The Daytona 500 provided a typically entertaining start to the NASCAR Cup Series season last Sunday, complete with massive wrecks that took out nearly half the field and likely made things particularly frustrating for fantasy players. If you had a lot riding on guys like Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth, you're probably ready to quit DFS racing. Don't give up, though. Remember that while big accidents are the norm at restrictor-plate tracks such as Daytona, they are far less common at tracks like Atlanta Motor Speedway, where the QuikTrip 500 takes place this weekend. Whereas last week had a lot of luck involved, this week will be more predictable.
If you're looking for someone who thrives at this 1.5-mile intermediate track, you'll have to pay up for Jimmie Johnson ($10,600), who led 92 laps and took the checkered flag in 2015 and followed it up with an overtime win last year. Overall, he he has five wins (four at this particular race) and 14 Top-5's in his career at Atlanta, but the expensive price tag will make him one of the more interesting lineup decisions this week.
As always with DraftKings NASCAR, remember the importance of finishing position. Take last week's Daytona 500 for example. The top three finishers were Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney and AJ Allmendinger, but because Busch started eighth, he scored just 56 DK points while Blaney (started 36th) racked up 82 and Allmendinger (started 38th) tallied 80.
With all that in mind, you can click through the gallery for my ideal DraftKings lineup for the QuikTrip 500, or you can click here for more DFS analysis and picks. (Getty)
Jimmie Johnson
Price: $10,600
I just don't see any way you can fade him here. Not only has Johnson been massively successful at Atlanta, winning the last two races here and five total throughout his career, but he also typically crushes 1.5-mile intermediate tracks, and the starting position gives him plenty of room to move up and add to his DraftKings total. He may be the most expensive option, but he has the highest floor and ceiling of anyone. Just like the girl The Weeknd sings about, Jimmie Johnson is worth it. And that's the first time that sentence has ever been written in history. (Getty)
Chase Elliott
Price: $9,300
It's only a matter of time before the talented 21-year-old gets his first Cup Series win. He nearly did it last week at Daytona, and he stands as another good bet here. Not only did he pick up an eighth-place finish at Atlanta last year, but in 12 races at 1.5-mile intermediate tracks, he piled up seven Top-10 finishes (and in one of the races in which he didn't finish Top 10 he still led for 103 laps). With the way Elliott and the No. 24 car have looked so far this season, he not only has a favorable shot to move up from 11th, but he should rack up some fast laps and laps led, as well. (Getty)
Matt Kenseth
Price: $8,600
Even before qualifying, I liked Kenseth this week. He's a potential low-ownership play because of his dreadful showing at Daytona (40th-place finish, negative-26 DraftKings points), but this is a guy who has 10 Top-5's in his career at Atlanta, who is currently in the midst of eight consecutive Top-10 finishes at 1.5-mile intermediate tracks, and who turned in the fourth-fastest time during practice. He's my pick to win, and now that he's starting 16th, his outlook is even better. (Getty)
Kasey Kahne
Price: $8,000
Most likely a chalk pick, but it will be tough to pass up Kahne--especially in cash-game formats--now that he's starting 29th. He had the seventh-fastest time during practice and he has had a ton of success at Atlanta with three career wins, so now that he's starting near the back there's obviously massive upside here. Maybe consider fading him in GPP, but ultimately he's a very strong pick in all formats. (Getty)
Ryan Newman
Price: $7,600
Newman brings some risk to the table because of his starting position, but this is a guy who had the fastest time during practice, looked great again during qualifying (obviously, since he's starting second), and is clearly comfortable here with a record seven poles. That hasn't always translated to success, as he has yet to win at Atlanta, but he does have three Top-10's in his last four trips here. (Getty)
David Ragan
Price: $5,900
We need a value pick with all the other expensive options, and Ragan is just the man for the job at $5,900. He probably won't crack the Top 15 or anything, but with a starting position of 34th (which was the result of going into the wall rather the speed of his car), all he really needs is a mid-to-late 20's finish and he should provide good value at this price. (Getty)
DraftKings NASCAR Lineup: QuikTrip 500 2017 Picks