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)
Jay Cutler (CHI, $28)
Cutler is an intriguing option among discounted quarterbacks in Week 6. The Bears likely won't have Alshon Jeffery available again, but we were all witness to the emergence of sophomore wideout Marquess Wilson (6-85-1, 17.5 FP) last week. Moreover, the Bears still have old, reliable targets in Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett. Cutler has thrown for two touchdowns and at least 250 yards in each of his last two games -- both wins -- and has attempted at least 40 passes in both outings. The Lions have hemorrhaged large chunks of yards, allowing a league-high 9.7 yards per attempt. Last week, Carson Palmer threw three touchdown passes, and would have done even more damage against them had the Cardinals not built a big league early. Cutler is always at risk for multiple turnovers but should be expected to work all four quarters in what may very well be a competitive game -- a 2.5 points spread.
Eddie Lacy (GB, $28)
I don't blame you if you don't want to tread these waters, but recency bias and a relatively hefty price tag will keep Lacy's ownership percentage low this week. He had an utterly disappointing Week 5 (35 total yards, 4.0 FP), but a home matchup as 10-point favorites may set up nicely for Lacy against the Chargers this week. Lacy has a history of battling asthma and has a decent handcuff in James Starks. Nevertheless, remember how Lacy started off slowly last year through Week 3, before reeling off 13 touchdowns in 12 games. Lacy is still young (25), talented and has little mileage. Expect Rodgers to get him more involved this week and for him to receive a few goal-line opportunities -- especially if the Packers build a solid lead going into the second half. As we've noticed time and again, last week's disappointments can end up as this week's gems. Cream always rises to the top eventually, and Lacy is that straw that stirs the ground game's coffee.
Calvin Johnson (DET, $29)
Those who have prematurely declared the demise of Megatron should be reminded of his dominance this week. Big receivers have historically declined quicker than their sub-6-foot counterparts, but Johnson still has plenty of gas left in the tank. He is averaging a paltry 10.4 fantasy points through five games with just one touchdown, but the Lions have faced the league's toughest secondaries (ARI, SEA, DEN, MIN, as well as SD) and their schedule gets better. Opposing quarterbacks have attempted just 28 passes per game (third lowest in the NFL) against the Bears, but those quarterbacks have been mightily efficient as only two teams have allowed more TD passes than the Bears' 11. Last season, Johnson caught 17 of 28 targets for 249 yards and two TD against the Bears, including a 32.1 FP effort on Turkey Day. Expect quarterback Matthew Stafford to re-establish the pass game with Golden Tate ($20) and plenty of Megatron this Sunday.
Other Against-the-Grainers:
QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick (NYJ, $31), Brian Hoyer (HOU, $25)
RB: Giovani Bernard (CIN, $22), LeGarrette Blount (NE, $19), Shane Vereen (NYG, $13),
WR: A.J. Green (CIN, $31), Jordan Matthews (PHI, $22), Ty Montgomery (GB, $12), DeVante Parker (MIA, $10)
TE: Greg Olsen (CAR, $22), Kyle Rudolph (MIN, $16)
DEF: Philadelphia Eagles ($13), Tennessee Titans ($11)
CASH GAMES (H2H, 50/50s and DOUBLE-UPS)
Quarterback
Carson Palmer (ARI, $36)
Palmer is the fourth priciest QB on the board this week, but is still a nice bargain for folks who don't want to pay up for Tom Brady ($46). Palmer has thrown at least three touchdown passes in three of his first five games and is averaging 20.5 FPG -- sixth behind Brady, Andy Dalton ($35), Aaron Rodgers ($43), Cam Newton ($34) and Tyrod Taylor, who is likely out this week. The Cardinals are road favorites (-3) in the fifth-highest projected point total of the week (44.5). The Steelers boast a solid run defense, so Palmer's full effort in the pass game will be required for this one. The Palmer-Fitzgerald tandem has been the league's best thus far and doesn't appear to be slowing anytime soon. Plug both in for cash games.
Running Back
Adrian Peterson (MIN, $35)
Peterson and the Vikings should be well-rested coming off their bye week, ready to rumble against a Chiefs' squad that just lost star running back Jamaal Charles. After receiving just 10 carries in the season opener, Peterson had 65 carries over his last three games, running for 341 yards and three TD -- good for 20 fantasy points per game. We should expect another heavy workload for Peterson this week as the Vikings may be shorthanded in the passing attack with Mike Wallace and Charles Johnson both questionable. The $35 tag is a hefty one, but with so much volatility at the position this year, a ticket to cash game success is to just plug "AD" in and build your lineups around him.
Charcandrick West (KC, $10)
The waiver-wire darling of the week in draft leagues will receive plenty of attention in the daily format due to a dirt-cheap price and expanded role with Charles out for the year. Coach Andy Reid is planning to have West share the backfield with Knile Davis, but at the salary minimum, expect West to be heavily owned this week. West can easily earn value with 80 yards from scrimmage and a couple of receptions, and has a good shot to exceed the tag if he can find the end zone. The undrafted rookie from Abilene Christian made the Chiefs in training camp and has drawn raves from the coaching staff for his work ethic and quickness (4.46 40-time) despite a small, yet stocky frame -- 5-9, 206. There's a huge drop in talent from last week's $10 RB deal (Todd Gurley), but West is an easy roster addition this week despite promises of split carries with Davis.
Wide Receiver
DeAndre Hopkins (HOU, $32)
Hopkins is a no-brainer in both cash games and GPPs this week. With 74 targets through five games, he is on pace to shatter Rob Moore's 1997 record of 206. Over his last three games, Hopkins has caught 28 of 50 targets, averaging 142.3 receiving yards and 20.9 fantasy points per game. Hopkins has been flat-out uncoverable this season, and the Texans have Arian Foster back to keep defenses honest. The only thing keeping Hopkins from being a worthwhile daily fantasy play in Week 6 is a first-quarter injury. Rostering both Hopkins and Julian Edelman ($35) together may be difficult to fit under the cap, even with the Charcandrick discount -- if you have to choose between the two, it has to be the Houston wideout who has recorded 31 percent of his team's targets and receptions.
Brandon Marshall (NYJ, $27)
Marshall is another target-monster whose price will garner well-deserved attention for cash games this week. Ranking fourth in WR FPG (17.8) behind Fitzgerald, Hopkins and Edelman, Marshall has three consecutive outings of 10-plus targets, 100-plus receiving yards and has scored a touchdown in three of four games this year. Marshall lines up all over the field, but should tussle on the left side with the burnable and Chris Culliver -- a cornerback on whom Marshall has a four-inch and 30-pound advantage. To boot, Culliver may be slowed this week from a knee injury. Like Megatron, Marshall is another big, over-30 wideout who should continue to command plenty of targets and serve as a "safe" cash game play as long as he's healthy.
Marquess Wilson (CHI, $11)
Wilson is anything but a safe play this week, but deserves consideration if Alshon Jeffery and Eddie Royal miss the Week 6 game against the Lions. Tight end Martellus Bennett led the Bears with 11 targets last week, but failed to capitalize, catching just four for 32 yards. Wilson caught six of eight targets last week for 85 yards and a touchdown (17.5 FP) and seemed to have a good rapport with quarterback Jay Cutler. Jeffery will likely miss yet another game. If Royal returns and you want to pivot away from Wilson, there are a few riskier options in his price range worth considering: Ty Montgomery (GB, $12), Jamison Crowder (WAS, $11) and Josh Huff (PHI, $11) -- all of whom saw an increased snaps in Week 5.
Tight End
Antonio Gates (SD, $22)
There was no easing Gates back into action following his four-game suspension. Gates was targeted immediately on the Chargers first drive Monday, catching three balls for 36 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown. He finished the game catching nine of 11 targets for 92 yards and two TD. Gates and Rivers are in the midst of their 12th season together as a dynamic duo, combining for 73 career touchdowns -- an NFL record. Last week should be the cheapest and lowest percentage Gates will be all season in the daily game. Gates scored 12 times last year, and is already on pace for double-digit TDs despite the early season absence. Go with Gates again in what is one of only four games with a projected point total over 50.
Defense/Special Teams
Arizona Cardinals ($15)
What more can you ask from your cheap defensive unit? Last week, the Cards collected 14.0 FP by intercepting Lions' QB Matthew Stafford four times, recovering two fumbles and throwing down a sack for good measure. Two weeks prior, they amassed 28.0 FP, collecting another four picks (two were returned for touchdowns) as they destroyed the reeling 49ers. The Cardinals rank second only to the Denver Broncos ($17) who are dominating offenses and averaging an impressive 17.0 FP over the first five weeks. Both teams will do battle on the road in Week 6 -- the Broncos visit Cleveland, while the Cards head to the Iron City where Patrick Peterson and his crew will be chomping at the bit to smother the indecisive, inaccurate, over-the-hill Michael Vick. The New York Jets ($15) are another good option as they take on straight-shooter Kirk Cousins on their home turf after a nice week off following the London trip. You can try to get sneaky projecting big defensive games from any of the other 29 teams in GPPs, but there's no need to do that here in cash-game land.
Honorable Mentions:
QB: Tom Brady (NE, $46)
RB: Matt Forte (CHI, $32), Arian Foster (HOU, $28), Carlos Hyde (SF, $21)
WR: Julian Edelman (NE, $35), Larry Fitzgerald (ARI, $28), Allen Robinson (JAX, $23), Kamar Aiken (BAL, $14)
TE: Rob Gronkowski (NE, $34)
DEF: Denver Broncos ($17), New York Jets ($15)
