This disclosure relates to techniques for opportunistically depowering receiver chains of a wireless device. Based on received control information, a device may determine a depowering time. For example, the device may determine a minimum number of symbols of the payload channel that will provide an effective spectral efficiency less than a supportable spectral efficiency of the payload channel. The depowering time may be determined as a time upon receipt of the determined minimum number of symbols. The device may determine whether to perform a depowering procedure, based upon the determined depowering time. In response to determining to perform the depowering procedure, the device may depower an RF receiver of the device at the depowering time, wherein the depowering time is prior to the end of the payload channel. The device may decode the payload channel based on a portion of the payload channel received by the RF receiver.