Will Zalatoris had a season to remember last year on the PGA Tour, but he will be looking for his first victory when the 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship tees off this week. The event begins Thursday at the Country Club of Jackson, and six of the past eight winners in Mississippi have been first-time PGA Tour champions. Zalatoris was the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year last season, but his only professional win has come on the Korn Ferry Tour. 

Zalatoris is listed as an 18-1 co-favorite, along with Sam Burns, in the latest 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship odds from Caesars Sportsbook. Defending champion Sergio Garcia (22-1), Sungjae Im (22-1) and Corey Conners (22-1) are among the other golfers from the Sanderson Farms Championship field expected to contend. 

Will Garcia find some magic in Jackson again and be a solid pick for your 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship Fantasy golf picks? Would a player like Conners put you in a better position to win? Before locking in any Fantasy golf picks or bet on the 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship, you need to check out the projections and analysis from proven fantasy expert Riley Gates.

Gates is a writer for 247Sports and has covered a range of sports for nearly five years. He has followed golf closely for much longer and has a profound knowledge of the sport. He also knows what it takes to win, on the course and in fantasy sports. 

At the season-opening Fortinet Championship two weeks ago, six of Gates' top 10 picks finished in the top-25, including winner Max Homa. "Not many are looking at Homa when trying to pick contenders, but you never know when he will get hot," Gates told SportsLine.

The result? Homa shot a seven-under 65 in the final round to surge to a one-stroke victory over Maverick McNealy for his third PGA Tour victory.

Now, Gates has locked in his top 20 golfers for the 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship. You can only see his Fantasy golf picks and rankings at SportsLine.  

2021 Sanderson Farms Championship Fantasy golf picks

Gates is expecting a strong start to the season for Burns this week. The 2021 Valspar winner is seeking his second victory and is coming off a strong season. He shot 69-68 on the weekend to tie for 18th at the Tour Championship. He also secured a runner-up finish at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in August and has great scoring numbers. He was fourth in par breakers (25.33 percent) and fifth in birdie average (4.43 per round), and he also has been strong on the greens (ninth in strokes gained putting). That should add up to success on a course where the scores go low.    

On the flip side, Gates is a little wary of Im this week and is slightly fading the South Korean. The 23-year-old had a roller-coaster season in 2020-21, finishing in the top 25 in 16 of his 35 events, and he didn't allow much time for rest. He has finally taken a few weeks off and could be fresh, but his lack of distance off the tee (96th in driving distance) could make this a tough event. He was 28th in Jackson last year, with one round under 70, though he was the runner-up in 2020. Gates just isn't sure what to expect, and he doesn't list Im among his top five players.  

How to set your 2021 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship golf rankings

For the event in Mississippi, the Fantasy expert has a long-shot nearly at the top of his list who comes in at well over 30-1. This player had a victory last season and had some top-10 finishes in a few of the bigger events. He could thrive in this second-tier field and pull off a victory in Jackson. You really need to see who it is and check out Gates' top predictions before you bet the 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship or enter any Fantasy golf picks.

Who wins the 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship? Who are the top players to target? And which overlooked players can help you win your league this week? Visit SportsLine now to get Riley Gates' Fantasy golf rankings for the 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship, all from the fantasy expert with his finger on the pulse of the game, and find out.