Fantasy baseball draft season is approaching once again, and securing a standout third baseman for your team is always critical. Don’t worry: We’re here to help.

A position offering plenty of pop, third base is -- once again -- filled with talent. Let us guide you in figuring out whom to draft when the time comes.

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Tier 1: José Ramírez, Austin Riley, Rafael Devers

Ramírez’s blend of power and speed has made him a fixture at or near the top of these rankings for years, and 2024 is no exception. J-Ram turned in another stellar season in 2023, hitting .282 with 24 homers, 80 RBIs and 28 steals. The Guardians third baseman has stolen 20 or more bases in each of the previous five full seasons, and at 31 years old, he’s still a strong bet to deliver across the board.

Riley might not have Ramírez’s wheels, but he’s one of the premier sluggers in MLB at just 26 (Riley turns 27 on April 2.) Not only has Riley whacked 75 homers across the past two seasons, but he hits in the middle of a stacked Braves lineup that gives him RBI opportunities pretty much any time he steps to the plate.

Devers led all American League third basemen in RBIs with an even 100 last year, and the 27-year-old should remain an elite power hitter in 2024. Coming off a 33-homer campaign, Devers is typically a safe pick in the upper rounds of any fantasy draft, and there’s no reason to expect that to change this season.

Tier 2: Gunnar Henderson, Manny Machado, Royce Lewis

Few hitters possess the fantasy potential of Henderson. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year shook off a slow start to 2023, finishing his first full season with 28 homers and reaching double digits in steals as well. If Henderson can build on his rookie year and become a bit more of a threat on the bases, he could have a case for the top fantasy third baseman in the game.

Offseason elbow surgery is worth noting for Machado, but the veteran is expected to be ready for Opening Day. Although Machado’s .258 average was his lowest since 2019, he still socked 30 homers and drove in 91 runs for the Padres. In a San Diego lineup featuring Xander Bogaerts and Fernando Tatis Jr., Machado’s power will always make him a solid fantasy option at the hot corner.

After tearing his right ACL twice, Lewis certainly lived up to his top prospect billing with a tremendous 2023, hitting .309 with six steals, 15 home runs and 52 RBIs in only 58 games -- a 37-homer pace across 600 plate appearances. If Lewis can remain healthy all season, he has the chance to be an absolute fantasy star: Think 30-plus homers and 15 or more swipes at a relatively low draft cost.

Tier 3: Nolan Arenado, Alex Bregman, Josh Jung

Arenado’s numbers took a bit of a step back in 2023, but they were still solid stats for any third baseman. While his 26 homers were his fewest in a full season since 2014 with the Rockies, Arenado still hit .266 and drove in 93 runs for the last-place Cardinals. If he can top 30 homers and 100 RBIs again in 2024, he’ll be an elite option at third base as usual.

Like Arenado, Bregman has been around a while, but he’s still young and productive -- he turns 30 years old two days after Opening Day. Bregman slugged 25 homers and nearly reached the century mark in RBIs last season, and while he’s never been much of a stolen-base threat, he’s always a reliable fantasy pick.

Despite missing six weeks to a broken thumb, Jung proved himself to be a key piece of the Rangers’ World Series-winning lineup. This season, the rookie should surpass his 23 homers and 70 RBIs from 2023 and could be a steal of a mid-round selection if other fantasy managers overlook him.

Tier 4: Max Muncy, Jake Burger, Alec Bohm, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Isaac Paredes

Know who led all third basemen in RBIs in 2023? That’s right: Muncy, with 105. Add Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers’ stacked lineup, and the RBI opportunities will keep piling up for the veteran. Don’t rely on Muncy to help your fantasy squad’s batting average, certainly, but 30-plus homers and triple-digit RBIs will always play.

Speaking of power-hitting third basemen, Burger delivered a breakout year in 2023, hitting 25 homers for the White Sox and nine more after being traded to the Marlins. If Burger can continue to harness his power and can get anywhere close to the .303 average he posted in Miami, he’ll be a steal fantasy-wise.

Bohm has upped his power output with each of his four MLB seasons, topping out at 20 homers for the Phillies in 2023. He hasn’t neared the .338 batting average or the .881 OPS he posted as a rookie in a 44-game sample in 2020, but Bohm should deliver a solid average and could be good for 25 homers this season while batting behind the likes of Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper.

A National League Gold Glove winner at the hot corner, Hayes made strides offensively in 2023 with a 15-homer, 10-steal campaign in 124 games. If his promising Statcast numbers are any indication, further improvement could be on the way, and the 27-year-old could become a must-have fantasy third baseman.

Paredes was a diamond in the rough at third base in 2023, producing by far his best season as a member of the 99-win Rays. Whether the pull-happy hitter can repeat his 31-homer, 98-RBI campaign remains to be seen, but it’s worth taking a flier on Paredes in the middle or later rounds of a fantasy draft.