Who Should I Draft with the 3rd Pick in Fantasy Football

You can’t win your league in the first round, but you can lose it with the wrong start. This article will take a look at the best player to take from the 3rd spot of your fantasy draft based on ADP and specific scoring settings.

Our Perfect Draft series covers multiple draft spots in various scoring formats and league sizes using Draft Hero software. Find your perfect draft today!

Standard League

Ja'Marr Chase, WR Bengals

There are plenty of great options for this pick, but it’s between Ja'Marr Chase and Puka Nacua for me. What breaks the tie between them here is Chase having a better nose for the end zone, which matters greatly in standard scoring, thus far in their careers. For his career, Chase has caught a touchdown on 7% of his targets and has had two seasons with at least 13 touchdowns. Nacua, on the other hand, has caught a touchdown on 4.4% of his targets and hit a career high of 10 touchdowns last season.

After going with a wide receiver in the first round, I would break ties to running backs over the next couple of picks. Workhorse running backs are in short supply in 2026, and I don’t want to fall too far behind at the position. However, don’t overdraft a running back just because of the position they play. You still need to let the draft come to you and draft the best available players. Find your spots to attack running backs.

Best Alternative Pick: Puka Nacua, WR Rams

Any PPR Scoring

Puka Nacua, WR Rams

Once we're getting points for receptions, I prefer Puka Nacua to Ja'Marr Chase by a little bit, as Nacua has slightly more projectable volume. While they’ve had similar volume each season, there are a couple of factors that make Nacua’s more stable. First, there is no one else on the Rams remotely close to Nacua’s level. In the Bengals, Tee Higgins is a high-end wide receiver himself, and Joe Burrow has no problem checking down. Second, part of the Bengals’ proclivity for a high pass rate has been due to their dreadful defense, and they’ve worked to upgrade it this offseason. The Rams have had a good to great defense during Nacua’s career, and it hasn’t mattered.

In non-standard scoring leagues, there’s less pressure to find a legit running back after selecting a wide receiver in round one. You still need to find points at the position, but with points per reception, you have more options throughout the draft. While I’d seldom advise entertaining a Zero RB draft strategy in standard, you can in Half or Full PPR.

Best Alternative Pick: Ja'Marr Chase, WR Bengals

TE-Premium

Puka Nacua, WR Rams

While Brock Bowers and Trey McBride are fantastic tight ends, they don’t quite come into consideration in normal 0.5 Tight End Premium leagues at this early of a pick. Even with a bonus, it’s tough for them to compete with the crème de la crème at running back and wide receiver. However, if the bonus is an extra point or more, Bowers would be my pick. He could easily have a similar reception total as Puka Nacua or Ja'Marr Chase, and that large of a bonus would more than make up for any difference in yards or touchdowns.

When drafting in the FFPC, where there is a Tight End Premium, you’ll need to find the right spot to draft a tight end. More than likely, both Brock Bowers and Trey McBride will be gone by the time you’re up for your second pick, but Colston Loveland won’t be. Loveland has a chance to join the elite tier with Bowers and McBride, and is a great pick at that cost. Your next best option for a tight end is Harold Fannin in the fifth round.

Best Alternate Pick: Ja'Marr Chase, WR Bengals

Superflex

Bijan Robinson, RB Falcons

In a lot of seasons, I’m a fan of locking up an elite quarterback in the first round of Superflex drafts, even with the first few picks, but this year is a little different. The combination of Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson being so clearly in a tier of their own among skill-position players, and how many good quarterbacks there are through the draft, makes me want one of the running backs. According to the 4for4 Multi-Site ADP, Gibbs goes before Bijan, so Bijan is who you’d normally get, but I’d take either. If both are gone, then you take Allen, who does separate himself enough from other quarterbacks to be worthy of this pick.

After passing on a quarterback in the first round of your Superflex league, finding ones you can feel good about at a good price will be paramount.

Best Alternate Pick: Josh Allen, QB Bills

Top Late Round Targets

My late-round targets will largely depend on where I spent my early draft capital. If early in the draft I’m more invested in a particular position, I’m less likely to need to use more draft picks on that position. When drafting from the 1.03, since I’m planning on drafting a wide receiver in the first round and potentially in the second as well, I know that I’m going to have to work harder to find points at running back. That means there’s a high chance that late in the draft I’ll be trying to find more.

Additionally, the type of running backs I’m looking for at the end of the draft will depend on who I drafted earlier. If I went with a Zero RB strategy, I may need to find more weekly floor at the position, and I’ll look for players like Dylan Sampson or Tyjae Spears. On the other hand, if I was able to find a couple of running backs I feel comfortable with to start, I’ll look for more upside with players like Tank Bigsby or Marshawn Lloyd.