RADIO
Sean's NASCAR DFS picks for DraftKings, FanDuel for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway (2025). His top NASCAR daily fantasy lineup plays and DFS sleepers.
The whole 2025 season has led to this point, the final race of the year. It is time for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race taking place at Phoenix Raceway. The 1-mile flat dogleg oval track is known for its wide width and crazy restarts, where drivers can ride in up to six different lanes to make passes. It will be here that the champion at NASCAR's top level of competition will be crowned for the year after 35 prior races.
Four drivers will enter this race and fight it out for the title. Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson, and William Byron are the four drivers who advanced through every round of the playoffs to make it to Phoenix. Whoever finishes in the highest position of the four will become the 2025 Cup Series champion. All eyes will be on these four drivers to be the most competitive of the entire field, as their teams will be sure to give them their best equipment to ensure that they can beat out the competition. Keep that point in mind in terms of lineup strategy heading into the final DFS slate for NASCAR in 2025.
Below are my NASCAR DFS lineup picks for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship on DraftKings and FanDuel this week. This slate locks on 11/2/2025 at 3:00 p.m. EST. If you have further questions or want to discuss racing, you can find me on X at @SeanE247.
Holiday Special! Save 50% on any Premium Pass using discount code THANKS. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! GAIN ACCESS
DFS Lineup Picks - DraftKings, FanDuel
Once you've read this article, be sure also to check out all of our other weekly NASCAR DFS articles to help you set your optimal DFS lineups. You should also check out our NASCAR DFS lineup tools for the ultimate combination of DFS resources to help you win big, including our Lineup Optimizer, DFS Cheat Sheet, Research Station, and more.
Disclaimer: All the drivers presented as picks for this week's race are meant to be some of my top DFS recommendations of the week. They are not originally intended to fit all into one lineup.
Denny Hamlin
Starts 1st - DK: $12K, FD: $14K
One of the biggest storylines regarding the four championship drivers is addressing a question that has been asked a couple of times before: Is this finally Hamlin's year? The driver of the No. 11 Toyota is fighting it out for the championship in the final race of the season for the fifth time in the knockout playoff format that has existed since 2014. Hamlin still has not won a title, but he's been close on multiple occasions, and this year, nobody has won more races than him (six).
Denny Hamlin said he won't let past disappointments -- of recent weeks or past Champ 4 appearances -- impact his approach or attitude toward this weekend. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/lxLFP1elkt
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 31, 2025
Phoenix happens to be a great track for Hamlin throughout his career. In 40 Cup starts at the site, Hamlin has two wins, 23 top-10 finishes, and leads all active drivers with an average finish of 10.6. Hamlin finished 11th or better in each of the last four Phoenix races, including a runner-up finish in the March race at the Arizona track earlier in the year.
In practice for this week's race, Hamlin ranked 26th in overall lap averages while ranking as high as fourth in 25 consecutive lap averages. Starting in the front is a big advantage at Phoenix, as racing with no cars ahead provides a boost to handling and speed. This makes Hamlin an appealing driver for DFS and makes him a favorite to win it all, especially with Phoenix being a historically great track for the driver of the No. 11 car.
William Byron
Starts 2nd - DK: $11K, FD: $13.5K
The champion of the regular season, Byron, made his way into this year's championship race thanks to a clutch win last week at Martinsville. The No. 24 Chevrolet driver now has three wins this season and will be a factor for the title, especially as he's displayed plenty of speed over the playoffs.
At Phoenix, Byron has one win, nine top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 10.8 through 15 starts in his Cup career. Byron has proven to be a consistent threat for top finishes in recent years at Phoenix, as he placed sixth or better in five of the last six Cup events at the site.
VIDEO: Championship 4 and pole winner Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson and William Byron press conference from Phoenix Raceway.
🎥 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/QDEHsczNw7
— Speedway Digest (@speedwaydigest) November 2, 2025
In practice for Sunday's championship race, Byron ranked 16th in overall lap averages but displayed top-5 speeds in almost all other categories, including first in 30 consecutive lap averages. Byron has been one of the faster drivers on the shorter ovals and is a great DFS option with the potential to lead laps and compete for the win based on history and equipment.
Christopher Bell
Starts 20th - DK: $10.2K, FD: $11.5K
Since 2014, there has only been one time that a driver who was not in contention for the title won the last race of the season. That was Ross Chastain back in 2023 when he finished ahead of Ryan Blaney. The chance for a championship spoiler to steal a win from the title contenders is possible for this week's race as well, with Christopher Bell being one of the first names to consider as one.
ANOTHER PHOTO FINISH AT PHOENIX!
Christopher Bell holds off Denny Hamlin and beats him to the finish line to get his third win in a row! pic.twitter.com/gyrSibKFSk
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) March 9, 2025
In 11 Cup starts at Phoenix, Bell has two wins, seven top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 13.1. The No. 20 Toyota driver won two of the last three Phoenix races, including earlier in the season. He also led over 100 laps in the last two Phoenix Cup events.
In practice for this week's race at Phoenix, Bell ranked fourth in overall lap averages, fifth in 10 consecutive lap averages, and sixth in 15 consecutive lap averages. With highly favorable history and solid upside from his starting position, Bell should be considered for all DFS formats this week.
Did you know RotoBaller has a Premium DFS NASCAR subscription? Like what you read today? You can show your support for Sean -- save 30% with code NEW when purchasing any NASCAR Premium Pass. Gain exclusive access to all of our expert Premium NASCAR articles, DFS tools, and Lineup Optimizer! Be sure to check out screenshots of NASCAR DFS winners and testimonials from RotoBaller readers and writers who have been winning using RotoBaller's Premium NASCAR tools.
Great day today thanks for some extra help from @RotoBaller @FanRacingOnline @JoeNicely pic.twitter.com/mAIMTaEYWc
— brent buckner (@tenndolly2) August 7, 2023
Chris Buescher
Starts 9th - DK: $8K, FD: $9K
RFK Racing's Chris Buescher has been a very proficient driver through the 2025 season. In the previous 35 races this year, Buescher has 16 top-10 finishes with an average finish of 14.4. He also ranks as the top driver that failed to make the playoffs this year, sitting 17th in the driver standings.
This week's track is a solid one for Buescher. In 19 races at Phoenix, Buescher has 12 top-20 finishes, with five inside the top 10, and an average finish of 18.5. More impressively, Buescher is currently carrying a top-10 streak of four straight finishes at the Arizona track heading into this week's race, and has gained positive Place Differential in the last five Cup events there.
In practice for this week's Cup race, Buescher ranked 14th in overall lap averages while ranking seventh in 20 consecutive lap averages. Although Buescher will not have as much upside as other drivers this week, Phoenix is a track where he can maintain a top-10 finish based on his equipment and recent track history.
Ryan Preece
Starts 21st - DK: $7K, FD: $6.5K
Ryan Preece has been one of the top fantasy performers of the 2025 season, and fantasy players should expect another adequate performance from him this week. After 35 races this season, Preece has 26 top-20 finishes, with 13 inside the top 10, and he has an average finish of 15.9.
VIDEO: Ryan Preece pre-race press conference from Phoenix Raceway
🎥 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/uWmwI1wCo2
— Speedway Digest (@speedwaydigest) November 1, 2025
In 12 starts in his Cup career at Phoenix, Preece has five top-20 finishes with an average finish of 24.7. In his only five Phoenix races since NASCAR adopted the Next-Gen car in 2022, Preece has three top-15 finishes and earned positive PD three times.
In practice for Sunday's Cup race, Preece ranked 27th in overall lap averages, but also ranked 18th in 10 consecutive lap averages, and 11th in 15 consecutive lap averages. Preece is another driver who should not be underestimated for DFS this week, due to his upside, recent Phoenix stats, and practice speeds.
Daniel Suarez
Starts 14th - DK: $6.2K, FD: $6K
This week will mark the final race for Daniel Suarez to drive the No. 99 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing. Suarez was with the team since the team was formed in 2021, but will move on to join Spire Motorsports and replace Justin Haley in the No. 7 Chevrolet for 2026.
In 17 Cup starts at Phoenix, Suarez has eight top-20 finishes with an average finish of 18.4. Suarez also placed in the top 15 in three of the last four Cup events at the site, and he scored positive PD in six of the last seven.
In practice for Sunday's race, Suarez ranked 34th in overall lap averages, but also displayed top-15 speeds in the 10 and 20 consecutive lap average categories. With Phoenix being an adequate track for Suarez despite his low upside, he is worth rostering for DFS in this week's race.
More Fantasy NASCAR Analysis
The Keys to Weekly NASCAR Success
NASCAR is back, and it's time for you to win more with RotoBaller! Our NASCAR Premium Package for DFS and betting features several heavy hitters and proven winners.
Jordan McAbee anchors the team with his exclusive NASCAR DFS and betting picks, DFS projections and algorithm-predicted finishing order! Jordan had a 60+ unit betting profit in 2024 NASCAR, and a 25% average annual profit since 2018. He won the FSWA Racing Writer Of The Year award in 2023, and has been nominated for DFS Writer Of The Year in 2024.
Five-time NASCAR Racing Writer of the Year finalist and fantasy industry legend Scott "The King" Engel is also in the crew, bringing you his weekly strategies and lineup picks. Set your winning DFS lineups with our award-winning team. He has been nominated once again in 2024 for this award.
