Welcome to the third installment of my 12-part mock draft series, where I’m drafting from every spot — 1 through 12 — in a standard 12-team Yahoo league to break down how draft strategies evolve based on pick position. As always, I used the Yahoo Fantasy Instant Mock Draft tool and drafted solo. The format is half-PPR, with the following roster construction: QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, TE, FLEX, K, D/ST, and six bench spots.
In this edition, I drafted from the No. 3 overall slot and entered with the intention of building off Scott Pianowski’s strategy that emphasizes targeting stars from six high-powered NFL offenses. After trying both a WR-heavy build (Pick 1.01) and an RB-centric strategy (Pick 1.02), I wanted to see what would happen if I balanced both early. I took some reaches, but remember, it’s part of the process of feeling out the board.
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Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Pick No. 3
Full Roster
QB: Dak Prescott (DAL)
RB: Chase Brown (CIN)
RB: Tony Pollard (TEN)
WR: Ja’Marr Chase (CIN)
WR: Ladd McConkey (LAC)
TE: Kyle Pitts Sr. (ATL)
FLEX: Kenneth Walker III (SEA)
K: Harrison Butker (KC)
D/ST: Baltimore Ravens
Bench: WR Tetairoa McMillan (CAR)
Bench: WR Zay Flowers (BAL)
Bench: RB Jordan Mason (MIN)
Bench: WR Cooper Kupp (SEA)
Bench: RB Tank Bigsby (JAX)
Bench: QB Anthony Richardson Sr. (IND)
Rounds 1–3: All-in on the Bengals
1.03 – Ja’Marr Chase (CIN – WR)
2.10 – Chase Brown (CIN – RB)
3.03 – Ladd McConkey (LAC – WR)
Roster assessment following Round 3
If Chase is available beyond the first pick, I’m taking him. Zero hesitation grabbing a high-volume WR tethered to Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense, one I wanted major exposure to, and I doubled down in Round 2 with Chase Brown. When Round 3 came around, Malik Nabers and Drake London were both on the board, but I pivoted to Ladd McConkey — also something I wouldn’t do in a real draft. Still, I’m sticking to the script and the Chargers are one of the six teams to target, per Scott Pianowski.
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Rounds 4–6: Build depth at RB
4.10 – Tony Pollard (TEN – RB)
5.03 – Kenneth Walker III (SEA – RB)
6.10 – Tetairoa McMillan (CAR – WR)
Roster assessment following Round 6
As positional runs on WR and TE started forming, I leaned into value and team fit by grabbing Tony Pollard in Round 4. I like volume and Pollard was ninth in the NFL in touches last season. My Kenneth Walker III exposure can’t be denied, as he’s been a staple of securing a deep backfield. Even with Zach Charbonnet behind him, Walker remains Seattle’s top option and explosive playmaker. To complement the RB stack, I took a risk on rookie Tet McMillan in Round 6 — a lesser-known commodity relative to other vets going in this range. He could become Bryce Young’s go-to target and could evolve into a WR2/3 with upside.
Rounds 7–10: Positional Balance and QB/TE Investment
7.03 – Zay Flowers (BAL – WR)
8.10 – Dak Prescott (DAL – QB)
9.03 – Kyle Pitts Sr. (ATL – TE)
10.10 – Jordan Mason (MIN – RB)
Roster assessment following Round 10
Surprise, I got Zay Flowers. With three solid RBs already locked in, I used the next two rounds to fill out my QB and TE spots.
Welcome, Dak. The Cowboys made Scott’s list, so getting Prescott at this spot is timely. I don’t mind getting him in the eighth round since he’s due for a bounce-back campaign. I’m lukewarm on Kyle Pitts Sr. However, Darnell Mooney is hurt and the early camp buzz is that Pitts and Michael Penix Jr. are vibing. I understand if he’s dead to you, but he’s talented and comes at an affordable price. Finally, I picked up one of my favorite backups in Jordan Mason.
Rounds 11–15: Value mixed with fliers
11.03 – Cooper Kupp (SEA – WR)
12.10 – Tank Bigsby (JAX – RB)
13.03 – Baltimore (BAL – DEF)
14.10 – Harrison Butker (KC – K)
15.03 – Anthony Richardson Sr. (IND – QB)
Roster assessment following Round 15
Even if Kupp is somewhat washed, the cost is cheap. Despite the injuries, Kupp still averaged 11 FPPG last year — not bad for a bench piece. Tank Bigsby gave me more RB insurance with touchdown potential and upside if Travis Etienne Jr. falls flat. Lastly, I grabbed Anthony Richardson Sr. in Round 15, a dual-threat quarterback who could explode if he stays healthy. Worst case, I drop him. Best case, he or Dak become tradeable assets to a squad struggling with stability at QB.
Key Takeaways
I was deliberate about building around six offenses — Bengals, Chargers, Titans, Cowboys, Cardinals and Dolphins. I drafted players from four of those teams, shaping this roster into one of my most balanced so far. I’ve noticed that at least six or seven RBs are continually getting drafted in the first round.
That RB scarcity can get real, so I’ve made a note to grab at least one in my first three picks. I waited on QB and I got in at the right time because eight QBs were selected across Round 8 and 9 (I got Dak at the end of the 8th round). One of these times, I’ll commit to a TE earlier because the pool beyond Round 8 is rough. That’s an area I need to work on going forward. My wideouts are ok, not great but more than manageable given my depth at other positions.
