A CPP (Current Perpendicular to Plane) MR (Magnetoresistive) read head and its method of fabrication includes a patterned CPP MR sensor stack having a SAF (Synthetic Antiferromagnetic) free layer structure that is longitudinally biased by the combination of an exchange biasing layer formed over the sensor stack and hard biasing layers that are formed adjacent to the patterned sides of the stack. The combination provides the stack with high resolution reading capabilities without the necessity for a narrow read gap formed by closely spaced top and bottom shields. Sixteen embodiments are described that provide different versions of the exchange biasing layer, different positions of the hard biasing layers and different patternings of the CPP MR sensor stack.