Fantasy Insider: Best of the rest, others to avoid at Hope

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Sigh. I made the egregious error of forgetting to update my Yahoo! lineup before the second round of last week's Sony Open. It's doubtful that it will cost me a site-wide championship in the long run, but it hurt to watch Chad Campbell and Robert Allenby card 64 and 67, respectfully, on Friday. I got both guys in there for the weekend, but the damage was already done. My net loss was 12 points.

I received several e-mails last week wondering where my Yahoo! picks are posted. You can find them every week in PGATOUR.COM's Approach Shots, which is usually a Wednesday feature on the site (Tuesday this week due to the early start at the Hope. Click here). I went way off the grid for my team name: "Fantasy Insider." I also Twitter as @BuzzBolton, so any 11th-hour adjustments will get posted there.

Now, while the Bob Hope Classic sets up like a marathon, it's really a series of sprints. In this genuine Old West Shootout, guys will want to keep the trigger depressed to 25-under-par before taking a look around to see who's left standing. Vulnerable pins on short tracks are the compromises to the six-hour rounds with amateurs spread over four courses. Attack!

And, as always, please refer to Monday's Power Rankings for my top 10 (click here for Rankings) .
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See Power Rankings for Bill Haas, Justin Leonard and Ryan Moore

Scott Verplank -- Last year's missed cut ended a run of six consecutive top-25s here, including a T2 in 2006. One of 10 guys to pocket at least seven figures in the tournament's history. Still a valuable commodity in all fantasy formats.

Jason Dufner -- Finished inside the top-10 in greens in regulation at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he capped off a T20 with a back-nine 30 on Sunday. Still a better long-term own, but would make a nice reserve in Yahoo!'s game this week, just in case he heats up.

See Power Rankings for Chad Campbell and Charley Hoffman

Pat Perez -- Although he loves California and the format, the defending champ is too inconsistent as a weekly fantasy commodity for me.

Charles Howell III -- A very popular pick this week following last week's top-5 that ended 66-66-64 (which backed up my suggestion in last week's preview). And he has opened the season strong before, with a T4-T6 bang-bang via Sony-Hope in 2002.

David Toms -- He's never missed a cut here in 10 appearances, but his only top-15 came way back in 2000. There are better places to burn him.

Kevin Na -- Best finish in five starts here is a T47 in 2004. Helps illustrate that his personality might not be best suited for the pro-am format. Similarly poor results at Pebble Beach and Disney corroborate the theory.

Bo Van Pelt -- Although he has failed to break 70 in his first six rounds this year, this could be exactly what he needs to snap out of the funk. Always one of the leaders in birdie average, BVP parlayed that stat into a T5 last year. Just don't lean too heavily. A hot putter was the reason for 32 birdies year ago, not his irons (T42 in greens in regulation). I'm leaving him alone.

Michael Sim -- Finally. Although Turning Stone in October was his first (and only) start via the automatic promotion from the Nationwide Tour, the lane is now clear of obstructions. He can free-wheel it now. I'm expecting him to send a statement this week. He'll be on my bench tomorrow.

Brian Gay -- His T19 here in '09 is his only top-35 in eight appearances. Although he ranked second in putting at the Sony, there are better spots for Gay and better options this week.

Scott Piercy -- Clearly fits with desert golf. As a rookie last year, finished T19 here, T6 at the Waste Management and (faded to a) T14 at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He was the last guy I cut from my Yahoo! lineup this week.

Briny Baird -- Only top-30 in eight starts here came in 2002 (T3), but his T12 at the Sony last week was his best finish since May. If he's emerging from the hole he dug in the second half of 2009, then he won't be encumbered by this week's array of courses.

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Ryan Palmer -- Loved the victory at Waialae, and I don't think enough was made about his ability to shape shots in the wind. With that element discarded at La Quinta, an expected letdown imminent, and much more dynamic options at your disposal, give Palmer the week off.

Carl Pettersson -- The T5 at the Sony was sweet, and it helped validate my salary-league bargain at the top of the year, but his track record at the Hope is suspect. Best finish of five is a T-35 in 2006. Save.

Brandt Snedeker -- Treat this week as an opportunity to observe only. I'm curious to see how his magnificent short game responds to the new "channel" grooves (sorry, there's no resemblance to the old "V-style"). And this is just his second career start here (T60, 2007).

Billy Horschel -- Wasn't going to make my cut, but then he played his final 11 holes at Waialae in bogey-free, 5-under-par. Consider the rookie jitters shaken.

Jeff Quinney -- Deserves a little ink due to his relatively strong history on the West Coast. Placed T4 in 2007 but finished T-50 in '08 and missed the cut last year. Managed a T20 at the Sony despite finishing T61 in greens in regulation. Flier material at best.

Chris Couch -- Fade of the week. While he had a decent first four-fifths of last year's Hope, he hasn't seen live action since late April due to his injured shoulder.

Rob Bolton is PGATOUR.COM's new fantasy columnist. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the PGA TOUR. To contact Rob, please e-mail him at FantasyInsider@charter.net