NFL DFS Week 1 Stacking Advice & Strategy (2022 Fantasy Football)

Week 1 of the NFL season is finally upon us! With this news comes the return of daily fantasy sports (DFS). Now we get to create lineups each week, looking to hit it big and bring some extra cash to line our pockets by the end of the weekend. Most veterans know that stacking plays a big part in DFS. However, if you are new, stacking could be a foreign concept. The easiest way to explain stacking is simple: you place two players on the same team who can correlate points together, and when something big happens between them, you earn a massive boost in your lineup’s point totals.

The biggest question is which stacks we should target in the games each week. Let’s help you with that by providing a few stacks you should look at in your DFS lineups in Week 1.

Favorite Stacks of the Week

Jalen Hurts & Dallas Goedert (QB/TE – PHI)

Some people may think that I am writing this from my Philadelphia-born and raised heart, but there is a reason we need this combination in our lineups. The Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions game is one of the highest over/under (O/U) projections in most Vegas slates. This game is sitting at around the fifth highest total of points scored. The Eagles have an implied total in this 48.5 O/U of 26.5 points on Sunday.

We know Jalen Hurts alone could carry your quarterback position because of his ability to score for you through the air and on the ground like a true “Konami code” QB. Combine that factor with the fact that the Lions allowed the second most yards to tight ends last season, the fifth most receptions (on the eighth most targets) and tied for sixth-most touchdowns allowed to this position.

Last year the Lions allowed Dallas Goedert to finish the game with six receptions for 72 yards, and now, with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith drawing the defense’s attention, Goedert should roam free in the middle of the field all game long.

Lamar Jackson & Mark Andrews (QB/TE – BAL)

Sticking to our QB/TE stack, we venture over to the Baltimore Ravens vs. the New York Jets game. With Joe Flacco starting for the Jets, I am not reaching on too many of the Jets players, but I will target some of the Ravens’ playmakers. We know head coach John Harbaugh will have his team ready for Week 1. In the last four years, the Ravens have scored 27 (2021), 38 (2020), 59 (2019) and 47 (2018) points in their Week 1 premiers. Expect more of the same from this team on the road in New York.

Tight ends against the Jets have had a field day. Last year, the Jets allowed the fifth most points to the position in DraftKings. They also allowed the eighth most touchdowns, fourth-most yards and seventh-most receptions. Considering this passing offense runs through Mark Andrews, he becomes a prime play for your tight end spot.

Now, just like Jalen Hurts, you could play Lamar Jackson by himself and do quite well because of the Konami code he provides at the position. The Jets allowed the fourth most passing yards last year, which led to them allowing the sixth most DraftKings points to the position. This stack should rack up the points early and often Sunday.

Unorthodox Stack

Not all stacks have to involve the quarterback. For example, if you find one in a low-scoring game, you can always build a stack around the running back or defense like below.

Chase Edmonds & Dolphins Defense (RB/DEF – MIA)

At this point, is anyone surprised I am writing about Chase Edmonds? He is the lead back in Miami this season and will help the Dolphins aim for victory against the New England Patriots. Edmonds is a very talented pass-catching back, which is what the Patriots’ defense struggles with regarding the running back position. They allowed the eighth most receptions, the fourth most receiving yards and the 11th most receiving touchdowns. With the contract the Dolphins gave Edmonds this offseason expect him to be used heavily in this game while the defense focuses on Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

As for the Dolphins’ defense, we spent an entire offseason hearing negative news on countless occasions about the Patriots’ offense. It’s time for those seeds to hatch and possibly show us a depleted offense with a poor scheme.

Return Stacks

Some games provide multiple options from each team who can produce high fantasy points for your lineup. In these games, consider bringing players from both teams into your roster to maximize the points delivered from this game. Most of the time, these “return stacks” come from the highest O/U of the week.

Kyler Murray & Marquise Brown (QB/WR – ARI) with Travis Kelce (TE – KC)

This game has an O/U of 53.5, which allows us multiple avenues to attack the two teams’ rosters to maximize our fantasy points. My favorite combination involves Kyler Murray, Marquise Brown and Travis Kelce. Within this stack, we give ourselves a Konami code-level quarterback, with the number one passing option for both teams. Especially on DraftKings, where Travis Kelce is priced at $6,600. This may be the only chance to roster Travis Kelce at that price all season long.

Justin Herbert & Gerald Everett (QB/TE – LAC) with Davante Adams (WR – LV)

This AFC West battle is my favorite game on the Week 1 slate. If you recall, the game ended in Week 18 last season, with the Raiders winning in overtime. We now throw Davante Adams into that mix, allowing the Raiders to have another stellar passing option to keep up with the fast-paced Los Angeles Chargers. With Justin Herbert averaging 39.5 attempts last year, he is my favorite pick for the QB position. You can stack him with one of the star wide receivers in Keenan Allen or Mike Williams as they face a less-than-stellar defensive back room. However, if you like to build some leverage against the field, the play is Gerald Everett. The Raiders allowed the third most touchdowns to the tight end position. Return that stack with Davante Adams, who could avoid J.C. Jackson this week due to injury, and you should reap the rewards from this high-flying game.