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 Correlation Dashboard is also a great resource to find hidden edges in stacking positions and games.
Quarterback + Running Back + Wide Receiver
- Tyrod Taylor ($5,300 DK, $7,400 FD)
- Rex Burkhead ($4,200 DK, $5,700 FD)
- Brandin Cooks ($5,800 DK, $6,500 FD)
An affordable Week 12 DFS stack in a great matchup.
Tyrod Taylor’s rushing upside always provides a great floor, and in Week 12, he faces a Jets defense that has allowed 16 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Taylor produced the overall QB11 performance in last week’s upset at Tennessee, including 28 rushing yards with two scores.
Houston’s release of running back Phillip Lindsay paved the way for veteran running back Rex Burkhead to assume a larger role, garnering 18 rushes to lead the Texans. Burkhead receiving ability will also be useful against a Jets defense that allows the most fantasy points to opposing running backs. The Jets have allowed a league-high 7.2 receptions per game to opposing running backs, including a league-high four receiving touchdowns.
The real prize in this stack is Texans wideout Brandin Cooks, who grades out as our top-rated DraftKings wide receiver play at FantasyLabs (depending on the model you are looking at).
New York allows the seventh-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points (4for4) to opposing wideouts and ranks last in pass defense DVOA per FootballOutsiders. It’s a fantastic matchup for Cooks, who ranks top 10 among all wide receivers in receptions (59), completed air yards (539), and targets share (28.5%).
This is a very affordable stack on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Using our FantasyLabs Optimizer, I created two strong lineups.
This stack allows inclusion of high-production targets such as Jonathan Taylor and Cooper Kupp. I’m paying down for this affordable stack to offer a contrarian play that can still provide huge upside in a favorable matchup.
Wide Receiver + Tight End + Opposing Wide Receiver
- Chris Godwin ($7,000 DK, $7,600 FD)
- Rob Gronkowski ($4,400 DK, $6,500 FD)
- Michael Pittman ($5,600 DK, $6,600 FD)
I’m fading both quarterbacks in a Tampa Bay vs. Indianapolis game that carries the highest-projected point total on the Sunday slate (53 points). Tom Brady’s lack of mobility is too much of a hindrance to stack the highest-priced QB on DraftKings and the second-highest-priced quarterback on FanDuel. As far as Carson Wentz? He’s just not very good.
Tampa Bay is always an attractive stack because their wide receiver target share is substantially condensed with the absence of Antonio Brown. However, playing Chris Godwin and Mike Evans would allocate too much weekly salary. I selected Godwin over Evans because he is slightly cheaper on DraftKings (only $100 more on FanDuel), and his numbers have skyrocketed during Brown’s absence.
I’m also adding tight end Rob Gronkowski, who continues to be one of the most efficient DFS producers of any position. He returned from back spasms last week to post the overall TE9 stat line on only a 63.5% snap share. Gronkowski has posted overall TE1 and TE3 games this season and still comes in at a ridiculously low $4400 on DraftKings.
The bring-back player on this stack is easily Indianapolis wide receiver Michael Pittman. He has three WR1 performances in the past five weeks and is coming off an underwhelming two-reception, 23 receiving yard performance in the Colts 41-15 blowout at Buffalo. Pittman is in a buy-low spot against a Buccaneers secondary that has been vulnerable to opposing wide receivers.
By making the decision to avoid both Godwin and Evans, I have plenty of extra savings to include strong plays across the board. The second lineup below (FanDuel) is one of my favorites of Week 12.
In order to get representation from the most games with the highest point total, you need to find value plays. Gronkowski and Pittman provide just enough salary relief to give you a solid foundation to fill out a tournament-winning stack.
Running Back + Defense/Special Teams
- Najee Harris ($8,200 DK, $8,800 FD)
- Pittsburgh DEF/ST ($2,700 DK, $4,000 FD)
Death, taxes, and backing Mike Tomlin’s Steelers as an underdog.
Pittsburgh has dominated this AFC North rivalry, having won 10 of the last 11 games. In Week 3, Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh 24-10 in Pittsburgh, with Bengals wideout Tyler Boyd stating the Steelers “quit.”
Cincinnati (6-4) has enjoyed a solid season and is coming off an impressive 32-13 win at Las Vegas. However, in their two games prior, they lost to the Jets and were blown out by Cleveland. Cincinnati is known in the public for having an explosive offense, yet Cincinnati only ranks 21st overall in team DVOA, while the Steelers rank 22nd. The metrics and the talent don’t tell the same story.
In their first meeting this year, Najee Harris tallied an absurd 14 receptions (on 19 targets) for 102 receiving yards. He has dominated the position in usage, ranking first in snap share, opportunity share, routes run, while currently second in receptions. He is one of the few running backs that can be relied on each week for a dominant touch share.
Pittsburgh’s defense should be close to full strength with the return of T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Bengals have allowed the ninth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to opposing defenses, and the Steelers rank fourth in the league with 2.8 sacks per game. On the road? That number increases to 3.1 sacks per game.
I don’t expect the Steelers defense to see a high ownership percentage, as many will be scared off by the “explosive Bengals offense.” I see Pittsburgh payback on Sunday, with Harris and the defense serving as the foundation for a strong Steelers effort.
