NASCAR DFS Picks 10/6/19: Drydenne 400
NASCAR DFS Mid-Tier Options
I would be absolutely remiss if I did not highlight Jimmie Johnson when talking Dover International Speedway. Johnson has won more races at The Monster Mile (11) than all but eight other active drivers have in their entire career at all tracks.
Let me just say that again. Jimmie Johnson has won ELEVEN TIMES at this track. Sure, he hasn’t been the same Jimmie Johnson over the past couple years that he was when he was winning five straight championships, but he still knows this track, and is one of the best to ever do it.
Johnson led four laps in the Spring race before finishing 14th. Johnson last won at the track in 2017 starting from 14th. The 48 car will roll off 11th this Sunday, and has shown a good deal of speed in practice.
Johnson had the second best 10 lap average in both practice sessions on Friday, as well as the third fastest lap in First Practice. Johnson will hope to utilize his long run speed and Dover prowess to turn back the clocks, climb through the top 10, and compete for the win.
Johnson is the 16th priced driver on DraftKings, and with a solid top 10 or top five he will exceed his value with ease. He scored 30+ DraftKings points in each race of the first round of the playoffs, and even though didn’t make those playoffs, he is still out to prove that he still has it.
Alex Bowman
Public enemy number one as of late has been the driver of the 88 car, Alex Bowman. Bowman certainly has not made any friends in recent weeks, which has me hesitant to take him in DFS at such a treacherous, close-quarters track. But Bowman is too good at this track and too cheap to pass up.
Bowman absolutely could have won at Dover earlier this season. He led 16 laps, earned stage points in both of the first two stages, and finished second in both of the final to stages of the Spring race.
In First Practice, Bowman was top five in both single lap and 10 lap average. In Final Practice, he posted the third best 10 lap average behind Larson and his Hendrick teammate, Johnson. As the 15th priced driver in DraftKings, the playoff-contending driver will likely be a staple of DFS lineups from players who aren’t afraid of the retaliation potential from a few different drivers.
Daniel Suarez
The drivers with the top four average finishes at Dover over the past five races are Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, and Kevin Harvick. Who is fifth? Kyle Busch? Joey Logano? Brad Keselowski? Denny Hamlin? No. It’s Daniel Suarez.
There is just something about The Monster Mile that Suarez has apparently figured out. His highest finish at the track is third. His lowest? 11th. With an average finish of 7.60, Suarez is a very clear option for DFS players at Dover.
Suarez had a top 12 10 lap average in both practice sessions, and will be starting 15th on Sunday. He always seems to find a way to make his way towards the front at this track no matter where he starts. A solid top ten again at Dover would be a great fantasy day for Suarez, and as the 19th priced driver on DraftKings, he should be an absolute steal at his best track this weekend.
Honorable Mentions
Matt DiBenedetto, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer