Fantasy baseball analysts read each others' content (whether they like to admit it or not), and yours truly is no exception. It's good to see other experts' perspectives whether I agree with them or not. In the case of my industry colleagues' widespread notion that third base is suffering from an unprecedented level of positional scarcity in 2023, I simply disagree. Third base has plenty of top-tier talent, not to mention a boatload of sleepers and breakout candidates. Let's touch on the highlights in our fantasy 3B rankings and projected dollar values.
Jose Ramirez, a perennial MVP candidate in fantasy and real life, can be drafted as high as No. 1 and should be taken no later than No. 4. He's an absolute stud and can do it all. Rafael Devers, Manny Machado, and Bobby Witt Jr. all make fine second-round selections, and both Austin Riley and Nolan Arenado would be steals in the third.
But that's where the rest of the fantasy experts — and early ADP data — tell you the talent drop-off takes place. After Arenado's ADP of 27, drafts go an average of 36 selections before Alex Bregman gets taken at 63. Then Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson goes at 83, and then another long absence of third sackers until Max Muncy at 132.
2023 FANTASY RANKINGS & DOLLAR VALUES:
Cs | 1Bs | 2Bs | SSs | OFs | SPs | RPs | Top 300
Call us optimists, but we see plenty of breakout potential in this third base crop and an unfathomable amount of value picks at these ADPs. Henderson, a batted-ball data darling, collected four long balls and 18 RBIs in 34 games last season. Muncy, while not a great hitter for average, has three 35-plus homer seasons in the past five years. Alex Bregman has underrated power within a stacked lineup, and Matt Chapman has quietly hit 27 dingers in each of the past two seasons.
2023 FANTASY SLEEPERS & VALUES:
Cs | 1Bs | 2Bs | 3Bs | SSs | OFs | SPs | RPs
We like Minnesota's Jorge Polanco to bounce back after an injury-plagued 2021 — he's just two years removed from 33 homers, 98 RBIs, and 11 steals. We're also big fans of Anthony Rendon and think he can lodge a massive bounce-back campaign now that he's finally healthy for the first time in four years. We like Ryan McMahon to return to a 25-30 homer season for the Rockies, especially with the pitch clock flustering opposing pitchers in the Mile High atmosphere.
We also have a handful of legitimate breakout candidates we think can potentially emerge as league-winners. The Diamondbacks' Josh Rojas could swipe 40 bags with a full season and the new pickoff rules. The Cardinals' Jordan Walker has been hitting the cover off the ball in the Grapefruit League this spring, as has the Mets' Brett Baty. The Rangers' Josh Jung also looks much more promising fantasy-wise than some of the older vets. This batch of young talent could have analysts singing a different tune about third base by summer.
Fantasy Baseball 3B Rankings 2023: Top players, sleepers at third base
Position eligibility based on Yahoo's default settings
| Rank | Player | Other Pos. Elig. |
| 1 | Jose Ramirez, Guardians | |
| 2 | Rafael Devers, Red Sox | |
| 3 | Manny Machado, Padres | |
| 4 | Bobby Witt Jr., Royals | SS |
| 5 | Austin Riley, Braves | |
| 6 | Nolan Arenado, Cardinals | |
| 7 | Gunnar Henderson, Orioles | SS |
| 8 | Max Muncy, Dodgers | 2B |
| 9 | Alex Bregman, Astros | |
| 10 | Matt Chapman, Blue Jays | |
| 11 | Ty France, Mariners | 1B |
| 12 | Jose Miranda, Twins | 1B |
| 13 | Eugenio Suarez, Mariners | |
| 14 | Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pirates | |
| 15 | Anthony Rendon, Angels | |
| 16 | Alec Bohm, Phillies | 1B |
| 17 | Ryan McMahon, Rockies | |
| 18 | Josh Rojas, Diamondbacks | 2B |
| 19 | Jordan Walker, Cardinals | |
| 20 | Justin Turner, Red Sox | |
| 21 | Brandon Drury, Angels | 1B, 2B |
| 22 | Josh Jung, Rangers | |
| 23 | Yandy Diaz, Rays | 1B |
| 24 | DJ LeMahieu, Yankees | 1B, 2B |
| 25 | Luis Urias, Brewers | 2B, SS |
| 26 | Yoan Moncada, White Sox | |
| 27 | Luis Rengifo, Angels | 2B, SS |
| 28 | Brett Baty, Mets | |
| 29 | Ha-Seong Kim, Padres | SS |
| 30 | Christopher Morel, Cubs | 2B, SS, OF |
| 31 | Jon Berti, Marlins | 2B, SS, OF |
| 32 | Eduardo Escobar, Mets | |
| 33 | Brendan Donovan, Cardinals | 1B, 2B, SS, OF |
| 34 | Jeimer Candelario, Nationals | |
| 35 | Isaac Paredes, Rays | 1B, 2B |
| 36 | Patrick Wisdom, Cubs | 1B, OF |
| 37 | Wilmer Flores, Giants | 1B, 2B |
| 38 | Gio Urshela, Angels | |
| 39 | Josh Donaldson, Yankees | |
| 40 | Joey Wendle, Marlins | 2B, SS |
Fantasy Baseball 3B Projected Dollar Values
Dollar values courtesy of Fantasy Pros and based on a 12-team mixed league with a $260 budget (70 percent allocated for hitting)
| Player | Dollar Value |
| Jose Ramirez (CLE - 3B,DH) | $45 |
| Manny Machado (SD - 3B) | $35 |
| Rafael Devers (BOS - 3B) | $35 |
| Bobby Witt Jr. (KC - 3B,SS) | $31 |
| Austin Riley (ATL - 3B) | $31 |
| Nolan Arenado (STL - 3B) | $23 |
| Alex Bregman (HOU - 3B) | $18 |
| Ty France (SEA - 1B,3B) | $11 |
| Ryan McMahon (COL - 2B,3B) | $9 |
| Matt Chapman (TOR - 3B) | $9 |
| Alec Bohm (PHI - 1B,3B) | $8 |
| Max Muncy (LAD - 2B,3B,DH) | $7 |
| Yandy Diaz (TB - 1B,3B) | $7 |
| Jose Miranda (MIN - 1B,3B,DH) | $6 |
| Gunnar Henderson (BAL - 3B,SS) | $6 |
| Eugenio Suarez (SEA - 3B) | $5 |
| Justin Turner (BOS - 3B,DH) | $5 |
| Ke'Bryan Hayes (PIT - 3B) | $5 |
| Brandon Drury (LAA - 1B,2B,3B,DH) | $3 |
| Josh Rojas (ARI - 2B,3B) | $3 |
| Luis Urias (MIL - 2B,3B,SS) | $2 |
| Jordan Walker (STL - 3B) | $2 |
| DJ LeMahieu (NYY - 1B,2B,3B) | $2 |
| Yoan Moncada (CWS - 3B) | $1 |
| Brendan Donovan (STL - 1B,2B,3B,SS,LF,RF) | $1 |
| Jeimer Candelario (WSH - 3B) | $1 |
| Ha-Seong Kim (SD - 3B,SS) | $1 |
All other players valued at $0
