Yahoo DFS Football: Super Bowl Picks

Yahoo DFS Football: Super Bowl Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Football series.

This is the moment we've all been waiting for -- single-game NFL DFS contests have finally arrived on Yahoo!, just in time for the Super Bowl, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST on Sunday. In the single-game format, you will have a $200 salary cap to build a lineup of five FLEX players from any position, including a SUPERSTAR spot that scores 1.5 times as many points but still costs that player's regular salary. Read on for a position-by-position breakdown of which players will form most lineup cornerstones and which ones are set to provide the best value.

QUARTERBACK

Most lineups will likely feature a quarterback in the SUPERSTAR spot, and both of these quarterbacks are certainly superstars. You can even lock in both quarterbacks, but then the rest of your lineup will need to consist of bargain-bin options.

Patrick Mahomes, KC vs. TB ($81): Mahomes is the chalk choice under center, as he provides an unparalleled mix of safety and upside. He has scored no fewer than 19.32 fantasy points in any of his last 10 appearances while topping 30.0 three times in that stretch, plus Mahomes is an underrated runner and should be more willing to scramble following a two-week layoff that has allowed his toe injury to heal up. 

Tom Brady, TB vs. KC ($70): Brady's no stranger to big games and comes into this one riding a string of six consecutive performances with over 20 fantasy points. He was a boom-or-bust fantasy option in the regular season, but Brady's more likely to boom than bust here, even against a Chiefs defense that has been stouter against the pass than the run.

RUNNING BACK

Leonard Fournette, TB vs. KC ($29): Fournette played second fiddle to Ronald Jones in the regular season, but he has been the lead back for Tampa Bay in the playoffs, racking up 211 yards and two touchdowns on 48 carries, plus 14 catches for 102 yards and a touchdown on 17 targets in three postseason games. Expect a steady diet of Fournette carries to keep Kansas City's pass rush honest. 

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC vs. TB ($23): Edwards-Helaire missed the Divisional Round due to hip and ankle injuries, then mustered only seven scrimmage yards on seven touches in the AFC Championship game, though he did manage to find the end zone. The rookie first-round pick is a dangerous three-down back when healthy, and a pair of weeks off should allow Edwards-Helaire to regain the explosiveness that helped him rack up 1,100 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns in the regular season. Darrel Williams ($17) outplayed Edwards-Helaire in the AFC Championship after working as the lead back the previous week and should play a prominent role here as well, while Le'Veon Bell isn't expected to play a significant role, even if he's able to push through his knee injury.

WIDE RECEIVER

Tyreek Hill, KC vs. TB ($42): Hill is a dark-horse choice for your SUPERSTAR spot if you want to go against the grain. The speedster has secured 17 of 21 targets for 282 yards in two games this postseason and is always a threat to score a long touchdown both through the air and on the occasional gadget rushing play. Tampa Bay had no answer for Hill in the regular season, as he totaled 13 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-24 Chiefs win. Mecole Hardman ($16) is like a poor man's Hill, and he has the speed to get behind a Buccaneers secondary that will be focusing most of its attention on Hill and tight end Travis Kelce.

Mike Evans, TB vs. KC ($30): Evans is the Buccaneers receiver to target given his red-zone chemistry with Brady. He comes into this one riding a two-game touchdown streak and has found the end zone 15 times this season. With Antonio Brown (knee) doubtful, Scotty Miller ($11) figures to be a premier value option. Miller will feature in three-receiver sets if Brown sits, and he scored the momentum-shifting touchdown to end the first half against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. Chris Godwin ($33) is the priciest Buccaneers receiver and is coming off a 110-yard performance. 

TIGHT END

Travis Kelce, KC vs. TB ($44): No Chiefs stack is complete without Kelce, who's riding a six-game touchdown streak and just had 13 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns against the Bills in the AFC Championship Game. He has at least eight catches in nine of his last 10 games and caught seven balls in the other, and Kelce has come up short of 82 yards only once in that stretch while registering at least 109 seven times. For what it's worth, Tampa Bay was the last team to keep the star tight end out of the end zone.

Cameron Brate, TB vs. KC ($16): Brate has outplayed Rob Gronkowski ($12) all postseason, securing 11 of 16 targets for 149 yards and a touchdown over three playoff games to Gronk's two catches for 43 yards on seven targets. That said, Gronkowski has much more big-game experience and Brate's battling a back injury.

DEFENSE

Kansas City Chiefs, KC vs. TB ($17): Defenses are unlikely to wield much value in this battle of star quarterbacks, though stranger things have happened. Chris Jones on the interior and Frank Clark on the edge provide a fearsome pass rushing combination, while Tyrann Mathieu is an elite playmaker in the secondary. Brady did all he could to give the NFC Championship away with three second-half interceptions but was bailed out by his defense, dubious Packers play calling and controversial officiating. If he brings that second-half form to the Super Bowl, we could see a surprisingly effective performance from the Chiefs' defense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, TB vs. KC ($14): Slowing down Mahomes is no easy feat, but the same could be said of Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, and this unit managed to produce nine fantasy points apiece against them in the last two games. Tampa Bay forced four turnovers against New Orleans and sacked Rodgers five times, as the team's stout defensive line was able to stuff the run and pressure the quarterback, while a secondary full of ballhawks can cause problems for even the most accurate of passers.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Sasha Yodashkin plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: Youngsash, DraftKings: Yashdogg,Yahoo: Sasha, Fanball: Yashdogg.
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only NFL Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire NFL fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sasha Yodashkin
Sasha has been contributing NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB and Tennis content to RotoWire since 2015, with an emphasis on DFS. He is a huge New York sports fan who has been playing fantasy sports since middle school.
NFL Draft Props and Betting Odds: Where Will Jayden Daniels Land?
NFL Draft Props and Betting Odds: Where Will Jayden Daniels Land?
7 Rookies Smart Dynasty Fantasy Football Owners Are Drafting (Video)
7 Rookies Smart Dynasty Fantasy Football Owners Are Drafting (Video)
Ryan Grubb and the History of College Coaches Headed to the NFL
Ryan Grubb and the History of College Coaches Headed to the NFL
10 Sneaky Tricks For Your Upcoming Rookie Draft (Video)
10 Sneaky Tricks For Your Upcoming Rookie Draft (Video)
NFL Draft Decisions: Navigating Make-or-Break Moments
NFL Draft Decisions: Navigating Make-or-Break Moments
Dynasty Startup Draft LIVE! Superflex; ROOKIES Included! (Video)
Dynasty Startup Draft LIVE! Superflex; ROOKIES Included! (Video)