Brendan Steele

Steele did not end the season how he wanted to, missing four of the last five cuts. He showed a lot of promise in 2019-20 when he ranked top-35 in SG: total and scoring average. Unfortunately, he saw both of those drop significantly in 2020-21. It's hard to know how much more the 38-year-old has in the tank.

Steele has been all over the map in recent years, but after a poor 2018-19 season in which he earned little more than $500k, Steele bounced back with a solid season in 2019-20. Steele joined the PGA Tour full time in 2011 and has averaged about $1.5 million in earnings each season. With his struggles of two seasons ago behind him, look for Steele to continue his upswing this season and get near $2 million in earnings.

Steele picked-up his second PGA Tour win in 2017 and earned nearly $3 million, which made it nearly impossible to draft him in salary cap formats. While his number predictably dropped off a little last season, he was able to find his third win on tour. Once again however, he's tough to select in salary cap formats because his price tag is above $2 million and he won last season. The win is relevant because in order to match his number from last season, he'd likely have to win again this season, and if order to significantly improve, he'd have to win and play well in several other spots. It's just too much to ask from Steele, whose never posted more than four top-10s in any one season.

Steele's season started on a high-note when he won the Safeway Open in October 2016, and although he didn't fall apart after that, he didn't light the world on fire either. Steele mustered only three more top-10s after his October win and his FedExCup ranking fell steadily throughout the season. That's certainly not the resume of a guy who is likely to improve on his numbers this season. As such, expect Steele's production to decline a bit this season, which means he won't be a good option in salary cap leagues this season.

Steele won as a rookie in 2011 and although he hasn't won since, he's still been pretty productive on the PGA Tour. His production fell-off a bit in year-two, but since then he's righted the ship and now he's a consistent top-80 player. The only question regarding Steele is his ceiling. To this point, it appears to be around $2 million, which just isn't enough to justify a salary cap selection based on last year's number. In draft leagues, Steele should go in the seventh or eighth round.

Since joining the PGA Tour in 2011, Steele has had plenty of success. He had a slight hiccup in 2012 when he missed the Fed Ex Cup, but in the two years since he's finished comfortably inside the top-125 each year. Steele actually set the bar pretty-high out of the gate in his rookie season when he nearly topped $2 million in earnings. He's struggled to find that exact form since, but he's remained productive. Steele's ceiling is at minimum around $2 million, so his price heading into this season seems reasonable. He merits a look in salary cap leagues this season. In draft leagues he should go in the 7th or 8th round.

Steele picked up a win at the Valero Texas Open in 2011, but the further we get away from that event, the more it seems like an aberration. Steele is going to pick his spots each year, but after a couple years hovering around the $1 million mark, it looks like he might just spent a lot of time here. Steele doesn't have quite enough upside to be taken in a salary cap league. In drafts leagues he should go in the 80-90 range.

Brendan Steele had a fine rookie season in 2011 capturing his first win and nearly $2 million in earnings, but his sophomore season was a different story. Steele was so far off his game that he missed out on the FedEx Playoffs. Perhaps he let up after getting his first win, but whatever the reason, he'll need to step up his game this year if he wants to retain his card for 2013. Steele has some upside at this price, but he's probably not a good option in salary cap leagues this year. In draft leagues he's probably worth a look late in the draft.

Steele struggled much of the first four months last year, but a surprising win at the Valero Texas Open in April turned his season around. He wasn't able to capitalize on the momentum of that win right away, though. The next couple months looked a lot like the months leading up to his victory, but was able to right the ship near season's end, which gives him some momentum entering this season. Considering Steele won the majority of his earnings in one week last year, though, it's probably wise to wait at least one more year on him. His previous high in earnings was $350K in 2010. In draft leagues, Steele should go in the sixth round.

Steele finished sixth on the Nationwide Tour last season, and he'll join the PGA TOUR in 2011 as a rookie. Steele did not have sustained success last season, however, as he carded only four top-10s all season. His spot on the money list was due to a victory at the Nationwide Tour championship.