Yahoo fantasy football is running a $1,000,000 contest with a $20 entry fee and 40,000 entries for Week 10 of the NFL season, which means they are adding $200,000 to the prize pool. Let’s get into some Yahoo Daily Fantasy Picks for NFL lineups, including Davante Adams, Najee Harris and more.
Week 10 NFL Yahoo Daily Fantasy Strategy & Picks
The critical thing to remember is that Yahoo is a half-PPR site, and the minimum salary is $10, with an average salary per player of $22. This week, Tom Brady, Josh Allen and Dak Prescott are at the top of the salary list at $40. The complete scoring parameters can be found here.
One of the most valuable features of the Awesemo.com premium content is the personal player rankings from Alex Baker, 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. This week, as a special treat, Awesemo is also adding in the “Roster%,” which is the projected percentage a player will be used in the large-field tournaments.
Quarterback
If you have played daily fantasy football on Yahoo or 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.
Justin Herbert: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Minnesota Vikings – $31 | Awesemo Grade: Points A, Value A, Roster% 19.7%
Second year man Justin Herbert does just enough with his legs that he is not in the same category as Tom Brady, Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers as quarterbacks who almost completely rely on their arm to generate fantasy points. This is not an easy matchup as the Vikings do have the third best passing DVOA, however, this is the same team that allowed Cooper Rush to throw for 325 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Herbert has several pass catchers that we can pair with him in tournaments for added synergy.
Dak Prescott: Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons – $40 | Awesemo Grade: Points A, Value A, Roster% 8.5%
The Cowboys took it easy with Dak Prescott as he was working back from his calf injury. Last weekend he looked good with his mobility and other than facing a tough Broncos defense in Denver, he had a solid performance. Sunday he gets a cherry matchup against Atlanta who has allowed opposing signal-callers multiple touchdowns in five of their eight games. While that does not seem like a lot, this has been mostly accomplished by sub-standard passers. This list includes such luminaries as Jalen Hurts, Taylor Heinicke, Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Siemian.
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.
Najee Harris: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions – $31 | Awesemo Grade: Points A, Value B, Roster% 27.6%
Rookie Najee Harris continues to be the engine that propels the Pittsburgh offense. Ben Roethlisberger is a game manager on his good days and rarely a difference maker any more. That bodes well for a continued hefty workload for Harris. Over his last seven games, the 24th overall selection of the last NFL Draft has at least 15+ Yahoo Fantasy points. If this were a 16 game season, Harris is pacing for 1,100 rushing yards with almost 600 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns. Detroit has a bottom five rushing defense and this is a fair salary for Harris on Sunday. Update: Harris is still a good play with Roethlisberger ruled out. The volume should offset the defense loading the box.
D’Ernest Johnson: Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots – $13 | Awesemo Grade: Points B, Value A, Roster% 53.0%
Sunday will mark just the second start for D’Ernest Johnson who has been playing behind Nick Chubb (health and safety protocol) and Kareem Hunt (calf) for all three seasons of his career. That has been the story for Johnson who also played three seasons with Marlon Mack at South Florida. New England has an average rushing DVOA and the are one of the better overall defensive units in the league. However, for his low salary and getting first crack at the lead running back duties, Johnson is going to be a wildly popular option in all formats.
Mark Ingram: New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans – $13| Awesemo Grade: Points B, Value A, Roster% 30.6%
Alvin Kamara (knee) has been ruled out for Week 10, so Mark Ingram will be slotting in as the starting running back for his former team. Ingram will be 31-years old just before Christmas and the veteran of 11 NFL campaigns does not have the same explosiveness that he did in his first round with New Orleans when he was selected to two Pro Bowls. However, he is well versed in the offense and can contribute in all facets of the game. Coach Sean Payton is likely to employ a run-heavy strategy this week with the loss of Jameis Winston curtailing the already nascent passing game. Trevor Siemian is currently listed as the starter, but Taysom Hill is lurking in the wings and will be a red zone option as well. Similar to Johnson, the salary and opportunity outweigh everything else and Ingram should be a focus of our player pools this weekend.
Wide Receiver
The top-shelf Yahoo fantasy options are typically priced in the low-to-mid-$30 range. Often, they are best paired with their quarterbacks for tournament upside rather than risking downside as solo plays.
Davante Adams: Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks – $32 | Awesemo Grade: Points A, Value B, Roster% 18.7%
This week we should see Aaron Rodgers back under center which bodes well for Davante Adams fantasy prospects. This is the lowest salary of the season for the former Fresno State stalwart and Seattle has an abysmal passing defense. It is going to be cold in Green Bay, though even with a 10-15 mph wind, this should not have much of an adverse impact on Rodgers and Adams. Anything less than 100+ yards and a touchdown will be considered a disappointment this week.
Diontae Johnson: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions – $23 | Awesemo Grade: Points A, Value A, Roster% 12.5%
Although Diontae Johnson was a major disappointment on Monday Night Football with his first single digit fantasy point game of the season, this is a terrific bounce back matchup. There is a good chance that Chase Claypool (toe) is out and with Juju Smith-Shuster out for the season as well, Johnson should be peppered with short and medium range targets from Roethlisberger. Do not overthink this play and there will be other ways we can differentiate our lineups. Update: Johnson is a neutral play with Roethlisberger out. The salary is appropriate even with Mason Rudolph under center, though we know the team will be even more run heavy, Johnson is still their best receiver.
DK Metcalf: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers – $29 | Awesemo Grade: Points B, Value B, Roster% 14.4%
Russell Wilson (finger) is expected to make his return on Sunday and that is going to be a major boost for DK Metcalf. Green Bay has been solid against the pass, but with Chris Carson still on the shelf, the Seahawks are going to have to take to the air if they hope to keep this game as close as the field goal difference projected by Las Vegas.
Tight Ends
Kyle Pitts: Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys – $21 | Awesemo Grade: Points A, Value B, Roster% 27.8%
Calvin Ridley (personal) is still away from the team and of course Julio Jones is now plying his trade in Nashville. This should be a game flow that sees rookie Kyle Pitts approach double digit targets and he has a real shot at his third 100+ yard game. The only thing that has been a disappointment is that he has scored only one touchdown and that was in London back in Week 5. The running game has torpedoed Atlanta most weeks so they have to turn to Matt Ryan to throw a hefty 37.5 times per game.
Pat Freiermuth: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions – $16 | Awesemo Grade: Points C, Value B, Roster% 4.8%
Injuries and the matchup against Detroit make rookie Pat Freiermuth the third recommended skill position player from Pittsburgh. Even if/when Eric Ebron returns to action, it is clear that the second round selection out of Penn State is now the TE1. This is still a great salary for Freiermuth who has three touchdowns in his last two games. Update: Similar to Johnson, Freiermuth is a neutral play with Roethlisberger out. The salary is appropriate even with Mason Rudolph under center, though we know the team will be even more run heavy, Freiermuth has red zone equity.
Defense/Special Teams
This week, there is one top-tier unit and a familiar bargain option.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions – $16 | Awesemo Grade: Points A, Value D, Roster% 22.8%
This is a great matchup for Pittsburgh who is averaging just shy of three sacks per game while Detroit is allowing them at a similar rate. While the Steelers have just eight takeaways, Jared Goff and the Lions have 11 giveaways on the season.
Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks – $13 | Awesemo Grade: Points C, Value C, Roster% 4.3%
The Packers are an interesting option in Lambeau Field hosting the Seahawks. Wilson should be back after missing six weeks recovering from surgery to repair both a tendon tear and a fracture of his right middle finger. Green Bay has 14 takeaways including two or more in six of eight games. Last week was only the second game of the season that they did not have an interception and it was the first time in seven weeks they failed to log multiple sacks. Of course they were facing Patrick Mahomes, so we can give them a pass.
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