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Fantasy Superlatives: Handing out the 2019 first-third Kraftys
By RJ Kraft | Published: April 19, 2019 13
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A regular season that began two months ago at Daytona is now just more than a third of the way done. It's a time to assess, evaluate and hand out some early hardware. The 2019 Kraftys honor the highs and lows of Fantasy Live through the first third of the season while looking ahead to what remains. Think the Dundies but Michael Scott is unavailable to host.
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Best single performance in one race: Brad Keselowski
The Team Penske driver has one of two perfect scores by a race winner. His came by leading a resounding 446 laps of 500 at Martinsville. That domination was a boon to fantasy owners in late March.
The Team Penske driver has one of two perfect scores by a race winner. His came by leading a resounding 446 laps of 500 at Martinsville. That domination was a boon to fantasy owners in late March.
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Most pleasant surprise so far: Kurt Busch
The 2004 champ entered the year with three top-10 season standings finishes in the past four years. I don't think many expected him to be the best Chevrolet at his new home of Chip Ganassi Racing. He's been just that with the seventh-most Fantasy Live points; an average of 31.2 points per race.
The 2004 champ entered the year with three top-10 season standings finishes in the past four years. I don't think many expected him to be the best Chevrolet at his new home of Chip Ganassi Racing. He's been just that with the seventh-most Fantasy Live points; an average of 31.2 points per race.
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Most underwhelming play so far: Kyle Larson
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver is 18th in Fantasy Live points and that total would look worse if you removed his Atlanta result. Two of his past three races have seen him total four points and finish last. Our expectations are much higher for a driver this talented.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver is 18th in Fantasy Live points and that total would look worse if you removed his Atlanta result. Two of his past three races have seen him total four points and finish last. Our expectations are much higher for a driver this talented.
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Best cameo appearance in a lineup: Ty Dillon
This award highlights a deep sleeper that stood out in a one-off use this season. At the season-opening Daytona 500, Dillon scored 31 points in a sixth-place finish for 1.07 percent of players. Honorable mention to Michael McDowell, who scored 32 points in the same race for 2.23 percent of players.
This award highlights a deep sleeper that stood out in a one-off use this season. At the season-opening Daytona 500, Dillon scored 31 points in a sixth-place finish for 1.07 percent of players. Honorable mention to Michael McDowell, who scored 32 points in the same race for 2.23 percent of players.
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Best scene stealer: Clint Bowyer on short tracks
The Stewart-Haas Racing driver got off to a slow start as he averaged 22 points in the first five races. Since then, with the benefit of three short-track races in the last four, Bowyer averaged 42 points at that track type. There's only one more short track for the regular season but Bowyer is a must for the Bristol night race.
The Stewart-Haas Racing driver got off to a slow start as he averaged 22 points in the first five races. Since then, with the benefit of three short-track races in the last four, Bowyer averaged 42 points at that track type. There's only one more short track for the regular season but Bowyer is a must for the Bristol night race.
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Hidden Valley peaks & valleys award: Ryan Blaney
22, 27, 15, 44, 42, 48, 16, 46, 12. Those are not lucky numbers from a fortune cookie. They are YRB's point totals from the first nine races of 2019. The positive: He's led the most laps -- 353 -- of a driver yet to win this year. His time in Victory Lane is going to come but there may be some valleys still to get through.
22, 27, 15, 44, 42, 48, 16, 46, 12. Those are not lucky numbers from a fortune cookie. They are YRB's point totals from the first nine races of 2019. The positive: He's led the most laps -- 353 -- of a driver yet to win this year. His time in Victory Lane is going to come but there may be some valleys still to get through.
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Stop panicking he's fourth in points: Kevin Harvick
Is Harvick running like we are accustomed to seeing since he moved to Stewart-Haas Racing? No, but he's still putting together solid races with four results of more than 40 points. His start reminds me a bit of his 2017 start -- SHR's first year with Ford. The speed shown at Bristol and Richmond indicates the dawn is coming.
Is Harvick running like we are accustomed to seeing since he moved to Stewart-Haas Racing? No, but he's still putting together solid races with four results of more than 40 points. His start reminds me a bit of his 2017 start -- SHR's first year with Ford. The speed shown at Bristol and Richmond indicates the dawn is coming.
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Driver most likely to have a drop off: Denny Hamlin
Hamlin's start to 2019 has been great -- two wins and third in Fantasy Live points. That said, I expect him to cool off a bit in the upcoming weeks. You are already kind of seeing that with the lack of stage points in the past two races -- he's had zero. The upcoming schedule also has no true strongholds for him.
Hamlin's start to 2019 has been great -- two wins and third in Fantasy Live points. That said, I expect him to cool off a bit in the upcoming weeks. You are already kind of seeing that with the lack of stage points in the past two races -- he's had zero. The upcoming schedule also has no true strongholds for him.
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Pick to click for a strong second-half: Chase Elliott
Second-half surges have been a thing for the Hendrick Motorsports driver the past two seasons. In the final 13 races of the 2018 regular season, Elliott had seven results of 35 points or more, including six with 40-plus. The point is if you haven’t used him much, it's OK -- there will be plenty of opportunities to do so.
Second-half surges have been a thing for the Hendrick Motorsports driver the past two seasons. In the final 13 races of the 2018 regular season, Elliott had seven results of 35 points or more, including six with 40-plus. The point is if you haven’t used him much, it's OK -- there will be plenty of opportunities to do so.
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Sleeper to watch: Daniel Suarez
Suarez has an average of 32.5 points in the past four races. He already has more stage points than he did last year and the most green flag passes in the series. He's this year's Aric Almirola -- a driver in a new ride that comes into his own. Dover (avg. finish: 6.8) is a great place to use him. William Byron is another driver to watch.
Suarez has an average of 32.5 points in the past four races. He already has more stage points than he did last year and the most green flag passes in the series. He's this year's Aric Almirola -- a driver in a new ride that comes into his own. Dover (avg. finish: 6.8) is a great place to use him. William Byron is another driver to watch.
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The Maalox Masher use savers: Talladega and Daytona
Next week's race at Talladega and the July race at Daytona are great opportunities to save your uses of the top drivers because: 1. The "Big One" always lurks and 2. Certain drivers tend to be better at pack-style racing -- see David Ragan, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Paul Menard among others.
Next week's race at Talladega and the July race at Daytona are great opportunities to save your uses of the top drivers because: 1. The "Big One" always lurks and 2. Certain drivers tend to be better at pack-style racing -- see David Ragan, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Paul Menard among others.
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Most Valuable Driver: Kyle Busch
Busch has the most points in the 2019 Fantasy Live game, has won three races and has scored more than 40 points five times in nine races. He is also the author of one of two perfect scores by a race winner. Honorable mention goes to Joey Logano and his second-most Fantasy Live points in 2019 through nine races.
Busch has the most points in the 2019 Fantasy Live game, has won three races and has scored more than 40 points five times in nine races. He is also the author of one of two perfect scores by a race winner. Honorable mention goes to Joey Logano and his second-most Fantasy Live points in 2019 through nine races.