The Week 7 NFL DFS Yahoo main slate begins Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT and features 10 games. The Bills and Ravens are on bye, while the Thursday Night Football (Steelers-Bengals), London Game (Rams-Jaguars), Sunday Night Football (Falcons-49ers) and Monday Night Football (Buccaneers-Lions and Texans-Seahawks) participants are excluded from the main slate.
Playing in guaranteed prize pool (GPP) Yahoo DFS football contests is about chasing upside, while lineups geared toward head-to-head, 50/50 or double-up formats should prioritize high floors. The players you want to target for these different contest types aren't mutually exclusive, but winning a GPP tournament usually requires finding a hidden gem or going against the grain in a spot or two while building a solid base of the same chalk plays you would use anywhere. Against-the-grain plays typically consist of big-name players in tough matchups or boom-or-bust types with uncertain roles.
Keep in mind that Yahoo DFS football contests use 0.5 PPR scoring rather than full PPR, which lowers the comparative value of wide receivers and running backs (in that order) while especially affecting high-volume pass-catchers. NFL DFS Yahoo lineups consist of one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one FLEX (RB/WR/TE) and one D/ST unit. Suggested Yahoo DFS picks for Week 7 include a pair of rookie second-round picks, as well as a previously productive player set to make his season debut.
QUARTERBACK
Justin Herbert, LAC vs. IND ($36): Herbert has thrown multiple touchdown passes in three of six starts this season and has a pair of 300-yard passing performances. He has also provided some value with his legs, exceeding 30 rushing yards three times. With the Chargers banged up at RB, Herbert will likely be asked to carry the offense on his shoulders against a leaky Colts secondary that just allowed Cardinals backup Jacoby Brissett to throw for 320 yards last week. Indianapolis' defense has been opportunistic in forcing turnovers, but Herbert generally excels at taking care of the ball, with a 33:7 TD:INT in his first 23 starts under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Honorable Mentions: Jayden Daniels, WAS at DAL ($41); Dak Prescott, DAL vs. WAS ($40); Caleb Williams, CHI vs. NO ($37)
Against the Grainers: Daniel Jones, IND at LAC ($33); Jordan Love, GB at ARI ($31); Justin Fields, NYJ vs. CAR ($29)
RUNNING BACK
Quinshon Judkins, CLE vs. MIA ($28): Judkins is coming off his worst game as a pro in Pittsburgh, but he'll return home to face a much less imposing Dolphins run defense. The rookie second-round pick is averaging 76.6 rushing yards in his first five NFL games and is well positioned to raise that average, as Miami's 806 rushing yards allowed to RBs (134.3 per game) are the most in the NFL. The Dolphins are 1-5 overall and 0-3 on the road, so Judkins is poised for a heavy workload against one of the few teams in the 1-5 Browns' weight class.
Jordan Mason, MIN vs. PHI ($21): The Eagles allowed Giants power back Cam Skattebo to rumble for 98 yards and three TDs last week, and a well-rested Mason will look to replicate that success with his own powerful running style coming out of Minnesota's bye week. Philadelphia has allowed eight total TDs to RBs this season, while Mason has scored three times in as many games since Aaron Jones (hamstring) went on IR. Mason has at least 16 touches in every game since Jones went down and is averaging 81.3 scrimmage yards per game over that span, making him a nice value play, with 16 RBs in the Week 7 NFL DFS Yahoo main slate having higher valuations.
Honorable Mentions: Jonathan Taylor, IND at LAC ($44); Rico Dowdle, CAR at NYJ ($29); Breece Hall, NYJ vs. CAR ($28)
Against the Grainers: Alvin Kamara, NO at CHI ($23); Rhamondre Stevenson, NE at TEN ($18); Kimani Vidal, LAC vs. IND ($15)
WIDE RECEIVER
Ladd McConkey, LAC vs. IND ($28): It has been tough to pinpoint the best stack partner for Herbert, since all three of McConkey, Quentin Johnston ($25) and Keenan Allen ($23) have had their moments. Given recent trends, McConkey has the most upside of that group, especially considering Johnston missed the previous game due to a hamstring injury. McConkey has a two-game TD streak going and set season highs with seven catches for 100 yards in the Week 6 win over Miami. Going back to last season, he has at least 74 receiving yards in eight of his last 13 games. Meanwhile, the Colts have allowed the second-most catches (84) and fourth-most yards (973) to wide receivers, and Indianapolis is likely to remain without slot cornerback Kenny Moore (Achilles) for a fourth consecutive game.
Courtland Sutton, DEN vs. NYG ($27): Sutton is the clear No. 1 option in the passing game for Denver, comfortably leading the team in every major receiving category. He has had a pair of one-catch duds this season but has 25 catches for 359 yards and three TDs across the four other games. Sutton's likely to be much closer to his ceiling than his floor against a Giants secondary that has allowed the most catches (85) and receiving yards (1,070) to WRs this season. Dallas (1,027) is the only other team with more than 1,000 yards allowed to the position already.
Rashee Rice, KC vs. LV ($25): Rice will make his season debut after serving a six-game suspension. He's healthy and should jump right into a prominent role in the Chiefs' high-octane passing game. In three healthy games last season, Rice had 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He has a nice opportunity to quickly make up for lost time against a Raiders secondary that has surrendered 81 catches for 971 yards to wide receivers, both among the league's five most generous marks through six weeks.
Honorable Mentions: George Pickens, DAL vs. WAS ($36); Justin Jefferson, MIN vs. PHI ($32); Terry McLaurin, WAS at DAL ($25)
Against the Grainers: A.J. Brown, PHI at MIN ($23); Kayshon Boutte, NE at TEN ($17); Luther Burden, CHI vs. NO ($11)
TIGHT END
Mason Taylor, NYJ vs. CAR ($13): Taylor could be the top option in the passing game for the Jets in the absence of Garrett Wilson (knee), especially with No. 2 WR Josh Reynolds (hip) also uncertain to play. Taylor turned 19 targets into 14 catches for 132 yards in Weeks 4 and 5 before the entire Jets passing game crashed and burned in a Week 6 loss to Denver across the pond, so the rookie second-round pick has flashed some promising upside as a pass catcher. The Panthers have struggled mightily against TEs, allowing a league-high 444 receiving yards to the position while being tied for the third-most TDs allowed (four).
Honorable Mentions: Jake Ferguson, DAL vs. WAS ($20); Tucker Kraft, GB at ARI ($19); Harold Fannin, CLE vs. MIA ($13)
Against the Grainers: Zach Ertz, WAS at DAL ($15); Chig Okonkwo, TEN vs. NE ($12); Michael Mayer, LV at KC ($10)
DEFENSE
Green Bay Packers at ARI ($10): The Cardinals are one of the league's most banged-up teams on offense. They are definitely without top two RBs James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee), while the statuses of starting QB Kyler Murray (foot) and top three WRs Marvin Harrison (concussion), Michael Wilson (foot) and Zay Jones (knee) are up in the air. Even when healthy, the Cardinals have been far from a juggernaut on offense, averaging only 21.7 points per game this season. Meanwhile, the Packers are allowing the fifth-fewest scrimmage yards per game (280.2). Green Bay hasn't generated many turnovers yet, but those floodgates could open against the injury-riddled Cardinals, especially if Murray's unavailable.
Honorable Mentions: Denver Broncos vs. NYG ($17); New England Patriots at TEN ($16); Chicago Bears vs. NO ($14)
Against the Grainers: Carolina Panthers at NYJ ($12); Miami Dolphins at CLE ($11); New York Jets vs. CAR ($10)
