2022 Wells Fargo Championship: Fantasy Golf Dark Horses

The Wells Fargo Championship will be held at TPC Potomac this year because the President’s Cup is being held at Quail Hollow. TPC Potomac plays differently than Quail Hollow as this course puts a premium on accuracy, whereas Quail Hollow is a bombers paradise.

No matter where the Wells Fargo Championship is held scoring tends to be difficult and this week is likely to be no exception. The model this week takes into account the last 36 rounds and is heavy on off-the-tee and approach. Four different driving stats make up off-the-tee and four different approach stats make up approach. The model also considers around-the-green, putting on Bentgrass, bogey avoidance, and a little birdie or better. In addition to TPC Potomac course history, the two comparable courses in the model are TPC River Highlands and Colonial Country Club.

The purpose of this article is not to provide an exact lineup for a specific fantasy provider, but to highlight some dark horse options to complement the expensive players in fantasy lineups.

Fantasy Golf Dark Horses For The 2022 Wells Fargo Championship

Keith Mitchell

I was surprised to see where he was priced in various fantasy leagues. He hasn’t played in a stroke-play event in nearly two months so perhaps they think he’s going to be rusty? With the exception of course comps, his stats are similar in every category to Rory McIlroy’s. He’s number two overall off-the-tee and top 20 in putting. He’s ninth in birdie or better and 15th in bogey avoidance so the expectation is for Killa to put up way more circles than squares on the scorecard this week.

Sepp Straka

Straka continues to get disrespected with his pricing in fantasy leagues. He’s made the cut in nine of his last 10 with three top 10s, including a win, in his last five. He bogeyed 18 to miss a playoff by one shot in his last outing at the RBC Heritage. He doesn’t have a single red number in the stats from this year in my model. He excels in bogey avoidance, birdie or better, greens in regulation, and approaches from 175-200 yards ranking in the top 10 in the field in each.

Russell Knox

He’s number one in the field in greens in regulation, number two in good drives gained, and number four in approach. He’s gained shots tee-to-green in his last seven starts and that’s a recipe for success at TPC Potomac. He’s missed two cuts in a row but on two completely different courses. This course suits his game and prior to the last two events, he had made seven cuts in a row. He struggles on the greens, ranking in the bottom of the field in putting on bent, but with his ball-striking numbers, it’s worth taking a chance on him rolling them in and rostering Knox.

Martin Laird

Despite not celebrating his 40th birthday until December, it feels as if Martin Laird has been around forever. Laird finished T3 at the Quicken Loans National on this very course in 2017 and he has a decent track record on comparable courses. On a course where hitting fairways is crucial, it’s encouraging that he leads the field in good drives gained. He’s top 10 in the field in approach and ranks third overall in my model. The Bentgrass putting is a bit of a concern but it’s worth taking a shot on Laird at what he’s going to be priced at it in various fantasy leagues.

Lucas Glover

He’s a guy with no glaring weaknesses coming into this event after three consecutive made cuts. He’s above average in every key stat and excels on approach. His biggest shortcoming is around-the-green, and he’s gained ARG in his last two starts. He will likely face the wrath of his wife if he misses the cut, and nobody wants to see that, so play Glover and hope he makes the cut for everyone’s sake.