Week 3 NFL DFS Stacks: Which Opposing WR Pairs With Sizzling Murray-Hopkins Connection?

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 Pass Catcher

• Kyler Murray ($6,800 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel)
• DeAndre Hopkins ($7,900 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel)
• Marvin Jones ($5,800 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel)

With the second-highest game total of Week 3, the Lions-Cardinals game pops as our first stacking opportunity. The Murray-Hopkins connection has been sizzling since Week 1. Murray is the current fantasy QB4 and leads all quarterbacks with 158 rushing yards. Hopkins leads all wide receivers in receptions (22) and is second at the position in fantasy points.

Since the 2014-2015 season, there have been 38 quarterbacks to register 50 or more yards rushing. In those games, per our FantasyLabs Trends Tool, those quarterbacks have averaged +3.61 actual points over projected. Murray is a strong bet to follow that trend at home against a struggling Detroit defense.

The key decision is which Detroit wide receiver to pair with Murray and Hopkins. While leading WR1 Kenny Golladay is expected to return, it will be his first game of the season after suffering a hamstring injury. With Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson likely drawing Golladay, I chose the price discount with veteran Marvin Jones. While he only has eight receptions and 98 receiving yards this season, Jones was on pace for an overall PPR WR6 season through eight games with quarterback Matthew Stafford in 2019.

Using the Fantasy Labs DFS Lineup Optimizer, I generated 10 lineups from DraftKings and FanDuel under the following criteria.

The Murray-Hopkins stack was in 16 of the 20 optimal lineups, including all 10 in DraftKings. The discount from Golladay to Jones on both sites provides substantial savings for other positions.

When these two teams played in Week 1 last season, both quarterbacks threw for over 300 yards in a game that totaled 54 points. The only concern is the high ownership percentage on Murray and Hopkins. But given the game total, passing volume for both teams, and Kyler’s rushing ability, this popular stack still should be very productive.

Running Back + DEF/Special Teams

• Miles Sanders ($6,400 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel)
• Philadelphia D/ST ($2,800 DraftKings, $4,500 FanDuel)

I avoided stacking Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor with the Colts defense given the high ownership projections even against the lowly Jets. We project Taylor for 45-50% ownership with the Indianapolis defense rating 13-16%. I will pivot to an 0-2 Philadelphia team that is desperate for a Week 3 win.

Sanders returned to the Eagles backfield in Week 2 and immediately earned a 77% snap share. Fellow running back Boston Scott (56% to 18%) and Corey Clement (37% to 4%) saw dramatic decreases as a result. With a lack of any legitimate touch competition, Sanders is one of the safest DFS running back plays moving forward.

While Sanders still projects for strong ownership (26-30%), the Eagles defense should be a contrarian play. Philadelphia allowed 191 rushing yards and three passing touchdowns to the Rams in their home opener last week, but should find opportunities against a poor Bengals offensive line.

Cincinnati’s offensive line ranks 27th in run blocking efficiency and has allowed six sacks on the season. The Eagles pass rush will get pressure on Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, who is starting his second consecutive road game.

Using the optimizer, I eliminated Indianapolis as an RB/Def stack option, and the highest projected FanDuel lineup included Sanders, Philadelphia and ironically, Taylor.

In a game with a solid 46.5 over/under, take advantage of the Sanders usage while also taking the discount with the Philadelphia DEF/Special Teams.

 

Quarterback + Wide Receiver + Opposing Pass Catcher

• Russell Wilson ($7,300 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel)
• Tyler Lockett ($6,300 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel)
• CeeDee Lamb ($5,400 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel)

The highest projected game total on the Sunday main slate belongs to Seattle vs. Dallas. Wilson has been scalding hot as the overall QB1 in fantasy, with 610 passing yards, nine touchdowns and 68 rushing yards over the first two games. I’m stacking Wilson with Lockett, who may provide less ownership and defensive attention than the 6-foot-3, 228-pound athletic marvel D.K. Metcalf. Lockett has seven more receptions than Metcalf in the first two games.

Lamb is a pivot off the more expensive Amari Cooper, who has underperformed in road games for the Cowboys.

 

Per PlayerProfiler, Lamb leads all receivers with 109 slot snaps. Seattle just allowed New England’s Julian Edelman (72 slot snaps, seventh among WRs) to tally eight receptions and 179 receiving yards, ranking as the overall PPR WR3. Per the FantasyLabs Player Models, Lamb also has the seventh-highest plus/minus value among all wide receivers. His 2.43 projected points minus salary-based points is higher than Cooper (4.1) for a much lower price.

We certainly want DFS exposure to the highest game total on the slate, and stacking Wilson, his most experienced receiver, along with the cheapest Dallas wideout provides a nice roster construction value.

 

Quarterback + Tight End + Opposing Pass Catcher

• Ryan Tannehill ($5900 DraftKings, $7400 FanDuel)
• Jonnu Smith ($5200 DraftKings, $5600 FanDuel)
• Adam Thielen ($6900 DraftKings, $7200 FanDuel)

The contrarian stack comes from the 2-0 Titans traveling to Minnesota to face the 0-2 Vikings. Having the invaluable Rich Hribar-coined “Konami Code” rushing ability, Tannehill has continued to impress this season. He ranks second among all quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (six) while ranking fourth-best with 0.61 fantasy points per dropback. Last season Tannehill had 185 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in just 12 games as a starter.

With leading wide receiver A.J. Brown likely to miss this game with a knee injury, we pair Tannehill with the current overall TE1 in standard-scoring formats in Smith. The fourth-year tight end is uber-efficient, ranking fifth in yards per reception and second in yards per route run. Smith also gets the occasional carry, and is facing a Minnesota team that allowed the five receptions and 111 receiving yards to the undrafted 27-year old tight end Mo Alie-Cox.

The real value in this stack lies in the pairing with Thielen. Minnesota’s lead wide receiver is coming off a disappointing three-reception performance after the overall WR4 result in Week 1.

With Tannehill as the quarterback, you can build the following DraftKings lineup that includes Smith, Thielen, Sanders and Hopkins.

This game total has risen a full four points since the opening of 45.5. If you are looking for a contrarian stack with tournament upside, consider the undervalued Tannehill/Smith combo with the volume-laden Thielen.