In this weekly DraftKings article, we will discuss some FAT STACKS (Cash Game Stacks) that should provide a high floor for your 50-50 and H2H cash game contests. These stacks are safe to use in your GPP tournaments as well, but they may carry a high ownership percentage. In the second half of this article, it’s all about 3 Dollars and a Dream. DraftKings will be crowning another Fantasy Football Millionaire this weekend! For just a $3 entry, you have an opportunity to win some life changing money!
FAT STACK$ ($$ Cash GAME STACKS $$)
Oakland Raiders Stack at New Orleans Saints
QB Derek Carr $7,300 with WR Amari Cooper $7200
An Oakland Raiders stack will be very popular for Week 1 DraftKings contests. The Raiders/Saints matchup is tied with the highest total of the weekend at 51 points. Derek Carr is the 7th highest salary at a reasonable $7,300. Amari Cooper is underpriced for the expected matchup at a DraftKings salary of $7,200. Cooper led all rookies in 2015 with 130 targets, 72 receptions, 1,070 receiving yards, and 6 receiving TDs. Cooper would have had even higher totals if not for playing through a foot injury during the 2nd half of the season. Last season, the Saints defense was historically bad. The Saints allowed 45 passing TDs. The previous record was 40 TD passes allowed by the 1963 Broncos. If Preseason Week 3 is the true dress rehearsal, then the Saints may be in for another long season. The Steelers starting offense was very efficient with 2 touchdown drives during the first 2 series, averaging 8.6 yards per/play over 19 offensive plays. Look for Carr to pass for multiple-TDs with at least one of them going to Cooper.
Detroit Lions Stack at Indianapolis Colts
QB Matthew Stafford $7,200 with WR Marvin Jones $4,600
The Colts defense is in shambles and the season hasn’t even started yet! CBs Vontae Davis and Darius Butler are expected to be inactive Week 1. S Clayton Geathers, DT Henry Anderson, DR Kendall Langford, and LB Sio Moore are all listed as questionable on Wednesday’s injury report. The Colts will struggle to generate a pass rush which should allow Matthew Stafford plenty of time to light up the scoreboard. Marvin Jones is criminally underpriced at a DraftKings salary of only $4,600. Some will take a wait and see approach with Jones to understand his role in the Lions offense. Do not miss the boat! Jones and Stafford have had “terrific chemistry” all through training camp. Jones was heavily involved in the Lions passing game this preseason. The Lions/Colts matchup is tied with the highest total of the weekend at a juicy 51 points, which may be a few points too low.
Indianapolis Colts Stack vs. Detroit Lions
QB Andrew Luck $8,300 with WR T.Y. Hilton $7,500
QB Andrew Luck $8,300 with WR Donte Moncrief $6,000
On the other side of this contest, we have the Indianapolis Colts offense. The Colts should thrive under Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski this season. Their offense is simplified which will allow the playmakers to do what they do best.The Colts will be forced to keep up the scoring vs. Detroit due to their defensive injuries. T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief are both in a top spot this week but look to Moncrief who is priced with a $1,500 discount.
*Note* Andrew Luck is listed as questionable with a right shoulder injury after being a limited participant in practice on Thursday. Keep an eye on Friday's practice report and any updates on Luck's injury.
3 DollaRS and A DREAM (GPP STACKS)
Here are some GPP stacks that should carry a low ownership percentage but provide multi-touchdown upside.
Buffalo Bills Stack at Baltimore Ravens
QB Tyrod Taylor $6,900 with WR Sammy Watkins $6,900
Tyrod Taylor revenge game! Taylor has some extra motivation this week playing against the team that drafted him back in 2011. Taylor never had an opportunity to start behind Joe Flacco in Baltimore. But during his first season in Buffalo, he answered the call with 3035 passing yards and 568 rushing yards in 14 games. Thus, Taylor earned a six-year, $90 million contract extension last month. The contract will force Taylor to keep up his production as it plays out as a one-year contract. Taylor is schedule to make $9.5 million in 2016 and then Buffalo will have to decide if they would like to pick up his $27.5 million option in 2017. Taylor should have some extra time in the pocket this week as the Ravens will be without the pass rush of OLB Elvis Dumervil. On the other side of the Ravens defense, Terrell Suggs is coming off an achilles tear. Some will take a wait and see approach with Sammy Watkins this weekend due to his offseason foot surgery. Watkins practiced throughout training camp but wasn’t heavily involved during the Preseason games. Rostering Watkins carries some risk but his multi-TD upside is what you need to win a GPP.
Jacksonville Jaguars Stack vs. Green Bay Packers
QB Blake Bortles $7,200 with WR Allen Robinson $8,300
Correlation Play: Packers WR Jordy Nelson $7,700 or WR Randall Cobb $7,600
The Jaguars/Packers matchup comes in with a high total of 48 points. The Jags are a 5-point home underdog who may be playing from behind during the second half as they often did during 2015. The Packers should be the more popular stack option in this matchup but do not dismiss the Jaguars. Blake Bortles is priced in the same DraftKings price tier as chalk QB options, Derek Carr and Matt Stafford. That alone will help keep his ownership percentage down. Allen Robinson is the real deal at WR but with a DraftKings salary of $8,300 many will pivot and spend a little more for a big name WR. DeAndre Hopkins, who is priced $500 more at $8,800 or Odell Beckham Jr and Julio Jones, who are only $1,000 and $1,100 respectively. Consider adding a correlation play to your stack to maximize points if the game shoots-out. Packers WR Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb each have multi-TD upside.
Cleveland Browns Stack at Philadelphia Eagles
QB Robert Griffin III III $5,600 with WR Corey Coleman $5,100
QB Robert Griffin III III $5,600 with WR Terrelle Pryor $3,000
Many will dismiss the Browns offense this weekend. Josh Gordon is serving a 4 game suspension and the thought of rostering rookie WR Corey Coleman or converted WR Terrelle Pryor is awfully risky. The Browns offensive line has struggled with pass protection allowing 5 sacks during the first half of Preseason Week 3 game at Tampa. However, when Griffin has had sufficient time, he connected with multiple deep passes this preseason. During Preseason Week 2 vs. Atlanta, Griffin connected with a 50-yard TD to Pryor and a 29-yard TD to Gary Barnidge. During Preseason Week 3, Griffin completed a 44-yard TD pass to Gordon. Coleman and Pryor both have the ability to get behind the defense for the opportunity at a long TD reception. The question is which one to include in your Browns stack. The correct decision may be to hedge your Browns stack and play each reciver in two seperate GPPs. The Eagles may come out flat after trading starting QB Sam Bradford to the Vikings last week. A Browns stack is a true boom-bust play that could pay dividends this Sunday!
As always, if you have any comments, suggestions, or nasty remarks, please feel free to contact me on Twitter! @shiposki75