This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Football series.
The Week 17 NFL DFS Yahoo main slate begins Sunday at 1 p.m. EST and features nine games. All of the byes for the 2025 season have wrapped up, but teams playing on Christmas (Cowboys-Commanders, Lions-Vikings and Broncos-Chiefs), Saturday (Texans-Chargers and Ravens-Packers), Sunday Night Football (Bears-49ers) and Monday Night Football (Rams-Falcons) 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 17 include one of the NFL's top stacks from the past few seasons, as well as a pair of veterans set for expanded roles in banged-up backfields.
QUARTERBACK
Joe Burrow, CIN vs. ARI ($39): There are a few pricey QBs who could be worth paying up for, but Burrow could be the best of the bunch against the reeling Cardinals. Cincinnati's star signal-caller has mustered a pair of four-touchdown performances in his last three starts, and this battle of fast-paced offenses and porous defenses is expected to produce the most points among games in Sunday's NFL DFS Yahoo main slate (over/under 52.5 points). Arizona's on a seven-game losing streak and has allowed at least 40 points in four of those seven losses. After hanging 45 points on the Dolphins in Week 16, Burrow and the Bengals could easily put up another 40-spot here.
Honorable Mentions: Trevor Lawrence, JAC at IND ($42); Drake Maye, NE at NYJ ($41); Tyler Shough, NO at TEN ($32)
Against the Grainers: Jaxson Dart, NYG at LV ($35); Baker Mayfield, TB at MIA ($33); Philip Rivers, IND vs. JAC ($21)
RUNNING BACK
Ashton Jeanty, LV vs. NYG ($36): Poor offensive line play and negative game scripts have limited Jeanty throughout his highly anticipated rookie season, but the 2025 sixth overall pick showed what he can do when the Raiders keep a game close by turning 25 touches into 188 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns against Houston's elite defense in a 23-21 Week 16 loss. The Raiders will have a chance to pick on someone their own size Sunday in a clash between 2-11 teams that's likely to decide who gets the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Another hefty workload for Jeanty is likely to produce impressive results against a Giants defense that's allowing 122 rushing yards per game to RBs, which is second-most in the NFL.
Rhamondre Stevenson, NE at NYJ ($19): Stevenson could be in line for a massive workload if TreVeyon Henderson (concussion) isn't available, and even if Henderson plays, Stevenson's a nice value at just $19 in a Patriots offense that's likely to employ a run-heavy approach while being banged up at WR. The 12-3 Patriots are likely to play from ahead throughout against the 3-12 Jets, who have allowed a league-high 23 total TDs to RBs this season. Stevenson has recorded at least 77 scrimmage yards in three consecutive games, so he has been effective even while taking a back seat to Henderson.
Honorable Mentions: Chase Brown, CIN vs. ARI ($38); Tony Pollard, TEN vs. NO ($28); Michael Carter, ARI at CIN ($19)
Against the Grainers: Bucky Irving, TB at MIA ($32); Tyrone Tracy, NYG at LV ($27); Kenneth Gainwell, PIT at CLE ($23)
WIDE RECEIVER
Ja'Marr Chase, CIN vs. ARI ($40): Chase and Burrow have been the NFL's top stack over the past couple seasons, and it will likely be worth it to spend the marginal $6 of cap space on Chase over Tee Higgins ($34), especially if you also deploy Burrow. Even as a standalone option, Chase is likely to thrive against a Cardinals defense that allowed 32.2 fantasy points to Puka Nacua in Week 14 and 22.0 fantasy points to Nico Collins in Week 15. Chase has scored at least 18.2 fantasy points five times this season and has seen 59 targets in four games since the Bengals got Burrow back from a toe injury while recording at least 109 receiving yards in three of those four games. You would need to go bargain shopping elsewhere to fit the Burrow-Chase stack into your lineup, but they have the potential to combine for gargantuan numbers against the lowly Cardinals.
Stefon Diggs, NE at NYJ ($25): Diggs is coming off a 138-yard receiving performance against the Ravens in Week 16, and he's likely to get most of the attention from Drake Maye against the generous Jets defense since the Patriots could be without all of Kayshon Boutte (concussion), Mack Hollins (abdomen) and DeMario Douglas (hamstring). The Jets once boasted a formidable secondary but have depleted the roster via trades with an eye on the future. They have been outscored 111-36 over their last three games, surrendering five passing TDs to Trevor Lawrence in Week 15 and a 10-148-2 line to Chris Olave in Week 16. Kyle Williams ($10) could also play an expanded role.
Jakobi Meyers, JAC at IND ($22): It's tough to choose between Meyers, Brian Thomas ($24) and Parker Washington ($20), as all three are strong value plays with the Jaguars rolling on offense and Colts in free fall. Jacksonville is averaging 34.2 points per game during its six-game winning streak, and Lawrence has thrown multiple touchdown passes in five consecutive games, while the Colts have lost five straight and are allowing the second-most receiving yards per game to WRs (170) this season. Indianapolis has also allowed a league-high 201 catches to wideouts this season. Meyers offers the highest floor in Jacksonville's deep WR room, earning at least six targets in six consecutive games while averaging five catches for 60 yards and scoring three times in that span.
Honorable Mentions: Chris Olave, NO at TEN ($38); Michael Wilson, ARI at CIN ($29); Mike Evans, TB at MIA ($27)
Against the Grainers: A.J. Brown, PHI at BUF ($31); Alec Pierce, IND vs. JAC ($21); Jerry Jeudy, CLE vs. PIT ($17)
TIGHT END
Taysom Hill, NO at TEN ($10): Hill worked as the top backfield option for the Saints in Week 16, and he's likely to do so again Sunday since Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) hasn't played or practiced since Week 12, Devin Neal is on IR due to a hamstring injury, and the Saints don't seem to trust Audric Estime or Evan Hull to handle more than complementary roles. Hill got 12 carries in the Week 16 win over the Jets compared to five apiece for Estime and Hull, and the versatile veteran also threw a 38-yard touchdown pass and caught four passes for 36 yards. Like Diggs, Hill tore his ACL last season, so they are both probably a little more explosive now than they were earlier in the campaign. Hill's unique position as a lead runner with TE eligibility makes him a low-risk, high-reward pick at the minimum $10 against a Titans defense that's allowing 26.9 points per game, which is seventh-most in the NFL.
Honorable Mentions: Trey McBride, ARI at CIN ($30); Harold Fannin, CLE vs. PIT ($20); Juwan Johnson, NO at TEN ($16)
Against the Grainers: Tyler Warren, IND vs. JAC ($17); Mike Gesicki, CIN vs. ARI ($12); Michael Mayer, LV vs. NYG ($10)
DEFENSE
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MIA ($12): The Buccaneers still control their own destiny in the NFC South despite their 7-8 record, as they will make the playoffs with a win over the Dolphins this week and a victory over the Panthers in Week 18. Sunday's clash between teams from the Sunshine State offers an opportunity for Tampa Bay's defense to shine, as the Dolphins have punted on their season and will start rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers for the second consecutive game. Ewers struggled in his first start in Week 16, posting a 0:2 TD:INT ratio against the normally putrid Bengals defense. The motivated Buccaneers defense will likely make things even tougher on the rookie, as Tampa Bay has a top-10 run defense and ranks in the top 10 with 20 forced turnovers, so Ewers could be forced to throw often against a unit that's adept at taking the ball away.
Honorable Mentions: Pittsburgh Steelers at CLE ($16); New England Patriots at NYJ ($15); New Orleans Saints at TEN ($15)
Against the Grainers: Philadelphia Eagles at BUF ($15); Buffalo Bills vs. PHI ($14); Las Vegas Raiders vs. NYG ($10)
