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 Wide Receiver
- Dak Prescott ($7400 DraftKings, $8700 FanDuel)
- Amari Cooper ($7400 DraftKings, $7800 FanDuel)
- Darius Slayton ($4800 DraftKings, $5800 FanDuel)
The Cowboys can’t stop anyone, but they certainly can score.
Week 5 brings us another bevy of games with 51-point or higher totals. It seems like a logical stack to start with the team with the most passing yards and total yards per game, the Dallas Cowboys.
Quarterback Dak Prescott appeared in both Week 4 Millionaire Maker lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. Prescott ranks fourth among all quarterbacks in fantasy points per game (29.6) and first overall in passing yards (1,690). He is a DFS player’s dream when you factor in his rushing ability, ranking seventh at the position in red zone carries (five) and third in rushing touchdowns (three).
As mentioned in our Week 2 stacks article, Cowboys’ wide receiver Amari Cooper has performed much better in home games. Using our FantasyLabs trends tool, we can see that Cooper is even better when the Cowboys are a home favorite.
There have been 14 games during Cooper’s tenure in Dallas where the Cowboys have been a home favorite. In those games Cooper has exceeded his expected point difference by an average of 11.65 fantasy points with a remarkable 85.7% consistency.
In short, when Dallas is a home favorite, Cooper consistently outperforms expectations.
But the real value in this stack lies with the Giants speedy wide receiver, Darius Slayton. As a rookie in 2019, Slayton produced 48 receptions, 740 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. He also had a knack for big weeks with the overall WR2 and WR3 performances in Week 10 and Week 14.
The Cowboys have been roasted by opposing wide receivers, allowing the second-most fantasy points per game, and a league-high nine receiving touchdowns.
Using the FantasyLabs optimizer, I was able to create a DraftKings lineup that included heavy volume running back plays with this stack.
Combining the Cowboys explosive offense with a Giants team that finally has a schedule break, this lineup has that safe floor/high ceiling combination we look for on Sunday DFS slates.
Running Back + DEF/Special Teams
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire ($6,800 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel)
- Kansas City D/ST ($3,500 DraftKings, $4,300 FanDuel)
The starting point for any RB + DEF/ST stack is running back volume. With top running back plays Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara, and Chris Carson unavailable on the main slate, we turn our attention to Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Through the first four games, Kansas City has leaned heavily on the rookie’s versatility. Edwards-Helaire ranks sixth in rushing yards and seventh in receptions among all running backs. He has totaled 90 or more total yards in three of four games, with two top-12 PPR RB finishes. Edwards-Helaire has seen his snap share rise to a season-high 79.6% in Kansas City’s Week 4 win over New England. Backup running back Darrel Williams saw only one rushing attempt last week compared to 16 carries for Edwards-Helaire.
The Chiefs have a fantastic Week 5 matchup against a poor Las Vegas rushing defense. The Raiders rank 30th in defensive DVOA per FootballOutsiders, and allowed lead running backs the following stat line over the first four weeks:
- Christian McCaffrey: 3 receptions, 135 total yards, 2 touchdowns
- Alvin Kamara: 9 receptions, 174 total yards, 2 touchdowns
- Sony Michel/Rex Burkhead: 7 receptions, 166 total yards, 3 touchdowns
- Devin Singletary: 5 receptions, 76 total yards, 1 touchdown
This also sets up as great spot for the Chiefs defense at home against a short-handed Raiders offense.
In 2019, the Chiefs totaled four interceptions and five sacks while outscoring the Raiders 68-19 in their season sweep. With the Chiefs as an 11.5-point favorite, Las Vegas will see a ton of negative game script, giving the Chiefs top-ranked pass defense a chance to force turnovers.
Since I want to make sure I get exposure to the Carolina passing attack against the woeful Atlanta defense, I increased my exposure to both this Kansas City stack and the Panthers stack using the following rules:
This allows me to insert the Chiefs RB + DEF stack combined with three explosive wide receivers, and the inexpensive QB pivot in Teddy Bridgewater.
The Chiefs have the fourth-highest fantasy scoring defense this season and should have multiple turnovers against their rival at home. It’s the perfect pairing with a high-volume running back in a projected blowout.
Quarterback + Wide Receiver + Wide Receiver
- Teddy Bridgewater ($5,900 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel)
- Robby Anderson ($5.900 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel)
- D.J. Moore ($6,000 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel)
DFS doesn’t have to be hard.
The Panthers travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons in a game with a 53.5 over/under. Given the Falcons terrible defense, the Panthers project for a ton of big-play opportunities.
Not only does this game have a high total, but the spread is only 1.5 points. A high-scoring and close game makes for the ideal DFS stacking opportunity.
Bridgewater has improved each week and is coming off a the overall QB4 performance in a 31-21 home win over Arizona. He produced three total touchdowns, adding 32 yards on the ground. Using the RotoViz Stat Explorer, we can illustrate Bridgewater’s efficiency, and understand why there is still room for positive touchdown regression.
He ranks sixth in passing yards, fourth in completion percentage, but only 23rd in passing touchdowns. Bridgewater should see plenty of opportunities against an Atlanta defense that ranks last in adjusted-fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
We also want to target receivers who are in consolidated target shares, and the Panthers are a perfect example of such a team.
Most consolidated team target shares thru 4 games:
Chargers 54.1% (Allen, Henry)
Vikings 51% (Thielen, Jefferson)
Panthers 46.8% (Anderson, Moore)
Washington 45.8% (McLaurin, Thomas)
Ravens 45.5% (Brown, Andrews)
Patriots 45.3% (Edelman, Harry)
Seahawks 44.5% (Lockett, Metcalf)— Mike Randle (@RandleRant) October 8, 2020
Anderson and Moore should feast on an Atlanta secondary that will be without slot CB Darqueze Dennard, safeties Damontae Kazee and Jaylinn Hawkins (concussion), with safeties Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal trying to return from injury.
Anderson ranks fourth in the NFL in receptions (28) and second in yards after catch (177). Moore is on the precipice of a monster performance; he has fourth-best air yards share (41.9%) and sixth-best completed air yards (256).
The Falcons present as a pass-funnel defense, ranking 12th in run defense DVOA but 31st in pass defense DVOA per FootballOutsiders.
The best part of this stack is the reasonable cost across the board. All three players provide enough salary relief to add in other higher-priced plays. This is illustrated by the optimizer Kansas City stack above, which allowed for Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs defense, as well as Todd Gurley (as a bring-back), and Rams wideout Robert Woods.
With top quarterback Lamar Jackson hurting and Russell Wilson not on the main slate, a Bridgewater double WR stack provides great affordable tournament upside.
Quarterback + Wide Receiver + Opposing Pass Catcher
- Deshaun Watson ($6900 DraftKings, $7900 FanDuel)
- Will Fuller ($6600 DraftKings, $6600 FanDuel)
- D.J. Chark ($6500 DraftKings, $7000 FanDuel)
We are going back to Deshaun Watson one more time.
With head coach Bill O’Brien now fired, I expect a motivated Texans team desperate to avoid a season-killing 0-5 start. They have the quintessential opportunity against a Jaguars pass defense that is least efficient in the league. Jacksonville’s league-worst pass defense DVOA has been exposed by opposing signal-callers, ranking 26th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks.
Watson is coming off his first 300-yard passing performance since a 30-23 loss at Indianapolis in Week 7 of last season. Quarterbacks have tallied either 300 passing yards or multiple touchdowns in every game against Jacksonville in 2020.
- Week 1: Philip Rivers (366 total yards, 1 touchdown)
- Week 2: Ryan Tannehill (251 total yards, 4 touchdowns)
- Week 3: Ryan Fitzpatrick (198 total yards, 3 touchdowns)
- Week 4: Joe Burrow (311 total yards, 1 touchdown)
Fuller has battled injuries but still has over 100 receiving yards in two of his three games, with a touchdown catch in the last two contests.
Finally completely healthy, Chark is coming off the overall WR3 performance against Cincinnati with 8 receptions, 95 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.
Using all $50,000 on DraftKings, I weighted Fuller and Chark heavily to produce this lineup on the optimizer:
This unique build gives me exposure to Edwards-Helaire as well as bell-cow Ezekiel Elliott in a plus-matchup, and Pittsburgh’s top projected defense in Week 5.
This Houston-Jacksonville game total is one of the highest on the Sunday slate at 54.5.
If you are looking for a QB + WR + Opposing WR pivot, this is a low ownership choice on the Sunday slate.
