January 28, 2026
Coming off a major breakout campaign in 2025, J.J. Spaun opened the year with a solid start, finishing T40 at the Sony Open two weeks ago. He'll look to carry that form into the Farmers Insurance Open, where his history is mixed, with four missed cuts and three top-25 finishes across nine appearances. Spaun's success here has typically hinged on strong approach play, an area he excelled in last season, ranking fifth in strokes gained on approach (+0.738 per round). He was also 62nd in driving distance, 41st in strokes gained off the tee (+0.291), and 121st in proximity from 200+ yards, a range that accounted for over 33% of all approach shots here last year. At $9,400 on DraftKings, Spaun offers a solid floor for fantasy managers looking for a safer option in this price range.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 28, 2026
After a strong 2025 campaign that included six top-10 finishes and a victory, Andrew Novak started The American Express with an opening round 64 but ultimately missed the cut by one stroke. He'll look to rebound at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he finished third in 2025 and also notched a T13 at the 2025 Genesis Invitational, both at Torrey Pines. Success at this course typically hinges on off-the-tee distance and long-iron approach shots. Last year, Novak ranked 102nd off the tee (+0.042) and 113th on approach (-0.036), but he makes up for it with his short game, ranking 43rd around the green and 49th in strokes gained putting. At $7,200 on DraftKings, Novak's upside is dependent on a solid week of ball striking to complement his strong short game.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
Denny McCarthy had a solid 2025 with 10 top-25 finishes and has carried some of that form into 2026, posting five sub-70 rounds through two starts. He'll look to continue that at the Farmers Insurance Open, though his history at Torrey Pines is mixed, with two missed cuts, two results of T64 or worse, and a T5 at the 2025 Genesis Invitational. Last year, he ranked 147th off the tee (-0.258), 62nd on approach (+0.202), and fourth in strokes gained putting (+0.679). Through two events this season, he's 37th off the tee (+0.528) and 52nd in proximity from 200+ yards, a range that accounted for over 33% of approach shots here last year. At $7,500 on DraftKings, McCarthy is a wild card with upside if his improved approach and off the tee game hold up.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
After a 2025 season that fell short of expectations, Max Homa has seemingly found a resurgence as of late, recording four finishes of T27 or better in his last five events. He'll look to continue that at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he has four top-19 finishes in his last six trips, including a 2023 win. Homa has also thrived in California, with four of his six career PGA Tour victories coming in his home state. His 2023 victory at Torrey Pines was driven by strong approach play, gaining +2.74 strokes per round, an area he struggled with last season when he ranked just 155th on Tour. Through one event in 2026, he's 12th on approach, fifth in total strokes gained, and 21st in driving distance, all areas that correlate to success at Torrey Pines. All signs point to Homa having the bounce-back season many had hoped for, and his upside is well worth his price tag of $8,300 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
Since winning the Cognizant Classic in March of last year, Joe Highsmith has not been able to find any form, missing 17 cuts in his last 27 starts. His history at Torrey Pines is limited, with just three events played, resulting in two missed cuts and a T33 finish, which came at the 2024 Farmers. Success here typically hinges on distance off the tee and approach with long irons, areas where Highsmith has struggled. In 2025, he ranked just 117th in driving distance, 160th in strokes gained on approach (-0.362 per round), and 107th in proximity from 200+ yards, a distance that accounted for over 33% of approach shots last year. At $6,300 on DraftKings, Highsmith can safely be left out of fantasy lineups until any sign of a turnaround appears.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
Wyndham Clark was in contention for much of the week at The American Express before a final-round 72 dropped him to a T13 finish. He'll look to carry that form to Torrey Pines, where he has seven career starts, with his best result being T31 at the Genesis Invitational last year. Success here typically hinges on distance off the tee and strong long-iron approach play. In 2025, Clark ranked 154th in strokes gained on approach (-0.284 per round) and 107th in proximity from 200+ yards, a distance that accounted for over 33% of approach shots here last season. His upside comes off the tee, where he ranked 25th in driving distance. Clark is expected to be a bounce-back candidate entering 2026 after a disappointing 2025, but his long-iron play remains a concern this week.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
Tony Finau has been riding the struggle bus to start the 2026 season, missing the cut in both the Sony Open and The American Express. In these two starts, he has lost strokes off the tee (-0.256 per round), on approach (-1.043), and ranks just 113th in driving distance, all areas important for success at the Farmers Insurance Open. Despite that, Finau's history at this event is reason enough to believe he can turn it around. In 11 starts at the Farmers, he has missed the cut only twice and recorded nine top-25 finishes, including six top-10s. After a disappointing 2025 season, his current form is approaching rock bottom, but this event has proven to be one where he can suddenly click. At $7,000 on DraftKings, he remains a high-risk, high-reward play.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
Akshay Bhatia was not able to turn around his luck at The American Express, missing the cut by 10 strokes. He'll look to rebound at Torrey Pines, where he has had much more success, finishing T13 at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2024 and T9 at the Genesis Invitational in 2025. In those two starts, Bhatia gained over 3.2 combined strokes per round off the tee and on approach. He also ranked 14th on Tour in strokes gained putting last season at +0.575 per round, but he has been ice cold on the greens recently, recording negative strokes gained with the putter in three straight events. His strong course history makes him an interesting option at $7,400 on DraftKings, but recent struggles make him a risky play for fantasy managers.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
With a T6 finish last week at the AMEX, Si Woo Kim increased his run of cashing fat checks with his ninth-straight top-25 finish. He'll now come to the Farmers Insurance Open, where consistent success has been hard to come by. He has two missed cuts in eight appearances, but has also only finished inside the top-25 twice. The inability to flourish here compared to other venues is arguably distance-related. Strokes gained ball-striking numbers take a large dip here compared to his overall output, especially those on approach. And for a guy who lives and dies by what he does from tee to green, the reason for the inconsistency is clear. Nonetheless, it's impossible to argue the tear Kim has been on for the last six months. It may be beneficial to sit this week out and continue on the train elsewhere, especially with the ownership level his current play will cause.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
It was a great week in the desert for Jason Day, who stormed up the leaderboard on Sunday with a 64 in the final round to finish in a tie for second. The Aussie had a field day on and around the greens, leading the field in both strokes gained metrics. It was also his best strokes gained on approach output (+1.44) since the same event last season. Unfortunately, little can be drawn from that to apply this week at the Farmers Insurance Open, as green surfaces and course length are incomparable. However, Day has put on solid performances at Torrey Pines through the years, winning twice. He doesn't have the approach play that's typically required here, but he's putted well on these pesky poa annua greens and has a world-class short game. Play him with reasonable confidence this week.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
It was a frustrating start for Keegan Bradley at the Sony Open after posting rounds of 68 and 72, only to miss the cut by one. He lost strokes in every metric but off the tee. He will now tee it up on Thursday at Torrey Pines, a place where he has had a ton of good finishes. This should be a place to right the ship, even if the statistics don't back it up. The 39-year-old has a world-class short game, ranking eighth last season in strokes gained around the green (+0.443). That alone does wonders at a difficult place like Torrey Pines. He's rarely one to have poor ball striking linger, so expect the over two shots he lost on approach in Hawaii to be much improved. After a poor performance, ownership could be lower on him than usual, making it a week to buy in if you're the least bit interested.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
With the first two events of the new season behind him, Billy Horschel comes to Torrey Pines looking to keep the momentum going. He's managed to make the cut in both starts, but neither of the tournament venues compares to what awaits at the Farmers Insurance Open this week. The 39-year-old is performing terribly off the tee, averaging -0.785 in strokes gained over his last four starts. Putting and short game have kept him in the fight, as well as a decent approach game. 200 yards or more is where ironplay breaks down for the former Florida Gator, who is middle of the pack in strokes gained approach numbers from 200 or more (approximately +0.002). Horschel might do enough to see all four days, but the ROI will more than likely be less than ideal.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Will Zalatoris finished tied for 18th at last week's American Express, and this followed a top-15 finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player back in December. Zalatoris looked like he had brushed off the rust after an injury-riddled 2025 season by gaining 1.20 strokes on approach at the American Express last week. Zalatoris missed last year's Farmers Insurance Open but finished tied for 13th at last year's edition. Over the last 12 months, Zalatoris ranks in the 90th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Adam Scott finished tied for 24th at last week's American Express, following a tied for 40th finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii two weeks ago. Scott has had a sizzling start to the 2026 season with three top-25 finishes in four starts. The last time Scott made an appearance at the Farmers Insurance Open was in 2021, when he finished tied for 10th. Over the past 12 months, Scott ranks in the 38th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 27, 2026
Keith Mitchell finished tied for 44th at last week's American Express, and that followed a tied for 66th finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii two weeks ago. Following a rough finish to the 2025 season, Mitchell has started the 2026 season on the right foot by making the cut at both of his starts. Mitchell missed the Farmers Insurance Open last year but missed the cut in the 2024 edition. Over the past 12 months, Mitchell ranks in the 29th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Farmers Insurance Open over 33% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
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