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
Green Bay Packers (at Minnesota Vikings)
QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Davante Adams, RB A.J. Dillon
In what I expect to be a high-scoring affair I’m looking at Rodgers with Adams and the chalk running back of the week in A.J. Dillon. Over his last two contests against the Vikings Rodgers has thrown for 291 and 364 yards with seven combined touchdowns including four in his last game at Minnesota. The Vikings’ secondary has left a lot to be desired which plays right into the hand of Davante Adams. Adams’ production over the past five weeks has been simply par for the course, including one game missed. He’s due for a massive output and this is the matchup for him as he’s had 16 or more targets with at least 13 receptions and 116 yards receiving in two of his last three contests against them. Dillon stands out as one of the highest-owned running backs of the week with Aaron Jones out and this is a great spot.
Run it back: WR Justin Jefferson
Coming back with the Vikings and coming off a monster effort last week with 143 yards on 11 targets and nine receptions, Jefferson sets up in a good spot this week. In his last three games against the Packers, Jefferson has not performed well but a lot of that might have had to do with Jaier Alexander’s availability which will not be a factor this week as he’s still out.
Cincinnati Bengals (at Las Vegas)
QB Joe Burrow, WR Ja’Marr Chase, WR Tee Higgins
After being embarrassed two weeks ago by the Browns, the Bengals are coming off a bye and look to pounce on a Raiders team that has lost two in a row and, in my mind is about to go through a tailspin. Burrow connecting with Chase has been a big play or multiple big play’s waiting to happen all year and most of the time they’ve come through. Higgins is a great value and should be popular but productive against a bad Raiders secondary.
Run it back: WR Hunter Renfrow
The easy play for Vegas is tight end Darren Waller but Renfrow has seven receptions in each of his last three games and the salary for Renfrow is extremely favorable for the matchup he’s presented.
Game Stack
Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs
QB Patrick Mahomes, TE Travis Kelce, WR Tyreek Hill, WR Michael Gallup, WR CeeDee Lamb
The chalk way to approach this game looks to be starting with Dak Prescott at QB with Gallup and Lamb and running back with Kelce and/or Hill. Mahomes is coming off a bounce-back effort throwing for five touchdowns and over 400 yards. This should be the highest-scoring game of the week and it’s being approached by DFS players as such, one of the most if not the most popular games on the slate. Even with the high salaries of Mahomes, Kelce, Hill, and Lamb there is overall value on the slate making it possible to fit this stack in. Speaking of value, Michael Gallup sticks out as the top receiver value on the entire slate with Amari Cooper out. Gallup should see five to six receptions on the outside where the Chiefs are susceptible.
Also consider:Miami Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa, TE Mike Gesicki, WR Jaylen Waddle
Cleveland Browns: QB Baker Mayfield, TE David Njoku, RB Nick Chubb
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In what I expect to be a high-scoring affair I’m looking at Rodgers with Adams and the chalk running back of the week in A.J. Dillon. Over his last two contests against the Vikings Rodgers has thrown for 291 and 364 yards with seven combined touchdowns including four in his last game at Minnesota. The Vikings’ secondary has left a lot to be desired which plays right into the hand of Davante Adams. Adams’ production over the past five weeks has been simply par for the course, including one game missed. He’s due for a massive output and this is the matchup for him as he’s had 16 or more targets with at least 13 receptions and 116 yards receiving in two of his last three contests against them. Dillon stands out as one of the highest-owned running backs of the week with Aaron Jones out and this is a great spot.
Run it back: WR Justin Jefferson
Coming back with the Vikings and coming off a monster effort last week with 143 yards on 11 targets and nine receptions, Jefferson sets up in a good spot this week. In his last three games against the Packers, Jefferson has not performed well but a lot of that might have had to do with Jaier Alexander’s availability which will not be a factor this week as he’s still out.