2026 Draft-A-Thon mock recap: Rico Dowdle anchors a Zero-RB gamble loaded with Fantasy upside

Every year, CBS Sports hosts a Draft-A-Thon to benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It’s an amazing cause, and many people on our staff and in the Fantasy community go above and beyond to help raise money for children and families in need. This year, we set a goal to raise $200,000, and we’re almost there. Please continue to donate if you can — every dollar counts — and you can find all the information you need right here.

As part of our Draft-A-Thon, we held a 12-team, PPR league, featuring some of the best analysts in the industry. We also had Ken Townsel join us for this league, and Ken generously donated to St. Jude to compete against us.

We’re heading into a busy draft weekend, and this mock draft is a good blueprint to follow. Let’s see how Ken drafted his team from No. 2 overall, as well as my roster with a (gasp) Zero-RB approach from the No. 3 spot.

Ken took a Hero-RB approach with Bijan Robinson, Nico Collins, Malik Nabers, Luther Burden III and Tyler Warren as his first five picks. I outlined this strategy in my draft plan column, and Ken got off to a great start in this three-receiver league.

His second running back is Rhamondre Stevenson, who was drafted in Round 6, and Ken rounded out his backfield with Mike Washington Jr., Woody Marks and Zach Charbonnet. Ken added Wan’Dale Robinson, Keenan Allen and Pat Bryant as reserve receivers, and Ken got Joe Burrow at quarterback. Ken also drafted Mark Andrews as a No. 2 tight end.

This is an elite roster that should be tough to beat. But I like my squad as well, even with some questions at running back.

I anticipated starting WR-WR with the No. 3 pick. After selecting Ja’Marr Chase in Round 1, I drafted the next best receiver in Round 2, which was Chris Olave. In Round 3, I wasn’t planning to draft a running back, and I went with Trey McBride over DeVonta Smith, which is a tough call.

I felt better about passing on Smith when I got DJ Moore in Round 4. Now, I would have drafted D’Andre Swift or Breece Hall instead of Moore, but both running backs went right in front of me.

I decided to go Zero-RB in Round 5 when I drafted Lamar Jackson instead of Quinshon Judkins, Cam Skattebo, or David Montgomery. And, in Round 6, I passed on Rhamondre Stevenson for Chris Godwin, who will be my flex.

Barring an injury, no one in this league has my caliber of pass catchers, and Jackson could finish as the No. 1 overall quarterback. But my backfield will likely determine the fate of this team.

I went running back crazy from Rounds 7-12 with Rico Dowdle, Kenneth Gainwell, Rachaad White, Aaron Jones, MarShawn Lloyd and Kaelon Black. I also drafted Alvin Kamara with my last pick in Round 16.

Dowdle, if he’s the No. 1 running back in Pittsburgh, gives me one running back with top-20 potential. And I targeted Gainwell and White since I expect both to have at least 40 catches this season — if not more.

Since 2021, 44 running backs caught at least 50 passes, and 35 of them (79.5 percent) averaged at least 13 PPR points per game. Over that same span, 80 running backs caught at least 40 passes, and 62 of them (77.5 percent) averaged at least 11 PPR points per game.

Jones could still be the best running back for the Vikings, and Lloyd and Black (assuming he beats out Jordan James) are high-end handcuffs. Kamara, who is dealing with a knee injury, could also be a prominent factor in the Saints’ backfield.

We’ll see if this strategy works, but I wanted to try it. And I’ll be aggressive on the waiver wire to find running backs, if needed, during the season.

As a reference point for this 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, 3 WR, TE, FLEX (RB/WR/TE), DST and K with six reserves for a 16-round draft.

Our draft order is as follows:

1. Jake Ciely, The Athletic
2. Ken Townsel, St. Jude donor
3. Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer
4. Scott Fish, Fantasy Cares
5. Adam Aizer, FFT Podcast Host
6. Dave Richard, Senior Fantasy Writer
7. Joe Pisapia, Fandom NFL
8. Alfredo Brown, Reception Perception
9. Joey Wright, Footballguys
10. Eric Young, Professional Wrestler
11. Heath Cummings, Senior Fantasy Writer
12. Nando Di Fino, The 7 Oracles