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 Running Back
- Aaron Rodgers ($7,400 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel)
- Davante Adams ($9,200 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel)
- David Montgomery ($7,700 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel)
In Week 17 stacks, I target motivated teams.
The first game that pops is a classic NFC North showdown at Solider Field between the Packers and Bears. Green Bay would clinch the overall No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win and Chicago needs to win to make the playoffs.
No QB-WR connection has been better this season than Rodgers and Adams.
Adams ranks third among all receivers in receptions (109), receiving yards (1328), and first in touchdowns (17). He has been the top fantasy receiving option with 26.3 PPR fantasy points per game, and an incredible six weeks as the overall WR2 or better.
The matchup with Bears’ cornerback is Kyle Fuller is difficult, but Adams target share is too strong to fade. Per PlayerProfiler, he is first among all receivers in target share (34.6%) and red zone targets (25). In their first matchup, Adams still found a path to nine targets, six receptions, 61 receiving yards, and a touchdown in a 41-25 blowout win. In a game that projects to be much closer, with a 51-point over under, the combination of volume and efficiency is too attractive to pass up.
If the Bears are going to win, they will need to rely on a ball-control offensive attack behind David Montgomery. Since Week 12, Montgomery has the following positional ranks:
- Rushing Yards (2nd)
- Receiving Yards (4th)
- Total Touchdowns (2nd)
- PPR Fantasy Points (1st)
Montgomery should feast against a Green Bay defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game, fourth-most receiving yards, and 18 total touchdowns to opposing running backs. In that first meeting, Montgomery still found a way to the overall RB6 stat line even in a blowout loss. He produced five receptions, 143 total yards, and a touchdown.
The cost of this stack is high, but i was able to find savings with the Minnesota starting running back (Mattison, Abdullah, or Boone) and Malcolm Brown. Using the FantasyLabs optimizer, I was generated the following DraftKings and FanDuel lineups:
Fantasy Football doesn’t have to be hard, and high-floor, high-ceiling stack of Rodgers-Adams-Montgomery is a solid start for any Week 17 build.
Quarterback + Wide Receiver + Opposing Wide Receiver
- Deshaun Watson ($7,700 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel)
- Brandin Cooks ($6,900 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel)
- Corey Davis ($6,200 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel)
The Titans would win the AFC South title for the first time since 2008 with a win at Houston. That makes running back Derrick Henry the logical, but heavily owned play. If you want a contrarian stack, look to pair the Houston duo of quarterback Deshaun Watson with Brandin Cooks, and bring back with the lesser owned Tennessee wide receiver Corey Davis.
Coming off a catch-less performance against Green Bay, Davis’ ownership should be low. This reduces the price on a cheap wideout that has five weeks of PPR WR2 or better performances, including two overall Top 8 stat line in the past four weeks. Davis has boom or bust weeks, but to win a large GPP you need to take risks. Per the Bales Model on Fantasy Labs, Davis has the 16th-highest ceiling among all wide receivers.
Despite the disappointing season, Watson is always an appealing fantasy play, especially against the Titans poor defense. Tennessee ranks 30th in pass defense DVOA, and allowed the overall QB1 performance against Watson in Week 6. The Texans signal-caller threw for 335 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Since Will Fuller’s suspension, Brandin Cooks has been producing at a strong WR 1 level.
Last week, Cooks produced the overall WR7 stat line with seven receptions, 134 receiving yards, and one touchdown against Cincinnati. In the first meeting against the Titans, he was even better with the overall WR6 line (nine receptions, one touchdown). Per PlayerProfiler, Cooks will draw Tennessee CB Adoree Jackson who ranks just 81st in coverage rating.
The cost of this stack is cheap enough to allow room for some other big plays in our lineup. Using Watson, Cooks, and Davis as my basis, I created the following lineup on DraftKings using our FantasyLabs optimizer:
This also gave me exposure to Rams wideout Robert Woods (no Cooper Kupp), Packers lead running back Aaron Jones, and high-efficiency tight end Irv Smith.
To win a large GPP, you need to be contrarian. Fading Henry in this favorable matchup, provides cheap and unique value.
Running Back + Defense/Special Teams
- Melvin Gordon ($5,700 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel)
- Broncos D/ST ($2,400 DraftKings, $3,600 FanDuel)
Melvin Gordon is just 107 rushing yards away from 1000, and he faces a Las Vegas defense ranking 31st in run defense DVOA (FootballOutsiders). Las Vegas has also allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Gordon’s volume is safe with backup RB Philip Lindsay now on injured reserve due to hip and knee injuries.
The Broncos defense continues to rush the quarterback, tallying an average of 2.6 sacks per game. Vic Fangio’s defense will pressure Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr, which is not a good thing for the Raiders’ offense. Per PlayerProfiler, Carr ranks just 18th among all quarterbacks in pressured completion percentage.
The Broncos-Raiders rivalry is one of the NFL’s strongest, with the home team usually coming out victorious. The home team has won each of the past nine games between these two teams. As a 2.5-point underdog, Denver should keep this game close, limiting the chance of either team suffering negative game script.
Look for Fangio to limit risk with erratic quarterback Drew Lock, and feed Gordon in the last game of the season against a reeling Raiders team that is eliminated from the playoffs, having lost five of their past six games.
Pictured above: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, second from left, and teammates.
Photo Credit: Dylan Buell/Getty Images
