Welcome back race fans. With just four races remaining in the regular season, the Monster Energy Cup Series heads back to Michigan for the Consumers Energy 400 this Sunday. Clint Bowyer won the rain-shortened race here earlier in the season which ended the three-race winning streak that Kyle Larson had going at the track.
For fantasy, we will be looking at a combination of dominator points and place differential as there are some top targets who will be starting back in the pack giving us some big upside. Outside of the rain-shortened race earlier this year, there have only been three drivers to lead 100 or more laps in the five previous races and only twice has there been more than two to lead 50 or more. With that info, let's jump in and take a look at the top targets for this week.
Daily Fantasy NASCAR: DraftKings and FanDuel DFS Lineup Picks - Consumers Energy 400
Kyle Busch(DK-$11,900 FD-$12,200)
After winning here back in 2011, Busch went through a dry spell where he only finished Top 10 once in 10 races. He has snapped out of that slump lately with three straight Top 10's including a fourth-place finish earlier this year and appears to have a very strong car this week. He qualified on the front row beside Denny Hamlin then came out ranked second-fastest in Happy Hour. He has a great shot at getting out front, leading some laps, and picking up his seventh win of the season.
Kyle Larson(DK-$10,600 FD-$11,800)
Before finishing 28th in the rain-shortened race earlier this year, Larson had reeled off three straight wins at the track while leading 139 laps. The ownership should be spread out with the "Big 3" the only drivers ahead of him in salary this week and the upside is huge as he will start 17th on Sunday. The good news after a poor qualifying effort is that he was fifth-fastest in Happy Hour and also posted the third-fastest 10-lap average. He is a near lock in all formats.
Erik Jones(DK-$8,300 FD-$10,000)
There is a very good chance Daniel Suarez will be a Top 3 highest owned driver this week starting at the rear and while I think he makes sense in cash games, I feel Erik Jones is a great pivot for GPP formats. He is starting 4th which is a bit risky as I don't think he leads any laps but had the fastest 10-lap average speed in Happy Hour and is on fire lately with six Top 10's in his last seven races overall. I would stick to GPP's with Jones on DraftKings but he is in play in all formats on FanDuel.
William Byron(DK-$6,800 FD-$7,700)
The Hendrick Motorsports rookie driver has just one race under his belt here at Michigan but impressed with a 13th place finish after starting 14th. This week he presents us with a little more place differential upside starting 20th and followed it up by posting the 10th fastest speed in Happy Hour and the 11th fastest 10-lap average. At these prices, he is in play in all formats.
NASCAR DFS Cheat Sheet
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DFS & Fantasy NASCAR Chat Room
If you have any questions leading up to the race hit me up in the chat below!
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