March 18, 2026
Ben Griffin has not been at his best to start the season, with four straight finishes of T37 or worse, including back-to-back missed cuts. He looks to turn things around at the Valspar Championship, where he has results of T45, T17, and a missed cut. Success at Innisbrook typically hinges on accuracy over raw power, along with strong approach play using mid and long irons. Griffin ranks 74th in total strokes gained (+0.134 per round), 114th on approach (-0.266), and 26th in driving accuracy. He has also been solid around the green (11th) and with the putter (46th). However, struggles off the tee (131st) and on approach, including just the 19th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, have held him back. That range accounted for over 41% of approach shots here last year. The Valspar presents a solid bounce-back spot, but at $9,200 on DraftKings, fantasy managers should weigh their options carefully.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 18, 2026
Corey Conners put together an impressive performance at THE PLAYERS, gaining over six strokes on approach and finishing T13. He looks to carry that momentum into the Valspar Championship, where he has posted finishes of T16, T21, and T8 in three appearances. Ball-striking is emphasized at Innisbrook, along with accuracy off the tee and strong putting. Conners ranks 85th in total strokes gained (-0.060 per round), 26th on approach (+0.498), and fourth in driving accuracy. He has also been solid from key ranges, sitting in the 83rd percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a distance that accounted for 41.2% of all approach shots here last year. His biggest weakness has been on the greens, where he has lost -0.593 strokes per round putting, 147th on tour. Despite this, Conners offers winning upside with his ball-striking and should be strongly considered by fantasy managers at $9,000 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 17, 2026
Xander Schauffele finished third at last week's PLAYERS Championship, and this was followed by a tie for 24th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago. Schauffele has now secured four straight top-25 finishes and gained strokes across the board in his last three starts. Schauffele has played well in past Valspar Championship editions, finishing tied for 12th in 2025. Over the past 12 months, Schauffele ranks in the 95th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because over 41% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's Valspar Championship.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 17, 2026
Sahith Theegala finished tied for 32nd at last week's PLAYERS Championship, and this was followed by a tie for sixth finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago. Theegala has rattled off three top-10 finishes and no missed cuts in eight starts this season. Theegala finished tied for 36th at last year's Valspar Championship and hopes to best that this year. Over the past 12 months, Theegala ranks in the 62nd percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because over 41% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's Valspar Championship.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 17, 2026
Mackenzie Hughes missed the cut at last week's PLAYERS Championship, and this followed a tie for 23rd finish at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches three weeks ago. The missed cut last week marked only the second missed cut of the 2026 season for Hughes. Hughes has played well at the Valspar Championship, finishing tied for 36th in 2025 and tied for third in 2024. Over the past 12 months, Hughes ranks in the 70th 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 17, 2026
Nicolai Hojgaard finished tied for 27th at last week's PLAYERS Championship, following a tie for 24th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago. Hojgaard has yet to miss a cut in seven starts and has rattled off five straight top-25 finishes. Hojgaard missed the cut at last year's Valspar Championship and will hope to best that at this year's edition. Over the past 12 months, Hojgaard ranks in the 81st 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 17, 2026
Matt Fitzpatrick finished second at last week's PLAYERS Championship after making a strong push up the leaderboard on Saturday and Sunday. He followed this up with a tied for 41st finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago. This week will mark Fitzpatrick's first appearance at the Valspar Championship since 2023, when he missed the cut. Over the past 12 months, Fitzpatrick ranks in the 40th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because over 41% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's Valspar Championship.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 17, 2026
Pierceson Coody missed the cut at The PLAYERS Championship last week, following a missed cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago. The missed cut at the PLAYERS Championship marked only the second time Coody has missed the cut in 2026. He has had a stellar start to the season with five top-25 finishes in eight starts. Coody missed the 2025 Valspar Championship but was forced to withdraw in 2024 and missed the cut in 2023. Over the past 12 months, Coody ranks in the 29th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because over 41% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's Valspar Championship.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 17, 2026
Wyndham Clark continued his middle-of-the-pack run at THE PLAYERS, finishing T42 for his fifth straight result of T35 or worse. He now looks to find some momentum at the Valspar Championship, where he finished fifth in his last appearance in 2023. Innisbrook rewards strong ball-striking, with short game often separating those at the top of the leaderboard. Clark ranks 84th in total strokes gained (-0.058 per round), though he has been solid on approach, ranking 38th (+0.413) and 26th around the green (+0.329). The biggest concern so far has been his putting, where he ranks just 150th, losing -0.639 strokes per round. On a more positive note, Clark sits in the 75th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, and ranks 62nd on tour from 200+ yards, ranges that accounted for 72.1% of all approach shots here last year. At $8,000 on DraftKings, Clark's ball-striking gives him upside if the putter shows any improvement.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 17, 2026
After the rustbucket of a golf game that was on display at Bay Hill, Justin Thomas looked a few weeks away--if not a few months--from being able to really become a factor again inside the ropes. Cut to a short few days later, and he was one of the promising names looking to win at TPC Sawgrass last week. This fickle game works on its own clock. Now it's a matter of which one to believe going forward. He looked to be in total control of his golf ball at The Players, gaining over four strokes putting and over five and a half strokes on approach. He also has an incredible history around the Copperhead Course. The driver will be the biggest concern come Thursday, but his affinity for this course should help him visualize tee shots better than the last two venues. It's too early to say if he's officially back, but last week's performance has certainly given him a more optimistic outlook than he had before. Stay on the JT train at Valspar.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 17, 2026
As an event that experiences a ton of churn in the field from year to year, Jordan Spieth is on the short list of names that have made it a priority spot on the schedule for many seasons. He won this event in 2015 and has compiled several quality finishes on top of that, but recent struggles in his golf game have weakened his ability around this property. His recent form suggests a return to glory on the Copperhead Course is in the cards for the former Texas Longhorn. He is averaging 0.98 strokes gained on approach over his last three events, and while his putter is still a bit streaky, it has been a real weapon for most of the season. Play the 32-year-old with full confidence.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 17, 2026
After a slow start in his return to the PGA Tour, Brooks Koepka has now posted finishes of T9 and T13 over his last two starts. His most recent tournament was last week's Players Championship, where he ranked fourth in the field in strokes gained on approach (1.69). The putter has let him down in all four of his starts this season, and even with it calming down since the putter switch, he isn't doing anything exciting or helpful to lower his scores much. He's back in action this week at Innesbrook, where the 35-year-old last competed in a stroke-play event before the start of his LIV Golf stint. He finished T12 that week in 2022, and given the way his game has come back to him, it wouldn't be surprising to see him back in the mix like old times.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 17, 2026
It is a title defense for Viktor Hovland this week at the Valspar Championship. He won a clutch event last season after holding off several good players, and is in great form ahead of Thursday's opening round. The 28-year-old is coming off back-to-back T13 finishes at The Players and the API, which are both approach-heavy tests similar to what it takes to win at the Copperhead Course. Ranking 16th in strokes gained on approach (0.648) and averaging a career-best 0.314 strokes gained around the green, it's perhaps the most well-rounded form that we've ever seen the Norwegian in. It wouldn't be surprising to see him put up a valiant defense, if not win again. And this event has been notorious in recent memory for having repeat champions.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
March 17, 2026
It has been a rough two weeks for Rasmus Hojgaard, who has been unable to put two rounds together to make the cut in his last two starts. As the guys out there know, it only takes one hole to ruin your week. One round of poor scoring is certainly enough to send you home early. In terms of metrics, the 25-year-old has performed well in most areas. He ranks 19th in total strokes gained average (1.110) and seventh in driving distance. Accuracy is a slight issue given the tightness around the Copperhead Course, but his length should allow him to take less than driver some if it isn't cooperating. If the ownership percentage takes an understandable step back because of recent form, Hojgaard should be a steal.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
March 17, 2026
Things have been off for Tony Finau and have shown few signs of changing. The 36-year-old finished T70, shooting a combined eight over par over the last three rounds after posting a 69 on Thursday. It was another event on the growing list of forgettable performances since the beginning of last season. He's been wildly inaccurate off the tee, which has created a trickle-down effect for other parts of his game. Through his first seven starts this season, Finau ranks 124th in strokes gained off the tee (-0.282) and 100th in strokes gained on approach (-0.146). When it comes to this week's event at Innisbrook, he has only made the cut once in five tries. It resulted in a top-5 finish, but the Utah native is currently playing nowhere near the same level. Continue fading him until he shows some signs of life.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
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