This article is part of our FanDuel PGA DFS Picks series.
Dell Technologies Championship - Boston, MA
TPC Boston (7,342 yards, par 71)
$9.00M Purse
$1,620,000 and 2000 FedEx Cup points to the winner
Tournament Preview
NORTON, MASSACHUSETTS - The FedEx Cup heads north to Boston for a Labor Day finale at the Dell Technologies Championship, the year's only planned Monday finish. After last week's planned cut of 25 players from the playoffs, 99 of the remaining 100 players will tee it up this week. Those on the bubble will again need to step up to make the 70-player cut for next week's BMW Championship. TPC Boston has been the host of this event since 2003 and part of the FedExCup playoffs since its 2007 inauguration, but this year marks the final time TPC Boston will host this specific event. However, the future for the course as a rotational host of THE NORTHERN TRUST will resume in 2020. The par-71 layout features 11 par-4 holes and an exciting par-5 finish where players can card anything from eagle to double bogey. This event has proved an important event in settling the FedExCup as three of the past five winners have gone on to claim the FedExCup title. The Dell Technologies Championship also represents the last event for European players to earn Ryder Cup points. Last week's winner, Bryson DeChambeau, leads the FedExCup Standings after his impressive four-stroke win while Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, and Brandt Snedeker make their playoff debuts after skipping the first playoff leg. Expect much drama as players jockey for FedExCup position as we near the TOUR Championship finale in three short weeks.
Recent Past Champions
2017 – Justin Thomas
2016 – Rory McIlroy
2015 – Rickie Fowler
2014 – Chris Kirk
2013 – Henrik Stenson
2012 – Rory McIlroy
2011 – Webb Simpson
2010 – Charley Hoffman
2009 – Steve Stricker
2008 – Vijay Singh
Key Stats to Victory
• Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green
• Par-4 Scoring Average
• Recent Form
Champion's Profile
TPC Boston has rewarded ball strikers, especially great iron players, since 2003. In fact, 10 of the past 14 champions here were inside the top 15 in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green at the end of the season in the year they won this event. This really helps narrow down the list of qualified candidates for your lineup; simply look at the top 15 in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green this year and narrow it down from there. Names like DJ, Woods, Stenson, JT, and Keegan Bradley top the 2018 SG:ATG list coming in, and course history confirms that all have posted solid results at TPC Boston in the past. It goes without saying you should attempt to fit as many of these guys into your lineup as possible. Beyond this key stat, par-4 scoring will prove important, as will recent form entering this week. Players who have played consistently well since the WGC-Bridgestone are obviously in position for continued success this week.
FanDuel Value Picks
The Chalk
Dustin Johnson, $12500 – Johnson has shown some inconsistency lately, but there's no questioning his natural abilities. He is fifth this year in SG:ATG, first in par-4 scoring average, and owns three top-10s in eight career starts at TPC Boston.
Justin Thomas, $12000 – This event's defending champ is peaking again at the right time with top-10s his last three events, including a win at the WGC-Bridgestone. There's nothing holding back Thomas this week, and he's more than capable of repeating last year's FedExCup crown.
Rory McIlroy, $11600 – McIlroy posted a pair of top-6s in his last three events but skipped last week to refine his game for the rest of the playoffs and Ryder Cup. McIlroy has twice triumphed at TPC Boston and will need to play well if he wants a shot at the FedExCup title. He is currently 28th in the FedExCup standings entering this week.
Tiger Woods, $11500 – Tiger is fourth in SG:ATG this season and has had numerous successes at TPC Boston in the past, including a win in 2006 and two additional top-3 finishes. Woods lost ground, dropping from 20th to 25th in the FedExCup, but this course feeds his iron play strengths and he should move his way back up the ranks this week.
Longer Shots Worth a Risk
Adam Scott, $10400 – With top-5s in his last two events, Scott has found his form just in time for a playoff run. The Aussie is seventh this season in SG:ATG and has posted six career top-10s in 12 starts at TPC Boston. At $10400, he's a great value to help your lineup this week.
Patrick Cantlay, $10000 – Cantlay moved up to 11th in the FedExCup rankings after a solid T8 at THE NORTHERN TRUST last week. His ball striking prowess has led him to a career year this season, and TPC Boston should play into his strengths quite well. An underrated option at $10000, Cantlay just might contend for his second win this week.
Billy Horschel, $8700 – Horschel quietly racked up three top-11 finishes in his last five events, suggesting he's in great form heading into this week. Though he's missed his last two cuts at TPC Boston, Horschel has shown glimpses of past success here with a runner-up in 2014.
Aaron Wise, $7700 – Wise finished with a pair of 67s last weekend to notch a strong top-5 finish, and he will now get his first crack at TPC Boston. Wise has shown strong driving and putting ability this season in his rookie campaign, and he's in great position to make it to the TOUR Championship if he can maintain his 15th-place ranking in the FedExCup. At $7700, all he needs to do to provide lineup value is make the cut, but he's a great value because of the upside for much more.
Strategy Tips for this week (based on 60k standard salary cap)
This week represents the last playoff event with a 36-hole cut. However, with a small 100-player field where the top 70 and ties make the cut, a much higher percentage of players play four rounds than a normal event. With the field containing 15 no-brainer elite options, the strategy should lean towards a studs and duds approach. This strategy ensures you have at least 2-3 elite options with the best chance of winning while backfilling with lower-salaried players who have a better-than-normal chance to make the cut (i.e. less risky). This angle should maximize your chance of placing in the money this week.
