Welcome to RotoBaller's Yahoo! daily fantasy football lineup picks for Week 1 of the NFL Playoffs. In this article, I, Justin Klein, will be taking you, the reader, through the best Yahoo! DFS plays of the week for this upcoming weekend.
These Yahoo! lineup recommendations are based on matchups, recent performances, overall upside/talent levels, and other factors such as Vegas odds, home field advantage, and more. Good luck with your Yahoo! DFS lineups!
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Yahoo! Quarterbacks - Week 1 of the NFL Playoffs DFS Picks
Aaron Rodgers (vs NYG, $39)
It's going to be about 20* at kickoff on Sunday when the Packers host the Giants, but I don't expect the weather, much less the Giants to stop Aaron Rodgers. A-a-ron has been unstoppable over the past seven weeks as he's thrown for 18 TD and run for one while notching zero turnovers. That's pretty remarkable for anyone, but especially for a player that's dealt with injuries all season and appeared to be in a decline roughly ten or so weeks ago. Outside of Le'Veon Bell, I believe Rodgers to be the best play this week.
Connor Cook (at HOU, $21)
If you're not going to go with Rodgers I suggest you turn to the much cheaper Connor Cook for nearly half the salary. Cook will get the start against the Texans on Saturday after a mediocre showing last week. While he faced a tough Broncos squad Connor still managed to complete two thirds of his passes and he has an abundance of weapons surrounding him. When you add in that Oakland's defense is poised to take the ball away from Osweiler and the Texans at least once or twice you can figure that Connor will get a couple of extra chances. At $21, you can pair Cook with some more expensive options like the RB's listed below.
Yahoo! Running Backs - Week 1 of the NFL Playoffs DFS Picks
Le'Veon Bell (vs MIA, $41)
This is the easiest slam dunk of the first week of the playoffs and you'd be making a poor choice to attempt a Bell fade this weekend. This is because the Dolphins have allowed over 140 yards rushing per game this season; the third worst mark in the league and by far the worst in the playoffs. Plus it will be a high of 19* in Pittsburgh on Sunday, so the Steelers will have even more reason to give Bell the ball in the backfield or throw it to him at a short distance. Join me and get Le'Veon in all of your lineups this weekend. If you do fade him, at least throw a Hail Mary and start DeAngelo Williams in his place.
Latavius Murray (at HOU, $26)
Murray has been solid this season and is in an interesting spot on Saturday with Derek Carr and his backup both out of the game. This leaves the Raiders with a third string QB that could lean to them leaning on the running game and the short yardage passing game. Oakland coach Jack Del Rio recently saying Murray hasn't been getting enough work of late implies that he could very well be the workhouse against the Texans. While Houston has been relatively good against the run this season, I fully expect Latavius to get an abundance of touches and that he will indeed take advantage of them this weekend.
Yahoo! Wide Receivers - Week 1 of the NFL Playoffs DFS Picks
Geronimo Allison (vs NYG, $14)
Allison impressed with four catches for 91 yards and a TD this past weekend with Randall Cobb out against the Lions. The Giants have had a similar season to Detroit and I fully expect that Allison will take advantage of them in a similar fashion. Not only has Rodgers looked comfortable with Geronimo, but his raw talent has allowed him to get open on broken plays, which happen to be a Rodgers special. At just $14, Allison is an easy value play and when you get an open lay up in DFS, you should take it and make it. No need to overthink this one folks.
Will Fuller V (at OAK, $13)
I've been targeting Fuller nearly as much as the Texans this season as he's had six or more targets in 11 of his 14 games. It's too bad Will has only managed 47 receptions from the 92 targets he received this season. The only thing worse is the fact that he only scored two receiving touchdowns and the last one occurred on October 2nd. Lucky for Will and the Texans, Oakland has the ninth worst passing defense this season and they've allowed over 24 points per game. That bodes well for Fuller and at just $13 he doesn't have to do much to return value.
Yahoo! Tight End - Week 1 of the NFL Playoffs DFS Picks
CJ Fiedorowicz (vs OAK, $16)
CJ is similar to Fuller in the sense that he's also received a boatload of targets this season for the Texans. In his past 12 games played, CJ has received five or more targets in all of them and seven or more receptions in nine of them. It's a shame that he's only pulled in 54 of those 89 targets, but then again it's a shame that Brock Osweiler is his QB. Another player going up against the Oakland defense in what should likely be a game flow that has Houston playing from behind I believe Fiedorowicz will against get a good amount of targets and produce because of them.
Yahoo! Defense - Week 1 of the NFL Playoffs DFS Picks
Green Bay Packers D/ST (vs NYG, $15)
The Packers have been a go to option for me in the defense/special teams category of late because they've been under priced and at $15 here we are again. The Pack has been solid over the past six weeks as they've scored eight or more points in five of those weeks. To top it off, Green Bay will host the turnover prone Giants and they've turnover machine Eli Manning this weekend. Unless Eli has a magic trick up his sleeve, I expect more of the same as it will be uncomfortable conditions at Lambeau this Sunday.