In this weekly article, we will provide you with some popular "chalk" stacks and some "under the radar" stacks to use in your DraftKings GPP tournaments. (GPPs)
CHALK STACKS
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints, Team Total 28.25 points
QB Cam Newton $7,400-TE Greg Olsen $6,400 Total Stack $13,800 (27.6% of salary)
The Panthers are 7 point road favorites at the Saints. Vegas has set the game total at 50 points, the highest of the weekend. Cam Newton has a high ceiling when you factor in his rushing totals. Newton has 427 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on the season. The Saints defense has been historically bad allowing a league leading 30.8/points per game and 30 passing touchdowns. When these teams last met during Week 3, Newton had 31 passing yards with 2 touchdowns and added 33 rushing yards and a touchdown, good for 32.9 DraftKings fantasy points. Greg Olsen had his best game of the season that week vs. the Saints with 8 receptions for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns, good for 36.4 DraftKings points. Many will be going back to the well this week and hoping for a repeat performance.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts, Team Total 27.5 points
QB Ben Roethlisberger $6,600-WR Antonio Brown $8,600 Total Stack $15,200 (30.4% of salary)
QB Ben Roethlisberger $6,600-WR Martavis Bryant $5,600 Total Stack $12,200 (24.4% of salary)
The Steelers are 7 point home favorites vs. the Colts. The game total is a high 48 points. Ben Roethlisberger has played well over the past three weeks with DraftKings fantasy point totals of 27.04, 30.96, and 25.36. Roethlisberger has a good chance at 4x value this week, needing 26.4 DraftKings points to reach that mark. The Colts passing defense is ranked the 6th worst in the league allowing 272.8/passing yards per game. Last season, Roethlisberger passed for 522 yards and 6 touchdowns vs. the Colts. Looks to stack Roethlisberger with either Antonio Brown or Martavis Bryant. Brown has a higher ceiling but Bryant comes with an more attractive DraftKings salary ($5,600). Make sure to check the injury report for Bryant as he is currently listed as questionable with a hip injury.
Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers, Team Total 25.25 points
QB Jay Cutler $5,100-WR Alshon Jeffery $6,900 Total Stack $12,000 (24% of salary)
The Bears are 7 point home favorites vs. the 49ers. Vegas has the game total at a low 43.5 points but the Bears are the fifth highest team total of the week at 25.25 points. Jay Cutler is close to minimum salary on DraftKings with a salary of $5,100. You never know what type of performance to expect from Cutler but the matchup is prime this week. The 49ers are getting outscored by an average of three touchdowns/per game on the road this season. Bears WR Alshon Jeffery is not listed on the injury report for the first time this season. When starting this season, Jeffery has been dominant averaging 100 receiving yards/per game. Jeffery is undervalued as the 13th highest WR on DraftKings this week.
UNDER THE RADAR STACKS
New York Giants vs. New York Jets, Team Total 21.5 points
QB Eli Manning $6,500-WR Odell Beckham $8,900 Total Stack $15,400 (30.8% of salary)
The Giants are 2 point underdogs at home vs. the Jets. The game total is set at 45 points. Eli Manning has multiple passing touchdowns in 8 out of 11 games this season. The Jets have been stout in rush defense allowing a league low 84.4 rushing yards/per game and 2 rushing touchdowns on the season. Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis is unlikely to play according to head coach Todd Bowles. This will help open up the passing game for the Giants. Odell Beckham will benefit most from Revis' absence. Beckham has four consecutive 100+ yard receiving games and has a knack for showing up on the big stage.
New York Jets at New York Giants, Team Total 23.5 points
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick $5,200-WR Brandon Marshall $7,100 Total Stack $12,300 (24.6% of salary)
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick $5,200-WR Eric Decker $6,300 Total Stack $11,500 (23% of salary)
On the other side of the field, the Jets are 2 point favorites over the Giants. The game total of 45 points seems too low as I expect a shoot-out in this matchup. Ryan Fitzpatrick is a great value at near minimum DraftKings salary ($5,200). Fitzpatrick has multiple touchdowns in 9 out of 11 games this season. The Giants passing defense is the league worst allowing 309.2 passing yards/per game. To put that in perspective, the second worst team, the Saints, are allowing 284.2 passing yards/per game. Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are great targets to stack in this game. Marshall has the higher ceiling but Decker has been the more consistent option over the course of the season.
New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Team Total 29 points
QB Tom Brady $8,000-TE Scott Chandler $2,500 Total Stack $10,500 (21% of salary)
QB Tom Brady $8,000-WR Brandon LaFell $4,800 Total Stack $12,800 (25.6% of salary)
QB Tom Brady $8,000-WR Danny Amendola $4,700 Total Stack $12,700 (25.4% of salary)
The Patriots are the weeks largest favorite at 9 points vs. the Eagles. Vegas has the game set as the second highest total of the week at 49 points. Tom Brady's DraftKings salary ($8,000) is the lowest that it has been since Week 5. The Eagles passing defense has been trending downward allowing the second most passing touchdowns (25) this season. Matt Stafford and Jameis Winston both had 5 passing touchdowns vs. the Eagles defense over the past two weeks. Rob Gronkowski's injury will open up some new options in the passing game. Scott Chandler and Brandon LaFell are cheap options with multiple-touchdown upside. Make sure to check the injury report for Danny Amendola as he has been dealing with a knee injury. If Amendola starts, he will be the go-to option in the passing game.
