Fantasy Golf on DraftKings - CareerBuilder Challenge

Lock of the week:

Jon Rahm – $11,800 – The birdie loving Spaniard is the class of this field and there is no debate. We usually don’t play the highest priced player in the field. However, given the structure of this event (everyone playing at least 54 holes), the value players we can pair up to make up for Rahm’s price, and his immense talent, he is unavoidable. Rahm also has an edge every week on the PGA Tour because his caddie (Adam Hayes) has over 17 years of experience on tour. A guy like Adam on the bag gains strokes every week for a young talent like Jon. In all DFS formats this week, you will have to roster players that score at a high rate as this tournament typically sees winners better than 20 under. Plus, the cut occurring after Rd 3 will mean birdies and eagles are even more valuable to take down a contest. Enter Jon Rahm. Don’t get cute. Play him in cash and GPPs.

Value Plays:

Webb Simpson $9,700 – The flatstick curse is over! As one of the most consistent ball strikers and chippers on the PGA Tour, Webb only lacked putting in terms of getting him back to the Major-winning ways he saw prior to the anchor putting ban. His caddie and coach, Paul Tesori, made the switch away from the anchored putter one year earlier than necessary. Hard work is paying off as Webb is now putting like he did pre-ban. He racked up 22 birdies and an eagle last week at the Sony Open on his way to a T4 finish. In terms of key stats this week, Webb checks the box in P5 scoring, SG: Around the Green and SG: Approach. He’s also gained 24 strokes on the field at the CareerBuilder in the last five years. Same as Rahm. Don’t get cute. Play him in everything.

Embed from Getty Images

Charles Howell $8,000 – Our fellow Augusta native, “Chucky Three Sticks”, has secured his grandkids future by raking on the west coast swing! The tracks that host the CareerBuilder have played a large part in that as he’s gained over 32 strokes on the field at this event in the last five years. He’s in solid form. He’s virtually a lock to play all four rounds. His price is way too cheap compared to Vegas odds. Howell simply just checks all the boxes for this week. Howell, Webb and Rahm are three guys we love in GPPs and cash games on DraftKings. They’re all going to be popular, but we don’t care. We will differentiate our lineups from the field in the $7K and $6K range.

Ryan Blaum $7,300 – Experience does matter here according to our secret PGA Tour caddie insight. Blaum was one of the few first timers last year that finished in the top 25 at this event. He had a tremendous tournament at the Sony Open last week with all four rounds in the 60s, “18Birdies” and an eagle. He was the 5th best scrambler in the field last week, and scrambling is going to be important to playing well here. Blaum will give you some ownership leverage as he’s likely to fly under the radar below the 5% mark across most contests on DraftKings.

Best bargain basement option:

Embed from Getty Images

Aaron Wise $6,800 – Wise grew up 90 miles from the courses he will be playing on this week. He grew up playing two of the three courses in junior golf. He played on a sponsor’s exemption here last year and finished T34 despite the star-struck factor of a PGA Tour event. He missed the cut last week at the Sony due to a poor round on Friday. But, he didn’t have any big numbers. Nothing worse than a bogey. The courses here are more familiar to him and suit his game, better allowing him to take advantage of his length. Wise can move it off the tee and should eat these par 5’s for breakfast. After the missed cut last week, his ownership will be sub 5% for sure. He’s seen success at every level of his golf career and a top 10 is an absolute possibility this week.

Player to Avoid:

Bill Haas $8,600 – “What Tour Junkies…?! How do you avoid Haas when he’s gained 40 strokes on the field at this event in the last 5 years?” Well, it’s because those strokes were gained on the front end of that five-year term and Haas has shown none of that ability recently. Haas is the epitome of a plodder. It’s as if he’s developed an allergy in the last couple of years to birdies and eagles. His price is inflated on DraftKings purely due to his course history. Coming off of two missed cuts in his last two events in addition to the lack of scoring ability is all the proof you need to avoid the $8,600 spend on Haas.

The 18Birdies app is now available for iPhone and Android devices. Click here for your free download. For more information and content, log onto 18Birdies.com.