Redraft leagues may be over, and your dynasty league may be at a standstill, but guess what? Daily fantasy sports (DFS) never take a break, and we are here to help you build your lineups for this weekend. Now, the slates have been broken down into multiple main slates instead of one six-game slate. This breakdown means I’ll have some stacks that caught my eye for Saturday and Sunday’s games.
Don’t forget that we may need to get a bit unique with our builds to take down the slate in these smaller slates. However, let’s start with the chalkiest twosome because it is still a fantastic play for your DFS lineup.
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NFL Wild Card Weekend Stacking Advice & Picks
Dak Prescott (QB-DAL) & CeeDee Lamb (WR-DAL)
The Dallas Cowboys offense is red hot at the right time in the NFL season. Much of that can be credited to the man under center, Dak Prescott. Dak finished the year with a TD/INT ratio of 36:9. Of the remaining defenses, Dak faces the defense that allows the sixth-highest fantasy points per game (FPPG) to the quarterback position.
Since this hot streak has begun for the Cowboys, Dak is seventh in attempts and first in passing touchdowns. He also has a playoff gift with Jaire Alexander, who suffered an injury during practice this week and is planning to miss the game on Sunday. In the Sunday slate, there are a few combinations involving quarterbacks we like. Still, no other combination can produce 55 fantasy points for us like Dak and his star wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb.
Speaking of CeeDee Lamb, my only question is: “Will you be comfortable fading him?” We understand the leverage is immense if you do, but you will have to eat chalk somewhere within your build on this small slate. So, do the cons outweigh the pros to convince you to fade him? My answer is “no.” We can talk about how Jaire Alexander, their best defender, is probably missing this game, but we discussed that already.
Instead, let’s focus on Lamb himself.
He produced 135 receptions, 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. If it weren’t for the insane numbers CMC and Tyreek Hill have thrown up, Lamb would be the Offensive Player of the Year (OPOTY) for the NFL. Lamb commands a 29.2% target share for the Dallas Cowboys, and you should expect more of the share if the Cowboys want to move on to the divisional round next week.
With Lamb recording 21 endzone targets this season, we know the Dallas Cowboys will lean on their stud player within this game. We understand this stalk tastes like chalk, but we know we can get fancy elsewhere in a small slate to keep our roster percentage down.
Patrick Mahomes (QB-KC), Travis Kelce (TE-KC) & Isiah Pacheco (RB-KC)
When the season started, you would expect this stack to become the chalkiest. However, we can build leverage on the field between the below-average play of the Kansas City offense and the wild weather meant for this game. Most DFS players will lean into the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans game, so we will lean into Patrick Mahomes.
First, let’s think about this from a reasonable standpoint. Which quarterback is more trustworthy in the playoffs in your eyes? Is it Patrick Mahomes? Or is it aging Joe Flacco? Could it be the rookie sensation, C.J. Stroud? I ask these questions because in your heart of hearts, you know you trust a Mahomes/Reid combo more than anything else. Mahomes produced a completion percentage of 67.2%.
That percentage is the highest of the three quarterbacks we have discussed, excluding Tua, who is a fade for me. Efficiency is critical to victory in the playoffs, and Mahomes has the keys to the Maserati.
Now, let us discuss Travis Kelce. He may be winning off the field, but this year has been a struggle for him as he failed to reach the 1k-yard mark for the first time in a few years. However, we can see the light shining through to help him in this Wild Card Weekend game. It’s not the literal sun because it will feel like -30° in the game, but the sunshine created by a quarterback trusting his best weapon in a unique weather game like this against the Dolphins.
The wind will be whipping within this game, and with that should come a limitation on the outside wide receivers seeing targets while Travis Kelce gets to feast on a four-course football meal over the middle to mitigate the weather issues. We also have Travis Kelce facing off against one of the defenses that struggles not only due to recent injuries but also with the tight end position. The Dolphins have allowed the seventh-most receptions to tight ends this year.
They also allow the 11th most receiving yards and are tied for third-most touchdowns to the positions. If Travis Kelce can’t get it done here, he may have to become a backup dancer for his girlfriend because his football career may be over.
Finally, we reach Isiah Pachecho; let’s be honest, this selection is simple. The weather sucks, which again limits the outside throws and brings everything into the middle of the field. However, it also brings the running game as the offense’s focal point. The Dolphins struggle with running backs in the receiving game, which can be used against them this weekend.
Let’s be bold and stack this game in general to get different. Most people fear the weather, but Vegas still has this game at a 43.5 O/U, and Vegas always knows best. Don’t make it harder on yourself than it needs to be.
Amari Cooper (WR – CLE) & Nico Collins (WR – HOU)
My final stack will be short and sweet. We don’t want to fade this game because both offenses have been firing on all cylinders lately. Our best bet is Amari Cooper facing a Houston Texans defense that struggles to stop the outside wide receiver. We also suggest not fading Nico Collins facing a defense that is Top-5 in the NFL at facing a first-read target within a passing play.
We understand this isn’t world-breaking news, so if you need to get a little different and save some salary, you can move Cooper to Elijah Moore or even David Bell. You can also move Nico Collins to Xavier Hutchison. However, we suggest building from strong wide receivers and leaning into running backs like Kareem Hunt to save your salary elsewhere.
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Remember to read all the fantastic work here at FantasyPros, and contact me on Twitter if you need extra help. My handle is @jpep20. Good luck, and let’s enjoy these playoff games!
