Welcome to SuperDraft. Tired of salary-cap based DFS contests? In the mood for something refreshing and new? At SuperDraft, you can start any player available on the slate and receive differing multiplier bonuses based on the players you use. Justin Thomas, the number-one ranked golfer in the world has a zero multiplier, because having him in your lineup should be reward enough. However, if you start someone with upside but a lower floor like Matt Fitzpatrick nets you a 1.6x multiplier.
The multipliers vary, making for some interesting strategy sessions as you have to pit raw production against multiplier production when making lineup decisions. It is important not to get too cute in setting lineups by chasing high multipliers only, as a combination of high floor, and high multiplier based upside usually leads to ideal results as far as finishing in the money. Let’s take a look at some of tonight’s top plays. We will avoid the obvious options like Justin Thomas, John Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Webb Simpson, and instead focus on the defending champion and some intriguing multiplier options.
Tyrell Hatton (1.1x Multiplier)
Hatton has made the cut in all seven of his tournaments this season. He finished in fourth place after finding a hot putter on Sunda, and has four top six finishes to his name (and finished in the top 10 in another). An analytics darling, Hatton looks really appealing with the added boost from the multiplier. He has averaged 73.3 SuperDraft fantasy points, and is a good enough golfer not to have a multiplier.
Hatton will be in all of my SuperDraft lineups until he starts missing cuts (has made the cut in 14 of his last 15 tournaments overall). Hatton was a disappointment at last year’s PGA Championship, with 16 bogeys causing him to finish +8. He certainly has the talent and profile to have a solid weekend and is a potentially solid contrarian tournament play after his uneven final two rounds at the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
Matthew Fitzpatrick (1.15x Multiplier)
Fitzpatirck continues to brandish a hot putter and is now second in strokes gained: putting, after leading the field in the category at the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational. He has made the cut in 11 of his 12 tournaments this season, and he has enough upside to finish in the top six for the third consecutive tournament. The 1.15 multiplier boosts his 64.9 SuperDraft fantasy points per game to 74.6, a number that puts him in the mix for lineup consideration. His hot play as of late puts him over the top, as only a bad 17th hole in the final round prevented him from putting his way to a second place finish last week.
Fitzpartick has posted 85 or more fantasy points in each of his last two tournaments and should be good for another 78+ this weekend. Almost a certainty to make the cut, he is one of the safer plays who carries a 1.15 multiplier or better. He went +7 at the PGA Championship last season but should be much improved after posting a combined 29 birdies and two eagles in his last two outings.
Xander Schauffele (1.1x Multiplier)
Xander Schauffele is another golfer who probably should not have a multiplier at SuperDraft. He has made the cut in 14 of his 15 tournaments, and with five top 10’s in those starts, he is one of the more consistent options on the board. He has placed in the top-20 in each of his last four starts and peaked at the right time with a sixth place finish at the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
A dark horse to finish in the top five at the PGA Championship, he will need to channel the form he had in the final round of last week’s event to potentially push for the win. He has averaged 74.6 fantasy points in SuperDraft’s game, but that number jumps to 82.1 when we add the 1.1x multiplier. He closed last week’s event too hot not to include in at least one of your SuperDraft PGA Championship lineups.
Brooks Koepka (1.1x Multiplier)
Koepka needs no introduction as the defending PGA Championship winner but warrants inclusion here due to tanking in two consecutive tournaments before his second place finish at last week’s WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational. Peaks and valleys in the best way to describe his game as of late, but luckily for SuperDraft DFS players, he is peaking at the right time. He has won this event not once, but twice, and needs to be in at least one of your SuperDraft PGA Championship lineups. He has averaged just 66.9 fantasy points at SuperDraft thanks to the aforementioned valleys, but with the multiplier he is at a healthy enough 73.6.
He has hit 90 points in two of his last four events, and is a sharp bet to do so once again after showing his dominant form in the opening round of last week’s event. First in approach, and top-five in tee-to-green last week, Koepka will look for the consistency that has propelled him to wins in the past as he makes a historic push for a three-peat.
Whether you’re new to daily fantasy golf or a seasoned professional, be sure to check out our Daily Fantasy Golf Glossary. You can get started with The Stats That Matter Most or head to more advanced strategy — like How To Use Vegas Odds To Generate Your Lineup — to learn more.
Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyContext.
