BACK TO GALLERIES
Fantasy Fastlane: Hollywood Casino 400
By RJ Kraft | Published: October 17, 2017 15
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
1 of 15
Cindy Gonzalez/NDM
Editor's note: Fantasy Fastlane will look at each race from a fantasy perspective, examining the outlook for the top drivers as well as three sleepers and two value plays based on NASCAR Fantasy Live prices. NASCAR.com fantasy expert RJ Kraft breaks down the drivers you want in your lineup for this week.
PLAY NOW: Sign up for Fantasy Live today
2 of 15
Josh Hedges/Getty Images
Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 48 ChevroletFantasy Live price: $23.25
Fastlane forecast: Johnson is a three-time winner at Kansas and has two straight top-four finishes in the fall playoff race. He has notched top 10s in both playoff races at intermediate tracks. There is a Round of 8 spot on the line so expect the 48 to come to play in a big way.
3 of 15
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Brad Keselowski
Team Penske, No. 2 FordFantasy Live price: $25.75
Fastlane forecast: Last weekend's winner is comfortably into the Round of 8. Keselowski does have one win at Kansas and notched a runner-up finish in the spring. The team's Charlotte run two weeks ago was a little concerning regarding its intermediate program.
4 of 15
Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
Chase Elliott
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 ChevroletFantasy Live price: $26.25
Fastlane forecast: Elliott's last two Kansas races have resulted in 31st- and 29th-place finishes. Despite that, the second-year driver is a strong play. He has two runner-up finishes at both intermediate tracks in the playoffs and he's led 218 laps in the last five races. Ride the hot hand.
5 of 15
Tim Bradbury/Getty Images
Jamie McMurray
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 1 ChevroletFantasy Live price: $26.50
Fastlane forecast: McMurray has an average finish of 8.4 in the eight races this year on tracks in the 1.5-mile range – he has never finished outside the top 12. Unfortunately for him, he is going to have to take some chances for a win at a track where he has just four top 10s in 21 starts.
6 of 15
Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
Matt Kenseth
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 ToyotaFantasy Live price: $26.75
Fastlane forecast: Kenseth has two wins at Kansas and holds the second-best driver rating in the loop data era (106.5). However, the 2003 champion has yet to lead a lap at a 1.5-mile range track all year and that makes this a tough play to make despite the favorable track history.
7 of 15
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Kevin Harvick
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 FordFantasy Live price: $27.00
Fastlane forecast: The defending race winner has two wins at Kansas. His last eight races here include the two wins, four other top-three finishes and 476 laps led. He holds a pair of third-place finishes in the two previous intermediate track races this postseason making this a strong play.
8 of 15
Josh Hedges/Getty Images
Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 ToyotaFantasy Live price: $27.50
Fastlane forecast: Kansas used to be a house of horrors for the 2015 champion with just two top 10s in his first 14 starts. However, his last five starts here have produced a win and five top-five finishes. The 2015 champ needs a good day to advance and we expect to see him up front.
9 of 15
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Kyle Larson
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 ChevroletFantasy Live price: $27.75
Fastlane forecast: Larson has a 7.8 average finish in the eight 1.5-mile range races this season. However, he has just two top 10s at Kansas – with an average finish of 18.4 in seven starts here. He has been solid all season, but this feels like a week to trust Harvick or Elliott a little more.
10 of 15
Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr.
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 ToyotaFantasy Live price: $28.00
Fastlane forecast: Truex is the most recent winner at Kansas as the spring race is one of his five wins on 1.5-mile range tracks this season. It's been documented here many times how great the 78 camp is on intermediates. Even with a Round of 8 spot locked in, this is the driver to build around.
11 of 15
Chris Trotman/Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Daniel Suarez
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 ToyotaFantasy Live price: $22.75
Fastlane forecast: Suarez has quietly come on strong in the waning months of his rookie season. He has an average finish of 9.0 in his last six races. On top of that, he finished seventh at Kansas in the spring so there is lots to like here.
12 of 15
Jerry Markland/Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Ty Dillon
Germain Racing, No. 13 ChevroletFantasy Live price: $18.00
Fastlane forecast: Dillon notched a 14th-place finish at Kansas in the spring. He has been a solid source for place differential with a +7.4 average over the past seven races. The rookie makes a nice sleeper pairing play with Ryan Blaney.
13 of 15
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
SLEEPER PICK: Ryan Blaney
Wood Brothers Racing, No. 21 FordFantasy Live price: $17.00
Fastlane forecast: Blaney sat on the pole in the spring race at Kansas ahead of an 83-lap led, fourth-place effort. He has three top-seven finishes at this track and has been one of the best at intermediates all year long.
14 of 15
Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
VALUE PICK: Michael McDowell
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 ChevroletFantasy Live price: $10.25
Fastlane forecast: McDowell finished 13th at Kansas in the spring -- his second-best finish of the season. On top of that, he has a +16.5 average place differential in his last two starts here.
15 of 15
Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
VALUE PICK: Landon Cassill
Front Row Motorsports, No. 34 FordFantasy Live price: $6.00
Fastlane forecast: Cassill holds a +8.3 average place differential in his last six starts at Kansas. In his last seven starts this year, he has finished in a better spot from where he started six times.