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
- Josh Allen ($7000 DraftKings, $8200 FanDuel)
- Stefon Diggs ($7500 DraftKings, $7600 FanDuel)
- Tyler Lockett ($6800 DraftKings, $7400 FanDuel)
Buffalo-Seattle has the highest projected over/under on the Week 9 slate at 55 points. Both teams have a projected team total of 26 points or higher. The first pairing to stack is Josh Allen with wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
The Seahawks allow the most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Even worse? They allow the most schedule-adjusted PPR fantasy points to opposing wide receivers by over 31% more than the second-worst team per 4for4.
Seattle’s pass defense has allowed explosive opposing quarterback performances all season.
Week 1: 450 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns (M. Ryan)
Week 2: 397 passing yards, 3 total touchdowns (C. Newton)
Week 3: 472 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns (D. Prescott)
Week 4: 362 total yards, 1 touchdown (R. Fitzpatrick)
Week 5: 249 passing yards, 2 touchdowns (K. Cousins)
Week 7: 427 total yards, 4 touchdowns (K. Murray)
Even last week in their 37-27 win against San Francisco, backup quarterback Nick Mullens totaled 238 yards and two touchdowns. Allen’s unique rushing ability should also thrive against a Seattle defense that has allowed the fifth-most quarterback rushing yards and a league-high four rushing touchdowns.
Diggs has been one of the most consistent fantasy receivers in the league. He enters Week 9 ranked first in targets (79), second in receptions (54), and second in receiving yards (695) among all wideouts. Diggs has one of the highest weekly floors as illustrated by the RotoViz Weekly Stat Explorer.
His projected CB matchup is with Seattle’s Quinton Dunbar. He replaces top CB Shaquill Griffin, who is still not practicing (concussion protocol, hamstring). Per PlayerProfiler, Dunbar ranks just 75th among all cornerbacks in coverage rating.
The bring back play for the Seahawks is wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who has produced two overall WR1 performances this season.
Last week, Lockett took a back seat to teammate D.K. Metcalf’s 12 receptions, 161 receiving yards, and two touchdown outburst. Metcalf will draw top Buffalo CB Tre’Davious White, leaving Lockett against the very beatable CB Taron Johnson (101st in coverage rating).
We certainly want exposure to the highest-projected total on the Sunday slate, and the running backs for both Buffalo (timeshare) and Seattle (injuries) are low EV plays. With Lockett’s value dipping below $7000 on DraftKings, this is the best way to stack Buffalo-Seattle.
Quarterback + Wide Receiver + Opposing Running Back
- Deshaun Watson ($7100 DraftKings, $6600 FanDuel)
- Will Fuller ($5800 DraftKings, $5900 FanDuel)
- James Robinson ($7000 DraftKings, $7800 FanDuel)
With COVID-19 decimating an already poor Houston defense, this QB + WR + Opposing WR stack popped on the FantasyLabs Optimizer.
Watson is only the fourth-most expensive quarterback for a Texans team with the third-highest point total on Sunday’s slate. Since former head coach Bill O’Brien was fired, Watson’s per game stat lines are as follows:
- 359 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 Interceptions, 25 rushing yards (QB6)
- 335 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 26 rushing yards (QB1)
- 309 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 38 rushing yards (QB9)
Facing a Jacksonville team that has allowed the third-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to opposing signal callers, Watson is an attractive building block to pair with wide receiver Will Fuller, who has scored a touchdown in five straight games. Outside of his Week 2 game where he was hampered by a hamstring injury, Fuller has balanced consistency with blowout week performances:
The best Jacksonville player to include is James Robinson, who leads all running backs with an 83.7% opportunity share. Despite coming off his bye week, Robinson ranks 11th in rushing yards, fifth in running back receptions, and third in receiving yards. He has two major factors working in his favor in Week 9.
First, the Jaguars are starting rookie QB Jake Luton for injured quarterback Gardner Minshew. Making his first NFL start, I expect Jacksonville to lean on their running game and scheme Luton to short area passes.
Second, the Houston defensive line is now severely shorthanded due to COVID. Per Brandon Thorn (ETR), the Jacksonville OL vs. Houston DL is the top mismatch in Week 9. Both linebackers Whitney Mercilus and Jacob Martin will miss this game, weakening an already putrid Texans pass rush.
The Jaguars offensive line will be fully healthy on the bye, and Houston allows the second-most schedule-adjusted PPR fantasy points to opposing running backs.
The affordable prices on this stack allowed us to structure the FantasyLabs optimizer to include Lockett and a unique two TE build with Denver’s Noah Fant and Los Angeles’ Hunter Henry.
With Jacksonville starting Luton, projected ownership on this stack should be subdued. This QB + WR + opposing WR stack is a fiscally efficient way to get exposure to a game with sneaky high-scoring upside.
Quarterback + Wide Receiver + Opposing Tight End
- Teddy Bridgewater ($6,000 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel)
- Robby Anderson ($6,300 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel)
- Travis Kelce ($7,200 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel)
As a result of the weekly tight end anxiety at fantasy most volatile position, I’m labeling Travis Kelce as Week 9 “good chalk.” He the top overall tight end in fantasy football by a landslide.
Kelce ranks first at the position in the following categories:
- Targets (67)
- Air Yards (505)
- Receptions (48)
- Receiving Yards (610)
- Red Zone Targets (12)
- Touchdowns (six)
The Panthers are among the NFL’s worst defenses, ranking 25th overall in defensive DVOA per FootballOutsiders. In order to keep this game competitive, the Panthers are going to need to score points. This makes Teddy Bridgewater an attractive upside option as one of the cheapest (12th on DK, 14th on FD) quarterback plays.
Kansas City will be without pass rusher Chris Jones (COVID), allowing Bridgewater more time in the pocket while benefitting from the return of All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. As a huge passing game weapon, McCaffrey’s game-breaking ability raises Bridgewater’s floor while increasing the overall Carolina offensive potential.
Despite having a career-best season, Robby Anderson comes at a reduced price due to the recent production of fellow wideout D.J. Moore. Anderson still ranks third overall in receiving yards, and ranks fourth in Josh Hermsmeyer’s Buy-Low Air Yards Model. His subpar five-reception, 45 receiving yards performance in the poor conditions last week should suppress ownership in a pass-heavy game script.
Anderson 23.5-point ceiling is ninth-best in Jonathan Bales FantasyLabs model, placing much higher than teammate D.J. Moore (15th).
The low price on the Bridgewater-Anderson stack allowed for both James Robinson and the high-priced Julio Jones at home using our FantasyLabs Optimizer:
This is your cheap QB stack for Week 9. Anderson has slate-winning talent and is balanced by the consistency and top TE production of Kelce.
Running Back + Defense/Special Teams
- Dalvin Cook ($8,200 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel)
- Vikings D/ST ($2,400 DraftKings, $3,400 FanDuel)
While this feels like chasing points, Dalvin Cook is in another smash spot at home against Detroit.
Cook exploded last week against Green Bay, with 226 total yards, four touchdowns, and the overall RB1 stat line.
Detroit allows the third-most schedule adjusted fantasy points to opposing running backs, including 12 total touchdowns.
With quarterback Matthew Stafford currently on the COVID list, there is a chance the Minnesota defense could be facing David Blough or Chase Daniel. Even if the Vikings face Stafford, they will do so without leading WR Kenny Golladay, who suffered a hip injury in Week 8.
Despite Cook’s high price, the saving on the Vikings defense still allows room for representation from all the above stacks.
There are times when the obvious play is still the right play. Similar to Green Bay’s Davante Adams and Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, Cook is worth the high price tag and ownership in Week 9. Look for Mike Zimmer’s improving defense to force a few turnovers at home against the Lions, making this RB + DEF/ST stack a strong DFS building block.
