Yahoo NFL DFS Picks

Finding the best anchors for your DFS lineup is the best way to start lineup construction, so each week in this space, I’ll be taking a look at a skill-position breakdown of players who stick out on Yahoo. Whether it’s because of matchup or usage or anything else, these are players who should feature heavily in lineups.

Quarterbacks | Yahoo Week 4 picks

Can Kyler Murray keep up this crazy pace?

($39, at Los Angeles Rams)

As you start to build your anchors for this week’s DFS slate over on Yahoo, the expensive Kyler Murray (tied atop the slate for the priciest investment with Patrick Mahomes) certainly catches your eye. And he has to be at least in the conversation for the NFL MVP, right? He’s already thrown for over 1,000 passing yards this season, and he is one of those unique Konami code QBs that seems to push some rushing yards into the total. He’s scored a touchdown on the ground in every single game this season, and by virtue of being a large underdog in what should be a high scoring game (54.5-point over/under), he’s gonna need to channel everything he’s got to try and spring the upset.

Check out the FTN Fantasy points allowed tool to see how teams allowed points to opposing positions.

Taylor Heinicke could provide some much-needed salary relief

($26, at Atlanta Falcons)

By virtue of starting the season as a backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick, there’s almost no one on this planet who had the audacity to draft Taylor Heinicke on their season-long teams. That’s pretty obvious. But by virtue of averaging 18.2 FPPG so far this season, Heinicke certainly has earned his keep. That scoring mark would be even higher had he not only played virtually half a game in Week 1 — he’s scored 22.9 and 21.0 points in each of his last two starts. And the Falcons? They’ve allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Don’t sleep on Washington — they rank fourth in situation-neutral pace this season.

Check out the FTN pace tool.

Running back | Yahoo Week 4 picks

Go back to King Henry in Week 4

($41, at New York Jets)

With some intriguing options available at different positions, rostering Derrick Henry will certainly be expensive. At $41, he will make up over 20% of your salary build, and that’s not something that I take to lightly. but let’s consider Titans’ back’s insane workload — he carried the ball 28 times for a delightful 113 yards in Week 3, and Henry is now getting involved in the passing game, nabbing 13 targets so far this season with 12 catches. Oh baby. As we take a quick peek at our FTN tool that shows points allowed by position, the Jets are getting straight roasted by opposing running backs. If you can afford him, he seems to definitely be worth the investment.

Don’t expect Ezekiel Elliott to stay this cheap for long

($22, vs. Carolina Panthers)

You didn’t really think that Ezekiel Elliott was going to be this cheap forever, did you? The St. Louis native Elliott, contrary to popular belief on the Internet, is still a damn good running back. He ripped the Eagles defense for 116 total yards and two touchdowns, and while Tony Pollard unfortunately still continues to steal some work (11 carries), he’s the guy we clearly want to own. The Panthers have a solid defense, but this is a top-flight running back at dollar-store pricing.

Wide receiver | Yahoo Week 4 picks

It’s time to buy in on Tyreek Hill

($30, at Philadelphia Eagles)

One of the more perplexing things I don’t think anyone saw coming was the Chiefs traveling to Philadelphia with the potential of starting this season 1-3, but here we are. And to be fair, part of that falls on Tyreek Hill and the Chief offense — last week, he racked up only 56 yards and lost a fumble. In Week 1, however, showed us what Hill is capable of in this prolific offense — 11 catches, 197 receiving yards, and a score. If you are concerned about format, Hill makes for an outstanding top-flight option, as his poor recent performances could keep his ownership low.

Is a Brandon Aiyuk rebound coming?

($15, vs. Seattle Seahawks)

For the life of me, I have no clue what happened in Kyle Shanahan’s game plan. Brandon Aiyuk was utterly absent, sadly, in Week 1, and man that doghouse must have a really long leash — in Week 2, he saw only two targets for a catch and six yards receiving. But Week 3 showed maybe all isn’t lost after all — Aiyuk garnered six targets, including 37 yards, and he found the end zone. Seattle ranks in the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, and the over/under sits at 52.0 points.

Tight end | Yahoo Week 4 picks

Is Dalton Schultz for real?

($11, vs. Carolina Panthers)

Some may point to this and think it’s filled with recency bias after Dalton Schultz‘ monster Week 3 performance — and if you’re unfamiliar, the tight end ripped off six catches, 80 yards, and not one but two scores. But there’s far more to it than simply seeing the tight end’s big scoring line and plugging him into your lineups. He’s garnered 15 targets this year to Blake Jarwin‘s 9, and he was Dallas’s leading receiver last week. I don’t think this was a one-time exception.