Fantasy Update: Last-minute lineup advice for Phoenix

Race No. 4 of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season is here and it’s time to set those Fantasy Live lineups for Sunday’s Ruoff Mortgage 500 at Phoenix Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). What six drivers should comprise your lineup?

RELATED: Phoenix lineup | Fantasy preview coming into Phoenix | How to play Fantasy Live

RJ Kraft’s race-day lineup for Phoenix:
1-Ryan Blaney (used once)
2-Denny Hamlin
3-William Byron (used twice)
4-Aric Almirola
5-Kevin Harvick
Garage: Kyle Larson (used once)

Next in line: Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott

Analysis: I’ve added Blaney, Hamlin and Byron into my lineup. Blaney is on the pole, had the most points here last year and was second in 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-lap averages (h/t@P2Inc). Hamlin has a strong history at Phoenix and is bound to nab his first top 10 at one of his best tracks. Byron was atop the 10-lap average board and was in the top three for 15- and 20-lap averages (h/t@P2Inc).

Almirola has not finished outside the top six in the last five races dating back to last year and this has become a solid track for him. He also seems to have a car built for the long run based on practice times, yet he qualified really well. Harvick also has a car built for the long run with the fourth-best 20-lap average (h/t@P2Inc) and his record here is unmatched.

I debated bailing on Larson with the news from Hendrick Motorsports that he will be dropping to the rear but he started from the rear at Auto Club and won (and I bailed on him there). So I will not be doing that again.

Elliott and Truex didn’t qualify well and Elliott’s 10-lap times weren’t too impressive so I am electing to save the uses there. Logano and Cindric were solid considerations for me based on lap averages, but I like what I have now too much to make a switch.

Featured Matchup bonus picks
Denny Hamlin vs. Martin Truex Jr.: Both drivers have solid Phoenix records of late but I’m going to take Hamlin because I simply don’t think he will continue to be this snake-bitten this year at one of his best tracks. The pick: Hamlin

Kevin Harvick vs. Brad Keselowski: Harvick’s Phoenix track record is extremely hard to go against with nine wins and he’s never finished outside of the top nine here with Stewart-Haas Racing. Keselowski has nice desert numbers but I’m not picking against the “Cactus King.” The pick: Harvick.

Alex Bowman vs. Christopher Bell: Bell notched top 10s in both races here in 2021, while Bowman has one top 10 here from 2016 and no finish better than 13th since then at this track. The pick: Bell

Aric Almirola vs. Ross Chastain: Almirola has steadily worked his way through the field for top-six finishes in all three races to start the season and he has five top-six finishes in a row dating back to last season. Chastain had a really nice third-place run last week at Las Vegas but I just think Almirola is the more consistent driver. The pick: Almirola