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
Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Green Bay Packers)
QB Joe Burrow, WR J’Marr Chase, WR Tyler Boyd
Burrow hasn’t been throwing the ball has often has we’ve all expected to this point with his most attempts (32) in any game coming last week. In my estimation Burrow will have to throw in a game that could shootout against Green Bay in order to keep up with Aaron Rodgers and company. Green Bay will be without Jaire Alexander which is a big deal in the secondary. Alexander has been playing in the slot a ton which is going to help Tyler Boyd with Chandon Sullivan assuming that slot corner role, but more on Boyd in a moment. Chase has a connection with Burrow and it’s evident that the connection has carried over from college to the pros. He’s 8th in deep targets and 8th in yards per reception among receivers. Tyler Boyd has been stepping up with Tee Higgins banged up with nine or more targets in two of his last three games. Last week he compiled 118 yards on nice receptions out of the slot primarily. Boyd will have another favorable matchup in that spot again. The offensive line is often a concern for Burrow but with the Packers averaging just 1.8 sacks per game (third-worst in the league) I don’t expect any problems in that regard.
Run it back: WR Davante Adams
There’s no direction to go here other than Adams, the target hog for Green Bay. Adams has seen at least nine targets in each of his last three games highlighted by an 18-target game two weeks ago. With the Bengals side of this stack reasonably priced, it’s no trouble fitting Adams in. Overall Adams will be one of the highest-owned plays on the slate.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Miami Dolphins)
QB Tom Brady, WR Antonio Brown, WR Chris Godwin
Just because this game projects to be a blowout doesn’t mean that Brady’s production will be lacking. If Tampa is going to win convincingly they have to score those points somehow, right? Brady has at least 43 pass attempts in three of his four games this season and has thrown for at least 269 yards in every game. That low total of 269 came last week in a grind-it-out rain-soaked affair with the Patriots. Brown projects to be one of the higher-owned receivers on the slate with a favorable $5,200 salary. He was targeted 11 times last week. Godwin is also priced well despite being $6,200. Brady tends to spread the ball around but with the versatility of Godwin, look for him to move around to get away from Xavien Howard with Howard likely on Mike Evans more often than not.
Run it back: WR Jaylen Waddle
With DeVante Parker banged up (shocker, though he’s likely to play) I like the idea of bringing the Bucs stack back with the speedy receiver who’s been working out of the slot. Waddle has 31 targets resulting in 25 receptions in four games and has 121 slot snaps according to playerprofiler.com (8th-most among receivers) and with Tampa banged up in the secondary Waddle will have a favorable slot matchup at an great salary of $4,800
Minnesota Vikings (vs. Detroit Lions)
QB Kirk Cousins, WR Justin Jefferson
Looking at what could potentially be another blowout, stacking Cousins with two pass catchers (high-priced at that) has me hesitate. Therefore I’ll look to connect Cousins with Justin Jefferson who’s been elite as far as some advanced metrics go. Through four games Jefferson is fifth in routes run, eighth in deep targets, and seventh in red zone targets. Detroit’s secondary is atrocious making Jefferson an elite play regardless of which corner he may line up against. Cousins has had one bad game out of four (which a certain compadre of mine on the livestream last week called) but that won’t be the case this week. At $6,500 Cousins is one of my favorite tournament quarterbacks this week.
Run it back: RB D’Andre Swift
Obviously it’s not common to run back a stack with a running back but in this case with Swift he’s essentially the Lions’ top receiver this week. Tight end T.J. Hockensen is banged up (expected to play) and regardless Swift has been a monster in the passing game. Among running backs Swift is second in targets, catches, and receiving yards. To this point Minnesota has allowed 20 total receptions and about 20 fantasy points per game to the running back position. Swift should be one of the more popular running backs on Sunday due in large part to his $6,100 price tag.
Also consider:
Dallas Cowboys (vs. New York Giants)
QB Dak Prescott, WR Amari Cooper
Run it back: RB Saquon Barkley
Carolina Panthers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
QB Sam Darnold, WR D.J. Moore
Run it back: WR Devonta Smith
Good Luck!!