This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Football series.
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.
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)
Ryan Fitzpatrick (NYJ, $37) – Fitzpatrick could be a worthy Week 8 pivot with most folks leaning toward more consistent and popular options like Philip Rivers ($44), Andy Dalton ($41) and Carson Palmer ($41). The Jets and the Raiders rank first and second, respectively, against the run, and workhorse back Chris Ivory (quad tightness) might be less than 100 percent healthy this week. These factors might for the gameplan to rely heavily on the arm of Fitzpatrick and his two reliable targets, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Fitzpatrick has thrown two passing touchdowns in five of six games and has topped 20 fantasy points each of the last two weeks. Fitz has the capability to contribute a few bonus points with his legs as well, as he has run for 94 yards the last three games and may sneak one over the goal line this weekend.
Jonathan Stewart (CAR, $20) – Stewart appears to be fully healed and is in the midst of a healthy string of games similar to the ones we saw down the stretch and into the playoffs last season. Stewart is heavily underpriced again this week, due in part to a certain vulture in the shape of a refrigerator who goes by the name of Mike Tolbert. Recency bias might kick in for some who noticed that Tolbert bowled into the end zone twice last week, touchdowns that could have easily been Stewart's. The red zone gets even more complicated when you consider how often and easily quarterback Cam Newton saunters into the end zone himself. Nevertheless, Stewart has been running wild and free when the game script is positive. Last week, he ran for 125 against the Eagles, and in the week prior, Stewart managed just 78 rushing yards but carried in two touchdowns. No one can figure out where the TDs will come from in Carolina on a weekly basis. What we do know is that Stewart has an attractive matchup against the Colts this week, plays the majority of snaps and is severely underpriced. Take him for the yards he'll accrue and expect touchdowns to follow. Stewart can be your Monday night hammer.
Roddy White (ATL, $12) – Football Father Time has given Roddy a reprieve as perhaps the aged receiver can finish the season on a positive note. White had the opportunity to step up last week with Leonard Hankerson out but managed just 48 yards on three receptions. In fact, Roddy has caught four receptions each of the last four weeks, but has not surpassed 50 yards since Week 1 against the Eagles when he caught four of eight targets for 87 yards. White is noticeably a step slower, but continues to run precise routes and still catches contested balls at maximum effort. With Hankerson not practicing Wednesday and possibly missing another game, this Week 8 matchup against the Bucs might set up The Roddy Way. The amount of defensive attention Julio Jones should receive could present quarterback Matt Ryan with some opportunities to find the veteran receiver open. If you're buying into the narrative, it won't cost you much at a measly 12 bucks. Give cap-saver Roddy a whirl so you can fit your favorite studs and hit that $100,000 prize this weekend.
Other Against-the-Grainers:
QB: Teddy Bridgewater (MIN, $30)
RB: Marshawn Lynch (SEA, $32), Chris Johnson (ARI, $27)
WR: Brandin Cooks (NO, $20), Anquan Boldin (SF, $17), Tyler Lockett (SEA, $11)
TE: Martellus Bennett (CHI, $21)
DEF: Green Bay Packers ($16)
CASH GAMES (H2H, 50/50s and DOUBLE UPS)
Quarterback
Andy Dalton (CIN, $41) – If you told me prior to the season that Andy Dalton was going to lead your draft team to a fantasy championship, I'd call you certifiably nuts. Dalton had a very disappointing 2014 with a 19:17 TD:INT ratio. This season, it's an incredible 14:2 with all of his offensive targets healthy as he confidently marches his offense down the field against opposing defenses with ease. The Steelers hold their own against the run, but are susceptible to the pass. Despite being priced as just the sixth-most expensive QB this week, Dalton has been numero uno through the first six weeks, leading all quarterbacks in action this weekend with 23.3 FPG this season. The possibility of Jeremy Hill or Giovani Bernard vulturing some red-zone carries into touchdowns is possible, but I'd bet on at least three touchdown passes from Dalton this week, along with 300-plus passing yards and perhaps a sneaky rushing TD to boot. He's my top play at QB this week regardless of format. Lock him in.
Running Back
Todd Gurley (STL, $34) – Gurley's salary received a modest increase of three bucks this week despite yet another monster outing. Gurley rushed for 128 yards on 19 carries, caught four balls for 35 yards and scored two touchdowns for 30.3 fantasy points against a hapless Browns team. After receiving just six carries on 14 snaps in his season debut in Week 3, Gurley has rattled off three consecutive games with more than 125 rushing yards. He will be highly owned in both cash games and GPPs and is an easy decision for our RB1 slot despite being priced as the third-most expensive running back behind Devonta Freeman ($40) and Le'Veon Bell ($39) this week.
Justin Forsett (BAL, $31) – Here's hoping last week's performance against a stout Cardinals run defense keeps Forsett's ownership low this week. Forsett found the end zone, but managed just 36 yards on 12 carries and eight receiving yards on three catches as the Cardinals held the lead for most of the game. The Week 8 matchup sets up nicely as Forsett faces a Chargers run D that has been gashed for a league-high 5.3 rush yards per carry this season. The Ravens are favored by a field goal for this home matchup and the 50-point projected total is the highest of this week's slate. Forsett rushed for 150 yards against the Steelers in Week 4 and followed it up with a 25 FP performance against the Browns in Week 5. Javorius Allen will steal some carries and possible red zone action, but Forsett's matchup is much too juicy to overlook.
Wide Receiver
Brandon Marshall (NYJ, $34) – Marshall failed to surpass 100 receiving yards or catch a touchdown pass for the first time this season as the Patriots' defense completed the task of neutralizing the Jets' top weapon, though Marshall helped by dropping a back-shoulder TD pass. Marshall should get back on the train of production this week as he faces off against the Raiders' burnable cornerbacks Neiko Thorpe and David Amerson. Expect quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to hone in and target Marshall all four quarters. I can't fault you for choosing any of the other $30-and-up options with good matchups, such as Julio Jones ($36, v TB), Keenan Allen ($35, at BAL), or A.J. Green ($32, at PIT), but Marshall's ceiling is through the roof. Don't be surprised if he eclipses 150 yards and catches two touchdowns for the first time this season.
A.J. Green (CIN, $32) – The Bengals should be well rested coming off their bye week and ready to tango with their division rivals. The Steelers expect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back as this 48.5 projected point matchup lines up to be one of the most riveting of the weekend. Andy Dalton has a bevy of weapons at his disposal and predicting the receiving leader for the Bengals on any given week is tougher than in days past. Of course, Green did not have so much competition for targets over the years, but note the number of targets he has received in his last five games against the Steelers: 13, 15, 15, 18, 18. In their last matchup, Green burned the Steelers for an 81-yard TD en route to a 13-catch, 224-yard performance. He had a similar game against the Ravens earlier this year, catching two touchdown passes and 228 yards. Green's blowup potential is enough reason to slot him in this week and to build your GPP squads around him.
Stefon Diggs (MIN, $22) – The last three games, Diggs has emerged as the Vikings' best receiver and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's go-to target. Diggs has seen at least nine targets sent his way in each of those games and averaged 18.5 fantasy points over his last two games, almost a full point per salary dollar. In a sea of receivers in his price range with tough matchups (for instance, Donte Moncrief, $22 at CAR), Diggs should find another opportunity to bury the bone against a Bears pass defense that has allowed 15 TDs through the air this season, tied for second most in the league. Diggs is the real deal, and is underpriced. Take the value where you can and move along.
Tight End
Ladarius Green (SD, $14) – Green is in play at his near-minimum salary even if veteran Antonio Gates straps on the pads this week. Green was not in on last week's action as much as DFS players would have liked, but still managed a touchdown, 45 yards and two two-point conversions, good for 16.5 FP and more than a point per salary dollar. Although Keenan Allen likely will be targeted voluminously facing a porous Ravens secondary, Green still makes for a reliable goal-line target for quarterback Philip Rivers. With all worthy tight ends priced well above Green's $14, it makes our decision to play him this week all the easier.
Defense/Special Teams
Seattle Seahawks ($15) – The Seahawks are the third-most expensive option in Week 8, but may flat out be the one to take across all of our Yahoo DFS teams this week. The Seahawks punished Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick last week, sacking him six times and holding the offense to a single field goal. The Hawks have put up four double-digit defensive point performances in seven games and get a juicy matchup in Week 8. That juice will be pouring from the hand of subpar journeyman QB Matt Cassel, who was intercepted three times by the Giants last week. Others worth consideration are the Packers ($16) against Peyton Manning and the Broncos, the Jets ($14) against the Raiders, the Cardinals ($14) who may face pick-happy youngster Johnny Manziel and, last but not least, the Atlanta Falcons ($13), who should feast on errant passes and lost fumbles at the hands of rookie QB Jameis Winston. Nevertheless, the Seahawks are my pick for utter domination and a realistic shot at a 20-plus point defensive outing.
Honorable Mentions:
QB: Philip Rivers (SD, $44)
RB: Danny Woodhead (SD, $20), Darren McFadden (DAL, $13)
WR: Julio Jones (ATL, $36), Mike Evans (TB, $24), Kendall Wright (TEN, $20)
TE: Greg Olsen (CAR, $26)
DEF: St. Louis Rams ($15)
