This piece will identify some of my favorite DFS stacks of the weekend. Be sure to use our Stacking tool found within our Player Models to find the highest projected stacks, the stacks that figure to be chalky and more. Our Correlations page is also a great resource to find hidden edges in stacking positions and games.
Quarterback + Wide Receiver
- Tom Brady ($6500 DraftKings, $7600 FanDuel)
- Julian Edelman ($6300 DraftKings, $6500 FanDuel)
The Patriots head to Washington to face a Redskins team in disarray. Head coach Jay Gruden’s job appears to be in jeopardy, and there is no security at the quarterback position. Enter an undefeated New England team that ranks first overall in defensive efficiency.
Not an ideal situation.
However, Washington’s 29th ranked pass defense is ideal to play a Patriots QB + WR stack.
Through four games the Redskins have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. They allowed three touchdown passes each to Carson Wentz, Dak Prescott, and Mitchell Trubisky, with two of those games at home. Washington also allows the second-most fantasy production to opposing wide receivers trailing only the Eagles.
With New England running back Sony Michel struggling (2.8 yards per carry) and Washington’s 14th best run defense, this game profiles as pass funnel opportunity.
Edelman ranks 22nd in targets (32) and 20th in receptions (21) despite seeing a huge decrease in Week 2 when Antonio Brown played. Edelman is one of the top red-zone targets, ranking top 10 among wide receivers in both red-zone targets and target separation (PlayerProfiler).
Since 2014, when playing with Tom Brady, Edelman averages 9.7 targets, 6.4 receptions, 16.6 fantasy points per game.
On a Week 5 slate in which DFS players will bet on a Patrick Mahomes bounce-back or chase points with Jameis Winston, play the historical percentages with the reliable Brady to Edelman stack against a poor Washington pass defense.
Quarterback + Tight End
- Andy Dalton ($5700 DraftKings, $7500 FanDuel)
- Tyler Eifert ($3300 DraftKings, $4600 FanDuel)
While this is a high-variance stack, this week is the perfect time to plug in Andy Dalton and Tyler Eifert off a pitiful performance.
Dalton’s poor Week 4 performance was an outlier compared to his first three games. He had averaged 326 passing yards and two total touchdowns per game before Monday night’s 27-3 loss at Pittsburgh. Dalton finished with a putrid 4.6 yards per attempt against a Steelers pass defense that is much improved with the addition of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Arizona has been the league’s worst team at defending opposing tight ends. The Cardinals have allowed an average of 19.8 fantasy points per game, which is 63.6% more than the second-worst team (Tampa Bay). Despite ranking 15th among tight ends in targets (17), Eifert has seen the sixth-highest red zone target share at the position.
With wide receiver John Ross (shoulder) joining A.J. Green (ankle) on the sideline, Eifert has a good chance for a season-high in targets and receptions.
It is always risky with Andy Dalton, but his low-ownership percentage (5-8%) makes this stack worth considering if you’re spending up at other positions.
Running Back + DEF/Special Teams
- Derrick Henry ($6000 DraftKings, $6700 FanDuel)
- Tennessee D/ST ($3000 DraftKings, $4800 FanDuel)
Besides a poor performance on the road against the Jaguars last Thursday night, the Titans defense has been very strong with eight sacks and four interceptions in the other three games.
With Josh Allen still in the concussion protocol, it’s likely the Titans will face backup Matt Barkley. Playing in relief of Allen last week in their tough 16-10 home loss to the Patriots, Barkley completed only 56.2% of his passes with one interception.
The Bills are one of the heaviest run funnel defenses, ranking third-best in pass defense but only 25th in run defense DVOA.
Tennessee’s offensive line will be bolstered by the return of left tackle Taylor Lewan, who was suspended four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Even without Lewan, the Titans offensive line ranks fourth in power success, which is the percentage of runs on third or fourth down, two yards or less to go, that achieved a first down or touchdown.
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Derrick Henry
Henry averaged 5.1 yards per carry in last season’s 13-12 loss at Buffalo. Tennessee has centered their offense around Henry who ranks fourth among all running backs in evaded tackles, yards created, breakaway runs and total touchdowns.
If the Bills try to stack the defensive box to slow Henry, the seasonal data indicates that is unlikely to work. The Titans lead running back has faced a stacked front carry rate 47.4% of the time (first among running backs) and is still averaging 3.7 yards per carry (PlayerProfiler).
This is a volume-based play with Henry, stacked with their defense against a Bills team that allows the second-most defensive points to opposing teams.
The low projected ownership of Henry (2-4%) on both sites makes this affordable stack very enticing.
Quarterback + Wide Receiver + Opposing Pass-Catcher
- Deshaun Watson ($6700 DraftKings, $8000 FanDuel)
- Will Fuller ($4500 DraftKings, $5700 FanDuel)
- Calvin Ridley ($4900 DraftKings, $5400 FanDuel)
This game sets up as one of the biggest Week 5 DFS opportunities with high fantasy points projected for both teams.
Watson has produced two superb fantasy performances and two duds. He’s suffered behind a Texans offensive line that’s allowed the third-most sacks and second-most quarterback hits. But that shouldn’t be a problem against a soft Atlanta defense that ranks second to last in sacks.
Watson is going to have heavy ownership (13-16% projected) as outlined by my colleague Matthew Freedman, so we need to pivot off the expensive and obvious wideout plays of DeAndre Hopkins ($8500 FanDuel/$7800 DraftKings) and Julio Jones ($8200 FanDuel/$7700 DraftKings).
DFS players have been patiently waiting all season for the Fuller breakout, and it very well could come in this game. Of his 23 targets, eight have been more than 20 yards and he and Watson have narrowly missed on some huge plays over the first four weeks.
History shows it is still safe to bet on Fuller production with Watson at quarterback:
- Fuller with Watson (11 games): 17.28 PPR points per game
- Fuller without Watson (six games): 4.9 PPR points per game
Before this season, Fuller had averaged one touchdown per game when playing with Watson and over 17 fantasy points per game. His production this season has been stifled by the presence of Kenny Stills, who runs an almost identical route tree. Stills is a game-time decision whose absence should open up opportunities for Fuller.
DFS players are likely skeptical to trust Ridley after a combined four receptions and 38 receiving yards over the past two games. However, his decline has coincided with the superb performance from tight end Austin Hooper. Currently, Hooper ranks fourth among all tight ends in targets (33) and receptions (28).
However, the Texans allow the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends and just limited Carolina’s Greg Olsen to just two receptions and five receiving yards on Sunday. Look for Hooper to be limited, providing an opportunity for DFS players to pivot to the low ownership and affordable Ridley.
With the exception of last week, Ridley has smashed his expectations in similar situations. When his DFS price has been $5000 or less, he has produced an average of 30.8 DraftKings.
In a game featuring two explosive offenses, indoors, with the second-highest over/under total on the schedule, give strong consideration to this huge-upside QB + WR + Opposing Pass Catcher stack.
