Greetings, Gamers! We have an excellent opportunity on Yahoo! Wildcard Weekend as they are running a $150,000 contest with a $10 entry fee and 17,046 entries. This flagship tournament has not completely filled yet this season which has provided “extra value” for gamers. Let’s get into some NFL Yahoo Fantasy Football DFS Picks for Wildcard Weekend including Russell Wilson and James White.
Don’t forget to check out the Yahoo Fantasy Show with Alex “Awesemo” Baker and Nolan Kelly Friday on the Awesemo YouTube Channel
For Chris Spag’s Wildcard Weekend Slant and Go article click here
If you haven’t signed up for Yahoo Fantasy DFS, click this link and use the promo code Awesemo when making your first deposit and you will be eligible for $30 of “free play” which Yahoo! will match through the first $30 of your deposit (this bonus will be received in Yahoo Sports Rewards Points aka YSRP which can be used to enter any paid contest immediately).
Yahoo Fantasy Football General Strategy
As with most sites, there are many viable strategies that can be successful in large-field tournaments and of course, we need the same amount of favor from Lady Luck as we do elsewhere.
Key thing to remember is that this is a half-PPR site, meaning receptions are worth 0.5 points and the minimum salary is $10 with an average salary per player of $22. This week, Michael Thomas is at the top of the pricing list at $39. The full scoring parameters can be found here.
If you are using an optimizer, it is important to remember that you will still need to input the lineups by hand (this lack of automation also helps keep away some of the mega shark players). You will also want to closely look at the lineups because the automation will look to use the cheaper quarterbacks. It will also home in on players that may not be good plays on other sites and they will not be highlighted in the mainstream analysis that is available to the masses each week.
Awesemo NFL Rankings
One of the most useful features of the Awesemo.com premium content is the personal player rankings from Alex Baker, aka Awesemo, for all of the main sports. The players grade out separately for each DFS site with ratings for both projected points and value receiving an A through E report card-style grade.
As a sneak preview, for this article I will be sharing the grades Full Rankings (Premium Content)
Quarterback
If you have played football this season on Yahoo, or if you played Yahoo fantasy baseball, you know that the strategy is to look for the cheapest quarterback or pitcher that is tolerable so you can look for more secure points and upside elsewhere. In the recommendations below, I will be highlighting several discount options at the other positions so you can build a framework that will allow lineup construction for a top-shelf quarterback along with his favorite target and still have enough salary cap to run it back with the top option on the opposing team.
Russell Wilson – Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles – $34 Awesemo Grade: Points B, Value B
Even though it felt like coach Pete Carroll waited too long to turn things over to Russell Wilson, he still had 40 pass attempts on Sunday night. The Eagles were all over the place this season with their passing defense, though they ended 16th in the DVOA ranks. When these two teams squared off in Philadelphia for a tightly contested Week 12 matchup, Wilson managed just 200 yards and one score on 13 of 25 attempts. Seattle won 17-9 and we should see more offense in this game.
Wilson had eight carries for 29 yards last week. That was his most attempts since Week 6 and his most yards since Week 10. Once again, he will need to carry this offense if the Seahawks have any chance to advance.
Hopefully the Seahawks are able to get up for this road game after losing a heartbreaker to the 49ers \on Sunday Night Football.
Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings – $35 Awesemo Grade: Points B, Value A
While the Vikings were solid down the stretch, allowing just five touchdowns over the last six games with eight interceptions, this is Drew Brees at home with all of his offensive options healthy. Michael Thomas – $39 Awesemo Grade: Points A, Value B set the single season receiving record with 149 catches, topping the 2002 record held by Marvin Harrison. He also had a league-leading 1,725 yards which was 300 more than Julio Jones. There is enough wiggle room that we can pair this duo, but we won’t be completely alone.
In his seven games after returning from injury, Brees had at least three touchdowns in six and he topped 279 yards in four of those games. The best part is that we do not have to break the bank to roster him. Be cognizant of the Minnesota passing defense which allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing signal-callers. They also had the seventh-best passing DVOA and adjusted sack rate.
Running Back
We want to keep in mind that while running backs are very important, Yahoo fantasy uses half-PPR, which will not penalize running backs that are not as active in the passing game.
Dalvin Cook – Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints – $30 Awesemo Grade: Points B, Value C
After missing the last two weeks with a shoulder injury, Dalvin Cook is set to roll on Sunday. The two weeks off should have him with fresh legs and we know that the Vikings want to ride him to victory. Cook had at least 100 combined yards and/or a touchdown in each of his first 13 games and that is a reasonable projection this weekend.
While the Saints had the fifth-best rushing DVOA, Cook should approach 25 touches. We know he is adept in all facets of the game and a worthy option in all formats.
Alvin Kamara – New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings – $28 Awesemo Grade: Points B, Value B
In an odd quirk, Alvin Kamara did all of his scoring in three multi-touchdown games, two of which came to finish the season. It is nice to have some momentum and it is a good reminder that he is a game breaker. Kamara was second on the team in targets and receptions and third behind Jared Cook for receiving yards. We know that the New Orleans offense tends to be consolidated, so I will try to have at least one of Kamara, Brees, Cook and Thomas on my lineups this weekend.
Marshawn Lynch – Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles – $15 Awesemo Grade: Points D, Value C
It was certainly fun seeing Marshawn Lynch back in action and he ended the night with 12 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown. While he will be in for any red zone and short yardage carries, I expect him to split time with rookie Travis Homer – $14 Awesemo Grade: Points D, Value B and lose out on passing downs.
Homer had a great game after being pressed into service and was particularly good at reading the blitz. He also caught all five of his targets, two on nice release routes. He also added 10 carries for 62 yards and is an excellent discount dandy.
Wide Receiver
More often than not, we should be able to find several nice options in the middle tier. The top-shelf Yahoo fantasy options are typically priced in the mid-$30 range. Often, they are best paired with their quarterbacks for tournament upside, rather than risking downside as solo plays. For Wild Card Weekend, that can cut both ways.
In addition to Michael Thomas highlighted above with Drew Brees we can look to:
Cole Beasley – Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans – $15 Awesemo Grade: Points C, Value B
This was quite a year for the former Cowboy who had a career-high six touchdowns. He also had his second-best season for receptions and receiving yards. Most of his work is around the line of scrimmage where he accounts for a lot of the opportunities that would go to tight ends.
Greg Ward – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle Seahawks – $15 Awesemo Grade: Points C, Value A
With most of the Eagles receiving corps again on the shelf, we can look to Greg Ward as a discount dandy. While he does not have a lot of upside, he should be on the field for most of the game and is seeing upwards of half a dozen targets. He needs to find pay dirt to be a difference maker. However, at this salary, any form of double-digit fantasy points will have his backers smiling.
D.K. Metcalf – Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles – $18 Awesemo Grade: Points C, Value C
With the disappearance of Tyler Locket, it seems that we have to consider rookie D.K. Metcalf. He is effectively the co-WR1 and a threat to score from anywhere on the field.
Kenny Stills – Houston Texans vs. Buffalo Bills Awesemo Grade: Points E, Value C
It sounds like Will Fuller (hamstring) is going to give it a go this weekend. However, he has a propensity for in game injury. If that happens once again, it will elevate Kenny Stills to the WR2. The real question is will he actually do anything with this opportunity?
Tight Ends
We have options up and down the pricing list this weekend.
Dallas Goedert – Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants – $20 Awesemo Grade: Points A, Value B
Reports are that Zach Ertz (ribs, kidney) is unlikely to play, so Dallas Goedert should be in line for double-digit targets. In the last two games, he has compiled 13 catches for 156 and a touchdown on 22 targets. Though he has crested double-digit fantasy points three times this season, the Eagles are out of options.
Jacob Hollister – Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles – $14 Awesemo Grade: Points C, Value C
Despite 55 targets over the last seven games, Jacob Hollister has not impressed. In this stretch, he has one touchdown and two games over 45 receiving yards. That said, he is the only viable tight end and one of basically three receivers for Russell Wilson.
Jared Cook – New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings – $18 Awesemo Grade: Points B, Value D
Saving the best for last, we have Jared Cook. He has become a trusted option for Brees who loves to throw to the tight end in the red zone. He is going to be on 30-40% of all rosters, but that is for good reason. I have no issues rolling with this chalk.
Defense/Special Teams
There are several options this week for Yahoo fantasy where we can get some bang for our buck.
Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans – $16 Awesemo Grade: Points B, Value D
For the season, the Bills averaged about 2.7 sacks per game and Houston allowed three per contest. Buffalo also had 1.5 takeaways per game and the Texans had 1.3 turnovers per game. We know that Deshaun Watson likes to try to make big plays, so there should be some opportunities for the Bills defense on Saturday.
New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings – $14 Awesemo Grade: Points C, Value D
For this to work, we need the Saints offense to put up some points and get the Vikings to take to the air. That is the only way that Kirk Cousins and Company will give up fantasy points to the defense. They do a decent job when they are controlling the clock, but all bets are off if they are playing catch-up.
Hopefully these Yahoo Fantasy Picks and recommendations get your lineup construction process jump started and on your way to a big showing in the Yahoo! $150k Dollar Baller contest!
As always, you can reach out to me in Awesemo.com Premium Slack or Twitter @EMacDFS if you have any questions.
Good Luck Gamers! ~ EMac
