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Fantasy Fastlane: Ford EcoBoost 400
By RJ Kraft | Published: November 15, 2017 15
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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.
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Erik Jones
Furniture Row Racing, No. 77 ToyotaFantasy Live price: $25.50
Fastlane forecast: Jones is moving back to JGR next year but the Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate has shown sharp speed over the bulk of the year. While he has no Monster Energy Series starts at Miami, the Toyotas have been stout on intermediates all year long.
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Matt Kenseth
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 20 ToyotaFantasy Live price: $26.50
Fastlane forecast: Kenseth is finishing out his JGR tenure strong with a win at Phoenix. The Wisconsin native has a solid history at Miami with one win in this race and four straight top-seven finishes. He also holds the top average running position (8.479) in the loop data era.
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Brad Keselowski
Team Penske, No. 2 FordFantasy Live price: $26.75
Fastlane forecast: Keselowski's 15.9 average finish at Miami overshadows three top-six finishes in his last four starts there. The bigger concern? His 13.1 average finish at intermediates this year. He is in the title race, but is the clear statistical underdog.
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Kyle Larson
Chip Ganassi Racing, No. 42 ChevroletFantasy Live price: $27.00
Fastlane forecast: Four straight DNFs are cause for concern, but Miami is one of Larson’s best tracks. The Ganassi driver loves riding against the fence and going to the high line here. He led 132 laps last year en route to a runner-up finish in this race.
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Chase Elliott
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 ChevroletFantasy Live price: $27.25
Fastlane forecast: Elliott has only one Monster Energy Series start at Miami, but the way he has run in these playoffs provides plenty to consider. He has two runner-ups and an average finish 4.0 on the 1.5-mile tracks in the playoffs. That makes for an intriguing play.
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Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 ToyotaFantasy Live price: $27.25
Fastlane forecast: After the heartbreak of last weekend's elimination, Miami is a welcome site for Hamlin as he has two wins there. The JGR driver has been dialed in on 1.5-mile tracks in the playoffs with an average finish of 4.0 and four top fives in four such races.
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Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 18 ToyotaFantasy Live price: $27.75
Fastlane forecast: The Championship 4 finalist won this race in 2015 to secure his lone Monster Energy Series title to date. He has four top-seven finishes in his last five Miami races, despite a 19.8 average finish here. Trust in the speed that has been there all year.
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Kevin Harvick
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 4 FordFantasy Live price: $28.00
Fastlane forecast: The Championship 4 finalist won here in 2014 to earn his title. He holds the best average finish (6.9) in Sunday's field and has three straight top-three finishes. Don't forget, he ran down Truex at Texas. No one else has done that lately on a 1.5-mile track.
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Martin Truex Jr.
Furniture Row Racing, No. 78 ToyotaFantasy Live price: $28.50
Fastlane forecast: Truex has been a beast on 1.5-mile tracks with six of his seven 2017 wins coming on that track type. His 9.638 average running position at Miami is fourth-best among Sunday's field. Trust what has been there all year for the Championship 4 finalist.
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SLEEPER PICK: Daniel Suarez
Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 ToyotaFantasy Live price: $23.00
Fastlane forecast: While yet to make a Monster Energy Series start at Miami, Suarez won the 2016 XFINITY title by winning here last year. With just two finishes outside the top 15 in his last 10 races, the rookie is worth a look.
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SLEEPER PICK: Clint Bowyer
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 14 FordFantasy Live price: $22.50
Fastlane forecast: Prior to 2015, Bowyer had eight top-12 finishes in nine Miami starts. While SHR's move to Ford has led to some growing pains, this year has reminded us of Bowyer's talent after some lean years.
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SLEEPER PICK: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hendrick Motorsports, No. 88 ChevroletFantasy Live price: $14.50
Fastlane forecast: Consider this a sentimental choice. Yes, you should leave emotion at the door in fantasy, but Miami marks Junior's last start in the No. 88. He enters with six top-12 finishes in his last seven races in 2017.
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VALUE PICK: Danica Patrick
Stewart-Haas Racing, No. 10 FordFantasy Live price: $12.50
Fastlane forecast: In four starts at Miami, Danica has an average place differential of +10 and three top-20 finishes here. This race will mark Patrick’s last run in the No. 10 car.
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VALUE PICK: Michael McDowell
Leavine Family Racing, No. 95 ChevroletFantasy Live price: $9.00
Fastlane forecast: McDowell notched a top 10 here last year and has a double-digit place differential in two of his last three Miami races. His 22.2 average finish in '17 is a career-best.