March 17, 2026
Akshay Bhatia added to his impressive start to 2026 with a T13 finish at THE PLAYERS, marking his fifth straight finish of T16 or better this season. He now looks to keep the ball rolling at the Valspar Championship, where he has competed three times, recording a T17 finish here in 2024 along with two missed cuts in prior years. Success at Innisbrook requires precise iron play, and those in contention are often separated by elite putting. Bhatia ranks fifth in total strokes gained (+1.646 per round), ninth on approach (+0.792), and 10th in putting (+0.730). He also sits in the 87th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that accounted for 41.2% of all approach shots here last year. Bhatia is in excellent form and showed no signs of slowing down after his victory at the API two weeks ago. He is a very solid play, even at his higher-than-usual price of $10,000 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 16, 2026
Patrick Cantlay finished tied for 32nd at last week's PLAYERS Championship and will now prepare for this week's Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Florida. Cantlay has had mixed results so far this season, missing the cut twice in six starts. However, he also has two top-15 finishes. Cantlay is playing in the Valspar Championship for the first time since 2017, when he finished second. Over the past 12 months, Cantlay ranks in the 97th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because over 41% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's Valspar Championship.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 16, 2026
Keegan Bradley finished tied for 50th at last week's PLAYERS Championship, and that was followed by a missed cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago. Bradley gained strokes for only the second time in 2026 last week and has lost strokes on approach in four of his six starts. Bradley has had inconsistent performances to start the year and has missed the cut in three of his six starts. Over the past 12 months, Bradley ranks in the 41st percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because, last year at the Valspar Championship, over 41% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 16, 2026
Matt McCarty would like to toss last week away. The American golfer missed the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship after a 75-72 opening. He did play much better golf on Friday but some putts just did not fall. McCarty did gain 0.85 strokes to putting but it was not enough. Around the green was more of an issue as he lost 0.79 strokes. Sand scrambling has been an issue at 48.89% (113th). Greens in regulation have been worst at 65.08% (130th). The key for McCarty is avoiding bunkers and getting on greens easier. His putts per round rank 21st at 28. His worst rounds are on Fridays at 28.5. Getting his irons and woods closer could make McCarty a sneaky DFS choice because of his putting ability this week.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 16, 2026
Michael Kim heads into the Valspar Championship trying to erase that 81 from last Friday. The American golfer has made four of seven cuts in 2026 and has one Top 25 result (WM Phoenix Open). Kim has played a mix of PGA and European Tour events. His last Top 10 in the United States came last August at the BMW Championship. Last week at THE PLAYERS Championship, Kim could not get on the greens. He lost 2.57 strokes to approach. That was his worst effort in almost seven years (Houston Open - 2019). Kim could be an intriguing Top 40 wager in a less than world best field.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 16, 2026
Max Homa is making cuts and enjoying golf again. The American golfer has only missed one cut in six events this 2026 season. He only has one Top 25 result but overall, Homa is improving gradually. While he is not on his 2023 form, Homa is in the green in several major metrics. He ranks 57th in strokes gained overall and strokes gained to putting. Off the tee, Homa has improved to 76th. Furthermore, Homa has gained almost 5.5 yards a drive compared to 2025 while staying close accuracy wise (60.39%). While things could be better, the golfer is showing signs that may warrant a look from a DFS perspective for this event.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 16, 2026
Nick Dunlap has only made one cut in four events this 2026 campaign. The American golfer is still only 22 but has not fired a 72 or worse in seven of his last eight rounds. Missing the cut at the Puerto Rico Open would have dampened most spirits but not Dunlap's. He will be in the field at the Valspar Championship. Dunlap has been woefully off with his driver. He ranks 167th in yardage (285.4) and 170th in accuracy at 40%. With a scoring average of 72.1 (165th), Dunlap is just not a golfer to utilize from any DFS or betting standpoint for the foreseeable future.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 16, 2026
Andrew Novak knew little went right at TPC Sawgrass. The American golfer shot back-to-back 75's and missed the cut. It was the third time in seven events Novak did not see Sunday. It also marked his fifth and sixth consecutive rounds of 70 or above. That has pushed all of his major metrics into the red. Strokes gained to putting is even 96th at -0.07. His biggest issue may be all the extra putts on Fridays. Novak ranks 149th averaging 30.14 putts per Round 2. Worse, Novak only drives the ball 292.9 yards. The Valspar Championship is a lengthy 7,340 yards (Par-71). Novak may have a challenge to play into the weekend and thus, is a betting fade here.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 16, 2026
Austin Smotherman has had an adventurous 2026 so far. The American golfer is expecting his third child potentially during this weekend's Valspar Championship. The expected date is March 23, but one never knows. Anyway, Smotherman has three top-25 results in seven events this season. That includes a runner-up at the Cognizant Classic and a respectable T13 at The Players Championship. He is one of a select few golfers that have had two tournaments with four rounds in the 60's. Smotherman may not always be consistent, but approaching the greens is a major asset (first at 1.135 strokes gained). If he gets his putter going, Smotherman will be a solid DFS or top-20 betting option this week.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 16, 2026
Luke Clanton came out of nowhere and produced a top-five finish at the Puerto Rico Open earlier in March. The American golfer has struggled mightily with his putter on the PGA Tour. He did finish T-42 at the 2025 Valspar Championship. In 2026, he missed three cuts and withdrew from The American Express. Clanton is only 22, but his minus-1.2 strokes gained in putting is an eye-popping 165th on tour. He does not drive the ball far, averaging 294 yards (144th), and his 55.84% accuracy (120th) compounds his struggles. The question is, can he put it together on a somewhat easier Copperhead course where birdies are not outrageously plentiful?
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 16, 2026
Christiann Bezuidenhout has only made four out of six cuts in 2026. The South African golfer could not get anything going at THE PLAYERS Championship last week. A Friday 77 ended any hopes of Bezuidenhout seeing the weekend. Off the tee, the golfer just could not get the length and accuracy needed at TPC Sawgrass. Bezuidenhout lost a whopping 1.42 strokes off the tee and was still 2% less accurate than the average golfer in the field. That driver accuracy has been negative in each of the past five events. Besides the putter, Bezuidenhout must set up opportunities. He has been hit or miss the past two years at the Valspar. Last year, he missed the cut but the year before, he was T-9. That makes him a fade from a betting perspective.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 11, 2026
Through six events, Hideki Matsuyama has four finishes inside the top 13, along with a T28 and T41 in his last two starts. He looks to get back near the top of the leaderboard at THE PLAYERS, where he has recorded seven top-25 finishes and three missed cuts in 10 starts. TPC Sawgrass rewards players who find fairways, play well on approach, and convert opportunities on the greens. Matsuyama ranks 15th in total strokes gained (+1.187 per round), 24th on approach (+0.559), and 57th in putting (+0.266). He has struggled slightly off the tee, ranking 108th in total driving, though he has historically gained an average of +0.605 strokes per round off the tee at TPC Sawgrass. Matsuyama has a strong course history and has been very solid to start the year, giving fantasy managers a solid floor at his $9,500 price tag on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 11, 2026
Adam Scott has been very solid to start the year, posting four top-30 finishes through his first five starts, including a fourth-place finish and a T11 in his last two events. He looks to keep the ball rolling at THE PLAYERS, where he has competed every year since 2002. His success here is well documented, with 10 top-25 finishes, including a 2004 win, and only five missed cuts in 23 starts. Scott ranks 11th in total strokes gained (+1.334 per round), 17th on approach (+0.618), and 59th in putting (+0.251) this season, all areas rewarded at TPC Sawgrass. He also ranks 61st in proximity from 125-150 yards and 19th from 150-175 yards, ranges that accounted for 36.5% of all approach shots here last year. At $7,300 on DraftKings, Scott offers the form and upside fantasy managers are looking for in this price range.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 11, 2026
Rickie Fowler is playing some of his best golf in 2026. The American golfer has four Top 25 results and his worst was a T-28. Fowler has enjoyed a hot putter gaining 0.807 strokes (15th). No one has seen that level of execution from Fowler since 2017. He led the tour that year by the way. Fowler has also been more consistent with the putter with a high one-putt percentage of 43.61% (24th). He is averaging only 28.2 putts per round (39th). Amazingly, Fowler is more impressive with his 65.71% driving accuracy (21st). He has improved every year since 2022 in that metric. Fowler imploded at Sawgrass last year on the weekend (82-79) but hope springs eternal especially from a betting perspective at the Top 10 or Top 20 level.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 11, 2026
Sepp Straka was right there to potentially win the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The golfer from Austria was well inside the Top 10 when disaster struck on Sunday. Sepp started out T-3 on Sunday and dropped 10 spots after a 76. Straka bogeyed four straight holes and then 16 for good measure. Missed putts and errant shots erased what might have been a great result. He still has solid results historically at TPC Sawgrass. Straka has three Top 20 results over the past four appearances. It is intriguing that Straka's odds to lead after Round 1 have shortened to +4000 via DraftKings (+4500 to win the event). That presents as a viable option.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
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