This piece will identify some of my favorite NFL DFS stacks of the weekend. Be sure to use our Stacking tool within our Player Models to find the highest projected stacks, the stacks that figure to be chalky, and more. Our Correlation Dashboard is also an excellent resource for finding hidden edges in stacking positions and games.
You can also plug these stacks into our Lineup Builder to hand-build the rest of it, or you can optimize it with our projections. And if you like to create multiple lineups, our Lineup Optimizer allows you to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups.
The Lineup Optimizer has endless customization opportunities.
Oh yeah! And our SimLabs Lineup Generator gives you the ability to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
You can check out our in-depth SimLabs guide here.
Week 12 NFL DFS Stacks and Picks
Geno Smith + Kenneth Walker III + Jaxon Smith-Njigba + Trey McBride
- Geno Smith ($5,700 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel)
- Kenneth Walker III ($6,900 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($6,300 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)
- Trey McBride ($7,000 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel)
Arguably, the most enticing game from a fantasy perspective this week is this fantastic NFC West matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. The game total sits at 47.5 points, which is the second-highest on the slate. Both defenses rank in the top 12 in yards allowed per game this season.
The Seahawks are coming off an epic comeback against the 49ers on the road. They had an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a 13-yard touchdown scramble from Geno Smith with 12 seconds left. It was a much-needed victory after losing five of their last six games. They are now one-point home underdogs against the Cardinals while being just one game back of the NFC West lead.
Geno Smith continues to lead the league in drop-backs with 42.4 per game. The Seahawks have called a pass on 64.5% of their plays, which is the fourth-highest in the league. There is a ton of pressure on Smith to deliver, and he has done a decent job throwing for 11 touchdowns and running for two of his own. He also leads the league with 278.1 passing yards per game.
At $5,700 on DraftKings, Smith is drawing the most ownership at the quarterback position in our models. He feels like a strong cash-game play and a great way to start a tournament build. The Seahawks have a high team total, playing at home, and are in a competitive game. I love this spot for Geno and company.
In back-to-back games, Kenneth Walker III has seen 75% or more of the running back snaps. In what used to be a near 50-50 time split, Zach Charbonnet has gone into a full backup role. With the increased usage and ability to still contribute in the passing game, Walker III is still a strong play paired with Geno Smith. He is also well on his way to having the best season of his career from a scoring standpoint.
Walker III has had several average performances recently but has provided a ceiling that is worth getting exposure to. His inconsistency has kept his ownership in check at only 15% this week. However, with the extra usage, now is the time to get exposure to Walker III. It is rare to find a running back these days with over 75% of the workload. Being priced under $7,000 on DraftKings in this matchup feels like a steal.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is starting to separate from Tyler Lockett in the passing game. DK Metcalf continues to be an alpha on the outside, but Smith-Njigba has posted a 35% or higher target rate in his last two games. Even with Metcalf returning last week, Smith-Njigba caught 10 of his 11 targets for 110 yards. His impact has been notable recently, making him a great mid-range play on this slate for both sites.
Another noticeable stat that stands out is how much Geno Smith is leaning on Smith-Njigba on the money downs. In their last three games, Smith-Njigba has a 50% or higher target share on 3rd and 4th downs. He leads the Seahawks in targets, receptions, and yards per game, which are all nearing his career-high numbers. Smith-Njigba is the best wide receiver to pair in this Seahawks stack.
Trey McBride has been the model of consistency for the Cardinals’ passing attack. He has scored double-digit DraftKings points in six consecutive games despite not having a receiving touchdown all season. McBride has the fourth-highest projected ceiling at the tight end position, and it feels like only a matter of time until he hits paydirt. McBride is currently tied for the third-highest target share among all tight ends in the league at 26% and tied for second in air-yard percentages at 24%.
There are plenty of avenues for this Seahawks and Cardinals game stack, but I lean towards the Seahawks side with a McBride bring-back. Expect a divisional shootout in Seattle this Sunday.
Don’t forget to check out our SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
Patrick Mahomes + Kareem Hunt + Travis Kelce
- Patrick Mahomes ($6,800 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel)
- Kareem Hunt ($5,700 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)
- Travis Kelce ($5,800 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel)
After suffering their first loss of the season, this is a get-right spot for the Kansas City Chiefs against the pitiful Carolina Panthers. The Chiefs are double-digit road favorites, implied for 26.75 points. It has been a while since a Chiefs’ stack has erupted, but this is a perfect opportunity for a ceiling performance.
Everything starts with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. His production has, quite frankly, been below average this season. He has only thrown for 300+ yards one time and has also only surpassed 20 DraftKings points once as well. He has 15 touchdown passes to 11 interceptions. However, Mahomes’ game is trending up. He has thrown nine of his 15 touchdown passes in his last four weeks and has posted a career-best 69.5% completion percentage this season.
Being a double-digit favorite in this matchup, it is more than likely that the Chiefs will be able to do whatever they want offensively. It is time to get this passing attack humming like we are used to seeing. Mahomes has a 6.2 aDOT this year, which is tied for the second-lowest in the league behind only Gardner Minshew. He has given Xavier Worthy many opportunities down the field, but they have failed to connect on several occasions. However, this matchup has a cure for everything.
The Panthers are allowing a league-high 31 points and 386.9 yards per game. Let it fly, Mahomes!
The biggest news to keep an eye on this week is the status of running back Isaiah Pacheco. He has not played since Week 2 and has been limited in practice all week. It remains to be seen if the Chiefs will activate Pacheco off the injured reserve by the Saturday afternoon deadline. If Pacheco is still out, this is a smash spot for Kareem Hunt, who is only $5,700 this week. Even if Pacheco is playing, he will likely be in a limited role, which leads me to believe that Hunt is a strong value play regardless.
Hunt has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in every week but last week against the Bills, where he rushed 14 times for 60 yards. It was just the second time in his last six games where Hunt failed to reach the end zone. He has been an incredible pickup for the Chiefs, serving as the top running back. Hunt’s involvement in the passing game has been strong recently. He had 10 targets two weeks ago. If you are uncomfortable with the Hunt/Pacheco situation come Sunday, just keep this stack to Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Kelce is currently leading all tight ends by a wide margin in projected ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He is projected for 23% ownership on DraftKings, which is double the next closest tight end. Last week was disappointing for Kelce, seeing only four targets and catching two of them for eight yards. This is a perfect bounce-back spot for the seven-time Pro Bowler.
Before last week, Kelce had three straight games with massive target volume. He averaged 13.3 targets per game during that stretch and 84.7 yards per game with two receiving touchdowns. Kelce is Mahomes’ security blanket and the ideal pairing with the league’s best quarterback. Kelce leads all tight ends in the league with a 29% air-yard percentage. Expect a big performance from this duo on Sunday.
The Panthers do not have much to offer for a bring-back this week. Rookie running back Jonathan Brooks ($4,800) is expected to make his debut, but his workload is unknown. Wide receiver Adam Thielen may make a return to his first game back since Week 3. They have too many question marks, while their offense is averaging only 16.7 points per game. Stick with a full Chiefs stack in this matchup.
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