NFL Daily Fantasy Stacking Advice: Week 18 (2021)

Greetings from week 18 of DFS Stacking. This weekly series aims to identify some of the more favorable stacks for 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.

This article is focused on covering Sunday’s main slate of games.

There is plenty of volatility to be had in this slate of games. Who is playing, who is not, and how much will some of the high-dollar guys actually play? Fantasy managers would be wise to do some research before launching a few rosters into the sun. Buckle up, this one could be fun…and lucrative.

Author’s Note: Please check player’s notes for any injury or potential Covid list updates. With the recent exposure rates spiking, it is recommended to check when setting lineups and again before respective games kick-off.

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For the most up-to-date betting odds, lines, and totals make sure you’re checking out BettingPros.

Week 18 Team Totals

Stacks to Target

DraftKings

Justin Fields (QB, CHI) $5400 / David Montgomery (RB, CHI) $6800 / Darnell Mooney (WR, CHI) $5900

If there is a "Go let it rip, kid" game for Matt Nagy, this has to be it. The only thing to play for is reps and pride as Nagy already knows what the rest of us do; It's curtains for his time in Chicago. Play for reps, play for pride and try to spoil something for someone.

Over his last four complete games, Justin Fields is averaging 21.93 DK points per contest. He brings a rushing floor that allows for a mistake or two against a defense that already allows the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.

The Vikings defense is also susceptible to the run, allowing the 10th-most fantasy points to running backs. David Montgomery is averaging 19.84 DK points per game over his last five games and represents a viable goal-line threat in this matchup. At a sub $7000 salary, he is a volume-based play with goal-line appeal. Fire him up, stacked or not.

That brings us to Darnell Mooney and his healthy target share paired with big-play ability. The second-year receiver is 71 receiving yards away from his first 1,000-yard season and most likely, well aware of this fact. Averaging 7.75 targets per game with a quarterback that's not afraid to take a deep shot from time to time is the kind of play managers want for a stacked option.

Variations of this stack are both flexible due to cost and present plenty of boom potential.

Fields status should be checked prior to lineup lock as he landed on the Covid reserve list late in the week. At the time of this writing, he still potentially has a chance to return by game time. Swapping to Andy Dalton ($5300) is possible, and he could easily finish with 245/2 on the day, but has more limited upside than Fields.

Russell Wilson (QB, SEA) $6300 / D.K. Metcalf (WR, SEA) $6900 / Gerald Everett (TE, SEA) $3700 / Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA) $6400

Russell Wilson returned from the wasteland of fantasy disappointment with his most efficient outing since returning from injury. Despite only throwing for 236 yards, he sprinkled in four passing touchdowns and added 24 rushing yards. It was his best fantasy performance of the season. The Cardinals defense is better on paper than it has performed over the last five games. They have allowed multiple touchdowns to every quarterback they've faced in that span, including Andy Dalton, Jared Goff, and Carson Wentz.

D.K. Metcalf led the attack with three touchdowns on only six receptions and Tyler Lockett also found the endzone despite finishing with only 24 receiving yards. Lockett will spend most of his time battling Byron Murphy who has allowed as many touchdowns as he has come down with picks. Metcalf, on the other hand, draws Antonio Hamilton, a matchup that Russ may look to exploit early and often.

The low-cost tournament option is Gerald Everett who has three scores since week 12 and 5.3 targets per game in that span. The Cardinals have defended the tight end position fairly well this season, but Everett represents an additional red-zone target that could wriggle free for a score in this one as most of the defensive attention will be tuned into both Metcalf and Lockett.

Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL) $7000 / Mark Andrews (TE, BAL) $7500 / Marquise Brown (WR, BAL) $5900

At the time of writing, Lamar Jackson "has a chance" of suiting up in the final game of the season and the game represents an opportunity to move on to the postseason if the cards all fall correctly. With that in mind, Jackson would be a low-rostered tournament option in a must-win game for the recently struggling Ravens. The Steelers have allowed five passing touchdowns over the last two games.

Whether part of a stack or not, Mark Andrews needs to be in lineups. He has been straight up beastly, with 10 or more targets in six games since their bye week and four touchdowns in the last four games. The matchup does not matter, the quarterback, does not matter. Death, taxes, and Mark Andrews raking in fantasy points.

Zig when others zag, or Marquise Brown when others Rashod Bateman. Assuming Jackson is under center, Hollywood will be the low-rostered, high-upside play that works well in smaller field tournaments and has fared better with Jackson under center than either Huntley or Josh Johnson.

After logging back-to-back DNP's, it is becoming less likely that Jackson will be starting this game. The obvious pivot if Jackson misses the final game would be Tyler Huntley ($5700) and subsequently swapping Brown out for Bateman ($4900) if chasing the receiver portion of the stack. Either way, the preferred option is the chalky one with Mark Andrews.

Honorable Mentions: Kirk Cousins (QB, MIN) $6100 / Justin Jefferson (WR, MIN) $8100 - Taysom Hill (QB, NO) $6200 / Alvin Kamara (RB, NO) $8300

FanDuel

Taysom Hill (QB, NO) $7700 / Alvin Kamara (RB, NO) $9000

With the Saints trying to sneak into the playoffs, Taysom Hill and Alvin Kamara both represent upside DFS options. I like Hill better in FanDuel's scoring system due to the upside his rushing represents to combat his typically low passing volume. He is a lock for 35-plus rushing yards and more than likely, a goal-line carry or two. The Falcons are allowing the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, despite pestering Josh Allen last week.

Kamara should be a focal point in this game and represents the best option to score a time or two in this game. The Falcons are allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs and Kamara is dangerous both between the tackles and through the air. He heads into this game with 1,175 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns.

The matchup is great and the Saints have enough riding on this game to be more focused on their offense than just allowing their defense to carry them. Hill and Kamara represent the most likely options to score in this contest.

Carson Wentz (QB, IND) $7200 / Jonathan Taylor (RB, IND) $10,200 /Michael Pittman Jr. (WR, IND) $6600

The Colts remain in the hunt but will have to handle the Jaguars to move on. That means another heavy dose of second-year phenom, Jonathan Taylor. Taylor represents the top of the salary food chain on this slate. His 21.38 FD points per game also sit a the top of this group of running backs. So here is what we know, the Colts want to win this game. Taylor represents the best option to accomplish this goal. He will be a focal point in this offensive attack...until it gets out of hand. There's the risk. Once the Colts have this game put away, Taylor could be shelved for preservation purposes.

Carson Wentz has played solid football even in a reduced role. Still, he enters this week with 26 passing touchdowns to only six interceptions. The Jaguars are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and have allowed multiple touchdown passes in three of their last five games. Wentz most likely will not need to dial up a pile of pass attempts, but expect him to be accurate enough when in the red zone to be a reliable quarterback option on a volatile slate.

When Wentz is throwing, he is looking at Michael Pittman Jr. first. Pittman has lapped every other receiver in this offense in targets. He leads this squad with 122 targets while Zach Pacal's 67 targets are second-most. He is averaging 7.6 targets per game and represents the most reliable contributor not named Jonathan Taylor.

Trey Lance/Jimmy Garoppolo (QB, SF) $7000 / Deebo Samuel (WR, SF) $8800 / George Kittle (TE, SF) $6900 / Eli Mitchell (RB, SF) $8000

The big question here is whether or not Jimmy Garoppolo will be good to go with the thumb injury that kept him sidelined last week. Even if he plays, he could get pulled if he struggles in a must-win game for a playoff appearance. That makes Trey Lance a high-risk, high-reward play for this slate. Head coach Kyle Shanahan knows exactly what is on the line in this game and against a solid defense. Lance's mobility and un-shredded thumb make him even more enticing if he gets the nod. It is also worth noting that Shanahan had more trust in Lance to operate the passing game than he did back in week five. It was evident in the play calling.

The usual suspects on this offense are all in play. Deebo Samuel has the third-highest points-per-game average among the position on this slate. His ability to score from anywhere on the field has kept him on winning lineups throughout the season. George Kittle was ninja-vanished from the box-score over the last couple of weeks, but he did hang 50 yards and a score on the Rams back in week 10. Eli Mitchell returned to action last week and immediately handled 23 opportunities. The biggest concern with Mitchell is that if the 49ers are playing from behind, Mitchell could see a reduced workload.

Deebo is the chalky pick among this litter while Trey Lance might have the highest risk to reward ratio. This set of stacking options is best served for multiple lineup users.

Honorable Mentions: Ryan Tannehill (QB, TEN) $7300 / A.J. Brown (WR, TEN) $7400 - Matthew Stafford (QB, LAR) $7400 / Cooper Kupp (WR, LAR) $10,000 / Odell Beckham Jr. (WR, LAR) $6500

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John Hesterman is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from John, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @John_Hesterman.