Fantasy Football: How to Draft From the 3rd Spot

So you've got the third pick in your fantasy football draft.

Congratulations! Or, if that means you had the third-worst record in your league last season...sorry.

Regardless of how you got here, you're here -- two picks away from being on the clock before the draft even begins.

There's no need to panic, though. We have you covered with an early guide to drafting from the third spot.

While not as certain as the first two spots, the third pick is still plenty valuable -- especially this season. With a pretty clear top three, your first-round pick should fall into your lap.

The rest of your draft?

Well, you'll have to work for it.

Here's what your first six rounds should look like from the No. 3 spot along with some general takeaways from the draft position.

Fantasy Football 3rd Pick Strategy

Round 1 and Round 2

There's an argument to be made that this season, the 3rd spot is the best place to be drafting.

In our How to Draft From the 1st Spot piece, we established that a Big Three of Justin Jefferson, Christian McCaffrey, and Ja'Marr Chase seems to have formed. The most recent average draft position (ADP) data from FantasyPros backs that up with Jefferson, McCaffrey, and Chase, in that order, going as the consensus top trio.

So, because we have the third pick, our first pick is pretty easy.

Just take whoever's left from that crop, and it's most likely Chase. Joe Burrow injury concerns aside, Chase is one of the safest bets in fantasy after finishing as the WR12 overall last season despite appearing in just 12 games.

If you're worried about Burrow missing an extended period of time, Austin Ekeler is certainly an option, but he's a major touchdown regression candidate and plays a much more volatile position.

You'll have to wait a while before your Round 2 pick rolls around. During that time, you'll likely watch your leaguemates wash the board clean of RB1s.

Don't sweat, though. At the 2.10 you're in a good spot to either double down on wide receiver or secure the last of the top-end running backs. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Garrett Wilson are the two receivers you should be all over if they fall. At running back key in on Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, or possibly even Jonathan Taylor. If you can't fathom going the first two rounds without a running back and those three are all off the board, Rhamondre Stevenson is a fine option -- even if the third spot is a prime position to punt the position early and worry about it later.

It can be tempting to get the quarterback train rolling if none of those receivers or backs are available, but keep in mind that there's a pretty clear top tier at signal-caller. Even if the teams between your second and third-round picks both take quarterbacks, one of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or Jalen Hurts will still be there in Round 3 -- provided no one before you jumped on them.

If none of those aforementioned receivers or backs are there, I'd be much more inclined to reach for Mark Andrews then a quarterback. The tight end position falls off pretty quickly, and Andrews is likely the only guy who can threaten Travis Kelce for the top spot.

In general with your even-round picks, be mindful of the draft board. You'll swing back around for your next selection just five picks later so keep an eye on who the first and second spots could be targeting and act accordingly.

More than anything, take the best player available regardless of position.

Mock Draft Picks: Ja'Marr Chase (1.03) & Garrett Wilson (2.10)

Round 3 and Round 4

Your Round 3 pick will come around shortly after, and this is likely your last chance to snag an elite player.

I would typically advise against using two of your first three picks on quarterback and tight end. So, if you went with Andrews in the second, just take your favorite running back or receiver on the board. There's a chance Stevenson could still be there at the 3.03, but Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, or Najee Harris are all fine options.

If you went with another receiver or running back in the second, don't be afraid to take your pick of the elite quarterbacks. None of the top three will likely make it back to you in the fourth.

The same logic with Andrews in Round 2 applies to Round 3. If you passed on him and he drops, that's a great value.

If you're playing in any sort of point-per-reception league, there is nothing wrong with starting off with three receivers, but if you got Chase at the 1.03, be wary of taking Tee Higgins. If Burrow is trending towards only missing a week or two, having both of his top receivers is fine, but you're putting yourself at risk of having two depreciated assets if Burrow misses an extended period of time.

In the fourth, the draft really starts to open up.

There's a good chance four quarterbacks are off the board at this point, so stacking Burrow with Chase can be really tempting if you passed on one of the elite guys in the third. In a 12-team (or shallower) league, I don't mind having to stash Burrow given the depth at quarterback, but keep an eye on who the teams between your picks have taken. If at least one of them took a quarterback already, you're probably safe to wait and take Burrow in the fifth.

Unless T.J. Hockenson falls, don't bother with tight end here. It's not a bad time to look at running back -- especially if you haven't taken one yet. Miles Sanders, Kenneth Walker III, and Cam Akers are all solid names.

It's never a bad idea to load up on pass catchers. There's a chance a big name like Amari Cooper or Keenan Allen falls, but D.J. Moore and DeAndre Hopkins are high-upside options that should be here.

Mock Draft Picks: Rhamondre Stevenson (3.03) & Joe Burrow (4.10)

Round 5 and Round 6

Rounds 5 and 6 are where the importance of tier-based drafting really shines. These middle rounds are all about value and swooping up the back end of tiers regardless of position.

At this point, you likely have at least three receivers/running backs and possibly one quarterback/tight end. If you passed on Burrow, Justin Herbert or Justin Fields are both solid options here. Just keep in mind that Round 6 is likely the last chance you'll get at getting a top-eight quarterback.

If you missed out on Andrews in Round 2 or 3 and George Kittle is still here in Round 5, that's decent value, but you may be better off holding off and loading up on receiver instead. Reliable wideouts dry up quicker than you think, and I almost always want three wide receivers in my first six picks.

Round 6 is looking like my go-to place for an RB2. There are a bunch of high-upside names I like in this range, namely Alvin Kamara, Javonte Williams, Isiah Pacheco, and James Cook. I'm fine to take any of those names as my RB2 provided I already have three receivers.

Don't feel like you have to have quarterback and tight end figured out after your first six picks. Take who comes to you in these middle rounds while your league mates scramble to fill all of their positions in order.

Mock Draft picks: De'Andre Hopkins (5.03) & James Cook (6.10)

Takeaways

Given the Big Three that's forming at the top of drafts, your Round 1 pick is easy; take whoever falls between Jefferson, McCaffrey, or Chase -- or Ekeler, I guess, for those of you who don't believe in touchdown regression. Piece of cake!

The rest of your draft...not so much.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• If your league hammers the running back position in between your Round 1 and 2 picks, don't be afraid to go WR in Round 2. That's a no-brainer if you took CMC or Ekeler in the first, but even if you started with Chase, a WR/WR start is incredibly safe.
• After your Round 1 pick, pay close attention to the rosters of the two teams drafting in between your picks. If you're smart about it, you can afford to wait on certain players depending on who you think those other two teams need -- especially with quarterback and tight end.
• Taking a quarterback or tight end in Round 2 or 3 is incredibly viable, but be flexible. If some top-end backs or receivers slip, there are plenty of quarterback sleepers and tight end sleepers available later. However, while it's perfectly fine to punt on a top guy at one of those positions, it's risky to do so for both.
• Regardless of draft position, play to win. The saying "if you ain't first, you're last" really manifests itself in fantasy football. Swing for upside and, when in doubt, take the best player available. Don't worry about building the perfect roster right off the bat. Draft talent and worry about fit later.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.