GOLF

Rocket Classic: Top PGA DFS Picks, Values, and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs on DraftKings

The PGA TOUR heads to the Midwest for a couple of weeks before moving across the pond for the final major of the year. The next two weeks each feature typically low-scoring events that give players a chance to pile up birdies or better and earn important FedExCup points for the playoffs, which are just a few weeks after the Open Championship. This week’s event in Detroit is always a fun one and has drawn probably its strongest field ever to the Detroit Golf Club.

The rebranded Rocket Classic dates back to 2019 and has always been held on this Donald Ross design that is set up for low scoring and plenty of drama. For more details on the field, the course, the weather, and some key stats to track, check out this First Look from RotoGrinders.

Especially in large-field GPP tournaments, you’ll want to make sure to target players who have lower ownership projections than their potential performance.  Finding high-leverage plays is critical for GPP success, so the picks here go against the grain, looking for under-owned options.

All Strokes Gained metrics referenced are from the Rabbit Hole.

Usually, I rely heavily on the Strokes Gained Model in FantasyLabs, which is very predictive of results. I also tend to lean toward players who excel in Strokes Gained: Approach, which is more sustainable week-to-week than a hot putter.

Since these are GPP picks, we can accept more risk in exchange for getting a higher ceiling. High-risk, high-reward options with low ownership create the “boom-or-bust” style lineups that often lead to large-field success. To find guidance for all contest types, check out our full Daily Fantasy Golf coverage each week.

No matter what type of format you prefer, be sure to use the FantasyLabs PGA Models to help you make the best choices. These models use stats and simulations to highlight different players’ strengths and weaknesses. A few critical new stats for GPP play are Perfect% and SimLeverage, which are further explained here.

As you dig into the numbers, you can enjoy the many tools FantasyLabs offers, including the Lineup Optimizer, which effortlessly creates up to 300 lineups. Alternatively, you can use the Lineup Builder if you prefer a more hands-on approach.

Check out my top picks in each price range listed below.

Editor’s note: SimLeverage and Perfect% numbers may change after this piece is published. Be sure to check the PGA Models for any updates to the sims.

Become an All-Access Member Today

Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

Data-driven analysis & tutorials
Become a PRO Member

High-Priced PGA DFS Picks

Note: FantasyLabs has partnered with Betsperts Golf and the Rabbit Hole! Sign up for the biggest database of golf stats available on the internet and get 25% off a yearly sub with our link! 

Unless otherwise noted, all Strokes Gained metrics referenced in this article come via the Rabbit Hole.

Tool Highlights

  • Build unlimited custom stat models with official PGA TOUR data.
  • Hundreds of filters to find the exact data split you’re looking for.
  • Save custom reports and run them again with next week’s field.
  • Download anything right to your computer with the click of a button.
  • See expert models each week.

Keegan Bradley $10,400

After his dramatic win last week, the public seems to expect Captain Keegan to tail off this week in Detroit. In our projections, he has the third-highest ceiling projection, the third-highest median projection, and the third-highest Perfect%, but he only has the fifth-highest ownership projection, which also gives him the fifth-highest SimLeverage. In short, he has a better chance to be in the perfect lineup than he is getting credit for by his ownership projection.

Bradley did not play in Detroit last season but participated in this event in each of the previous four years, making the cut each time and finishing in the top 25 two times. After he won the Travelers in 2023, he finished T21 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Bradley’s win last week seemed unlikely as it unfolded with his late comeback past Tommy Fleetwood, but it wasn’t surprising from a bigger picture perspective since he had great form coming into the event. He has three top-20 finishes in his last four events, preceding his win with a T8 at the PGA Championship and a T7 at the Memorial. He has only missed one cut all season with nine top-25 finishes in his 15 events.

Over the last six months, Bradley leads the field in Total Strokes Gained and ranks second in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. Over the last 12 and the last 16 rounds, he ranks only behind Ben Griffin in Total Strokes Gained, and his short game has also been extremely sharp, ranking him third in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green.

On such a roll and with good success on this track, Bradley should be in the mix again this Sunday, and as we saw last week, the Ryder Cup captain definitely has a flair for the dramatic!

Harry Hall $9,500

Hall ranks just behind Bradley with the sixth-highest SimLeverage in the field. He also has the sixth-highest Perfect% and seventh-highest ceiling projection. Hall has been on an impressive streak lately, and he seems ready to add a second PGA TOUR win soon.

Hall has exceeded salary-based expectations in nine straight tournaments, making the cut in each of those nine events and posting five straight top-25 finishes. He had a T6 at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a T9 at the Travelers in his last three events, giving him four top-10 finishes on the season.

Over the last 20 rounds, Hall leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting and ranks third in Total Strokes Gained. His strong and balanced game allows him to perform well on low-scoring tracks and more difficult layouts. His one PGA TOUR win came just over a year ago at the ISCO Championship, where he finished at -22 to get into the playoff that he won. The winner this week will likely end up around that same level, and Hall definitely has what it takes to compete in birdiefests like this week is expected to be.

He’s getting a little overlooked in the mid-$9,000s and is a great leverage play with a high ceiling this week.

Now available: our PGA DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.

Mid-Priced PGA DFS Picks

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP: Top PGA DFS Picks, Values and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs on DraftKings Sanderson Farms Championship: Top PGA DFS Picks, Values, and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs on DraftKings PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks for the Black Desert Championship on DraftKings PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks for the Shriners Children’s Open on DraftKings

The PGA TOUR heads to the Midwest for a couple of weeks before moving across the pond for the final major of the year. The next two weeks each feature typically low-scoring events that give players a chance to pile up birdies or better and earn important FedExCup points for the playoffs, which are just a few weeks after the Open Championship. This week’s event in Detroit is always a fun one and has drawn probably its strongest field ever to the Detroit Golf Club.

The rebranded Rocket Classic dates back to 2019 and has always been held on this Donald Ross design that is set up for low scoring and plenty of drama. For more details on the field, the course, the weather, and some key stats to track, check out this First Look from RotoGrinders.

Especially in large-field GPP tournaments, you’ll want to make sure to target players who have lower ownership projections than their potential performance.  Finding high-leverage plays is critical for GPP success, so the picks here go against the grain, looking for under-owned options.

All Strokes Gained metrics referenced are from the Rabbit Hole.

Usually, I rely heavily on the Strokes Gained Model in FantasyLabs, which is very predictive of results. I also tend to lean toward players who excel in Strokes Gained: Approach, which is more sustainable week-to-week than a hot putter.

Since these are GPP picks, we can accept more risk in exchange for getting a higher ceiling. High-risk, high-reward options with low ownership create the “boom-or-bust” style lineups that often lead to large-field success. To find guidance for all contest types, check out our full Daily Fantasy Golf coverage each week.

No matter what type of format you prefer, be sure to use the FantasyLabs PGA Models to help you make the best choices. These models use stats and simulations to highlight different players’ strengths and weaknesses. A few critical new stats for GPP play are Perfect% and SimLeverage, which are further explained here.

As you dig into the numbers, you can enjoy the many tools FantasyLabs offers, including the Lineup Optimizer, which effortlessly creates up to 300 lineups. Alternatively, you can use the Lineup Builder if you prefer a more hands-on approach.

Check out my top picks in each price range listed below.

Editor’s note: SimLeverage and Perfect% numbers may change after this piece is published. Be sure to check the PGA Models for any updates to the sims.

Become an All-Access Member Today

Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

Data-driven analysis & tutorials
Become a PRO Member

High-Priced PGA DFS Picks

Note: FantasyLabs has partnered with Betsperts Golf and the Rabbit Hole! Sign up for the biggest database of golf stats available on the internet and get 25% off a yearly sub with our link! 

Unless otherwise noted, all Strokes Gained metrics referenced in this article come via the Rabbit Hole.

Tool Highlights

  • Build unlimited custom stat models with official PGA TOUR data.
  • Hundreds of filters to find the exact data split you’re looking for.
  • Save custom reports and run them again with next week’s field.
  • Download anything right to your computer with the click of a button.
  • See expert models each week.

Keegan Bradley $10,400

After his dramatic win last week, the public seems to expect Captain Keegan to tail off this week in Detroit. In our projections, he has the third-highest ceiling projection, the third-highest median projection, and the third-highest Perfect%, but he only has the fifth-highest ownership projection, which also gives him the fifth-highest SimLeverage. In short, he has a better chance to be in the perfect lineup than he is getting credit for by his ownership projection.

Bradley did not play in Detroit last season but participated in this event in each of the previous four years, making the cut each time and finishing in the top 25 two times. After he won the Travelers in 2023, he finished T21 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Bradley’s win last week seemed unlikely as it unfolded with his late comeback past Tommy Fleetwood, but it wasn’t surprising from a bigger picture perspective since he had great form coming into the event. He has three top-20 finishes in his last four events, preceding his win with a T8 at the PGA Championship and a T7 at the Memorial. He has only missed one cut all season with nine top-25 finishes in his 15 events.

Over the last six months, Bradley leads the field in Total Strokes Gained and ranks second in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. Over the last 12 and the last 16 rounds, he ranks only behind Ben Griffin in Total Strokes Gained, and his short game has also been extremely sharp, ranking him third in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green.

On such a roll and with good success on this track, Bradley should be in the mix again this Sunday, and as we saw last week, the Ryder Cup captain definitely has a flair for the dramatic!

Harry Hall $9,500

Hall ranks just behind Bradley with the sixth-highest SimLeverage in the field. He also has the sixth-highest Perfect% and seventh-highest ceiling projection. Hall has been on an impressive streak lately, and he seems ready to add a second PGA TOUR win soon.

Hall has exceeded salary-based expectations in nine straight tournaments, making the cut in each of those nine events and posting five straight top-25 finishes. He had a T6 at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a T9 at the Travelers in his last three events, giving him four top-10 finishes on the season.

Over the last 20 rounds, Hall leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting and ranks third in Total Strokes Gained. His strong and balanced game allows him to perform well on low-scoring tracks and more difficult layouts. His one PGA TOUR win came just over a year ago at the ISCO Championship, where he finished at -22 to get into the playoff that he won. The winner this week will likely end up around that same level, and Hall definitely has what it takes to compete in birdiefests like this week is expected to be.

He’s getting a little overlooked in the mid-$9,000s and is a great leverage play with a high ceiling this week.

Now available: our PGA DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.

Mid-Priced PGA DFS Picks

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP: Top PGA DFS Picks, Values and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs on DraftKings Sanderson Farms Championship: Top PGA DFS Picks, Values, and Sleepers for Large-Field GPPs on DraftKings PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks for the Black Desert Championship on DraftKings PGA DFS: Top Cash Game Picks for the Shriners Children’s Open on DraftKings

About the Author

Zach Thompson writes NBA, MLB, NFL, golf and soccer content for Fantasy Labs. Zach's fantasy experience dates all the way back to high school when he would manually tabulate fantasy football scores using Tuesday morning's newspaper. Even though he was raised on the island of Guam on the opposite side of the world, Zach is a hardcore Boston sports fan who loves playing fantasy sports in almost any format. He's always in search of a great bargain play and keeps a close eye out for rising talent that can provide leverage. Zach joined the FantasyLabs team in 2022 and is also a contributor for DraftKings Network.