Greetings from week 13 of DFS Stacking 101. This weekly series aims to identify some of the more favorable stacks for both DraftKings and FanDuel, both cash and tournament contests. Need more help setting some lineups? Make sure to check out our DFS Lineup Optimizer for quick and easy assistance to build some winning lineups.
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Week 13 Team Totals
| TB BUCCANEERS AT ATL FALCONS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 50.5 |
| LA CHARGERS AT CIN BENGALS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 50.5 |
| WAS FOOTBALL TEAM AT LV RAIDERS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 49.0 |
| JAX JAGUARS AT LA RAMS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 47.5 |
| MIN VIKINGS AT DET LIONS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 47.0 |
| ARI CARDINALS AT CHI BEARS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 45.5 |
| IND COLTS AT HOU TEXANS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL:45.5 |
| PHI EAGLES AT NY JETS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL:45.0 |
| SF 49ERS AT SEA SEAHAWKS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL:45.0 |
| BAL RAVENS AT PIT STEELERS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL:44.0 |
| NY GIANTS AT MIA DOLPHINS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL:41.0 |
Stacks to Target
DraftKings
Taylor Heinicke (QB, WAS) $5600 / Antonio Gibson (RB, WAS) $5700 / Terry McLaurin (WR, WAS) $7400
It is probably beyond time to show some recognition for what Taylor Heinicke has accomplished this season. His continued growth at the position and in confidence running this offense has been evident in poise and play. Now, it is translating in the win column and, more importantly, for our purposes here, the fantasy spectrum.
Heinicke is averaging 17.7 DK points per game, which is neither great nor gaudy; but remains serviceable. He represents the cohesive piece of several potential stacking options, so let’s cover those.
Only in Washington does a fractured shin lead to a significant bump in volume. Insert shrug emoji. Over the last three contests, Antonio Gibson has been averaging 24 carries per game. As it turns out, an increase in volume has led to increased production. Strange. Despite a three-week increase, the salary has not entirely caught up, making Gibson a fantastic running back option this week at a value price. If J.D. McKissic misses some time, Gibson may benefit from an increase in passing down work.
Terry McLaurin has not had the meteoric ascension so many thought would occur, but he has shown that he belongs in the stud tier of receivers when given the volume. He is averaging 16.3 DK points and 71.5 receiving yards per game. With Logan Thomas and Curtis Samuel returning, some defensive pressure may come off of McLaurin. Speaking of Thomas, his $4000 salary is also intriguing in this match-up, which could be a higher scoring affair than the line suggests.
Some form of this stack would bode well as a foundational tournament lineup and less preferred for cash games.
Matthew Stafford (QB, LAR) $7300 / Cooper Kupp (WR, LAR) $9000 / Van Jefferson Jr. (WR, LAR) $5300
It is easy to want to pick on the Jacksonville Jaguars, but their defense has reeled in just as many interceptions over the last four weeks as they have allowed touchdowns at three apiece. The once-mighty Rams and Matthew Stafford are looking to shake off a three-game losing streak in a beatable match-up.
Despite some recent struggles, Stafford averages 23.3 DK points per game and has thrown for 300 or more yards six times this season with multi-touchdown passes in eight games.
This is the part where we talk about Cooper Kupp, but what else is there to say that is not blatantly obvious both on the field and on the stat sheet? Nothing. He a rock-solid play at a high price point and one of the chalkiest $9000 players. Fine for cash, boring for tournaments.
The value play in this match-up is Van Jefferson Jr. Jefferson had the dazzling 79-yard score last week as a tasty side dish to a season-high in targets. Jefferson has had six or more targets in every game since week six. At the $5300 salary, the risk is much lower than the potential return.
Kirk Cousins (QB, MIN) $6500 / Alexander Mattison (RB, MIN) $7600 / Justin Jefferson (WR, MIN) $8200
Other than Kirk Cousins, there are no big discount players in this stack. Even Alexander Mattison was immediately vaulted back into RB1 salary when the Dalvin Cook injury occurred.
Let’s start with Cousins, the best value in this stack. He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of the last four games and averages 21.2 DK points per contest. In addition, the Detroit Lions just allowed another division rival quarterback to throw over 300 yards and a score against them.
Mattison is a high-volume play in an offense that will not alter the game plan very much because their starting running back is sidelined. So it is very literally, remove Dalvin Cook, insert Alexander Mattison, end of the line. He is in for healthy volume against one of the more RB generous teams the league offers.
Justin Jefferson continues to impress, posting 65 or more receiving yards in all but one game this season and always a big-play threat. Three of his six touchdowns have come in the last four weeks.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (QB, TB) $7200 / Rob Gronkowski (TE, TB) $5300 / Mike Evans (WR, TB) $6700 – Russel Wilson (QB, SEA) $6400 / Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA) $6500
FanDuel
Tom Brady (QB, TB) $8100 / Rob Gronkowski (TE, TB) $7000 / Mike Evans (WR, TB) $7400
Since the 2020 season, Tom Brady has faced the Falcons three times. In those three games, he has thrown for 390/2, 399/4, and 276/5, respectively. So what’s different this week? Nothing. Not a darn thing. Brady is sitting pretty at the fourth-highest salary among quarterbacks but worth every dollar based on those state lines.
In the two games since returning from injury Rob Gronkowski has looked good. Not the lumbering, big-bodied, red-zone target we saw at the beginning of the season. Nay, nay, he looked like vintage Gronk from days agone. In those two games, he’s seen 18 targets and accumulated 194 receiving yards. Brady can and will spread the ball around, but expect Gronk to remain a focal point on the high-value targets, making the salary palatable.
With ten touchdowns notched on his belt already, Mike Evans is also a good stack option in a very friendly matchup. The Falcons are currently allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to the position. Due to his touchdown appeal, Evans does not always need a high target count to return value.
This is a high-value cash game option that can be modified with Leonard Fournette and Chris Godwin for those who want to shuffle things up a bit. Gronk and Evans remain the preferred options for the reasons mentioned above.
Justin Herbert (QB, LAC) $8200 / Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC) $900 / Keenan Allen (WR, LAC) $7300
Two impressive second-year quarterbacks square off in the second-highest implied point total on the slate. Joe Burrow hosts Justin Herbert and the Chargers. Herbert is the current QB3 overall and continues to put up big games, even when it does not translate into a mark in the win column. He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in four of the last five games and averages 23.2 FD points per game. While the Bengals are not giving massive games to opposing quarterbacks, Herbert is averaging a healthy 293.6 passing yards per game. This game could turn into a shoot-out real quick, with both teams capable of scoring quickly both through the air and on the ground.
Speaking of on the ground, Austin Ekeler has been nothing short of impressive this season. His 19.7 FD points per game are the second-highest among running backs on this slate. The Bengals allow production to running backs on the ground and through the air, and Ekeler is more than capable in both aspects. With his dual-threat skill set, Ekeler remains game script proof and is the favored stacking option to pair with Herbert.
Keenan Allen is also a viable stacking option and is less likely to have the same roster percentage as Ekeler. Averaging 12.9 FD points per game, he is a safe floor option in a game that could utilize more underneath passing than vertical. Allen has seen double-digit targets in every game since their bye week. Scoring probability still favors Ekeler.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB, MIA) $6900 / Jaylen Waddle (WR, MIA) $6900
This stack is a multi-faceted tournament play build. Tua Tagovailoa has played very decent football recently. He has posted 16 or more FD points in four of the last six games, giving a stable floor. In three of their last four games, the Dolphins have allowed 275 or more passing yards.
Meanwhile, rookie Jaylen Waddle continues to impress. He averages 8.5 targets and 11.89 FD points per game in a middle-of-the-road defensive matchup.
The floor for both options is relatively safe, with room for upside minus the high acquisition cost. The natural beauty is the cost with both options under $7000. There is roster flexibility that allows for building other positions. Starting with Tua/Waddle stack would allow game stacking both Ekeler and Joe Mixon without skimping too much on different positions, as one potential example. Having some flexibility and creativity works well with this as a foundational tournament build.
Honorable Mentions: Joe Burrow (QB, CIN) $7400 / Joe Mixon (RB, CIN) $9400 – Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL) $8500 / Mark Andrews (TE, BAL) $7300
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John Hesterman is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from John, check out his archive and follow him @John_Hesterman.