My Power Rankings will all but cover your needs this week. I don't set my Yahoo! eightsome until absolutely mandated by my editor, but I can't see deviating from that powerful cast of characters. Look for my starters and bench in Wednesday's "Approach Shots" as well as my one-and-done and duffer league picks.

If you're not familiar with the one-and-done and/or duffer format, in their most basic forms, they are opposites. In each, you pick one golfer for every tournament (or modified schedule depending on the league) and cannot repeat a pick all year. Whatever the golfer earns goes into your bank. One-and-done season winners will have the highest total dollar amount. Duffer league champs earned the fewest. Because it's much easier to pick a no-name to miss a cut, duffer leagues should require no less than non-exempt medical status on the priority rankings to qualify a pick.

Before hitting the NTO, I'd like to publicly congratulate friend and colleague, Scott Pianowski (formerly of PGATOUR.COM, always at Yahoo!), who won the 2009 Fantasy Golf Writer of the Year award last week. John McNamara (formerly of Rotowire.com, now at Rotoworld.com) and I were the other finalists.

Anthony Kim—Dating back to the Volvo World Match Play three months ago, Kim has four straight top 15s. (Yes, that includes the 18-man Chevron World Challenge.) This strong run connects with an active pursuit of a balanced schedule, which he admittedly mismanaged in 2009. I took some flak for slotting him 16th overall in my full-membership fantasy rankings at the top of the year, but I stand by it. Welcome back, AK.

Bill Haas—Conciliatory inclusion here based on his win at the Hope. Said he didn't sleep much after the breakthrough victory, but still finished T37 at the Farmers Insurance Open. So-so record at Riviera. Leave him in your bag.

Bubba Watson—Well, he projected very well for the Farmers, and then missed the cut. He can carve up Riviera, but I wonder where his head will be after appearing on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Wednesday.

Scott McCarron—So here we go. No, despite his T10 a year ago here, I don't expect the UCLA product to rip up Riviera. However, considering his direct involvement in the potential bro-ha-ha with regards to the grooves controversy, if he does go low, that will say something about his inner fortitude. He's 0-for-3 to start 2010.

Michael Sim—Before you rush to judgment in the short-term, he played 54-holes the South Course at Torrey Pines in 2-under en route to his runner-up payday. He has yet to experience a learning curve at Riviera, so slow your roll on the Aussie.

Alex Prugh—At the top of the year, I projected one early top 10, not two as he's posted, and for top 5s no less! Once again, the depth this week makes him unwise to start. And he's also a first-timer at the event.

Jim Furyk—Because of the juggled West Coast Swing this year and for the fact that he didn't win an official event in 2009, this is the first time that he's making his season debut at this event. That said, going back to the Deutsche Bank, he's on a ride of five consecutive top 10s, including the victory at the unofficial Chevron World Challenge. He's rested, if not rusty, and some of you are questioning the likelihood of him emerging victorious in a field like this. However, given that Riviera is a ball-striker's track, Furyk remains in the conversation for a win this week.

Picks for other formats:

ONE-AND-DONE: Robert Allenby. Saving Stricker and Mickelson, but his record here is outstanding. (Rob's 2010 earnings: $323,575.00)

DUFFER: Jerry Kelly is the pick. Coming off lower back injury. (Rob's 2010 earnings: $91,000.00)

Rob's YAHOO! Stats: 651 points (25,507th)

 

Adam Scott—This is a brilliant spot for him to start his PGA TOUR season. He was the unofficial winner of the rain-shortened version here in 2005, but ran second in '06. Last start resulted in a T14 (2008). More importantly, since the President's Cup in October, he's finished no worse than T12 worldwide in five starts. That includes a win at the Australian Open. Stands to be a salary leaguer's best friend.

Marc Leishman—Another young Aussie off a runner-up at the Farmers, but like Sim, this also will be his first look at Riviera. Save.

K.J. Choi—Has cashed in all nine starts here, including a T3 last year and a T7 in 2008, so despite the decline in his game in the U.S. in '09, he's comfy at Riviera. And he finished T15 at Torrey Pines last week. Many of you overlooked his win on the Asian Tour in October. He won by four swings in Malaysia. Seriously.

Fred Couples—His tenure and success at this event stand alone. Placed T3 in last year's NTO. And he looked superb in the Champions Tour opener. Better than a flyer.

J.B. Holmes—Started the 2008 Northern Trust with a 74, but finished T7. Started last year's edition with a 73 and finished T6. Not suited for the Yahoo! game at any time really until maybe Sunday when the bonus points are awarded.

Ryo Ishikawa—Has yet to flash the same form in non-team events in the U.S. that turned him into Japan's No. 1 golfer. I remain skeptical.

Ben Crane—Zero top 50s at Riviera in six starts. Congrats if he snuck into your lineup last week.

Brandt Snedeker—He's 0-for-2 at Riviera but still growing. Can't miss as many greens in regulation as he does in a field like this. Despite last week's T2, abstain.

Mike Weir—Two-time NTO winner hasn't cracked the top-20 in his last five starts here. Hit the third-fewest greens in regulation at Riviera last year.

Tim Wilkinson—This is one final reminder that's he's fine after the Sony WD. Do not fade based on the collarbone bruise.

Nick O'Hern—Same here. O'Hern has taken time off for a personal matter unrelated to his health and golf game. He's rested, but his record here is awful.

Roland Thatcher—Unfortunately, so far so good on my preseason fantasy ranking of 194. Withdrew from the Farmers with a back injury. Has never posted a top-30 on the West Coast and has never played the Northern Trust. Great duffer league material. 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.

--By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM Fantasy columnist