NFL football is back, and so are Yahoo NFL DFS contests! The Week 1 NFL DFS Yahoo main slate begins Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT and features 12 games. Bye weeks won't come into play until Week 5, but teams playing on Wednesday night (Patriots-Seahawks), Thursday night (49ers-Rams), Sunday Night Football (Cowboys-Giants) and Monday Night Football (Broncos-Chiefs) 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 1 include a QB-WR stack that could benefit from some of their team's offseason moves, a second-year RB ready to break out, and a bargain TE set for a bigger role due to a teammate's absence.
QUARTERBACK
Jalen Hurts, PHI vs. WAS ($36): Hurts is one of the NFL's premier dual-threat QBs, as he has averaged 22 passing TDs and 12.5 rushing TDs over the past four seasons. He mustered a career-high 25 touchdown passes last season even as the Eagles took a step back on offense under OC Kevin Patullo, and the team expects a stronger all-around performance now that Patullo has been replaced by Sean Mannion. Hurts draws a favorable Week 1 home game against a Commanders defense that gave up the third-most passing TDs in the NFL last season, as well as the fifth-most passing yards and ninth-most rushing yards to QBs. The 28-year-old QB has had Washington's number over the years, as Hurts has produced more passing yards and TDs against the Commanders in his career than any other opponent.
Honorable Mentions: Joe Burrow, CIN vs. TB ($38); Lamar Jackson, BAL at IND ($36); Justin Herbert, LAC vs. ARI ($35)
Against the Grainers: Tyler Shough, NO at DET ($30); Kyler Murray, MIN vs. GB ($30); Malik Willis, MIA at LV ($24)
RUNNING BACK
Omarion Hampton, LAC vs. ARI ($29): The Chargers are the heaviest favorites in Week 1, listed as 9.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, so Hampton is likely to benefit from a run-heavy game script against a Cardinals defense that allowed 22 total touchdowns to running backs last season, which was the second-most in the NFL. Hampton averaged 82 scrimmage yards per game during his rookie regular season, and the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is set to work as the clear lead option in the backfield under new OC Mike McDaniel. Given Hampton's mix of talent and situation, it may not be long until his valuation climbs into the elite RB tier, making him a terrific value at $29 against a poor defense.
David Montgomery, HOU vs. BUF ($20): The Texans traded for Montgomery and promptly gave him a raise, suggesting they plan to give the former Lions RB the lead role in the backfield over 2025 fourth-round pick Woody Marks. The 230-pound Montgomery's hard running style is likely to prove effective against a Bills defense that has prioritized containing the pass at the expense of leaving some running lanes open over the past couple seasons. Buffalo allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL last season but gave up a league-high 18 rushing scores to RBs, as well as the fifth-most yards on the ground. Houston's elite defense is likely to keep the score close enough for the Texans to stick with the running game throughout.
Honorable Mentions: Saquon Barkley, PHI vs. WAS ($34); Ashton Jeanty, LAC vs. MIA ($33); Breece Hall, NYJ at TEN ($27)
Against the Grainers: Bucky Irving, TB at CIN ($25); Tony Pollard, TEN vs. NYJ ($22); Bhayshul Tuten, JAC vs. CLE ($19)
WIDE RECEIVER
DeVonta Smith, PHI vs. WAS ($27): Smith's a strong choice whether you stack him with Hurts or not, as he's expected to see an increase in targets this season after serving as the Robin to A.J. Brown's Batman over the previous three years. Brown was traded to the Patriots in the offseason, clearing the path for Smith to lead Philadelphia's receiving corps over offseason additions Dontayvion Wicks and Makai Lemon. The Commanders ranked among the seven most generous units in terms of catches, yards and touchdowns allowed to wide receivers last season.
Garrett Wilson, NYJ at TEN ($25): Wilson has been held back by subpar QB play since being drafted 10th overall in 2022, but he still mustered at least 1,042 receiving yards in each of his first three campaigns before being limited to 395 yards and seven appearances by a knee injury in 2025. He has regained health and is set to work as the top target for new Jets QB Geno Smith, who has had his fair share of turnover issues but has the arm strength and willingness to push the ball downfield and give his receivers a chance to make big plays. The Titans were no better than the Jets last season, as both teams finished 3-14, and Tennessee's starting defense didn't look particularly sharp in the preseason, allowing 16 first-quarter points to Seattle's backups in the team's second preseason game. Tennessee allowed the fourth-most yards (2,814) and fifth-most TD receptions (18) to wide receivers last season, even as opponents frequently shifted to run-heavy approaches after building leads.
Emeka Egbuka, TB at CIN ($20): Egbuka's a tempting value at $20, though anyone spooked by his recent struggles with a toe injury could pivot to Chris Godwin ($22). Both of Tampa Bay's top two WRs are poised to start the season strong against a Bengals defense that allowed the third-most points last year after the Cowboys and Jets. This battle between former first overall pick QBs Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield is expected to be the highest-scoring game of Week 1, with an over/under of 51.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Egbuka missed some time recently due to a sprained toe but returned to practice without limitations this week. The 2025 first-round pick was slowed by a hamstring injury for the second half of his rookie season, but Egbuka got off to a spectacular start, posting a 40-677-6 line on 76 targets through his first nine games.
Honorable Mentions: Chris Olave, NO at DET ($34); Tetairoa McMillan, CAR vs. CHI ($25); Quentin Johnston, LAC vs. ARI ($20)
Against the Grainers: Justin Jefferson, MIN vs. GB ($28); Parker Washington, JAC vs. CLE ($27); Luther Burden, CHI at CAR ($22)
TIGHT END
Michael Mayer, LV vs. MIA ($10): Mayer is expected to work as the Raiders' top TE in the absence of Brock Bowers (knee), and that role could result in Mayer being the top target for QB Kirk Cousins given the team's lack of established WR talent. Mayer had at least 47 receiving yards in three of the four games he played without Bowers last season and is a low-risk, high-reward option at the minimum $10 against the Dolphins in a battle between what are expected to be two of the worst teams in the league this season.
Honorable Mentions: Colston Loveland, CHI at CAR ($22); Tyler Warren, IND vs. BAL ($17); Juwan Johnson, NO at DET ($17)
Against the Grainers: Kyle Pitts, ATL at PIT ($21); Mark Andrews, BAL at IND ($14); Mason Taylor, NYJ at TEN ($10)
DEFENSE
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. CLE ($17): It is often prudent to go for a bargain option on defense to free up salary cap space at other positions, but paying up for the Jaguars could be worth it here given Cleveland's underwhelming QB situation. Deshaun Watson averaged just 164 passing yards per game while posting a 1-6 record as the Browns' starter in 2024. He has since torn his Achilles twice but was named the team's starting QB again for 2026, much to the chagrin of a large portion of Cleveland's fanbase. Jacksonville forced 31 turnovers last season, which was second-most in the NFL after Chicago's 33, while only the Raiders scored fewer points last season than the Browns. Cleveland's offensive woes give Jacksonville's defense a high floor, while this unit's playmaking ability raises its ceiling.
Honorable Mentions: Los Angeles Chargers vs. ARI ($15); Pittsburgh Steelers vs. ATL ($15); Philadelphia Eagles vs. WAS ($14)
Against the Grainers: Buffalo Bills at HOU ($12); Las Vegas Raiders vs. MIA ($11); New York Jets at TEN ($10)
