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 + Opposing Wide Receiver
- Matthew Stafford ($6300 DraftKings, $7300 FanDuel)
- Kenny Golladay ($6200 DraftKings, $7200 FanDuel)
- Laviska Shenault ($5200 DraftKings, $5800 FanDuel)
Everything lines up for an offensive party in Jacksonville.
The Over/Under is set at 54.5 points, making it one of the highest totals on the Sunday slate, and the Jacksonville pass defense per FootballOutsiders has been operating 43% worse than the average NFL team. The Jaguars have allowed 300 passing yards or multiple passing touchdowns to every opposing quarterback this season. Last week, Deshaun Watson totaled 359 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and 25 rushing yards en route to the overall QB6 performance.
The Lions are coming off their bye week refreshed and replenished, especially at wide receiver, Leading wideout Kenny Golladay is completely healthy, after dealing with a hamstring strain to start the season. Stafford is a different quarterback when Golladay is on the field. In the 10 games that Golladay has played with Stafford since the start of the 2019 season, his production has consistently been at the high-end QB1 level.
Last season, with Golladay and Marvin Jones healthy, Stafford was on pace for a high-end QB1 season. In eight full games, Stafford averaged 312.4 passing yards, 2.38 touchdowns, and 24.7 fantasy points, with only 0.6 interceptions.
The bring back player for this AFC South matchup, is dynamic rookie wide receiver Laviska Shenault. Since Week 1, Shenault’s weekly snap share has remained in the 60% range. With Jacksonville’s leading WR D.J. Chark questionable for this game with an ankle injury, Shenault is in-line for a breakout performance.
In last week’s loss at Houston, Shenault totaled season-highs in routes run (35), targets (8), receptions (7), and receiving yards (79) as the overall WR25 performance. He is projected to matchup with Detroit cornerback Desmond Trufant who has a -72.8 (78th best) coverage rating per PlayerProfiler.
Using the FantasyLabs Optimizer, I increased the exposure to Golladay and increased the bring back exposure for Shenault by 15%. It produced the tremendous high-floor lineup shown below.
Many DFS players need to “see it” before “stacking it.” Take a chance with the Stafford-Golladay connection on the road, and balance with the versatile Shenault.
Quarterback + Wide Receiver + Wide Receiver
- Kirk Cousins ($6,100 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel)
- Adam Thielen ($7,300 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel)
- Justin Jefferson ($6,000 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel)
The Vikings have improved considerably over the past few weeks, making this a prime get-right spot for the Vikings.
Kirk Cousins’ affordable price provides significant salary relief for a Minnesota offense projected for 29 team points, the highest on the Sunday slate. Atlanta allows the most schedule-adjusted fantasy points (aFPA) to opposing quarterbacks (4for4). The Falcons allowed 327 passing yards and four touchdowns to Aaron Rodgers in Week 4 and 313 passing yards and two touchdowns to Teddy Bridgewater at home last week.
The Vikings also have one of the most consolidated passing attacks in the NFL. Wide receivers Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson account for 49.6% of the targets and a whopping 55% of the receptions. Thielen is particularly efficient near the goal line, accounting for 70% of the red zone targets. In the last six games Thielen has played without Stefon Diggs, his production has been incredible.
Jefferson has fully ascended to the WR2 role, earning a snap share over 80% in each of the past three games. He has 19 targets during that time and produced the overall WR2 performance in Week 3.
With a 54.5 over/under against one of the league’s worst defenses, Cousins should have his best game of the year. That will translate to big fantasy production for his main two receiving options in Thielen and Jefferson.
Running Back + DEF/Special Teams
- Ronald Jones ($6,000 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel)
- Tampa Bay D/ST ($3,100 DraftKings, $4,000 FanDuel)
Stay with me on this one.
The key to any RB + DEF/ST stack is the actual defense. You want to select a defense that produces a game script that allows the respective running back an opportunity for heavy volume. The Buccaneers have that exact situation when they host Green Bay.
Most DFS players may be scared away from using Tampa Bay against Green Bay’s top-ranked offense. However, the Buccaneers defense is one of the best in the league. They rank fourth in pass defense DVOA and third in run defense DVOA. Tampa Bay has 16 sacks and six interceptions in their past four games.
Jones has very quietly has been a solid fantasy producer. He has two consecutive weeks of over 100 total yards, with nine receptions, and two overall RB17 performances or better. Green Bay’s defense has been particularly vulnerable, especially on the road. Their weekly running back production is as follows:
- Dalvin Cook: 50 total yards, 2 touchdowns
- Peterson/Johnson: 15 rushes, 73 total yards, 1 touchdown
- Alvin Kamara: 13 receptions, 198 total yards, 2 touchdowns
- Todd Gurley: 63 total yards, 2 touchdowns
Tampa Bay’s offense line has been strong all season, and ranks first in power success percentage. There will be plenty of opportunities on the ground for the Buccaneers to control the ball, keeping Aaron Rodgers off the field.
The best part of this stack is the value. The Buccaneers defense is only the 10th-most expensive on DraftKings, and Jones is only the 12th-most expensive running back.
Exposure to Jones will be low because of the potential return of Leonard Fournette, but I expect Jones to still have the majority of touches in Week 6.
Using the optimizer, I can include a part of all my favorite stacks with Jones + DEF/ST because of the cost-savings.
It’s a low-ownership play with a safe floor in a matchup most will avoid. With Green Bay facing their first big test of the season, give consideration to this low exposure stack.
