6 DFS 2018 US Open Deep Sleepers

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The US Open is always my favorite major, but it is also one of the hardest to predict, so take the necessary precautions with my 2018 US Open Deep Sleepers.

Now, that doesn't mean I am throwing random darts. Alexander Levy and Si Woo Kim just missed the cut while the remaining 2/3 of my deep sleeper picks from the Players Championship preview all made the cut.  And that included the "Barn Rat" who finished in the top 30. However, you won't see Aphibarnrat appearing below as his salary is now above our sleeper line.

As I said, these are my 2018 US Open Deep Sleepers. We are going bottom of the ocean deep, as our sleeper line is those that cost $7K on DraftKings and below.

However, just in time for the US Open, Yahoo is releasing their golf DFS game as well. And while putting together a lineup in Yahoo is equally as hard/easy as the other sites, it is completely different pricing. But if you choose three players at the Yahoo minimum cost of $20, you can easily fit in three top-line studs. So let's start with four players at that $20 mark:

2018 US Open Deep Sleepers

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Yahoo Minimum Priced Players

Andrew "Beef" Johnston ($20 Yahoo, $6900 DraftKings)

One of my favorite personalities on the European Tour, I find it very hard not to roster him when he makes the trip across the pond. I mean how can you not love a guy who lists "cartoons" as one of his "special interests"?

But Johnston has the game to match his charm. He's made 9 of 12 cuts this season with two top tens. And given that he has made the cut both times that he played the US Open in '16 and '17, I think he makes it three in a row.

Steve Stricker ($20 Yahoo, $6900 DraftKings)

Unlike Johnson, I am sure you are familiar with Striker. Perhaps you recall him winning one of his dozen career victories. Either way, what makes Stricker both attractive yet qualify as a sleeper is his price.

But that's about it. When you've been ranked 3rd in the FedEx Cup, you're not flying under anyone's radar.  If you're expecting him to be low-owned, try again. Stricker is likely to have the highest ownership of any player less than $7K or his $20 Yahoo price.

Contrarians should look elsewhere, but if you need a super cheap stud, he's the choice. But if the 51-year old Stricker is too old for you, how about someone barely old enough to drink?

Braden Thornberry ($20 Yahoo, $6700 DraftKings)

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Thornberry is still a collegiate player, but he looks like an experienced PGA player already.

He played two PGA events this year before successfully qualifying this week. Those two events were the RSM Classic and the recent St. Jude Classic where he finished just one stroke out of the top 25. Yes, he made the cut in both and shot three rounds of 66 or better between the two tournaments.

This will be Thornberry's first major, but at his current pace, it will be one of dozens. Don't be surprised if his coming out party continues to be a loud one.

Matt Jones  ($20 Yahoo, $6600 DraftKings)

Jones, on the other hand, has made far less noise. He has yet to show he is an elite PGA player, partly because he has yet to put four solid rounds together.

Most recently at the Byron Nelson, he had three strong rounds but failed to capitalize by shooting a par-71 on Day 4. Jones is in danger of losing his PGA eligibility. He has to win this year to keep his card, but don't be surprised if he has the best round of any day. And maybe, just maybe, he puts four solid rounds together.

But I realize Jones is pretty much scraping the bottom of the barrel and not everyone is going to rush to play on Yahoo, so let's look at some other options for 2018 US Open deep sleepers.

Other Options

Chesson Hadley ($26 Yahoo $7000 DraftKings)

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Hadley is if nothing else a cut maker as he's made 18 out of 20 cuts this year. But he's more than just consistent. He is currently 16th in the FedEx Cup rankings and has a dozen Top-25s already this year.

Those dozen Top-25 were achieved in part to his ranking 39th in GIR percentage. Given how important it is to keep the ball in the fairway during a US Open, he's well worth the $7,000 investment, right?

Brendan Steele  ($28 Yahoo $6800 DraftKings)

Yahoo has Steele listed as $28. Think that maybe DraftKings has him under-priced? Recall that Steele has missed only one cut all year. Yes, he usually plays a few less tournaments than many of his fellow Americans but he's made at least 19 cuts each of the last three years.

Steele's issue is his putting, but this course is far less punishing on poor putts than most PGA courses. Steele is one of the most accurate players with his irons and ranks 10th in GIR percentage. But he's not just accurate, he's powerful too and is currently 13th in driving distance. Its why he is one of my favorite 2018 US Open deep sleepers.

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