Let’s Talk

It’s become commonplace in DFS now and it’s a term that’s frequently thrown around. “Stack” or “Stacking” is heavily referenced whenever you hear “experts” talking about winning in DFS. Let me make one thing clear. First of all, I’m no expert and second of all stacking isn’t the only way to win. Stacking is a very boom or bust proposition more often than not but it isn’t the end all be all. There needs to be a purpose when stacking. We’re not just going into contests and blindly stacking teams for unrealistic, farfetched potential correlation plays, they have to make sense.

This is my breakdown as part of a regular series of articles I’ll produce every week of the NFL season and it will break down what stacks I’m looking to build around in GPP contests for that particular week. Some weeks I’ll dive into four or five stacks but others there could only be two or three I have my eye on. Remember, there’s no sense in stacking just because you heard it repeated 87 times on the radio.

Stacks That I Have My Eye On

Below I’ll break down the particular stacks I’m interested and delve into it based on matchup, ability, predicted game script, and collective salary while picking an opposing player or two to run that stack back with if appropriate.

*Note: All pricing is DraftKings focused

Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

QB Jalen Hurts, WR Devonta Smith, TE Dallas Goedert

In a game that has shootout written all over it, I’m leaning with the team that I feel will be playing catch up for a good part of the game. I’ll also take the quarterback with the solid rushing floor in Jalen Hurts. Hurts should get close to 70 rushing yards at a minimum here only adding to the upside he’ll see. Devonta Smith and Dallas Goedert will be the primary pass catchers here against a lackluster coverage defense to say the least. Now Kansas City’s run defense is porous to making running back Miles Sanders intriguing. I’m personally not sold with going that route just because of the volatility that comes along with him, see the two rushing attempts last week.

Run it back: WR Tyreek Hill

Hill has been quiet, uncharacteristically quiet since Week 1 and this is a get right spot for him. The Chiefs have one of the highest totals on the board which should make them popular. Take with that what you may but for the purpose of my tournament lineups I’d much rather that the less expensive side of this game (Philly) and run it back with Hill for the big-play upside.

Cleveland Browns (at Minnesota Vikings)

QB Baker Mayfield, WR Odell Beckham, Jr., RB Kareem Hunt

Another team that has been shitty defensively is the Minnesota Vikings. In come the Cleveland Browns who are banged up at receiver but they do have a refreshed(?) Odell Beckham, Jr. Beckham is a receiver that I’ll have in all of my cash lineups this week just because he’s the only real threat at receiver here and he’s so egregiously underpriced. With OBJ I like Kareem Hunt here. Obviously we don’t want to look to stack running backs often but in the case of Hunt, he is going to be leaned on in the passing game with Jarvis Landry still out, as he was last week with seven targets resulting in six catches for 74 yards. Baker is very cheap at $6,200 in a game with sneaky shootout appeal.

Run it back: WR Adam Thielen

The discount we get with Thielen ($6,800) from Justin Jefferson ($7,300) is worth it for me to lean Thielen’s way. The veteran has 10, 7, and 9 targets through three games and has a touchdown in every game – four scores in total. Cleveland has been improved in the secondary but Thielen poses a massive threat and is looked at in the red zone by Kirk Cousins.

Game Stack

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams

QB Kyler Murray, WR Deandre Hopkins, WR Cooper Kupp, WR Robert Woods

Likely the highest scoring game of the day features two 4-0 division opponents. Murray hasn’t been running like he did last year but he still has that ability in his back pocket. Another thing to consider is how many plays the Cardinals run and how quickly they get to the line of scrimmage. Arizona has scored 38, 34, and 31 points in its first three games and although the Rams defense is tough I feel that Arizona’s offense can negate the dangerous pass rush that they bring. This is an expensive stack, don’t get me wrong but with a ton of value on the slate and as well as all three wide receivers are positioned to explode it’s hard to pass up this late-afternoon hammer stack.

Also consider:

Green Bay Packers (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Davante Adams, WR Allen Lazard

Run it back: WR Dionte Johnson

Dallas Cowboys (vs. Carolina Panthers)

QB Dak Prescott, WR Amari Cooper, WR CeeDee Lamb

Run it back: WR Robby Anderson

Good Luck!!