NFL DFS Yahoo contests continue throughout the playoffs, which include Sunday's two-game slate consisting of Texans-Patriots at 3:00 p.m. EST and Rams-Bears at 6:30 p.m. in the divisional round.
Playing in guaranteed prize pool (GPP) Yahoo DFS football contests is about chasing upside, while lineups geared toward head-to-head, 50/50 or double-up formats should prioritize high floors. The players you want to target for these different contest types aren't mutually exclusive, but winning a GPP tournament usually requires finding a hidden gem or going against the grain in a spot or two while building a solid base of the same chalk plays you would use anywhere. Against-the-grain plays typically consist of big-name players in tough matchups or boom-or-bust types with uncertain roles.
Keep in mind that Yahoo DFS football contests use 0.5 PPR scoring rather than full PPR, which lowers the comparative value of wide receivers and running backs (in that order) while especially affecting high-volume pass-catchers. NFL DFS Yahoo lineups consist of one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one FLEX (RB/WR/TE) and one D/ST unit. Suggested Yahoo DFS picks for Divisional Round Sunday include a pair of RBs operating as the top options in their respective timeshares, a surging TE and a bargain-bin WR.
QUARTERBACK
Caleb Williams, CHI vs. LAR ($31): Williams offers a nice mix of value and production at a lower cap hit than Matthew Stafford ($35) and Drake Maye ($32). Williams outscored the rest of Sunday's QB options with 24.44 fantasy points in the wild-card round as he posted his sixth consecutive game with multiple touchdown passes. He's also a threat to make plays with his legs, with three rushing performances above 50 yards this season. The Rams have been more vulnerable through the air than on the ground this season, as they were slightly more generous than league average in terms of passing yards and touchdown passes allowed during the regular season.
Honorable Mentions: Matthew Stafford at CHI ($35); C.J. Stroud at NE ($22)
RUNNING BACK
Kyren Williams, LAR at CHI ($29): Chicago's defense struggled to stop the run in the regular season, allowing the sixth-most yards on the ground. The Bears also gave up the most yards and points among teams that made the playoffs, relying on takeaways and late-game heroics to earn the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Williams proved that he's still the RB1 for the Rams in the wild-card round despite Blake Corum's ($14) presence, as Williams racked up 75 scrimmage yards and a TD on 15 touches compared to Corum's 58 scoreless yards on 13 touches. In the regular season, Williams churned out 90 scrimmage yards per game and scored 13 times.
Rhamondre Stevenson, NE vs. HOU ($21): Stevenson had 128 scrimmage yards compared to just 36 for TreVeyon Henderson ($20) in the wild-card round. That game marked Stevenson's sixth consecutive outing with at least 77 scrimmage yards, and Stevenson has become the clear go-to RB in passing situations for the Patriots, with 18 catches in that six-game stretch to Henderson's seven. The Texans have been excellent against both the pass and the run, but the Patriots will likely lean heavily on the ground game and defense with a risk-averse game plan after Maye turned the ball over twice in his low-scoring playoff debut.
Honorable Mentions: D'Andre Swift, CHI vs. LAR ($27); Woody Marks, HOU at NE ($19)
WIDE RECEIVER
Puka Nacua, LAR at CHI ($38): Nacua's price has jumped back up to $38 after he was available for just $32 in the wild-card round, but he should continue to be worth paying up for given his ability to carry fantasy lineups. He followed up a 129-1,715-10 receiving line in 16 regular-season games with 10 catches for 111 yards and a TD plus a rushing score against the Panthers en route to 29.5 fantasy points. The Bears allowed the seventh-most yards to WRs in the regular season and tied for the third-most TDs surrendered to the position (20) before allowing four different Packers WRs to score in the wild-card round.
DJ Moore, CHI vs. LAR ($17): Moore paced Chicago's WRs with six catches for 64 yards and a TD in the wild-card round, which is why the four-time 1,000-yard receiver gets the nod over Rome Odunze ($19) and Luther Burden ($15) against a Rams secondary that allowed the 10th-most regular-season yards to WRs. As the Sunday slate's sixth-priciest wideout, Moore's a nice standalone value even if you don't stack him with Williams.
Christian Kirk, HOU at NE ($12): After a quiet regular season, Kirk led Houston's passing game with eight catches for 144 yards and a TD in the wild-card round. The Texans should continue to lean on the veteran slot receiver, especially if top WR Nico Collins (concussion) is sidelined. Playing out of the slot should help Kirk stay away from top Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez, who seems much more likely to clear concussion protocol than Collins. The Patriots allowed the sixth-fewest yards to WRs in the regular season but also tied for the seventh-most TDs allowed to the position (17). Kirk once had a two-season stretch during which he amassed 2,090 receiving yards, so he's certainly capable of posting back-to-back standout performances.
Honorable Mentions: Davante Adams, LAR at CHI ($26); Stefon Diggs, NE vs. HOU ($18)
TIGHT END
Colston Loveland, CHI vs. LAR ($20): Loveland was brought along slowly, but the rookie 10th overall pick has blossomed into one of the league's most productive TEs down the stretch, accumulating 24 catches for 322 yards and two TDs on a whopping 38 targets over the past three games. There's little reason to believe he'll slow down given all of his recent attention from Williams, yet Loveland's $20 price is still quite reasonable compared to top performers at other positions. Even against a Rams defense that was stout against TEs in the regular season, Loveland's expected edge in volume relative to other TEs makes him worth paying up for.
Honorable Mentions: Hunter Henry. NE vs. HOU ($18); Dalton Schultz, HOU at NE ($15)
DEFENSE
New England Patriots vs. HOU ($13): New England's defense allowed just three points to the Chargers in the wild-card round, while Houston's offense scored only two of the team's four TDs against the Steelers and C.J. Stroud had three turnovers himself. The Rams, Patriots and Bears all averaged at least 25.9 points per game in the regular season while Houston scored just 23.8 PPG, so the Patriots' defense has the most favorable matchup among the four units in action Sunday but remains a nice bargain, valued at just $3 above the minimum.
Honorable Mentions: Houston Texans at NE ($17); Los Angeles Rams at CHI ($12)
