:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69280645/1317011266.0.jpg)
The rankings below are based on a mixture of expected output and DraftKings’ NASCAR salaries for that day. The ordering is not based on the highest projected fantasy totals, but rather by the value of each driver.
The DraftKings Drydene 200 slate locks at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Refer a friend and get $20 DK Dollars! Head to the DraftKings Playbook Promo page for more details!
1. Justin Allgaier ($10,400) - The best car doesn’t usually win an Xfinity race, and even claiming that a car is the best in this series is a dubious statement. At Darlington, Allgaier was in the right spot on the second to last restart, and he nailed the last restart. That’s all she wrote.
2. Noah Gragson ($9,900) - The #9 team didn’t cheat after all, but they still didn’t win. Gragson had the best car last week. He was cruising to victory until he lost a spot on pit road during a stage 3 caution and he was never able to get back to the lead.
3. Austin Cindric ($11,000) - Passing the leader doesn’t happen much in this series. Most of the changes happen on restarts or pit road. That’s how Cindric got the lead and lost the lead last week. Other than a good restart and a slow pit stop, there is not much to say about his performance.
4. AJ Allmendinger ($10,700) - During several runs last week, Allmendinger worked his way forward. Darlington is an extreme one groove race track and it is very challenging to pass equal cars, but Allmendinger’s Kaulig car was fast and he was able to move forward when others could not.
5. Daniel Hemric ($9,400) - He controlled stage 2 last week, but a poorly timed caution and then a flat tire ruined his chances of a win. Hemric is fine and his car is fine, but he needs a little bit of good fortune to work.
6. Harrison Burton ($9,100) - Pit strategy cycled Burton to the lead last week, but he could not hang on to the lead. This is a moment in his career where he needs to take the next step, but we’re not seeing that growth.
7. John Hunter Nemechek ($10,100) - There were glimpses of Nemechek’s ability in the past, but after a handful of races in the Truck Series, Nemechek has proven he is one of the best young drivers in NASCAR. His equipment isn’t great this weekend and Nemechek will push it to the limit, so a top 5 day is not out of the question, but neither is a DNF.
8. Landon Cassill ($7,700) - This appears to be a car switch for padding points in the standings. The #6 car is on the verge of falling outside of the top 30 because Ryan Vargas wrecks every week. Cassill’s equipment should be fine, but it will be tough to fit him into lineups.
9. Brandon Jones ($9,700) - There were just enough cautions at the end of last week where it felt like a race where Brandon Jones could steal a win. It also felt like a race where he could be one of the cautions. Jones nearly wrecked at the end of stage 2 battling for the lead. That’s par for the course with Brandon Jones.
10. Jeb Burton ($8,300) - He should hang around the top 10 all race. If there is a late race caution and a restart goes his way, he could easily earn a top 5 finish in a Kaulig car. At his price, that might be just enough to be optimal.
Set your DraftKings fantasy NASCAR lineups here: NXS $80K Piston [$20K to 1st] (XFIN)
11. Brandon Brown ($6,900) - Darlington is treacherous. Brown was not having a great day last week, but he was better than 24th. He had to pit for a flat tire during stage 3. Dover doesn’t have to be a bounce back week. Just a normal week will work at this price.
12. Justin Haley ($8,500) - Blake Koch was the initial Kaulig driver. He was decent, but the team wasn’t up to speed with their equipment and the Xfinity Series was much stronger. Haley is only performing slightly better with much better equipment against a very weak field of competitors.
13. Brett Moffitt ($7,200) - He’s cheap because there is likely nowhere for Moffitt to go, but if there are late race restarts, Moffitt could steal a top 5 finish and a place in the optimal lineup. That scenario is unlikely, but it’s not zero. For most of the field, it’s zero.
14. JJ Yeley ($8,100) - Every once in a while, Yeley gets to race decent equipment (Rick Ware Racing), but this week, he’s stepping into some real equipment with Our Motorsports. Yeley has top 10 potential at Dover and the price should not scare anyone away.
15. Josh Williams ($6,700) - Last week, Williams was a popular value play. Of course, he was one of the first drivers to get taken out by inexperienced Xfinity drivers. Williams is more expensive this week, but his starting position compensates for the increase.
16. Ryan Sieg ($7,600) - The Ryan Sieg historians will know that Dover has been one of his best race tracks. Are you a Ryan Sieg historian? Can you name his last three crew chiefs? I got two out of three, how about you?
17. Jade Buford ($4,900) - DFS players have rostered worse drivers in worse equipment starting closer to the front at higher prices. That’s a lot of prepositions, but $4,900 is not an expensive proposition for a decent team (Big Machine Racing) starting in the back.
18. Kyle Sieg ($5,700) - He’s not parking. That’s all you need to know, and all you can know. Sieg has a little bit of ARCA experience, and he’ll have a decent car with an experienced crew chief. If the car doesn’t fail, and he does not wreck, then Sieg will work as one of the value players that fill out rosters.
19. Riley Herbst ($7,900) - Any track that requires skill, DFS player ought to just scratch Herbst name out. The kid bought a ride at the worst possible time. If Herbst were smart, he’d take a year off until practice returns or buy an ARCA ride until 2022. Who knows, maybe SHR cut him a deal?
20. Myatt Snider ($7,400) - He suffered nose damage early in the Darlington race, but he hung around the top 10 all race long. He probably would have done the same thing without the damage. Snider does not look impressive this season.
Set your DraftKings fantasy NASCAR lineups here: NXS $80K Piston [$20K to 1st] (XFIN)
Put your knowledge to the test. Sign up for DraftKings and experience the game inside the game.
For sports betting, head over to DraftKings Sportsbook or download the DraftKings Sportsbook app.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is greenflagradio2) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (NH/CO), 1-800-BETS OFF(IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN).
21+ (18+ NH). CO/IL/IN/IA/NH/NJ/PA/TN/VA/WV/MI only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.