB NE
5
49
D. Swift RB CHI
6
72
J. Waddle WR MIA
7
73
C. Kupp WR SEA
8
96
K. Murray QB ARI
9
97
D. Samuel WR WAS
10
120
R. White RB TB
11
121
B. Allen RB NYJ
12
144
N. Chubb RB HOU
13
145
D. Sampson RB CLE
Adam Hawn
Rd
Pk
Player
1
2
B. Robinson RB ATL
2
23
T. Higgins WR CIN
3
26
J. Taylor RB IND
4
47
J. Conner RB ARI
5
50
C. Sutton WR DEN
6
71
B. Mayfield QB TB
7
74
T. Kelce TE KC
8
95
N. Harris RB LAC
9
98
Z. Charbonnet RB SEA
10
119
A. Ekeler RB WAS
11
122
S. Perine RB CIN
12
143
Z. Ertz TE WAS
13
146
R. Johnson RB CHI
Larry Graham
Rd
Pk
Player
1
3
S. Barkley RB PHI
2
22
L. Jackson QB BAL
3
27
K. Williams RB LAR
4
46
D. Metcalf WR PIT
5
51
T. McLaurin WR WAS
6
70
M. Golden WR GB
7
75
S. LaPorta TE DET
8
94
C. Skattebo RB NYG
9
99
B. Nix QB DEN
10
118
B. Tuten RB JAC
11
123
X. Legette WR CAR
12
142
M. Lloyd RB GB
13
147
B. Corum RB LAR
Tony Bisciotti
Rd
Pk
Player
1
4
C. Lamb WR DAL
2
21
C. Brown RB CIN
3
28
B. Irving RB TB
4
45
C. Hubbard RB CAR
5
52
T. McMillan WR CAR
6
69
P. Mahomes QB KC
7
76
T. Bigsby RB JAC
8
93
S. Diggs WR NE
9
100
E. Egbuka WR TB
10
117
T. Kraft TE GB
11
124
K. Coleman WR BUF
12
141
K. Pitts TE ATL
13
148
W. Marks RB HOU
Jamey Eisenberg
Rd
Pk
Player
1
5
J. Gibbs RB DET
2
20
T. Hill WR MIA
3
29
D. Adams WR LAR
4
44
M. Harrison Jr. WR ARI
5
53
R. Harvey RB DEN
6
68
D. Smith WR PHI
7
77
D. Njoku TE CLE
8
92
J. Mason RB MIN
9
101
R. Stevenson RB NE
10
116
J. Blue RB DAL
11
125
D. Maye QB NE
12
140
J. Croskey-Merritt RB WAS
13
149
D. Douglas WR NE
Rhett Bates
Rd
Pk
Player
1
6
C. McCaffrey RB SF
2
19
D. London WR ATL
3
30
J. Smith-Njigba WR SEA
4
43
D. Moore WR CHI
5
54
T. Pollard RB TEN
6
67
I. Pacheco RB KC
7
78
Z. Flowers WR BAL
8
91
D. Prescott QB DAL
9
102
Q. Judkins RB CLE
10
115
E. Engram TE DEN
11
126
C. Tillman WR CLE
12
139
A. Richardson QB IND
13
150
W. Robinson WR NYG
Logan Kelley
Rd
Pk
Player
1
7
D. Achane RB MIA
2
18
A. Brown WR PHI
3
31
K. Walker III RB SEA
4
42
J. Hurts QB PHI
5
55
T. Hunter WR JAC
6
66
J. Jeudy WR CLE
7
79
R. Pearsall WR SF
8
90
J. Dobbins RB DEN
9
103
T. Warren TE IND
10
114
L. Burden III WR CHI
11
127
T. Allgeier RB ATL
12
138
M. Pittman WR IND
13
151
J. Higgins WR HOU
Vincent Giovannoni
Rd
Pk
Player
1
8
J. Jefferson WR MIN
2
17
B. Bowers TE LV
3
32
B. Hall RB NYJ
4
41
G. Wilson WR NYJ
5
56
J. Williams WR DET
6
65
K. Johnson RB PIT
7
80
C. Godwin WR TB
8
89
T. Etienne RB JAC
9
104
D. Mooney WR ATL
10
113
R. Davis RB BUF
11
128
T. Benson RB ARI
12
137
C. Williams QB CHI
13
152
J. Goff QB DET
Mike Renta
Rd
Pk
Player
1
9
P. Nacua WR LAR
2
16
J. Jacobs RB GB
3
33
J. Allen QB BUF
4
40
M. Evans WR TB
5
57
A. Jones RB MIN
6
64
B. Robinson Jr. RB WAS
7
81
J. Meyers WR LV
8
88
J. Williams RB DAL
9
105
J. Jennings WR SF
10
112
J. Ford RB CLE
11
129
M. Andrews TE BAL
12
136
K. Hunt RB KC
13
153
T. Harris WR LAC
Adam Aizer
Rd
Pk
Player
1
10
A. Jeanty RB LV
2
15
A. St. Brown WR DET
3
34
O. Hampton RB LAC
4
39
J. Burrow QB CIN
5
58
X. Worthy WR KC
6
63
J. Mixon RB HOU
7
82
C. Olave WR NO
8
87
T. Tracy Jr. RB NYG
9
106
J. Downs WR IND
10
111
T. Spears RB TEN
11
130
C. Loveland TE CHI
12
135
C. Kirk WR HOU
13
154
D. Goedert TE PHI
Todd Rones
Rd
Pk
Player
1
11
M. Nabers WR NYG
2
14
B. Thomas Jr. WR JAC
3
35
G. Kittle TE SF
4
38
A. Kamara RB NO
5
59
C. Ridley WR TEN
6
62
D. Montgomery RB DET
7
83
J. Addison WR MIN
8
86
J. Warren RB PIT
9
107
J. Fields QB NYJ
10
110
J. Reed WR GB
11
131
B. Purdy QB SF
12
134
J. Wright RB MIA
13
155
R. Mostert RB LV
Dan Gray
Rd
Pk
Player
1
12
D. Henry RB BAL
2
13
N. Collins WR HOU
3
36
J. Cook RB BUF
4
37
J. Daniels QB WAS
5
60
G. Pickens WR DAL
6
61
R. Rice WR KC
7
84
R. Odunze WR CHI
8
85
T. Hockenson TE MIN
9
108
I. Guerendo RB SF
10
109
K. Shakir WR BUF
11
132
B. Aiyuk WR SF
12
133
D. Kincaid TE BUF
13
156
J. Bech WR LV