In this weekly FanDuel article, we will discuss some 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 should carry a high ownership percentage. In the second half of this article, we will review some lower-owned GPP stacks along with a couple of defensive stacks.
$$ CASH GAME STACKS $$
TENNESSEE TITANS STACK VS. OAKLAND RAIDERS
QB Marcus Mariota $7,800 with TE Delanie Walker $6,100 (Cash/GPP)
Vegas has set the Titans/Raiders game with a total of 51 points. Expect players from this game to be very popular in cash games and GPP tournaments in Week 1. From Week 5 through Week 12 last season, Marcus Mariota was the top overall fantasy quarterback. During those eight games, he produced multiple-touchdowns in every game and finished with 21 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. After that stretch of games, he faced two stout defenses, the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, before suffering a season ending injury. Expect Mariota to take the next step this season and finish as a top five quarterback. He provides salary relief at the QB position as the 9th most expensive quarterback. Take advantage of that price while you can! On FanDuel there are not any must play tight ends this week. Pairing Mariota with Delanie Walker will give you exposure to one of the highest projected offenses in Week 1.
GPP STACKS
Here are some GPP stacks that should carry a low ownership percentage but provide multi-touchdown upside.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES STACK AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS
QB Carson Wentz $7,100 with TE Zach Ertz $5,900 (GPP)
The Redskins finished as the 8th worst pass defense last season. Expect their defensive woes to continue this season. The Eagles offense will look a tad different this season. The addition of Alshon Jeffery during the offseason will help open the passing game. They traded target hog Jordan Matthews to Buffalo. Matthews finished with 116 targets in only 14 games last season. Zach Ertz has been on the verge of breaking out for the last couple of seasons. Ertz finished strong in each of the last two seasons. Last year over his final five games, he produced 40 receptions for 443 yards and 3 touchdowns. Reports out of Philadelphia are that the Eagles expect Redskins cornerback Josh Norman will shadow Jeffery. This will open up the field for Ertz. Pairing Wentz with Ertz in a GPP format will save plenty of salary for your running back and wide receiver positions.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS STACK AT GREEN BAY PACKERS
QB Russell Wilson $8,000 with WR Doug Baldwin $7,500 (GPP)
Vegas has set the Seahawks/Packers matchup with the 3rd highest total of the week at 50 points. The Packers defense struggled versus the pass last season ranking as the 2nd worst in the NFL. To defeat the Packers at Lambeau field, the Seahawks must attack them through the air early and often. Russell Wilson struggled early last season but finished with multiple touchdowns in four of his final five games. He is also one of the few quarterbacks in the NFL that can beat you with his legs. Wilson’s rushing totals were down last season due to a MCL sprain that he suffered early in the season. If he can stay healthy, he will be in the mix as one of the top overall fantasy quarterbacks. Doug Baldwin has a reasonable FanDuel salary as the 10th most expensive wide receiver. Baldwin has increased his targets, receptions, and yardage over each of the past three seasons.
CINCINNATI BENGALS STACK VS. BALTIMORE RAVENS
QB Andy Dalton $7,400 with WR A.J. Green $8,400 (GPP)
If you are looking for an under the radar stack this week, let me introduce you to the Cincinnati Bengals. With a game total of only 42.5 total points, most will bypass this game in favor of more enticing opportunities. The Ravens focus on stopping the run as they finished as a top five rush defense last season. When A.J. Green has been healthy, he has had some monster games against this defense. In 2015 Week 3, he produced 10 receptions for 227 yards and 2 touchdowns. In 2014 Week 1, Green finished with 6 receptions for 131 yards and 1 touchdown. In 2014 Week 10, he produced 8 receptions for 151 yards and 1 touchdown. Green will come at lower ownership as compared to Antonio Brown and Julio Jones. If he brings it against Baltimore again this week, he could find himself on a GPP winning lineup!
DEFENSIVE STACKS (CASH/GPP TOURNAMENTS)
There are a couple defensive stacks that stand out this weekend and can be used in GPP tournaments or perhaps cash games if you are willing to assume some risk.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS
RB LeVeon Bell $9,300 with D/ST Pittsburgh Steelers $4,800 (Cash/GPP)
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said that LeVeon Bell reported to the team in “great physical condition.” Expect Bell to be one of the most popular options for Week 1 due to the outstanding matchup versus the Cleveland Browns. Last season the Browns finished with the second-worst ranked rush defense in the NFL allowing 142.7 rushing yards/per game. Vegas has the Steelers as 9-point road favorites and you can expect Bell grinding away at the clock if the Steelers have a lead during the second half. Pairing Bell with the Steelers defense is a positive correlation from a game script theory. When Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer is playing from behind during the second half, the Steelers defense will bring pressure which may result in multiple turnovers. The Steelers have owned this division rivalry with a record of 31-6 versus the Browns since they returned to Cleveland.
LOS ANGELES RAMS VS. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (GPP ONLY)
RB Todd Gurley $7,300 with D/ST Los Angeles Rams $4,600 (GPP)
The news that Andrew Luck will be inactive for Week 1 cemented this as one of the top defensive stacks on the board. The Colts will turn to Scott Tolzien who doesn’t have much history playing in regular season games. Last year, Tolzien started week 12 versus the Steelers and finished with 205 passing yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Expect a similar stat line this week. Todd Gurley burned many of us in 2016. But with DFS it’s best to have a short memory. New Rams head coach Sean McVay will ensure that Gurley is the focal point of the offense. Last season, the Colts finished as the 8th worst rush defense in the NFL. They project to be just as soft this season.
Thank you for reading! And as always, feel free to send any comments, suggestions, or nasty remarks to me on Twitter @shiposki75
