Fantasy Football: How to Draft From the 3rd Pick

The 2024 NFL season is less than a month away, meaning this is peak fantasy football draft season. While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to drafting a fantasy football team, your strategy can differ greatly based on which pick you have.

Though the No. 3 pick isn't as glamorous as drafting from the first or second spots, it still offers a realistic shot at the highest-scoring player in fantasy. You're at the mercy of your leaguemates to an extent, but there's no shortage of upside at the 1.03.

From there, things get muddier. You won't know who's available with the rest of your picks until draft day, but FantasyPros' consensus average draft position (ADP) data can help us build a rough outline of who to target and when.

Mock drafts can help with that, too, so I partook in one using the third pick strategy detailed below. The round-by-round results from that mock are below each round analysis.

Let's break down how to draft from the 3rd pick in 2024 fantasy football drafts.

Fantasy Football 3rd Pick Strategy

Round 1 and Round 2

The No. 3 overall pick is both incredibly easy, and incredibly difficult.

It's easy because you'll have your pick of at least one of the top three running backs -- Christian McCaffrey (ADP 1.0), Bijan Robinson (ADP 5.3), and Breece Hall (ADP 5.7) -- or top two receivers -- CeeDee Lamb (ADP 2.0) and Tyreek Hill (ADP 3.0). Based on our NFL projections, those five represent a clear Tier 1 among flex players (RB/WR/TE).

CMC is ahead of the pack, but those other four are all projected to average between 16.8 and 17.2 half-PPR fantasy points per game. The next-closest player is projected for 15.6.

Who go with between those five is really up to your roster construction preference. I'd happily scoop either Robinson or Hall and opt for a Hero-RB build, especially given the depth at WR in the middle rounds.

But, it'd be hard to pass up on either Lamb or Hill, the latter of which has an ADP of 3.0. There's something to be said about locking up a bonafide WR1 -- and that's what Hill is. He's finished as a top-12 receiver in six of the last seven years.

Mock: WR Tyreek Hill (1.03)

You'll have to watch 17 players go off the board for your next pick in Round 2.

What you do at the 2.10 depends on what you did at the 1.03.

If you went with a wide receiver in Round 1, you certainly could grab your first running back in the second. Travis Etienne (ADP 18.0), Derrick Henry (ADP 20.0), De'Von Achane (ADP 23.0), and Isiah Pacheco (ADP 23.7) are all capable RB1s for a team with a top five receiver.

But, you could also embark on a zero-RB strategy and double-up at the position. Going WR-WR is a viable strategy, and you almost certainly want to grab a wideout if you started with a running back in Round 1.

Marvin Harrison Jr. (ADP 17.0) and Davante Adams (ADP 17.7) could fall here though you'll have a better shot at Drake London (ADP 23.0), or Chris Olave (23.7).

I typically don't like to be the one who starts the bidding at quarterback or tight end, but Josh Allen (ADP 21.7) is certainly an option if you want a premium at the position. He's still the top quarterback in fantasy football.

Mock: RB De'Von Achane (2.10)

Round 3 and Round 4

If you're following this guide, you'll stroll into Round 3 with either two wide receivers, or a wide receiver and a running back, but the third round is where things start to really open up.

Much of what you do in the third depends on how Round 2 went. If you secured a running back in either of the first two rounds and backs flew off the board in the second, this is a great spot to grab a second receiver.

If any of the names we suggested for Round 2 fall, they're smash picks. Otherwise, Deebo Samuel (ADP 28.3), Nico Collins (ADP 29.7), Mike Evans (ADP 30.7), or Brandon Aiyuk (ADP 31.3) are all fine WR2s for your squad. Deebo and Aiyuk, in particular, have favorable early-season schedules that could sway your decision in this tight-knit group.

Likewise, if any of those running backs fell from Round 2, they'd be tremendous values here. Josh Jacobs (ADP 25.0) and Rachaad White (ADP 34.3) are also solid options if you went WR-WR in the first two rounds.

This is another spot to consider Josh Allen, and it may be your last chance to get an elite quarterback. Jalen Hurts (ADP 32.2), Patrick Mahomes (ADP 32.7), and Lamar Jackson (ADP 37.7) will, according to ADP, likely be gone before your Round 4 pick (No. 46).

We could look at either Sam LaPorta (ADP 26.0) or Travis Kelce (ADP 27.0), but it's hard for me to justify passing on any of those running backs and wide receivers with other strong tight end options available later on.

Mock: RB Isiah Pacheco (3.03)

From my early mocks, Round 4 has been pretty straightforward.

If any of the top four quarterbacks fall, they're easy selections. That's especially true in Zero or Hero-RB builds -- where you need elite players at quarterback and tight end. Anthony Richardson (ADP 49.3) should be here, too, and he's a potential league-winning quarterback thanks to his rushing.

Otherwise, Round 4 is a prime spot to add to your wide receiver room. I'm thrilled to grab either DeVonta Smith (ADP 47.7) or Malik Nabers (ADP 53.0) here, but guys like Cooper Kupp (ADP 38.0), D.J. Moore (ADP 39.3), and D.K. Metcalf (ADP 39.3) would be hard to pass up if they fell.

This isn't somewhere I'm looking to target running backs unless a real value appeared. But, if you're so inclined, Kenneth Walker III (ADP 46.3) or Alvin Kamara (ADP 46.7) should be available.

Mock: WR D.K. Metcalf (4.10)

Round 5 and Round 6

Round 5 is similar to Round 4. If any of those aforementioned wide receivers are on the board, take them. If they're all gone and you still want a pass-catcher, Amari Cooper (ADP 54.7), Tee Higgins (ADP 57.7), George Pickens (58.7), and Zay Flowers (ADP 59.0) all have top-20 upside at the position.

Again, this isn't somewhere I'm really targeting running back. If you only have one thus far, any of Aaron Jones (ADP 55.7), James Conner (ADP 58.7), Rhamondre Stevenson (ADP 59.7), or David Montgomery (ADP 61.3) are serviceable RB2s -- though their upside is worth questioning.

Instead -- if you're O.K. being light on running backs -- I love grabbing an elite tight end here. Mark Andrews (ADP 47.7), Trey McBride (ADP 47.3), and Dalton Kincaid (ADP 51.7) all have massive upside, and they're pass-catchers you could potentially stack alongside their quarterback.

Mock: TE Trey McBride (5.03)

The sixth round is where you should probably start looking to fill some roster holes.

If you don't have a quarterback yet, Kyler Murray (ADP 67.0) would be a home run this late. Dak Prescott (ADP 69.7) and Jordan Love (ADP 72.7) aren't bad options either, but there are plenty of high-floor pocket passers later.

I'm interested in diving back into the running back market with names like Zamir White (ADP 68.3), Najee Harris (ADP 69.0), and Raheem Mostert (ADP 73.7) potentially still available.

If you didn't grab a top tight end and neither of George Kittle (ADP 61.3) or Kyle Pitts (ADP 61.7) are on the board, I'm fine grabbing Evan Engram (ADP 71.0). But, you can also just punt this position and address is later.

When in doubt, it's never a bad idea to bolster your receiver room. Tank Dell (ADP 65.0) and Keenan Allen (ADP 69.0) are upside targets, but Terry McLaurin (ADP 72.0), Christian Kirk (ADP 72.3), and Chris Godwin (ADP 76.7) should all have sound floors. Notably Godwin is among the top wide receivers who should score more in 2024.

Mock: QB Kyler Murray (6.10)

Takeaways

• The third pick is one of my favorite draft slots this year because you're guaranteed a top-three player at either running back or wide receiver.
• Don't be afraid to grab a running back in the first round even it that means passing on an elite wide receiver. Either way, don't sweat your first pick too much. It's hard to go wrong given the depth at the top.
• Be careful ignoring running back in the first three rounds. Rounds 4 and 5 offer plenty of high-upside wide receiver targets. I'd be hard-pressed to leave that turn without at least one pass-catcher. The running backs in that range are less inspiring.
• Pay close attention to those with the first and second picks' rosters. They'll both pick twice in between the rest of your selections in a snake draft, and you can use that to your advantage. For example, if you're interested in a quarterback with one of your even-round picks, see if those two already have one. If they do, you're free to grab value elsewhere before drafting that QB five picks later. By that same logic, if neither has a quarterback and the position is drying up, know that they'll have two cracks at one before your next pick.
• If you ignored quarterback and/or tight end early, lean into it. After the top seven or eight, there's a pretty sizable tier of good-not-great options you can wait to snag. Don't be in a rush to grab someone from the top of that tier. You want to be drafting players at the bottom of tiers.

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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.