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
- Joe Burrow ($6,300 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel)
- A.J. Green ($5,500 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel)
- James Robinson ($6,500 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel)
A 49-point game total is usually one of the highest on the Sunday slate.
In Week 4? Not even close.
There are eight Week 4 games that currently have an over/under above 50 points. That will certainly suppress ownership on this QB + WR + Opposing WR stack that has a high DFS production ceiling.
Prior to last week, A.J. Green was among the most-targeted wide receivers through two games. After battling Philadelphia cornerback Darius Slay throughout Cincinnati’s 23-23 tie, he still currently ranks seventh at the position with 27 targets. Green also ranks first among all wideouts in unrealized air yards (PlayerProfiler).
Joe Burrow ranks second among all quarterbacks with an average of 141 pass attempts, and third with 23 redzone pass attempts. He has been a true dual-threat signal-caller, ranking fifth with 5.3 rushing attempts per game. Despite only entering his fourth NFL game, Burrow ranks ninth among all quarterbacks with 20.4 fantasy points per game.
James Robinson continues to produce in both the rushing and passing game for the Jaguars. The undrafted rookie from Illinois state ranks among the Top 12 running backs in rushing yards (11th), receiving yards (3rd), yards per touch (9th), and fantasy points per game (6th).Robinson has produced consecutive overall RB9 and RB4 performances.
Using the Fantasy Labs DFS Lineup Optimizer, I generated 10 lineups from DraftKings and FanDuel under the following criteria.
I then added Burrow as my quarterback and produced the following lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel:
Pivoting off the higher-priced quarterbacks such as Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott, I was able to use this stack and include running back Alvin Kamara, tight end Travis Kelce, and both Seattle receivers.
Burrow’s volume, Green’s unrealized target production, and Robinson’s versatility provides enough salary relief for a high floor/high ceiling lineup for both cash and tournament plays.
Running Back + DEF/Special Teams
- Darrell Henderson ($5,800 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel)
- Los Angeles D/ST ($3,900 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel)
Two of the last three Millionaire winning lineups on FanDuel have included a RB + DEF stack.
Using the optimizer, the first stack that popped for FanDuel was Ezekiel Elliott + Dallas Defense. However, Elliott’s $9000 price tag limits the available option in the Flex position. He was most often paired with players I did not like, such as the Giants’ Darius Slayton who draws a brutal cornerback matchup vs. Jalen Ramsey.
By inserting a rule to use the Rams’ Darrell Henderson, the optimizer produced a lineup with several key players included:
Henderson has ascended to the lead running back role over the past two weeks as a result of an injury to rookie Cam Akers. He has produced consecutive overall RB11 performances, with 120-plus yards in both games. Henderson ranks eighth among all running backs in yards per touch (6.5) and is 13th in red zone touches (10) despite playing sparingly in Week 1.
Using the Bales model on FantasyLabs, Henderson projects as one of the safest lead RBs for Week 4. His 2.48 plus/minus rating is only the 16th highest, putting him below such higher-price backs such as Clyde Edwards-Helaire, David Johnson, and Kenyan Drake.
When the Rams have the lead, they run the ball. Per SharpFootballStats, the Rams have the seventh-highest run rate when they are leading this season. Los Angeles running backs are averaging a solid 4.2 yards per carry in those positive game-script situations.
Henderson is a great way to get DFS exposure to a high-volume running back without spending up the elite options of Kamara, Elliott, or Cook. With both Derrick Henry and James Conner unavailable due to the Titans-Steelers game postponement, Henderson’s affordable price is even more valuable.
By using Henderson, you have the opportunity to plug-in a quality defense with a great Week 4 matchup. New York enters this game without running back Saquon Barkley and valuable wide receiver Sterling Shepard. The Giants have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing defenses and their offensive line is one of the league’s worst. New York has allowed the second-most sacks (13) and quarterback pressures (46) per PFF.
In a game where the Rams should have a comfortable lead throughout, take advantage of the Henderson volume while stacking with a Rams DEF/Special Teams that should force multiple turnovers against the lowly Giants.
Quarterback + Wide Receiver + Opposing Pass Catcher
- Russell Wilson ($7,800 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)
- Tyler Lockett ($7,000 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)
- DeVante Parker ($5,400 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel)
The second-highest projected game total on the Sunday main slate belongs to Seattle at Miami. Last week’s suggested Wilson-Lockett pairing connected on three of Wilson’s five touchdown passes en route to the overall QB2 and WR1 performances.
While it is tempting to opt for the cheaper Seahawks receiver in D.K. Metcalf, I can’t get past Lockett’s incredible weekly usage. He ranks sixth in targets (29), third in receptions (24), and second overall in PPR fantasy points per game (24.6). The Dolphins were scorched by both Stefon Diggs (8/153/1) and John Brown (4/82/1) in their Week 2 home loss to the Bills. If Miami cornerback Byron Jones (groin) returns for this game, he would likely draw Metcalf and avoid Lockett’s 55.8% slot snap rate (sixth among WRs).
The Miami receiver to complete this stack is DeVante Parker. If the Dolphins hope to keep this game competitive, they will need to take advantage of the NFL’s worst defense against opposing wide receivers. Seattle has allowed 47.9 fantasy points per game to wideouts, over 40% more than the NFL’s second-worst team (Dallas).
Seattle has allowed over 430 passing yards per game and have allowed the following players to top 100 receiving yards:
- Julio Jones (9/157/0)
- Calvin Ridley (9/130/2)
- Russell Gage (9/114)
- Julian Edelman (8/179/0)
- Michael Gallup (6/138/1)
- Cedric Wilson (5/107/2)
Parker was a fantasy league winner down the stretch last season, parlaying his connection with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick into big weekly performances. Using the RotoViz Stat Explorer, we can see that Parker has yet to match his incredible year-end efficiency from 2019.
Teammate Preston Williams has not regained the explosiveness he possessed prior to his ACL team last season. The only other pass catcher of concern for the Dolphins is tight end Mike Gesicki, who should be limited by a Seattle team that has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends.
There is consideration for stacking Fitzpatrick with Parker & Lockett, but the possibility of turnovers combined with the presence of rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa caused me to stay with Wilson.
Using the optimizer, I was able to insert Houston running back David Johnson, who has a fantastic matchup at home against Minnesota (9th-most fantasy points allowed to running backs).
There the concern about “chasing points” after a big fantasy week, but this matchup in Miami is simply too good to pass up. I project the first big DFS week for Parker in a high-scoring battle with the undefeated Seahawks.
Quarterback + Wide Receiver + Opposing Pass Catcher
- Deshaun Watson ($6600 DraftKings, $7800 FanDuel)
- Brandin Cooks ($4500 DraftKings, $5300 FanDuel)
- Adam Thielen ($6600 DraftKings, $7100 FanDuel)
It’s time for the Deshaun Watson game.
The Texans are one of only three winless AFC teams, and they return home to take on a Vikings defense that features one of the league’s worst secondaries. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has been sacked a league-high 14 times, but will find relief against a Minnesota pass rush still without defensive end Danielle Hunter. Watson has yet to top 300 passing yards this year, after having three such games prior to Week 8 last season.
The Vikings have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, Cooks leads the Texans in targets (18) and was mentioned by Air Yards-guru Josh Hermsmeyer as a Week 4 upside play. With Will Fuller already on the injury report with another hamstring injury, Cooks could lead the Texans in targets yet again.
I return to Minnesota veteran Adam Thielen to complete this stack. Thielen scored a touchdown last week, but disappointed with only the overall WR38 performance. Rookie Justin Jefferson massive 175 receiving yard total will likely decrease ownership on one of the most consistent WR1s in the league.
All three of these players are extremely affordable, allowing us to spend up at the running back position, especially on FanDuel.
This game total is one of the highest on the Sunday slate at 54.5. The lack of robust production from Watson and Cooks will make this a contrarian stack that is low owned. Watson provides the high upside of Wilson or Prescott at a much lower price, while Thielen has already produced the overall WR4 game in Week 1.
If you are looking for a QB + WR + Opposing WR pivot, this is your best choice on the Sunday slate.
