Stockcar racing’s premiere series returns to Talladega for the fifth race of the playoffs. Make the most of the 2023 YellaWood 500 with our NASCAR DFS picks and tiers.
We reveal our “Tire Tiers” and betting cards live every Thursday at 8:30 p.m. EST on our YouTube series, “The Backroad.” Be sure to tune in, enjoy the race and reach out if you have any questions.
(DFS prices are courtesy of DraftKings and Fantrax)
NASCAR DFS Picks, Tiers & Rankings: 2023 YellaWood 500
Driver As | Fast Thoughts
Chris Buescher placed third at Talladega in the spring and is amid a career season across the board with three wins, eight T5s and 14 T10s. Teammate Brad Keselowski has the most Talladega wins (six) among active drivers. He has finished inside the top six at every superspeedway this season, aside from the Daytona 500, where he led 42 laps. I’m trying to fit at least one, if not both, Roush Fenway Keselowski drivers in my NASCAR DFS lineups this week.
Ryan Blaney may have finished second here in the spring, but he had by far the best driver rating at 110.4 – a score 17.3 points higher than the next driver. In addition, the Ohio-born driver has the third-best average finish among actives (15.2) and two wins at Talladega.
Driver Bs | Fast Thoughts
Ross Chastain is finally finding some speed, finishing with a T5 in two of his last four races. “The Melon Man” has two T10s at Talladega in three races since joining Trackhouse Racing, including a win last spring. He’s an enticing leverage play at $8,800 on DraftKings and $23.06 on Fantrax. Chase Briscoe qualified fourth and finished fourth at Talladega in the spring. He also had the fifth-highest driver rating that day at 89.5. Coming off a T10 at Texas and being priced at just $6,4000 on DraftKings and $15.60 on Fantrax makes him my favorite NASCAR DFS value play of the week.
Driver Cs | Fast Thoughts
Erik Jones’ P6 at Talladega in the spring was no fluke, at least according to his sixth-best total speed ranking (courtesy of ifantasyrace.com). It hasn’t been the best of seasons, but the No. 43 car has finished P11 or better in 50% of its last 14 races. Alex Bowman had the ninth-best total speed ranking here in that same race, ultimately finishing 13th. The No. 48 car feels like one of the safest NASCAR DFS values on the board this week. However, the upside may be limited, as it’s been out in front for just 78 laps this season.
Driver Ds | Fast Thoughts
Riley Herbst finished P10 in the Daytona 500, P20 at Talladega and was running well before crashing at Daytona II this season. He’s a NASCAR DFS dart throw to consider, especially on Fantrax for the $5.00 minimum. Another dart throw to consider is JJ Yeley in the No. 51 car. He’s still averaging 22.8 fantasy points per race across his 21 appearances this season.
Driver Fs | Fast Thoughts
If there was ever a week to play Ty Dillon, this might be it. The driver of the No. 77 car has the fourth-best average finish at Talladega, including nine T20s in his 11 career appearances. If he’s not my favorite F-Tier driver this week, it’s BJ McLeod, who finished 18th here in the spring and P23 or better in three of five superspeedway races this season.
Thanks for reading our NASCAR DFS picks and tiers for the 2023 YellaWood 500. Check out more of our racing content and other written work here at In-Between Media, or head over to our YouTube channel to get your fix via video.
*Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports*