February 18, 2026
Jake Knapp continued his incredible start to the season at Pebble Beach, finishing T8 and recording his fourth straight finish of T11 or better to open the year. He will look to keep it going at The Genesis Invitational, which returns to Riviera after a temporary move to Torrey Pines in 2025, where Knapp finished T17. Success here requires a complete game, but with one of the lowest greens-in-regulation rates on Tour, approach play is especially important. Knapp ranks third in total strokes gained (+2.257 per round), 19th off the tee (+0.633), and 63rd on approach (+0.294). He has also been lights out with the putter, gaining +1.046 strokes per round (13th), often the difference maker at Riviera. At $8,600 on DraftKings, Knapp will be a popular pick, and for good reason. Fantasy managers can continue to start him confidently until he shows any signs of slowing down.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
February 18, 2026
Min Woo Lee closed with an astonishing 65 on Sunday to tie for second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The Australian golfer erased the blips from the final rounds of the first two events on his schedule. He played last year when The Genesis Invitational was at Torrey Pines. It will be intriguing to see what happens at Riviera Country Club this time. Lee played at the course in 2022 but he was much younger and missed the cut. His DFS trends are heading upward and his betting number has shortened significantly (now around +3500 to win). Lee must be good at all phases to have a chance of contending this week.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
February 18, 2026
Harry Hall has never played at The Genesis Invitational. The English golfer has probably practiced at Riviera Country Club but has not played it competitively. Yes, this surprises some people. Hall has enjoyed a nice beginning to 2026 with three Top 25 results in four tournaments. However, the Los Angeles area based course presents a few wrinkles some golfers may not be used to. It is why Hall has trended downward in betting circles (+10000 and worse). Pebble Beach is a little more technical compared to Riviera and Hall gained nearly two strokes overall last week (1.95). Losing a little again off the tee at 0.24 is a worry and driving accuracy has been a negative which enters Hall into uncertain territory for this week.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
February 18, 2026
Matt Fitzpatrick has enjoyed a solid start to 2026. The English golfer even has a Top 10 on his resume already (WM Phoenix Open). He managed a T-14 at Pebble Beach and closed with a final round 67 after a Saturday hiccup (70). The one concern is his putting metrics and that may be the only one. Despite that, he has scored well. His one-putt percentage is only 31.11% (170th) and putts per round is 30.17 (157th). Given his career numbers are far better, improvement could be on the horizon. It is why Fitzpatrick is a trending pick for bettors not only to finish inside the Top 10 (around +320) but maybe win the tournament entirely.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
February 18, 2026
Wyndham Clark started well at Pebble Beach last week. The American golfer failed to capitalize on his birdie opportunities over the weekend shooting a 71-72. That dropped Clark outside the Top 50 when all was said and done on Sunday. Clark needs to be more accurate with his driver this week. Early on in 2026, he ranks 143rd in driving accuracy at 54.91%. Clark also needs to get his putts per round down at the beginning and end of events. He is around 1.62 putts higher compared to his middle rounds. At Riviera, it is important to be accurate off the tee and cash in on the birdie chances. Clark from a betting perspective is someone to maybe fade here.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
February 18, 2026
Ludvig Aberg won the Genesis Invitational in 2025, but this is not Torrey Pines in San Diego. The Swedish golfer will be going up against the Riviera Country Club this time around. More than likely, a few more birdies will need to be made at the Los Angeles course. Aberg could not make putts at the Farmers Insurance Open, missing the cut. Things improved a little at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but Aberg never could get in contention. He finished T37, but his metrics roamed into positive territory. Riviera stands at a still long 7,322 yards. Aberg might be someone to stay away from early for DFS purposes.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
February 18, 2026
With a T24 at Pebble Beach, Harris English continues a very consistent start to 2026, giving him four finishes of T28 or better to begin the campaign. He looks to keep it going at The Genesis Invitational, where he finished seventh in 2024, the last time the tournament was held at Riviera. Success here requires a sharp all-around game, and English has brought that early in the season. He ranks 33rd in total strokes gained (+1.142 per round), second off the tee (+0.974), 54th in putting (+0.388), and 30th in total driving. The only concern is his approach play, where he is still slightly positive overall (+0.019) but lost -1.323 strokes last week. In his last two trips to Riviera, he has gained more than 12.5 strokes combined with the putter. At $7,900 on DraftKings, English offers strong value given his recent form and ability to read Riviera's difficult Poa annua greens.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
February 18, 2026
Patrick Cantlay bounced back from a missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open with a T14 finish at Pebble Beach. He will look to carry that momentum into The Genesis Invitational, which returns to The Riviera after a temporary move to Torrey Pines in 2025. Regardless of venue, Cantlay has been constantly on the leaderboards at this event, recording seven finishes of T17 or better, including three straight top 5s, over the past eight years. Riviera demands strong play across the bag, and Cantlay fits that profile. He ranks 25th in total strokes gained (+1.142 per round), 73rd off the tee (+0.129), 12th on approach (+0.886), and 17th in total driving. At $9,300 on DraftKings, Cantlay is worth his price and should once again be firmly in the mix entering the weekend.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
February 18, 2026
Daniel Berger struggled to get anything going at Pebble Beach, losing over 11.4 total strokes and finishing T75. He will look to rebound at the Genesis Invitational, which returns to The Riviera after a temporary move to Torrey Pines in 2025. Riviera typically rewards complete players, but with the lowest greens-in-regulation rate on Tour, strong iron play remains especially important. Berger has been solid in that area, ranking 39th in strokes gained on approach (+0.542 per round) and 55th tee to green (+0.501), while also sitting 14th in greens in regulation. The issue has been converting those opportunities, as he has lost -0.223 strokes putting (109th) and -0.317 around the green (138th). At $6,900 on DraftKings, Berger profiles as a risky but intriguing value play, with his upside dependent on whether the short game cooperates.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
February 18, 2026
After a rather poor start to the season for a talented player, Sam Burns finally found some momentum last week at Pebble Beach, finishing T6 and returning to his usual role of gaining a large portion of his strokes on the greens (over six shots). The 29-year-old also averaged +1.06 strokes gained on approach and +0.59 off the tee. Riviera is a different animal from Pebble Beach in nearly every way, and Burns has been feast-or-famine in his six previous appearances. The large number of approaches over 200 yards doesn't necessarily fit his game, as he ranks in the 25th percentile in strokes gained per shot, proximity to the hole, and greens in regulation from that distance. Even with the good week on the Monterey Peninsula, there is still plenty of reasons to be skeptical.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
February 18, 2026
The golfing world finally saw Collin Morikawa back in the winner's circle this past week at Pebble Beach, as the 29-year-old narrowly eked out a one-stroke victory and claimed his seventh PGA Tour win. Gaining nearly two-and-a-half strokes per round on approach was the main contributor all week, while the rest of his game broke even. It is the type of lopsided statistics that can happen at such a gettable track. This week's Genesis Invitational is much different, as players need a much more well-rounded skillset to thrive at Riviera. He's established a solid track record, with finishes of T2, T6, and T19 over the last three events played here. The ball striking should interest everyone, as should his body of work on the West Coast in general. If DFS managers can deal with the huge ownership percentage he'll draw, there's no reason not to ride the momentum of last week.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
February 18, 2026
It has been two years since the PGA Tour has played this longstanding event at Riviera Country Club, and the last person to win this championship at this property was Hideki Matsuyama. It was an incredible week for the Japanese star, who is poised and playing well enough to have a repeat performance. The one terrifying truth about what the 33-year-old has struggled with recently is his off-the-tee performance. The collapse at the WM Phoenix Open is obviously the main reason for this underlying fear, but he has gained strokes only once in his first four events this season. Still, it's hard to argue with all of them being T18 finishes or better. The ironplay, short game, and even putting are perhaps as sharp as we've seen from him in quite some time. There is honestly a case to be made for either direction that DFS managers want to go this week.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
February 18, 2026
It has been the same old song and dance for Scottie Scheffler early this season. However, recent weeks have been somewhat frustrating with him being a bit too far back on Sunday to sneak into the conversation. This week has been another spot on his radar over the last few years, but he hasn't managed to come away with a victory. Riviera is no stranger to having some of the biggest names hoisting trophies, and Scheffler has all the tools needed to win. The main stats that point directly to this lack of winning positions here have been lower strokes gained off the tee metrics and inconsistency with the putter. Luckily, both areas are off to a fast start in 2026, as he's leading the tour off the tee (+1.026) and ranks 28th in strokes gained putting. Obviously, playing him in DFS is a must if you can reach his price point.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
February 17, 2026
Xander Schauffele finished tied for 19th at last week's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and this was followed up by a tied for 41st finish at the Waste Management Phoenix Open the week prior. Schauffele has improved his performance each week in his three starts this season and will look to better his tied for 19th finish last week. Schauffele missed last year's Genesis Invitational but finished tied for fourth in 2024 and tied for 33rd in 2023. Over the past 12 months, Schauffele ranks in the 94th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
February 17, 2026
Maverick McNealy finished tied for 29th at last week's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am but lost strokes putting for the first time in his four starts in 2026. McNealy has gained strokes across the board in three of his four starts this season, and losing strokes putting was the only category he lost strokes in last week. Before last week, McNealy had three straight top-25 finishes to start his 2026 season. This week will mark McNealy's first start in the Genesis Invitational. Over the past 12 months, McNealy ranks in the 60th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
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