This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Football series.
Before jumping headfirst into the whirlwind of fun that is Yahoo Daily Fantasy Football, be sure to differentiate between the variety of games offered. Since Head-to-Heads, 50/50s and Double Ups pay nearly half of entrants, your best bet for cashing is to target players with higher floors. Think heavily targeted No. 1 WRs, RBs who get the bulk of a team's carries, and upper echelon QBs in matchups with a tight Vegas point spread and a high total.
Tournaments / Guaranteed Prize Pools (GPPs) require a bit more of your inner contrarian. Target offensive players with higher ceilings in advantageous matchups. Huge point totals can come from the most unpredictable of places, and the most obvious plays are not always the right ones. Though previous week's performances should be noted, each new week of action should be considered its own season. Don't chase last week's stats.
Overview
All of the home teams won easily last weekend, but there's very little chance this weekend goes as swimmingly. The divisional round is an extremely tough slate for DFS purposes, with plenty of difficult decisions to make among players at similar price points. Two of the teams expected to score the most points this weekend (Patriots and Falcons) each have a multitude of viable weapons to choose from. We know that we want some exposure to these offenses, but figuring out where the points will come from, and constructing a lineup puzzle under salary cap constraints, will be an onerous task. I'll certainly be interested in employing a Chiefs stack in GPPs and plan on game-stacking a competitive and high-scoring Packers-Cowboys (52.5 projected total) combo as well. The key to the weekend may very well be identifying a wide receiver near minimum salary who can produce double-digit fantasy points and allows us the flexibility to get some of the big boys in.
TOURNAMENTS (GPP – GUARANTEED PRIZE POOL)
Alex Smith (KC, $25)
Smith is far from the best option this week and won't have the highest ownership at quarterback on the slate, but he will be fairly popular as his depressed price point provides us with the opportunity to take less risks at other positions. He may not end up top three in raw points, but he has a good chance at providing the most value per salary dollar. The Chiefs are fresh off a first round bye and are slight favorites (1.5) at their loud home stadium. Smith had very mediocre numbers on the season (3,502 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns) but offers a little extra 'oomph' with his scrambling ability. He has run for five touchdowns himself, including one in each of the final three regular season games. He has one of the lowest floors among this weekend's quarterbacks, but a high ceiling with a bevy of weapons at his disposal, including Travis Kelce, budding star Tyreek Hill and the nearly forgotten Jeremy Maclin. Make sure to review what type of roster you can construct with Smith as your QB before you settle on a lineup with one of the pricier and sexier options.
Spencer Ware (KC, $19)
An alternate way to get some exposure to the Chiefs is through their running back. You'll read everywhere how Ware has not topped 100 rushing yards since Week 7. Moreover, he's hit the 20-fantasy point mark just once since then (back in Week 8). There is reason for optimism in this matchup though. The Steelers defend the run well (12th in DVOA against the run) but allowed Ware to hit 83 yards on 13 carries back in Week 4. He can contribute as a pass catcher as well – 447 yards on 33 catches this season, including 5-45 in his final two games of the regular season. The Steelers have allowed an average of four receptions per game over their last four to RBs. Many who select Ware for their lineups this week will do so because of his price point, but what we've got here is a true contrarian gem in an advantageous situation.
Geronimo Allison (GB, $10)
We're going to have to scrape the bargain bin to make lineups fit this week. Look for many to chase Seattle's Paul Richardson ($12) after his insane end zone catch last week. He's also out-snapped veteran teammate Jermaine Kearse (98 to 84) since Tyler Lockett was knocked out for the year. Another option is Terrance Williams ($12) of the Cowboys. Williams is no stranger to postseason success, catching three touchdown passes in two playoff games in 2014. I'll take my chances with rookie wideout Allison, who should play his fair share of snaps on the right side. Davante Adams should assume the role of 'most-targeted' with Jordy Nelson shelved, but Allison is a budding talent in his own right. He is the team's biggest receiving threat (6-foot-3, 202 lbs) and could find himself open in the end zone Sunday. His best game came against the Lions in Week 16, when he caught four of six targets for 91 yards and a touchdown. Keep him in mind this weekend if you're short on salary and looking to plug in a WR3 with upside.
Honorable Mentions
QB: Matt Ryan (ATL, $36)
RB: Dion Lewis (NE, $18), Ty Montgomery (GB, $17)
WR: Julio Jones (ATL, $31), Jeremy Maclin (KC, $14), Michael Floyd (NE, $12)
TE: Jimmy Graham (SEA, $18)
DST: Atlanta Falcons ($16)
CASH GAMES (H2H, 50/50s and DOUBLE UPS)
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott (DAL, $30)
The clear choice here any day of the week would be the league's best weapon, playoff veteran and field magician Aaron Rodgers. The Packers are on the road though, and the loss of Jordy Nelson cannot be overestimated. Since the two became a duo, Rodgers averages considerably fewer passing yards and fantasy points per game when Nelson isn't playing. Vegas expects this battle to be the highest scoring of the week, and this should benefit Prescott as well. The rookie is playing in his first playoff game, but has displayed maturity beyond his years in leading the Cowboys this season. He threw for 247-3 against the Packers in Week 6 and will need to be on point if the 'Boys want to win this one. He provides us with a solid floor at a very reasonable price.
Running Backs
Le'Veon Bell (PIT, $41)
This has to be the 10th straight week Bell has been featured, and why not? He was a monster in the regular season, averaging 157 yards from scrimmage and nearly 24 fantasy points per game. He did not disappoint last week against the Dolphins, collecting 30.4 FP on 167 rushing yards, two touchdowns and two receptions for seven yards. The Chiefs present a tougher matchup, of course, but while the Steelers' pass offense typically suffers in road games, Bell does not, averaging nearly the same amount of fantasy points there as he does at home. One could take the $6 savings and roster Ezekiel Elliott, but I'd rather find other positions to scrimp at. Bell should be busy again this weekend, and should get back to being involved as a pass-catcher as well.
LeGarrette Blount (NE, $31)
The regular season touchdown leader sure has some playoff experience, scoring seven touchdowns in five playoff games back in 2013 and 2014. The Patriots are massive 16-point favorites at home against the Texans. During the regular season, Blount averaged nearly 1.5 touchdowns per game when the Pats are at home and favored. Sure, the Patriots also have James White and Dion Lewis in the backfield mix, but there is no question who their primary goal line guy is. Blount missed Wednesday's practice with an illness, but should be back on the practice field for the rest of the week and will be ready to resume his role as punisher on Saturday night.
Wide Receivers
Dez Bryant (DAL, $25)
Bryant is priced at under $30 yet again this week, and the tag feels too good to be true. After all, we're talking about one of the league's best wideouts who averaged over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns over a three year span (2012-2014) and is still just 28. He missed half of the 2015 season and has lost a bit of his luster this season but was fairly consistent down the stretch, topping 70 receiving yards in six of his final eight regular season games. Bryant is a playmaker and will need to make some of his patented big plays for the Cowboys to pull this one out. The Packers ranked 28th in DVOA against No. 1 receivers in the regular season. They did do a great job containing Beckham last week, but will struggle to keep Bryant in check Sunday.
Tyreek Hill (KC, $21)
There isn't much more that needs to be said about the Chiefs' breakout hybrid receiver. He ended the season with four straight double-digit fantasy performances and five touchdowns in his last six games. Hill exploded for a 68-yard rushing touchdown against the Titans in Week 15 and followed it up with a 70-yard blast into the end zone against the Broncos the following week. His big play potential cannot be ignored. Hill will be a popular option in tournaments, but may get overlooked in cash games with folks concerned about playing two guys from the same team (he and Kelce) in the lowest implied total (44) of the weekend. Hill has proven his consistency and value to the team though, and deserves heavy consideration for all lineups this weekend.
Julian Edelman (NE, $19)
A lack of trips into the end zone is our only concern with the wily 30-year-old stud receiver. Otherwise, he is the safest dollar-for-dollar value on the slate this week. Edelman scored just three times in the regular season, but finished with 98 receptions and 1,106 yards. He ended the year in style, catching eight of 13 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown. It's been said before, but he is the epitome of a cash game wide receiver, eclipsing 10 fantasy points in each of his final nine games. Edelman should see double digit targets this week despite the hefty 16-point spread, and earn his reasonable salary once again.
Tight Ends
Jared Cook (GB, $14)
We are in a tough spot at tight end. Most will do their best to fit a $22 Travis Kelce into their lineups, but it will be easier said than done. Kelce disappeared from action in Week 17 (one catch for eight yards) but surpassed 100 receiving yards in five of the previous six weeks. He's easily the top option for the division round – if you can fit him in. Cook is a viable alternative at an $8 savings. He has earned the trust of Aaron Rodgers, seeing at least eight targets in three of his last four games. He has just one touchdown on the season, but should get extra looks this week without Jordy Nelson in the mix and facing a Cowboys defense ranked dead last in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends during the regular season. Cook is a nice value play, and perhaps we get a bit of positive regression with a trip into the end zone.
Defense/Special Teams
New England Patriots ($20)
You'll see this recommendation on every site, and for good reason. If you can afford the $20 tag, there's really no reason to get cute. The Patriots are 16-point favorites at home, and are facing Brock Osweiler. In fact, they put up a season-high 18 fantasy points in Week 3 against this same Texans offense. If you're a dollar short on cap space, the Chiefs are your next best option, at home against the road version of Ben Roethlisberger. A not-so-distant third, if you truly don't have the money, are the Falcons at $16.
Honorable Mentions
QB: Aaron Rodgers (GB, $40)
RB: Ezekiel Elliott (DAL, $35), James White (NE, $13)
WR: Antonio Brown (PIT, $40), Davante Adams (GB, $25), DeAndre Hopkins (HOU, $19)
TE: Travis Kelce (KC, $22)
DST: Kansas City Chiefs ($19)
