In this weekly DraftKings article, we will discuss some FAT STACKS (Cash Game Stacks) that should provide a high floor for your 50-50 and H2H cash game contests. These stacks are safe to use in your GPP tournaments as well, but they may carry a high ownership percentage. In the second half of this article, it’s all about A Dollar and a Dream. DraftKings will be crowning another Fantasy Football Millionaire this weekend! For just a $20 entry, you have an opportunity to win some life changing money!
FAT STACK$ ($$ Cash GAME STACKS $$)
San Diego Chargers Stack vs. New Orleans Saints
QB Philip Rivers $6,900 with RB Melvin Gordon $6,300
The San Diego Chargers/New Orleans Saints game is the prime fantasy matchup on the slate this week. The game total is the highest of the weekend at a staggering 53.5 total points with the Chargers favored by 3.5 points. If you missed the Monday Night Football game while watching the Presidential debate, the Falcons thumped the Saints by rushing for 217 total yards. The Saints defense has struggled against the run AND the pass this season. Expect Chargers Offensive coordinator, Ken Whisenhunt, to attack the Saints through the air early and often. Philip Rivers and Melvin Gordon both received a small salary bump this week and are in play for cash and/or GPP tournaments. Travis Benjamin ($5,900), Tyrell Williams ($4,400), and even Hunter Henry ($2,700) can also be considered but are preferred to stack in GPP tournaments as compared to cash games. When rostering Rivers and Gordon, you are locking up the bulk of the effective passing and rushing for the Chargers in this matchup.
Pittsburgh Steelers Stack vs. Kansas City Chiefs
RB LeVeon Bell $7,500 with WR Antonio Brown $9,700
The Pittsburgh Steelers will bounce back strong from last week’s embarrassing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Expect Mike Tomlin to have his team ready for a prime time showdown vs the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. LeVeon Bell returns from his 3 game suspension and is expected to receive the bulk of the workload. Bell ($7,500) is slightly underpriced on DraftKings this week. Take advantage of that salary this week as it will continue to increase over the remainder of the season. Antonio Brown will continue to be the most consistent fantasy option at the WR position. Even with the Steelers offense only scoring 3 points last week, Brown still produced 12 receptions on 18 targets for 140 yards, good for 29 DraftKings points. By rostering Bell and Brown, you are locking up the two main centerpieces of the Steelers offensive attack, which is expected to score 26.2 total points vs. the Chiefs. There is plenty of value plays on DraftKings this week, such as Terrelle Pryor ($4,300), to help fit a Bell/Brown stack into your cash game lineups.
A DollaR and A DREAM (GPP STACKS)
Here are some GPP stacks that should carry a low ownership percentage but provide multi-touchdown upside.
Carolina Panthers Stack at Atlanta Falcons
QB Cam Newton $7,800 with WR Kelvin Benjamin $7,100
Correlation Play: Julio Jones $9,200
If recency bias has an effect, the Carolina Panthers/Atlanta Falcons game will carry a low ownership percentage this week. Cam Newton has been inconsistent to start the season. He struggled last week vs. the Minnesota Vikings and during the second half week 1 at Denver. In both games, Newton faced a stiff pass rush. However, the Falcons defense does not pose a threat to Newton as he should have a clean pocket this Sunday. Newton led many DraftKings rosters to victory in Week 2 when he scored 34.8 points vs. a weak San Francisco defense. Expect more of the same this Sunday as Vegas has the Panthers/Falcons game with the second highest game total at 50 points. Kelvin Benjamin did not have any receptions last week but that will change as the Falcons do not have an answer for the 6’5”” WR. Benjamin has 5 inches on Falcons CB Desmond Trufant and 7 inches on Falcons CB Robert Alford. Newton will go back to what worked in Week 1 and 2, when Benjamin led the league totaling 13 receptions on 21 targets, good for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns. Consider Julio Jones as a strong correlation play in your GPP tournaments if the game turns into a shootout as expected.
Houston Texans Stack vs. Tennessee Titans
RB Lamar Miller $7,000 with Texans defense $3,200
The Houston Texans/Tennessee Titans matchup does not jump off the board with a Vegas total set at only 40.5 points. Many DFS players will bypass this game for the sexy high scoring matchups. Lamar Miller ($7,000) is the third highest priced RB on DraftKings, only $500 less than LeVeon Bell. For this reason, Miller should carry a low ownership percentage this week. Use that to your advantage as Miller is poised to break out with a huge game very soon. Miller has been producing on sheer volume with an average of 28 touches/per week through the first three games. The Texans defense ($3,200) is a value on DraftKings and will carry a lower ownership percentage now that superstar J.J. Watt is out for the season. Watt’s absence does not change the outlook for this matchup. Through the first 3 weeks, the Titans offense has averaged only 14.0 points/per game with Marcus Mariota committing 6 turnovers. Mariota has struggled in far easier matchups vs. the Raiders and Lions. The Texans will be playing on 10 days’ rest and should have no problem controlling this game.
Washington Redskins Stack vs. Cleveland Browns
QB Kirk Cousins $6,500 with TE Jordan Reed $6,300
Correlation Play: Terrelle Pryor $4,300
The Washington Redskins have the pleasure of hosting the 0-3 Cleveland Browns this week. The Redskins offense got back to business last week with a 29-27 victory over the New York Giants. In that game, Kirk Cousins passed for 296 yards and 2 TDs, good for 19.34 DraftKings points. Jordan Reed has been quiet thus far this season but has at least 7 targets in each game without yet reaching the end zone. Expect that to change this week vs. the hapless Browns defense. The Browns have allowed multiple touchdown passes each week this season. Ryan Tannehill and Joe Flacco both passed for over 300 yards vs. the Browns defense over the past 2 weeks. Consider rostering Terrelle Pryor ($4,300) as a correlation play along with your Washington Stack. Pryor is underpriced and is now the main receiving option for Cleveland due to the absence of Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon.
Dallas Cowboys Stack at San Francisco 49ers
QB Dak Prescott $5,700 with WR Cole Beasley $3,900
Reports came out on Wednesday that Dez Bryant suffered a tibia plateau fracture to his knee in Week 2. Bryant is expected to miss some time which opens up an opportunity for other options in the Cowboys passing game. Dak Prescott has showed a chemistry with Cole Beasley, who has 8.3 targets/per game this season. Beasley has been remarkably consistent scoring between 12.5-14.5 DraftKings points each week. Look for that to continue this week vs. the 49ers defense. Under Chip Kelly, the 49ers play at the fastest pace in the league, 24.01 seconds/per play, as documented by Football Outsiders. The fast pace benefits the opposing offense as the Cowboys will have more opportunities on offense. Prescott has not yet had a breakout performance during the regular season but this could be the week. The best part stacking Prescott/Beasley is that you are using only $9,600 in total DraftKings salary. This leaves you with a healthy amount to fill out the rest of your roster with some high-priced superstars.
Thank you for reading! And as always, feel free to send any comments, suggestions, or nasty remarks to me on Twitter @shiposki75