The Valero Texas Open

The PA Tour rolls on this week with the third oldest tournament on the Tour and the fifth oldest tournament in North America, the Valero Texas Open. It does hold the distinction of being the oldest tournament still held in the same city since its inception, San Antonio, Texas.

It’s been held at several different golf courses over the years, but always ones in San Antonio.

The tournament doesn’t feature a lot of the tour’s big-name golfers, which means daily fantasy players will need to do a little digging to figure out who to select.

So–who are the daily fantasy-worthy players this week? As always, that’s a great question. But first…

How about a little information about the course and weather?

TPC San Antonio, or to be more precise, the AT&T Oaks Course, will host the tournament for the eighth consecutive year. The course is 7,435 yards long and a par-72.

Normally, at this time of year, it is already pretty hot across the state of Texas, but the temperature is going to drop to a fairly comfortable level by Thursday. But it is going to drop for a reason.

For the first round on Thursday, it is expected to be partly cloudy, 68 degrees, and no chance of rain. But for Round Two Friday there is a 40 percent chance of rain. Thunderstorms and a 90 percent chance of rain are predicted for Saturday.

Come the final round on Sunday, the skies are expected to be clear, the rain gone, and the temperature nice, comfortable 66 degrees.

The Players

Defending champions always deserve a little consideration, but the top pick for this week has to be the one relatively big-name player in the field—Sergio Garcia.

It would be easy not to pick him after the disastrous showing he had at the Masters. Setting records is usually a good thing. But when you set it by doing your best “Tin Cup” imitation—that’s not good.

However, prior to the Masters, he was playing some pretty good golf. He finished tied for ninth at WGC-Austin, took fourth at Valspar, and tied for seventh at WGC-Mexico.

He’s played well in the state of Texas in the past. Three of his ten wins have been in the Lone Star State. Does that mean he is going to win? Not necessarily, but if there is one person that should be on most teams, it’s Sergio.

You need more than one guy to fill your roster, of course. These guys are worth consideration:

• Charley Hoffman: He’s not one of the tour’s big names, but he has a pretty good game. Currently 26th in the world, he has four wins to his name including one at the Texas Open. Over the years, the TPC San Antonio has been good to him. He’s never missed a cut and finished in the top three twice along with one win (in 2016). He tied for 23rd last week at RBC Heritage, and tied or 12th at the Masters.
• Jimmy Walker: He’s been working his way back to form after being diagnosed and treated for Lyme Disease. At the Masters, he finished in a respectable place, tied for 20th. His best finish this year was at Pebble Beach (tied for 8th). Missing the cut four times this season should give you pause, but TPC San Antonio has been good to him over the years. He tied for 13th last year, missed the cut in 2016, but won it back in 2015.
• Billy Horschel: Call this your ‘bargain price’ pick of the week. A lot of experts are picking him because of his finish at RBC Heritage last week (tied for fifth). However, he missed the cut at the Masters and four of the previous five tournaments leading up to it. But he has played well on this course over the years with three top-five finishes since 2013. If you think he may have broken out of his funk last week, he’s worth picking up.
• Matt Kuchar: Vegas seems to like Kuchar quite a bit. His odds, 18:1, are among the best this week (only Sergio Garcia’ is better). He hasn’t been killing it on the links lately, but he has been playing well. He tied for 23rd last week at the Heritage Classic, tied for 23rd at the Masters. For 8th at the Houston Open, and tied for ninth at WGC-Austin.
• Kevin Chappell: His odds are not stellar at 28:1, but a tournament’s most recent winner deserves to be in the conversation the following year (as long as he hasn’t gone off the rails). To be fair, he did miss the cut at RBC Heritage last week as well as at the Masters. However, he has a history at this course. Not only has he won it (last year), but he finished tied for fourth the year before.

Can Jarvis Landry Live Up To His New Contract In Cleveland?

NFL and daily fantasy fans were caught off guard when the Cleveland Browns acquired Jarvis Landry from the Miami Dolphins. For the first time in years, the Browns would have a marquee receiver in the lineup. If Josh Gordon can return to form and stay out of trouble, they might even have two.

With the news that the Browns are signing Landry to a five-year, $75.5 million contract extension—well, it becomes crystal clear who the team’s No. 1 receiver is going to be.

But the question daily fantasy players want answered is whether he can perform like one in Cleveland.

The standard is set pretty high

At $15.1 million he becomes the fifth-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL. Only Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, DeAndre Hopkins, and Sammy Watkins get paid more. What does he need to do to belong in the same conversation as those guys?

Watkins is the most overpaid player in the NFL, so we’ll exclude him from the conversation. As for the other three, the standard is set pretty high (stats are for 2017):

•    Antonio Brown: 101 receptions, 1533 yards, nine touchdowns

•    Mike Evans: 71 receptions, 1001 yards, five touchdowns

•    DeAndre Hopkins: 96 receptions, 1378, 13 touchdowns

Landry is no slouch!

The bar is set pretty high, but Landry is a stellar receiver in his own right. He’s averaged 100 receptions and more than 1000 yards and five touchdowns a season since joining the NFL. Probably the most impressive number is the percentage of passes caught—70.5.

More than likely, if you get the ball somewhere near him, he’ll make the catch.

But it’s the Browns (yuck)

It is hard to see anyone on the Brown being a top-notch daily fantasy option. It doesn’t matter how much talent they have. There is just something about playing for the Browns that kills production. Maybe if Gordon returns to form, the coverage on him will not be as intense.

There’s also the quarterback question. Will it be a rookie? Or will it be Tyrod Taylor? It will probably be Taylor to start, and for daily fantasy purposes, that is not promising. His best season in Buffalo saw him throw for 3,035 yards.

He had no 300-plus yard games last season, threw for less than 200 yards eight times, and never had more than two touchdowns in a single game.

So, don’t expect much from Landry until we get a few weeks into the season next year.

Who’s Going to Win the RBC Heritage?

Congratulations to Patrick Reed on winning the Masters, but it is now time for the wide world of golf to move on to the next tournament. Next up – the RBC Heritage on South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island. The field may not have as many of the usual suspects following the Masters.

That just means you may have to do a little more homework before setting your daily fantasy lineup. So – who are the daily fantasy – worthy players this week?

As always, that’s a great question. But first…

How about a little information about the course and weather?

The tournament is played at the Harbour Town Golf Links at the Sea Pines Resort located on Hilton Head Island. Pete Dye designed the course with some assistance from the legendary Jack Nicklaus. Par is a 71, and the course is 7,099 feet long.

It’s a relatively short course with narrow fairways and smaller greens. So hitting the long ball will not be as important as getting it in the fairway this week.

As for the weather, it is not going to look pretty in the days leading up to the tournament. But the first few days are going to be kind of nice. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-60’ to low-70s Thursday through Saturday with clear skies and a small chance of rain (10 percent Thursday and Friday; 20 percent Saturday).

Wind will pick up as the week goes on (8 MPH on Thursday; 10 MPH on Friday; 12 MPH on Saturday).

However, Sunday is expected to be downright nasty. There is an 80 percent chance of rain, the temperature will be in the low-60’s, and winds are going to reach as high as 20 MPH.

The Players

There is a trend worth noting when it comes to the RBC Heritage. Since it has taken the post – Masters slot (starting in 1983), there have been only seven winners that did not play the previous week at Augusta.

But many of the top names tend to take some time off after the Masters so the field may not be as full of no-brainer selections as usual.

Now, normally, I like to suggest last year’s winner as a starting point for your consideration. But this time, it is safe to say last year’s winner, Wesley Bryan, should be nowhere near your lineup. He missed the cut at the Masters after recording a 74 and 78 in the first two rounds. He missed the cut his last four times out (including the Masters), and his best finish this season is from the Tournament of Champions in January (tied for 27th).

As for recommended daily fantasy options, these guys are worth considering:

Dustin Johnson: It doesn’t hurt to have at least one blue-blood on your team, and it doesn’t get much bluer than the No. 1 golfer in the world. At the Masters, he was good but not great recording a 7-under for the tournament with two days over 70 and two under 70. But since most of your choices this week are not going to be household names, he’s as safe a bet as you’re going to get.

Matt Kuchar: His odds of winning are a lot higher than Johnson’s (20:1; Johnson’s are 9:1). While that may not be super-encouraging, like Johnson, he also appears to be a relatively safe bet this week. So far this season, he has been playing well but not spectacularly well. Since February, he has three top ten finishes. However, he also has three finishes outside of the top 40.

But he did finish 11th or better his last four times at RBC Heritage—including a win in 2014. He’s not a sexy pick, but he’s a good one.

Kevin Kisner: Like Kuchar, he is not a sexy pick. But he is expected to play well this week. He’s made the cut the last four years at RBC Heritage with a runner-up finish in 2015, 11th place last year, and three top-10 finishes in the last five years.

However, it is worth noting that he does come with an element of risk. He missed the cut in three of his last six tournaments. But he made it in the last two and played well (tied for 28th at the Masters; 2nd place finish at WGC-Austin).

Paul Casey: Overall, he is having a pretty good year. He didn’t have the best start at the Masters (74 and 75), but he had a good finish (69 and 65; tied for 15th). Combine that with four top-20 finishes in his last five tournaments (not including the Masters but including a win at Valspar), and you have someone who will play well (if not win) this week.

Are You Ready for The Masters Championship?

At DK Legends, we aim to prepare all our members and readers for a lucrative Masters weekend. Over the last few weeks, we’ve broken down the chances of some of the former winners as well as those to yet wear the green jacket on Sunday. With the PGA elite set to tee off in just a couple of days, we have a comprehensive preview that can help you build a impactful lineup so you can win big.

Ready to Conquer Augusta

Tiger Woods will likely round out the majority of daily fantasy contests on FanDuel and DraftKings. His mass appeal, along with his recent return to dazzling form is just too tantalizing for many to pass up, despite his steep price tag. Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Thomas are the other chalk picks for this year’s Augusta. Any of these players should be well worth the money when all is said and done on Sunday.

But for those looking to carve out a more unique lineup, there are several elite golfers sitting just under those top tier salaried players. Last year’s runner up Justin Rose and the young Spanish phenom Jon Rahm are exactly the type of players who could claim victory without burning up a good chunk of your payroll.

Left-handed players love the Bobby Jones designed layout, as evidenced by the large number of southpaws who’ve earned green jackets over the last 15 years. While Phil Mickelson will always be a spendy pick at the Masters, fellow winner and lefty Bubba Watson is available for $10,300 on FanDuel. Brian Harman could add his name to the list of lefty winners, as the University of Georgia alum is primed to make his mark in his home state.

An Abundance of Second Tier Value

As the first major championship on the PGA Tour calendar, this weekend’s Masters will be a who’s who of golf’s greats. This leaves DFS golf players with significant roster flexibility, as many of the normally expensive players can be had for a bargain. The competition this year is so steep, that even last year’s champ Sergio Garcia finds himself available for a steal at $8600 on DraftKings four-day contests.

Hidden Gems in the Bargain Basement

Whether it’s former winners Adam Scott and Zach Johnson, a premier ball-striker like Tony Finau, or reliable PGA regulars like Webb Simpson and Matt Kuchar, the third tier starter options for DFS players are plentiful. Kuchar is on a lot of radars early this week, as his $9500 price tag on FanDuel allows you to spend a little extra on one of the big guns.

And with old-timers like Bernard Langer and Freddie Couples making it interesting each year, FanDuel and DraftKings contests are likely to be as exciting as the final stretch of holes on Sunday. Just for the Masters DKL has provide, not one FanDuel lineup but two right below in the “Pro Advice” section.

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The 2018 Masters Tournament

This week, the best golfers in the world will descend on the beautiful and picturesque grounds of the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. It’s the first Major of the year and the competition that everyone wants to win.

But, of course, like every other tournament, only one person can. However, that isn’t important to daily fantasy players. Yes, having the winner on your team will help you win. But as long as you pick players that do well, you can still walk away with a little cash in hand.

So–who are the daily fantasy-worthy players this week? As always, that’s a great question. But first…

How about a little information about the course and weather?

Augusta is a par-72 course that is 7,435 yards long. The course is home to one of the most famous holes in golf, Amen Corner. Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie designed the course.

As for the weather, the temperature is expected to be kind of up and down. Thursday will be a cool 58 degrees; it will jump up to 66 degrees on Friday. But then it will drop down to 50 degrees on Saturday—when it is also expected to rain (90 percent chance).

It warms back up to 59 on Sunday.  Thursday and Friday will have clear skies. Saturday will be anything but clear skies with a 90 percent chance of rain. But Sunday will be partly cloudy (10 percent chance of rain.

The weather is going to good, overall. So, who do you want on your daily fantasy team?

The Players

Choosing a roster is going to be a little tough this week with so many of golf’s best entering the tournament playing well. The popular choice is going to be Tiger Woods, of course. His history with the course makes him a good choice, and he has been playing very well lately. He hasn’t played good enough to win anything, but he has been playing well. When it comes to daily fantasy, that is what you need.

Then there are the usual suspects; golf’s elite and the favorites to win the Masters (each with 10:1 odds)—Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Dustin Johnson. Spieth will be coming in hot after finishing 16-under at the Houston Open last week (tied for 3rd).

Thomas comes in even hotter with a win a few weeks ago at the Honda Classic, a second-place finish WGC-Mexico, and fourth at the WGC event in Austin. As for Johnson—the man is the No. 1 golfer in the world.

Can you ever go wrong with the No. 1 of anything?

But as nice as it would be to go with all four of these guys, the daily fantasy salary cap will make it impossible. What you’ll need to fill out your roster are some guys whose odds are longer. You want the guys who can win if everything goes just right, but who will still play well when they don’t.

• Sergio Garcia: Never count a defending champion out! He knows the course well (he won it last year, after all).  With three top ten finishes his last three times out, he will be entering the tournament playing well. Since Vegas gave him 30:1 odds they must see him as good, but only good enough to win if everything goes his way.

• Justin Rose: At 12:1, his odds are the same as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. After coming in second to Garcia last year, he will be looking to take the green jacket home this time. But if he is going to do so, he will have to step his game up. After placing in the top five his previous two tournaments (Valspar, Arnold Palmer), he tied for 52nd in Houston last week. Consider him your “buyer beware” option of the week.

• Phil Mickelson: Will he be the guy who had four top-six finishes in February and early March? Or will he be the guy who placed 17th at the WGC event in Austin or tied for 24th? He’s won the Masters before (2010), but he has not played well his last couple times out (plus-2 and missed the cut). But he didn’t do bad in 2015 (14-under).  For the right price, he could be a great pickup.
• Henrik Stenson: He’s played in four events this season and finished in the top six of three of them (didn’t make the cut in the other). Last week, in Houston, he was as consistent as they come with recording a 68-68-69-69. The odds on him are a little long (30:1). But he is playing well. Well enough to win? Eh—probably not, but he is certainly playing well enough to make an impact on your daily fantasy team.

Top Contenders to Win Their First Green Jacket

Every aspiring golf professional dreams of walking up the 18th fairway on Sunday at Augusta atop the leaderboard. While Tiger, Phil, and Bubba are clogging up the pre-Masters headlines, there is a strong group of the PGA elite that are looking to break through and win the coveted green jacket for the first time.

In part two of DK Legends’ Master’s preview, we’ll discuss which of the non-winners might provide the biggest impact to your Daily Fantasy Golf lineups on FanDuel or DraftKings during the Masters Championship.

Plenty of Impact Players Ready to Tame Augusta National

Of the top ten players in the Official World Golf rankings, only Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia have collected green jackets. In fact, the top three, consisting of Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, and Jon Rahm are looking for their first victory at the storied course. All are early Vegas favorites to claim the major championship and will be costly to start in any DFS contest format.

Rory Mcilroy represents the likeliest  of those without a victory to win the 2018 Masters Championship. With his current game rounding into midseason form and four consecutive top 10 finishes at Augusta, this could be the year he finally captures the title in all four major tournaments.

Other dominant players who could break through for victory next weekend include Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama, and Jason Day. Day has finished second and third at the Masters in recent years, while Matsuyama has found himself near the top of the leaderboard over the last three years. Fowler hasn’t experienced great success here, but his consistent play and ball-striking ability gives him as great a chance as any leading into this Thursday.

A Few Valuable Sleeper Options

The prestige of PGA’s first major of the year will result in a myriad of expensive players to start in DFS contests, causing the price to drop for many worthy golfers. Solid fantasy golfers such as Alexander Noren, Henrik Stenson, and Matt Kuchar can be had on DraftKings for second tier prices. Justin Rose and Paul Casey will cost a bit more, but can help round out a competitive lineup.

Daniel Berger, Tony Finau, and Rafael Cabrera-Bello could provide great impact as third tier starters for your squad. Finau will compete at Augusta for the first time, while Berger and Cabrera-Bello will take their third crack at victory. Their limited history could scare off some daily fantasy players, but each of their ability to produce birdies could swing results in your favor come Sunday.

Don’t Miss Out on Expert Advice

The first six selections are out; for an early preview of our Masters’ golfers please see the members only area of this article. Use promo code “Masters” for a limited time 50% off monthly membership.

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Early Insight Into the 2018 Masters Championship

With The Masters just a few weeks away, DK Legends wants its members ready to cash in when the green jacket is awarded. For the next few weeks, we’ll take a more in-depth look at who can help round out a championship lineup. This week, we’ll breakdown the past winners likely to tee it up in Augusta.

Former Greats Ready to Turn Back the Clock in Augusta

Perhaps more than anywhere, Augusta National is kind to its former winners. But just how valuable will some of the previous champs be for you in FanDuel and DraftKings tournaments?

Champions Tour players such as Larry Mize, Jose Maria Olazabal, Sandy Lyle, and Ian Woosnam will enjoy providing the nostalgia for their fans, but some of the senior contestants have other ideas. Two-time Masters champ Bernard Langer never loses his feel for the PGA’s first major, as he finished eighth in 2014. Fred Couples refuses to let anyone wear the green jacket without feeling a little heat from the 1992 winner. Either can be had for ridiculously cheap.

Early Favorites Include Several Former Winners

The PGA world has been abuzz for several weeks now with Tiger Woods resurfacing among the tour’s elite. On Friday of last week, oddsmakers were declaring him the favorite to receive his fifth green jacket. Phil Mickelson has found his groove once again, coming off a win a few weeks back in Mexico City and never seems to disappoint the Masters crowds. Each are top tier salary players in DFS four-day contests in the early going. With both playing so well, they’ll likely remain expensive.

2015 champ Jordan Spieth is perennially a costly pickup for any lineup, but he could be due for another huge stretch of dominance at any moment. Defending champ Sergio Garcia might certainly be a great pickup, as he’s currently available for $8600 on DraftKings. Bubba Watson has positioned himself to make a run at a third title after notching a victory during the West Coast Swing. He also sits in the second tier of salaries and could represent a steal with how he is able to tear up that course when his game is right.

Under the Radar Options

Adam Scott makes for an intriguing option at $8000 on DraftKings, with four top tens including his win at Augusta in the last decade. Charl Schwartzel could be a candidate for causing some weekend drama on the leaderboard, though this sleeper doesn’t have a lot of traction with his play as of late. Zach Johnson hasn’t had the best luck in recent years at The Masters, be he continues to be a solid daily fantasy option for those looking for an inexpensive player with the potential to go on a birdie binge.

Enjoying a Nice Two Day Trip to Georgia

Some of the former green jacket winners won’t play a factor in daily fantasy tournaments. The list includes likely attendees Mike Weir, Angel Cabrera, Danny Willett, Vijay Singh, Mark O’Meara, and Trevor Immelman. While each bested this golf course in their day, their golf games haven’t provided any punch to DFS lineups in some time, and can all be found at the bottom of the salary list.

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Rory McIlroy’s Masters Odds Improve Following API Win— But What Does That Mean For Daily Fantasy Players?

Rory McIlroy is one of the best golfers in the world. He knows that, we know that, and the oddsmakers certainly know that. It has to be why his odds were 18:1 to win the Masters heading into the Arnold Palmer Invitational (API) even though he had not played well in recent weeks.

Then he had to go and win the API—and now his odds to win the Masters are much, much better.

How much better?

The oddsmakers know how well McIlroy is capable of playing. But truth be told—he hasn’t played well lately. He failed to make the cut at Pebble Beach in February. He didn’t make it at the Valspar Championship either. While he made the cut at the Genesis Open and Honda Classic, he didn’t exactly look like anyone you’d want on your daily fantasy team.

But then he played in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and everyone loves McIlroy once again. So much so that the oddsmakers felt his odds to win the Masters needed to be better—10:1.

How good is that? Well, the only person with better odds is Tiger Woods (8:1).

But what does this mean for daily fantasy players?

While this news will mean something for the gamblers, what should it mean for daily fantasy players? When it comes to daily fantasy action, it isn’t all about who’s favored to win. So, does that mean we shouldn’t care when odds make such a big jump like Rory’s did?

Eh—yes and no.

Yes, because it goes to show how well he and his talent are perceived. Maybe the win at API is going to be the start of a run for him. Perhaps now is the time to get on board with him.

No, because he has not played well lately (with the obvious exception of the API). Oddsmakers know fans will be thinking about him since he just won. With his play fresh in their minds, they may be more apt to put some money down if the odds are favorable.

So—should you start him?

Yes. McIlroy is one of the best. However, it’s concerning that his win at the API was his first since 2016 and he hasn’t played well in recent weeks otherwise. But maybe his breakout out round on Sunday is a sign of things to come. Perhaps he’s getting ready to make a run for the top. He’s been there before.

Let’s be real—you are more likely to kick yourself for not starting him than you would be for

Drew Brees May Have A New (but old) Target Next Season

The New Orleans Saints have had one of the best offenses in football as long as they’ve had Drew Brees under center. However, with the emergence of a legitimate running game last season, it is more dynamic than it has ever been. According to the rumor mill, there is a chance the offense could become even more compelling next year.

There is a chance they could add another weapon to the arsenal Drew Brees will have to work with making him a better daily fantasy option next season. It’s one he had great success with in the past—tight end Jimmy Graham.

Jimmy Graham coming back to the Big Easy?

When the Saints traded Graham to the Seahawks back in March 2015, the move caught the football-loving free world by surprise. Here they were giving up one of the best tight ends and receiving threats in the game just months after signing him to a four-year, $40 million contract.

Yes, they needed a guy like Max Unger on the offensive line. But at the expense of one of the team’s best weapons?

But Seattle didn’t really work out.

He and Russell Wilson struggled to get on the same page throughout most of his first season. It certainly didn’t help when he tore his patellar tendon against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. But things went better in 2016 (65 receptions for 923 yards and six touchdowns). While he didn’t have the yards in 2017 (520), he had 57 receptions and ten touchdowns.

But there were rumors around the trade deadline that the Seahawks were looking to unload him. It was probably because they knew they had no intention of bringing him back at the price it would take. But the other GMs in the league aren’t stupid. Why trade for something you can pick up in free agency in a few months?

As free agency approaches

There were rumors that he may have had some kind of falling out with Drew Brees back when they traded him. If that was true, it is hard to believe that the Saints would be interested in bringing him back– but they are.

If they want to maximize whatever is left of Drew Brees’ time in the NFL, adding a target like Graham would be a good move. According to the rumor mill, the team is planning on pursuing him.

Of course, just because they pursue him doesn’t mean they’ll get him. But if they do, fans can expect Brees to make use of Graham in the red zone early and often.