Fantasy Insider: Analysis for the Northern Trust Open

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It appears that the peak of the weather system moving through the area will occur on Friday. Therefore, it's too soon to lean on either wave as a beneficiary, so stay in touch via Twitter or email and we'll revisit later.

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NORTHERN TRUST

Inside the Field
Inside the Course
Power Rankings

Meanwhile, if you're not aware, I also maintain a series of helpful lists for golf fans and fantasy gamers alike. At the top of this page, click on PLAYERS. Then, off to the right, you'll see links to "Reshuffle," "Medical extensions," "Majors" and "Rookies." They are updated weekly or whenever appropriate. The "Majors" feature has been expanded to include qualifiers for the three World Golf Championships on the FedExCup schedule as well as THE PLAYERS. Consider bookmarking what you need there for future reference.

Power Rankings Plus

11. Jason Day ... First start since a T20 at the Sony Open. While he's completed just eight rounds this year, he was par or better in all of them, and he leads the PGA TOUR in the all-around ranking.

12. Robert Karlsson ... He's made a couple of appearances here -- none since 2007 -- but the 41-year-old PGA TOUR rookie is playing some of the best golf of his life, with top-six paydays in his last four starts worldwide. That includes the default victory at the Dubai World Championship, where he was the beneficiary of Ian Poulter's penalty.

13. D.A. Points ... Makes a return appearance in Power Rankings Plus, where he sat 13th last week as well. Too grounded and well-balanced to suffer a letdown. Plus, he's already had a career year. En route to his breakthrough at Pebble Beach, he led the field in putting and co-led in eagles and birdies. Overall, he's 12th on TOUR in birdies or better on par 4s.

14. Steve Marino ... Like Tommy Gainey in Scottsdale the week before, Marino couldn't go wire-to-wire at Pebble Beach, but he did notch his second top-five in four starts this season. His ball-striking was impeccable at the AT&T, too, where he placed T2 in fairways and third in greens hit. Shared fifth at last year's Northern Trust.

15. Rory Sabbatini ... With a win (2006) and nine paydays in 11 starts here, he's fifth in all-time earnings at Riviera. Worth a bench spot as a sniper in the Yahoo! game if you're saving elsewhere. Enters on the heels of consecutive top 25s the last two weeks.

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Power Rankings Distribution for Yahoo! (rank)

Group A ... Phil Mickelson (1); Luke Donald (3); Matt Kuchar (4); Dustin Johnson (8); Marc Leishman (10); Steve Marino (14); Rory Sabbatini (15)

Group B ... Steve Stricker (2); Bubba Watson (6); Bill Haas (7); Tom Gillis (9); D.A. Points (13)

Group C ... J.B. Holmes (5); Jason Day (11); Robert Karlsson (12)

Dark Horse (Yahoo! Group)

Hunter Mahan (B) ... One top 20 in five starts here, but the wedding band is agreeing with him. The newlywed closed with a 66 at Pebble Beach to put the heat on D.A. Points, but settled for the runner-up. Mahan was T4 in greens hit and third in putting last week. His game around the greens is also improving.

Robert Allenby (B) ... It's astounding that this is the 10th anniversary of his victory here in the six-man playoff in the rain. He won again later in 2001, but his 3-wood to five feet is the indelible image from that season. While he's off to a terrible start this year, Riviera is the kind of venue where he can regain some magic.

Aaron Baddeley (C) ... En route to a share of sixth place at Pebble Beach -- his earliest top 10 in four years -- he ranked T7 in greens hit and fourth in putting. That's an insane ratio, but it might be the latest example of a renaissance after returning to coach, Dale Lynch. Badds is currently 26th on TOUR in greens in regulation. Since his rookie year of 2003, he's never finished better than 164th in GIR. He's also 8-for-8 at this event.

Cameron Beckman (C) ... Three top 25s in four starts already this year. Ranks third in birdies or better on par 4s. He's cashed in his last four starts at Riviera, but hasn't cracked a top 40 over the last three. Epitome of a Dark Horse this week.

Alex Prugh (B) ... It's not the roaring start to his rookie campaign of 2010, but he's holding his own, posting top 25s in each of his last two starts. Placed T10 here last year, with just six holes over par. West Coaster is in a comfort zone.

Chad Campbell (B) ... I learned long ago not to lean on his attractive splits. He's one of the few where course history matters most, and he'll be overlooked coming off missed cuts in his last two starts. However, he's cashed in all nine of his appearances at this event. Makes me believe that Riviera just fits his eye.

Jimmy Walker (C) ... Being a first-time father (as of June 2010), I was inclined to lean on the theory of the Nappy Factor for his recent success and consistency, but his wife, Erin, told me that it's more a matter of his elevated confidence since recovering from a chronic neck injury. Indeed, he's already recorded a pair of top 10s this year, and has banked more than half of his haul from all of 2010. He had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in September, so that isn't slowing him down. (By the way, Erin is now contributing at PGATOUR.com. You can read her latest entry of "TOUR Wife Travels" here.

Danger (Yahoo! Group)

Jim Furyk (A) ... The sky is falling. He's missed two cuts on the PGA TOUR for the first time in nearly four years. Of course, of the gang capable of figuring it out to rebound with a fury, he's on the short list.

K.J. Choi (A) ... First time since his rookie year (2000) that he's gone this deep into a season without a top 25. He's cashed in all 10 of his starts at Riviera, but his 2011 numbers are atrocious. Classic bait.

Rickie Fowler (B) ... He's off to a nice start, with top 20s in two events, but he hasn't quite blown us away on classic tracks just yet. And this is just his second start at Riviera.

Retief Goosen (B) ... First PGA TOUR start of 2011. Comes in on the strength of two top 20s on the European Tour's Gulf Swing, but regardless of his form entering this event, he hasn't fared well, with zero top 50s in three starts.

Jhonattan Vegas (C) ... Not sure it's wise hedging against this guy, and his skill set is ideal at Riviera. He's long off the tee, ranks 10th in greens in regulation and second in birdies or better on par 4s. He's listed here because he's a first-timer at a track that historically rewards experience.

Kevin Na (B) ... Has cashed in his last four starts here, but he's missed three straight cuts entering this week. Hasn't done that since October 2005.

Jonathan Byrd (A) ... For a guy that loves Ben Hogan and mimics his swing, Byrd has a record at Hogan's Alley that has done everything but parallel The Hawk's pair of victories here. In six starts, Byrd has failed to crack a top 35.

Andres Romero (B) ... With top-fives the last two years here, he's a slam-dunk for course history buffs, but he hasn't cracked a top 65 in three starts this year (when I was on board). Was hoping that the move to the U.S. would allow for more consistency long-term. Apparently, it's too early to judge.

Fred Couples (C) ... Not in this weather. No.

Medic! (Yahoo! Group)

Ricky Barnes (A) ... He's withdrawn from four events (three before tournaments started) already this year due to a bulging disc in his back. Placed ninth here last year, but that's irrelevant given his recent health issue.

Paul Casey (B) ... Wrote the following on his Twitter page on Monday: "Waiting for the chiropractor. Popped something in my neck over the weekend. Going to get it all sorted before flying to LA." He was originally in my Power Rankings, and he seems nonchalant about his neck, but it's still worth nothing and approaching somewhat conservatively.

Robert Garrigus (C) ... Forced to withdraw before his final round at the AT&T due to high blood pressure. Had played wonderfully all week to put an end to a consecutive missed cuts streak at three after losing in a playoff at Kapalua.

Arjun Atwal (C) ... First-timer at Riviera withdrew after nine holes of his final round at Pebble Beach due to a back injury.

Greg Chalmers (B) ... Logged just eight holes in the opening round at Scottsdale two weeks ago before a hand injury led to his first withdrawal in 260 career starts. He's 6-for-6 at Riviera, but went six years (2004-2009) without teeing it up in the event.

Notable WDs (Yahoo! Group)

Ernie Els (A) ... Had planned on making four straight starts beginning this week, but withdrew due to a sore neck. He'll be the 11-seed at next week's WGC-Match Play.

Nick Watney (A) ... After three straight top-six efforts, he's taking the week off. Now 32nd in the world ranking, look for him at the Match Play.

Tim Clark (B) ... Withdrew on Tuesday. Remember, he was a last-minute WD from Pebble Beach due to an elbow injury, aggravating one-and-dones and those of us that plugged him in our Yahoo! lineups. If he's able, he'll be slotted No. 22 at the Ritz-Carlton next week.