Yahoo NFL DFS is a slightly different format for DFS with softer player pricing. Learn the tips and tricks that make successful Yahoo NFL DFS players big money every week.
Dec 24, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) passes against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Yahoo NFL DFS Cash Game Players for Week 18
Every week in Yahoo NFL DFS we look to target high floor players to hit the cash line in 50/50s, Double ups, and head to heads. Let’s identify the best cash plays as we look to hit the cash line again and find ways to leverage ownership in tournaments like the Yahoo! Baller.
Week 18 brings plenty of complications as to which starters will even play, how much playing time the starters will get, and this ultimately comes down to what they have to play for. With that in mind, we’ll focus on game environments where the teams have a lot to play for in regard to a playoff spot or playoff seeding that can provide an easier matchup in the first round, or a potential first round bye for the number one seed.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVxXn-AqhaQ[/embedyt]
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts $40
Assuming that Hurts returns to the lineup this week, the Eagles are in a must win spot to clinch the number one seed and they’re going against a Giants team that has nothing to play for this week, so they’ll likely be resting their starters. My only concern is the Eagles throttle the Giants early and rest Hurts. This is more of a concern for me than Buffalo resting Allen in a must win game for the number two seed, so I’d play Allen over Hurts if that Buffalo game doesn’t get moved. Nonetheless, the Eagles have a lot to play for and carry the highest projected team total at 28.5 points.
Josh Allen $37
The Bills need to win to clinch the 2 seed and can get as high as the number one seed, pending the decision on the Bills/Bengals game and the week 18 results. If the Bills and Patriots game goes on as scheduled, Allen is the best cash game play on the slate with his floor and what’s at stake.
Kirk Cousins $32
Cousins and the Vikings hit rock bottom last week but with all the craziness of this slate, Cousins is actually a decent cash play – at his salary in this matchup – with what’s on the line. Minnesota can get the number two seed with a win and a 49ers loss so Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell hinted that they would play their starters. This week Minnesota has a 25.5-point team total which is third highest on the slate as they get a Chicago team that will start Nathan Peterman.
Running Backs
Christian Mccaffrey $37
**Update** Elijah Mitchell has been activated off of IR. CMC becomes a riskier play with them likely to manage his workload in a matchup they should win easily.
San Francisco is playing for the number one seed and could lose the number two seed with a loss, so they have a lot to play for. Furthermore, Arizona is giving up 3.85 points above average to the RB position and despite dealing with a ‘minor ankle injury’, CMC has been averaging 24 touches per game the last 3 games. If he starts, he’s playable in all formats.
Dalvin Cook $30
Chicago is best attacked on the ground, so there’s a legit scenario where Minnesota tries to win this one on the ground through Cook. He was phased out of the game last week with a very negative game script, but normally averages 20 touches per game. The Vikings are 8-point favorites and could win by double digits with Peterman getting the start which is a plus game script for Cook this week.
Miles Sanders $25
This game environment just screams Miles Sanders. The Giants cannot improve their playoff positioning so are likely to rest starters against the Eagles who are playing for the number 1 seed. The result is the Eagles are 14-point favorites, and if Hurts does play, I doubt they want to subject him to any unnecessary shots running the ball. This projects as a very positive game script on the slate for Sanders against a slightly below average run Defense.
Cam Akers $25
Akers has averaged 22 touches over the last 2 games while averaging 5.67 yards per carry and this week the Rams face a Seattle team that is terrible against the run – giving up 6.15 points above average to the position. Cam is one of the several backs in the $20 range that give you flexibility this week in your cash game lineup.
Najee Harris $24
Pittsburgh needs to win to have any shot at the playoffs on Sunday and Najee gets a bottom 3 run defense. Najee has averaged 23 touches the last 3 weeks and should see the same amount of volume here in a juicy matchup and must win game.
Leonard Fournette $12
Evans got all the touchdowns last week, but Fournette continues to get a lot of work, and this is a salary saver at $12. He’s the top fantasy points per dollar play at DFS Army’s Domination Station with a 11.3-point projection.
*STONE MINIMUM*
Jonathan Williams $10
Starting Running Back at minimum pricing. He’s the projected as Chalk too so I’d play him in cash.
Speaking of the Domination Station, Yahoo NFL DFS is now live on the Dom Station at DFS Army. Use the optimizer that DFS Army Subscribers use to win big every week by clicking HERE!
Wide Receivers
Justin Jefferson $40
Stud coming off of a dud? Check. Incentives to hit? Check. There is some risk playing Jefferson in Cash here but it’s hard to imagine a better bounce back spot than this one. With Jaire getting safety help and Cousins throwing 3 interceptions last week, I’m willing to bet that last week was the fluke and not week 1 when he went for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jefferson needs 194 yards to set the single season record and he went 154 yards the last time Minnesota played Chicago in week 5. With Wide Receivers over $30, I think Chase is the safer Cash game play, but the Minnesota starters look to be a full go unless we see reports to the contrary.
Ja’Marr Chase $31
The Bengals could get the number one seed if the Bills and Bengals game ends up being cancelled. Also, the two seed is at stake with a win and a Bills loss. They play at the same time as the Bills, so they won’t know their fate until after they play. The number 1 & 2 seeds are certainly a lot to play for, so they’ll look to win this game and Chase gets a Baltimore secondary that is bottom 10 in the league against wide receivers.
Devonta Smith $24
With the number one seed on the line against a team that has nothing to play for, I prefer Devonta this week due to his cheaper salary over AJ Brown and the uptick in targets that he’s seen in the past month of the season – averaging 10 targets per game. There’s the slight risk that they don’t need to do much to beat the Giants without their starters and thus I prefer Smith at $24 as opposed to $31 Brown.
Chris Godwin $23
The Bucs have nothing to play for, but their coach suggested that they need to continue to build some momentum going in the playoffs and historically Brady has always played in this spot. Godwin continues to see 8-10 targets a game with consistent production and his salary never fluctuates that much. In this range, I prefer both Devonta and DK given the uncertainty of the Bucs’ playing time this week.
DK Metcalf $21
Must win game for Seattle for the final playoff spot. Despite drawing Ramsey in coverage, Metcalf has beat these matchups before like he did in week 13 when he had 8 targets for 127 yards and a touchdown. I like Metcalf again this week with Lockett only seeing 32% of the snaps last week and missing practice on Wednesday due to injury.
Courtland Sutton $12
Salary saver. Sutton came to life a bit last week and the Broncos offense looked much better after firing Hackett. No idea if they can continue to build on what they had vs KC when they put up 24 points, but the Domination Station thinks so as Sutton is the top Fantasy points per dollar play this week on the Yahoo NFL DFS Main slate.
Tight Ends
George Kittle $28
Arizona is a bad team at defending the Tight End as they’ve given up 3.70 points above average for the season – 2nd worst among 32 teams. Kittle continues to see a lot of targets with Purdy at the helm, (16 in the last 2 games) so he’s the top pay up option on the slate.
Tyler Higbee $18
Seattle ranks as a bottom five team at covering the tight end position. Higbee, like many tight ends, is extremely volatile so I prefer a pay down option this week based on Fantasy Points Per Dollars via the Domination Station.
Defenses
Minnesota Vikings $17
The Vikings get Nathan Peterman leading a bad Chicago Team. If I’m paying up a bit, (and I do in tournaments) this is the best play on the entire slate.
Pittsburgh Steelers $11
The Steelers need to win to have any shot at the playoffs and they’re favored here and underpriced relative to their upside this week. Top 3 Fantasy Points per Dollar play this week.
Miami Dolphins $11
Miami is playing for a playoff spot and Mike White looks to be playing through injury as he played poorly last week tossing 2 picks and no touchdowns. I like the upside of this play at almost stone minimum pricing.
Yahoo! Baller Stack of the Week
Joe Burrow & Ja’Marr Chase
Stacking Price: $69 of $200 Salary
This is a wild slate to try and navigate but every which way you look at it, the Bengals have a lot to play for with both the number 2 and 1 seed as possibilities. Their 24-point team total is one of the highest on this low scoring slate and the Ravens are below average against the pass giving up 2.31 points above average to the WR position.
Top Yahoo Leverage Plays
Brock Purdy at 5%
The 49ers are still in play for the number one seed and Brock is direct leverage off of CMC chalk. He’s stackable with Aiyuk and Kittle.
Kirk Cousins at 3%
The field got burned by Cousins last week and this is the kind of bounce back spot where I want him in tournaments at low ownership. Number 2 seed is still a possibility and Chicago is a bad, depleted football team.
Dalvin Cook at 6%
Jefferson looks to be the chalk again and Cook is the direct leverage play off of Jefferson. I can see the Vikings wanting to establish the run a bit more after Kirk’s 5 turnovers in the last 3 games.
DK Metcalf at 7%
Must win game for Seattle for the final playoff spot. Despite drawing Ramsey in coverage, Metcalf has beat these matchups before like he did in week 13 when he had 8 targets for 127 yards and a touchdown. If Metcalf is going to be under owned, I’ll be over the field here.
AJ Brown at 4%
The number one seed is on the line, so the Eagles need to win here. I want some exposure to a stud like AJ Brown at low ownership with a lot to play for.
Devonta Smith at 2%
Back-to-back 10 target games for Devonta and he’s had 3 consecutive games over 100 yards. The Eagles need this one for the number one seed and he’s projected at almost no ownership. He’s fully arrived, and you need exposure to him in this spot.
Follow FantasyFling on Twitter for Yahoo NFL DFS Specific content & questions closer to lock on Sunday.
DON’T MISS OUT! Right now, try a VIP Membership FREE for one month! Click HERE to get access to the coaching, content, & tools that so many subscribers have used to win again and again!
