Daily Fantasy Golf Helper: Vivint Houston Open

By now, you've probably dabbled in daily fantasy sports, but if not, don't worry. Now is a great time to start, especially with FanDuel's daily fantasy golf offering.

Golf can be one of the most exciting DFS sports to follow, as tournaments span four days and allow ample time to prepare each week. It's a great balance between time to research and time spent tracking your team.

But whether you're brand new to the PGA or daily fantasy sports in general, we have you covered -- and we have daily fantasy golf projections and lineup building tools, too.

Let's take a look at some golfers to target this week.

Key Stats

[Editor's Note: The course will play as a par 70 and not as a par 72 as previously reported.]

The stretch of relatively unknown courses continues. The Houston Open is transferring to Memorial Park Golf Course, a par 72 70 that stretches over 7,400 yards. Mike Rodden points out that this is a municipal course, so the greens should be very puttable for Tour pros. For a more detailed breakdown on the course, check out our course primer from Mike.

With uncertainties on a new course, I find it best to keep it a straightforward stats list with ball-striking and scoring, especially when the course looks very gettable.

Stats cited below come from FantasyNational and include the past 50 rounds on the PGA Tour, and putting surface splits include the past 100 rounds when possible, unless noted. Ranks are among the field.

High-Salaried Plays

Dustin Johnson (FanDuel Salary: $12,200 | FanDuel Sportsbook Win Odds: +750) - There's really no reason from a process standpoint to nitpick DJ at this salary, which isn't really in a tier of its own relative to the other studs. The key reason you could make for fading Johnson is just popularity from a tournament perspective. Johnson is just a cash-game lock, really. He leads the field in total strokes gained average, opportunities gained (a FantasyNational stat that effectively equates to birdie chances), birdie or better rate gained, and par 4 strokes gained. Johnson is 39th in Bermuda putting, as well.

Tyrrell Hatton ($11,700 | +1600) - There is kind of a big five this week with Johnson, Hatton, Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka, and Tony Finau, and it's really hard to bump down to the $10,000 range as a result. That said, for multiple studs to pay off, there needs to be big value because only one -- at most -- can get a win bonus. But Hatton ranks fifth in strokes gained: approach and second in birdie or better rate. He's also 26th in Bermuda putting over a 66-round sample.

Others to Consider:
Hideki Matsuyama ($11,600 | +2000) - Stellar tee-to-green golfer who may putt better than usual due to unproblematic muni greens.
Sungjae Im ($10,900 | +3100) - Great Bermuda splits and irons are trending back in a big way.
Doc Redman ($10,400 | +4000) - In contention last week and has three top-fives in the past six starts; ranks 26th tee to green over the past 50 rounds.

Mid-Salaried Plays

Brian Harman ($9,900 | +5500) - The red flag with Harman is the approach play (90th), which is a vital stat, but he's still 39th in strokes gained: tee to green despite that. Harman is 36th in Bermuda putting over the past 100 rounds and could stay in contention due to a possible accuracy angle (30th in fairways gained).

Talor Gooch ($9,500 | +6500) - Gooch is a balanced golfer without really any issues in his profile. Gooch is top-55 in strokes gained: off the tee, approach, and around the green. That's not elite, of course, but he doesn't do anything poorly, and that can keep him in contention when one aspect of his game isn't clicking. He's 31st in birdie or better rate, as well.

Sam Burns ($9,300 | +8000) - Burns ranks 3rd in strokes gained: off the tee (1st in distance and 86th in fairways gained) but combines to rank 6th in birdie or better rate gained and 5th in opportunities gained. Burns also gets a boost on Bermuda, where he is third in strokes gained: putting over 96 rounds.

Others to Consider:
Erik Van Rooyen ($9,300 | +8000) - A great tee-to-green golfer (12th) and is 12th in birdie or better rate; just 10 measured rounds putting on Bermuda, though.
Kevin Streelman ($9,100 | +9000) - Is 25th tee-to-green and in birdie or better rate gained plus top-35 in both ball-striking stats. Is terrible on Bermuda (118th).
Dylan Frittelli ($9,100 | +8000) - A balanced overall golfer (16th off the tee, 61st in approach, 15th around the green); is best on Bermuda but still a negative.

Low-Salaried Plays

Cameron Tringale ($8,800 | +9000) - By this salary range, we're really stretching out the win equity because it's so concentrated at the top. Tringale rates out well enough in my win projections, though, primarily because he's good tee to green (33rd). He's 16th in approach, specifically, and he ranks 48th when putting on Bermuda.

Adam Schenk ($8,700 | +9000) - Schenk is someone I've been playing for weeks now. He's 28th in Bermuda putting, top-45 in both distance and fairways gained, and 29th in birdie or better rate gained overall. Schenk has played the weekend in 10 straight events and has been 32nd or better in three straight events, as well.

Others to Consider:
Sepp Straka ($8,400 | +10000) - Irons are hot and cold but can get really hot at times; 21st a week ago at the Bermuda Championship and positive strokes gained in five straight.
Tom Hoge ($8,100 | +15000) - Is 12th in opportunities gained and 36th in strokes gained: approach. Can struggle with the driver and short game but has the irons; best surface is Bermuda.
Danny Lee ($7,800 | +15000) - Data is all over the place and losing strokes with the putter is a near guarantee but ball-striking can lead to a top-25 with fantasy points (25th in birdie or better rate).