Let's get ready for some more NASCAR action! These daily fantasy NASCAR rankings for Sunday's Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 at Pocono Raceway were determined by a combination of DraftKings and FanDuel prices, and the projected DFS points each driver is expected to earn in this week’s race.
Each week, we'll present you the weekly rankings, followed by some key analysis of those rankings.
Be sure to also check out all of our other weekly NASCAR DFS articles and analysis to help you set your optimal DFS lineups.
Featured Promo: For this week only, take 50% off any full-season or yearly Premium Pass on the site! Just enter discount code THANKS when checking out. Thanks for being a reader, and Happy Holidays! Sign Up Now!
Fantasy NASCAR Driver Rankings
Driver Name | DraftKings Rank | FanDuel Rank |
Alex Bowman | 1 | 1 |
Kyle Larson | 2 | 3 |
William Byron | 3 | 4 |
Kyle Busch | 4 | 2 |
Denny Hamlin | 5 | 5 |
Joey Logano | 6 | 6 |
Chase Elliott | 7 | 7 |
Ross Chastain | 8 | 11 |
Kevin Harvick | 9 | 8 |
Kurt Busch | 10 | 9 |
Matt DiBenedetto | 11 | 12 |
Ryan Blaney | 12 | 10 |
Brad Keselowski | 13 | 13 |
Martin Truex Jr. | 14 | 14 |
Ryan Newman | 15 | 17 |
Austin Dillon | 16 | 15 |
Cole Custer | 17 | 18 |
Tyler Reddick | 18 | 16 |
Corey LaJoie | 19 | 23 |
Daniel Suarez | 20 | 19 |
Chase Briscoe | 21 | 24 |
Erik Jones | 22 | 20 |
Bubba Wallace | 23 | 22 |
Christopher Bell | 24 | 21 |
Aric Almirola | 25 | 26 |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 26 | 25 |
Ryan Preece | 27 | 27 |
Anthony Alfredo | 28 | 28 |
Chris Buescher | 29 | 29 |
Michael McDowell | 30 | 30 |
Justin Haley | 31 | 31 |
James Davison | 32 | 33 |
Cody Ware | 33 | 32 |
BJ McLeod | 34 | 34 |
Josh Bilicki | 35 | 37 |
Garrett Smithley | 36 | 35 |
Quin Houff | 37 | 36 |
Timmy Hill | 38 | 38 |
Did you know RotoBaller has a Premium DFS NASCAR subscription?
Like what you read today? You can show your support for Justin by using promo code CARTER when purchasing a NASCAR Premium Pass. You get 10% off and full access to all of our Premium NASCAR articles, DFS tools, and Lineup Optimizer!
NASCAR Rankings Analysis
Welcome to Pocono! Yes, we were just here yesterday.
That race featured one of the wildest endings we've seen recently, as Kyle Larson made a late pass on Alex Bowman and started to pull away. And then, on the final lap, BOOM, a blown tire thrusts Larson into the wall. The 5 car was on the way to tying the record for consecutive wins by a driver, but that pesky tire got into the way.
Larson will now go to a backup car and start in the back, though he'll only be scored as coming from 12th. There's enough risk in him coming from the very back for me to not be quite as high as usual on Larson.
He's still my No. 2 play because of how dominant he's been, but it's hard to ignore Alex Bowman sitting there at just $8,700 on DraftKings, coming off yesterday's win, and starting 20th because they inverted the top 20.
The starting formula for this race also gives us four clear place differential plays at varying price points: Ross Chastain starts 33rd and was running well yesterday before crashing out. He could be a just a bit too chalky, but I'll have a lot of him. Matt DiBenedetto starts 32nd, Ryan Newman starts 37th, and Cole Custer starts 38th. All good cars -- even if Stewart Haas is struggling this year -- starting 32nd or worse and thus offering a ton of place differential upside.
Then there's Corey LaJoie, starting 36th. Before his trouble yesterday, LaJoie had four top 20s in a row and he was running solid at Pocono. This is someone I'll have in a lot of lineups.
Guys who start too high for my liking: Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell, Christopher Bell, Aric Almirola, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. A couple of them -- probably Bell and Stenhouse -- could maintain a spot in the back half of the top 10, but I see all of them finishing with negative PD points, which means there's not much upside.
Martin Truex Jr. starts third, which is a little too high for me when you factor in how Hendrick cars have dominated lately. But he could get some early laps led, so not a complete fade here.
There's a lot of interesting PD points available with the starting lineup as it is. You're pretty much never going to get guys like Hamlin, Logano, and Harvick all starting below 10th, but today you do. That'll make lineup building super interesting.
NASCAR DFS News and Driver Outlooks
More Fantasy NASCAR Analysis
The Keys to Weekly NASCAR DFS Success
NASCAR is back, and it's time for you to win big with RotoBaller! Our DFS NASCAR Premium Package features several heavy hitters and proven winners.Sean Engel recently won his 7th career DFS tournament, and had the top lineup in seven contests and 10 top-two finishes. Be sure to use his weekly NASCAR DFS rankings and DFS lineup picks, updated regularly.
Three-time NASCAR Racing Writer of the Year finalist and fantasy industry legend Scott "The King" Engel is also in the crew, bringing you his weekly strategies and lineup picks. Set your winning DFS lineups with our award-winning team.