March 23, 2026
It has been a tougher road in 2026 than it was a year ago at this point in the year for Stephan Jaeger, but he'll have another chance or two at getting things in shape before the year's first major. This week in Houston has been a beloved spot for the 36-year-old, winning here in 2024 along with T9 and T11 finishes sandwiched on either side. The bomb-and-gouge strategy has been successful for him. Superior length off the tee and the ability to consistently make putts will work this week. The German is also coming off a T7 last week at Innisbrook, averaging 0.59 strokes gained on approach and 0.44 putting. It's time to jump on the Jaeger train before everyone tries to, if it isn't too late already.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 23, 2026
It was a bit surprising to see Adam Scott struggle at TPC Sawgrass after how he's played to start the year. He was the third-best player on tour in strokes gained off the tee through his first four events, and has since fallen to 50th (0.272) through last week. The Australian has still been dialed with his iron play, ranking second in all of professional golf in strokes gained in approach shots from 150-200. This will come into play a ton at Memorial Park this week, as 36.5% of predicted approach shots will come from this area. Scott has played in this event numerous times, but he hasn't been to this particular venue during its spring timing. The former Masters champion should be able to do enough from tee to green to give him a chance, even with the driving slump. It will be the ever-streaky performance on and around the greens that will determine how useful he is for fantasy purposes, but the upside is there.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
March 23, 2026
It has been a while since Sungjae Im was in a position to capture a win on the PGA Tour. He finally found another opportunity last week at Innisbrook, after shooting rounds of 64-69-69 over the first three days to be the outright leader going into Sunday. However, an all-too-familiar day transpired for the 27-year-old in the final round, as he bogeyed four of his opening nine holes to take himself out of any real contention down the stretch. It was still a successful week in the grand scheme of things for the South Korean, having posted his best finish in over a year. He'll tee it up in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children's Houston Open. It's his fourth appearance in this event, with a T19 in 2022, when this event was held in the fall. After showing some signs of life, Im may start to become one of the elite DFS plays again. However, this isn't the most intriguing place for him to shine, given the lack of length and inability to make putts at times.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 23, 2026
With finishes of T27 and T55 in his last four events, Nicolai Hojgaard has undeniably cooled off from the hot run he had put together to begin the season. It is also back-to-back weeks of incredibly tough venues. Memorial Park isn't a piece of cake by any stretch, but it lacks the quirkiness to get the ball in play that they had. Teeing it high and letting it fly is the strategy of choice for players like this 25-year-old. His 14th-ranked driving distance (315.2) should give him a big advantage over the field. He's also one of the best iron players from more than 150 yards. If the hot putter (averaging 0.506) finds its way to Houston, Hojgaard should be in line for a solid bounce-back performance.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
March 23, 2026
Things have cooled off for Chris Gotterup since his two wins in his first three starts of this season, as his best finish since is a T18 at the API. Things have fallen off across the board in strokes gained metrics since the win in Phoenix. This is most notable in driving accuracy, where he only hit 21 of 56 fairways in his latest start at The Players a few weeks ago. Memorial Park is more distance-heavy than anything relating to accuracy, and playing shots out of the rough isn't as penalizing as what we've seen the last few weeks. The main concern is getting his putter to cooperate for four days. His strength from tee to green is plenty of reason to take on the other lingering issues.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 23, 2026
It wasn't surprising to see Min Woo Lee have success at Memorial Park in his debut appearance last season, but going on to win was unexpected. However, looking at what is needed around this layout really fits everything that makes the Australian a great player. He's one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, and tends to putt extremely well. His route to victory saw him pick up over eight strokes putting over the course of these four days last year. Both are in fine form heading into Thursday, but the improved accuracy he's shown throughout the bag in 2026 keeps the thought of going back-to-back thriving. Play him with confidence this week.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 18, 2026
Akshay Bhatia has withdrawn from the upcoming Valspar Championship. No official reason has been given at this time. The rising star had been one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour, already making seven starts in 2026, highlighted by a recent win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and a T13 result at last week's PLAYERS Championship. His absence from the Valspar field is notable, especially for DFS players and golf bettors, as Bhatia was projected to be one of the top contenders at the Copperhead Course.
--Joe Nicely - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour Communications
March 18, 2026
After a slow start to the year, J.J. Spaun finally posted his first top-25 result of the season at The Players, finishing T24. He looks to carry that momentum into the Valspar Championship, where he has played four times, missing the cut in three of those appearances. Success at Innisbrook typically hinges on accuracy over raw power, along with strong approach play and putting. Spaun ranks 96th in total strokes gained (-0.236 per round), 58th on approach (+0.246), and 34th in driving accuracy. He also sits in the 88th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that accounted for 41.2% of approach shots here last year. TPC Sawgrass was the first event where he gained strokes with the putter (+1.8), as he still sits 151st overall in putting. Spaun may have finally broken free from what held him back earlier in the season, and despite poor course history, he presents as a decent (though likely popular) play at $8,700 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 18, 2026
Aaron Rai missed his first cut of the year at THE PLAYERS, though he had recorded T28 and T23 finishes in his two prior events. He looks to get back on track at the Valspar Championship, where he missed the cut in his only start here in 2024. Success at Innisbrook typically hinges on accuracy over raw power, along with strong approach play and putting. Rai sits 105th in total strokes gained (-0.421 per round), 73rd on approach (+0.100), and 12th in driving accuracy. He hasn't been as strong with the flat stick, losing strokes putting in three of five events, including over 6.4 strokes at Pebble, and sits 90th on tour. While he has not shown the elite ball-striking that we saw from him last year, the weaker field at the Valspar presents a bounce-back opportunity. At $7,900 on DraftKings, Rai offers a solid floor with his accuracy and iron play, though upside remains limited until he starts rolling the rock more consistently.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 18, 2026
Johnny Keefer has been solid so far in his first full year on tour, making four of six cuts and finishing as high as T27 at the AMEX. He now turns to the Valspar Championship, where he is making his Innisbrook debut. Success here typically hinges on accuracy over raw power, along with strong approach play and putting. Keefer ranks 81st in total strokes gained (+0.010 per round), 34th on approach (+0.348), seventh off the tee, and 19th in total driving. Where he has struggled is in his short game, ranking just 159th around the green and 146th putting. Keefer also sits second in greens in regulation percentage (74.17%), so if he can put together a neutral short game week, he offers strong upside at just $7,100 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 18, 2026
Billy Horschel put together his best result of the season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, finishing T13 while gaining over 7.1 strokes with the putter. He will look to carry that momentum into the Valspar Championship, where he has recorded finishes of T12 and T4 over the past two seasons. Success at Innisbrook typically hinges on accuracy over raw power, along with strong approach play with mid and long irons. Horschel ranks 109th in total strokes gained (-0.504 per round), 102nd on approach (-0.170), and 131st in driving accuracy. He also sits in just the 40th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that accounted for 41.2% of approach shots here last year. At $7,200 on DraftKings, he offers some upside at a course where he has had success, but still carries significant risk given his inconsistent play this season.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
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
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