Yahoo Daily Fantasy Football buyer’s guide for Week 10

By Vlad Sedler
RotoWire Football Writer

Before jumping in headfirst into the whirlwind of fun that is Yahoo Daily Fantasy Football, be sure to differentiate from the variety of games offered. Since Head-to-Heads, 50/50s and Double Ups pay nearly half of entrants, your best bet to 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.

[Yahoo Daily Fantasy Football: First place wins $100K in our $500K contest for Week 10]

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 — the most obvious plays are not always the right ones. Although 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.

TOURNAMENTS (GPP – GUARANTEED PRIZE POOL)

Kirk Cousins (WAS, $34) – While there are a handful of cheap quarterbacks to consider this week, the matchup for Cousins may be the best of them all. The Redskins host the Saints in what is slated as the second-highest projected point total (50) of the weekend. Cousins is averaging 304 passing yards and two touchdowns in his last two games at FedEx Field and may once again find himself in catch-up mode even though the Saints are favored by less than a field goal. DeSean Jackson is still not 100 percent, but his presence and ability to stretch the field is a big plus for this offense. Jordan Reed has proven to be a reliable weapon, averaging nine targets in his six games played, with three touchdowns in his last two games. The Saints lead the league in passing touchdowns allowed (24), seven more than the next-worst team. Brian Hoyer ($32), Peyton Manning ($31) and Sam Bradford ($29) are less expensive alternatives, but with the Redskins’ run game struggling this season, it makes sense to spend the few extra bucks on Cousins in a potential shootout.

James Starks (GB, $18) – Starks has outplayed Eddie Lacy all season and has officially been named the starting back ahead of the Packers’ Week 10 tilt with the Lions. At 11.5 points, the Packers are the biggest favorites on the board, which bodes well for the implied game script, and specifically for the 29-year-old Starks. The Lions are allowing a league-worst 14 touchdowns on the ground this season and could easily allow a couple more this weekend. Starks has accumulated 20-plus fantasy points in two of his last three games, including a 65-yard dash for a TD in Week 7 and a 30-yard catch-and-run against the Panthers last week. There is no reason to overthink this one as Starks will most certainly be a staple in both GPPs and cash game lineups at his bargain price.

Crockett Gillmore (BAL, $16) – Gillmore has been limited at practice this week due to an injured shoulder, but should be ready to go for the showdown against the much-improved Jaguars this Sunday. With Steve Smith out for the season, Gillmore and his 6-foot-6, 270-pound frame will be heavily relied upon, especially in the red zone. Gillmore has seen at least four targets in five of his six games this year, and has surpassed 50 yards receiving on two occasions. With few reliable options at tight end outside of Gronk and the Ravens now lacking a true number one wideout, it makes sense to give Gillmore due consideration for your lineups. In fact, Gronk and Gillmore make for a solid TE-Flex combo in Week 10.

Other Against-the-Grainers:

QB: Sam Bradford (PHI, $29) RB: Mark Ingram (NO, $30), Theo Riddick (DET, $13) WR: Demaryius Thomas (DEN, $33), Travis Benjamin (CLE, $24), Davante Adams (GB, $17) TE: Kyle Rudolph (MIN, $14) DEF: Baltimore Ravens ($10)

CASH GAMES (H2H, 50/50s and DOUBLE UPS)

Quarterback

Cam Newton (CAR, $37) – Feel free to take advantage of the major discount on Newton as there are 10 higher-priced QBs this weekend, including both Blake Bortles and Joe Flacco who face off against one another. The Titans have fared well against opposing quarterbacks this year, allowing just 218 passing yards per game, third-lowest in the league. But with the Panthers implied team total of nearly 25 points, you can expect Cam to be a part of at least a couple of touchdowns. Newton has either thrown or run for at least two touchdown passes in every game since the season opener against the Jaguars and put up his best effort of the season (34.58 FP) against the Packers last week. Despite their solid pass defense, the Titans are allowing nearly two touchdown passes per game. Expect Cam to follow up on his monster outing with another solid performance Sunday.

Running Back

DeAngelo Williams (PIT, $32) – Williams was not featured here last week, but hopefully you recognized his high ownership beforehand and did not fade the field. The 32-year-old veteran looked like a man reborn last week, gaining 225 yards from scrimmage and finding the end zone twice, en route to the season’s best performance (37.5 FP) by a running back. The Browns also happen to be allowing a league-worst 147.6 rushing yards per game. Williams did see a substantial increase this week, but is still reasonably priced. He did not practice Wednesday due to foot inflammation, so be sure to keep an eye on his status throughout the week. Should Williams not be able to go, Jordan Todman ($10) would be worth a look as a cap-saver.

Darren McFadden (DAL, $26) – DMac’s salary has been steadily rising since taking over the starting running back job a few weeks ago. He is averaging 132 yards from scrimmage over his last three games and has been the focal point of the Cowboys’ offense lately, but has failed to hit paydirt in the last two weeks. The Bucs have been stout against the run this season (3.7 YPC against), but let the Giants’ mishmash trio of Jennings, Darkwa and Williams combine for 101 yards on the ground against them. Despite the tough matchup on paper, the key here is volume. McFadden has been heavily involved in the offense over the last six weeks and typically doesn’t fall victim to the Cowboys’ near-weekly negative game flow situations. The Cowboys are one point underdogs in one of the lowest projected point totals (43) of the week and will make McFadden work. If you’re looking for a voluminous alternative, I wouldn’t fault you for pivoting to my favorite big lug, LeGarrette Blount ($23), whose Patriots are 10-plus point favorites against the Giants.

Wide Receiver

Allen Robinson (JAX, $34) – Robinson is having one heck of a season, currently ranking eighth among wideouts with 707 yards and first in yards per reception (17.7) among all players with 25 or more catches. He was spectacular in a tough matchup against Darrelle Revis and the Jets last week, catching six balls for 121 yards. ARob is averaging a robust 18.55 FPG and caught touchdown passes in three straight prior to the faceoff with Revis. All of this has earned Robinson the fourth-highest tag as we head into Week 10. It’s still a bargain as Robinson has built an incredible rapport with quarterback Blake Bortles and faces a Ravens secondary that has been decimated by other big receivers including Amari Cooper (7-109-1) Anquan Boldin (5-102-0) and A.J. Green (10-227-2).

Jordan Matthews (PHI, $20) – Matthews finally had the game that his season-long owners had been waiting for. Unfortunately for most, he was heavily under-owned in DFS last week after struggling for most of the season. Last week, Matthews caught the game-winning touchdown and amassed 133 yards on nine of 12 targets. Targets have never been a problem for Matthews – at least seven in every game this season – and he appears to be healing from the under-reported hand injury that he has been dealing with. Twenty dollars is one steal of a deal as we should expect Matthews to be among the highest-owned receivers in our little old game here this weekend.

Harry Douglas (TEN, $11) – Douglas fits well this week if you are looking for a cap-saver who could see his fair share of targets. In his first action in nearly a month, Douglas caught all five of Marcus Mariota’s targets against the Saints last week, totaling 73 receiving yards. With Kendall Wright not practicing and expected to miss another week, Douglas should continue to work out of the slot. That means a date with Bene Benwikere, the weakest link in the Panthers’ secondary. Not only does Douglas have a nice floor, the ceiling has occasionally been punctured. Don’t forget about Douglas’ two big games with the Falcons last season – nine receptions for 116 yards in Week 13 and a monstrous 10-catch, 131-yard effort when Julio Jones was sidelined. You could surely do worse this week for near-minimum salary.

Tight End

Jordan Reed (WAS, $23) – Though he has played in only six games this season, Reed has been the most consistent and productive member of the Redskins’ offense. Reed has five receptions or more in each of his last five games and has scored three touchdowns in his last two games. Last week, the Patriots managed to hold Reed to just 18 receiving yards, though he did find the end zone in garbage time. The previous week, Reed saw a whopping 13 targets against the Bucs. As long as Reed is healthy, he is the most sensible option for cash games at his position. The Saints-Redskins game boasts the second-highest projected point total of Week 10, so expect to see plenty of Cousins-Reed combos in both cash games and the NFL $500K Baller.

Defense/Special Teams

Green Bay Packers ($16) – It is going to be hard for folks to not completely invest in the Packers for cash games this week. Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb will be a popular combo. Starks and up-and-comer Davante Adams are reasonably priced and will find their way onto a fair share of lineups as well. But how about the defense? The Packers are the biggest favorites (11.5) on the Week 10 slate. Lions QB Matthew Stafford is on pace for a career-high 22 interceptions and could surely make a few mistakes should the Lions find themselves in catch-up mode as we all expect them to. The Packers have at least one interception in every game this season except for Week 6 against the Chargers. Pick-sixes are unpredictable and the Packers have yet to secure one this season, but the Lions surely do feel ripe for the plucking.

Honorable Mentions:

QB: Aaron Rodgers (GB, $45) RB: Todd Gurley (STL, $39), LeGarrette Blount (NE, $23) WR: Randall Cobb (GB, $29), Stefon Diggs (MIN, $27), Michael Crabtree (OAK, $25) TE: Rob Gronkowski (NE, $34) DEF: Pittsburgh Steelers ($15)

Sedler is a CDM Hall of Famer, winning the Football Super Challenge in 2013.

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