Each week this article provides several FanDuel stacks. Most of these positively correlated combinations are best suited for tournament play. But some of the safer duos with high floors can be used in cash games. We'll discuss highly-owned stacks, dig deeper to find less common stacks, identify potential shootouts, and create strong lineup anchors with defensive stacks.
Highly-Owned Stacks
Cam Newton ($9,100) + Greg Olsen ($6,600) = $15,700
Jonathan Stewart has been ruled out of this game, and Tampa Bay is better against the run than against the pass anyway. Ted Ginn Jr is doubtful, and I expect the remaining receiving trio of Devin Funchess, Jerricho Cotchery, and Corey Brown to have limited success. That leaves the Newton-to-Olsen connection as the most likely contributor to the Panthers' 28-point implied Vegas total.
Ryan Fitzpatrick ($7,800) + Brandon Marshall ($8,600) = $16,400
With Bilal Powell ruled out and Chris Ivory not looking like himself during the second half of the season, the Jets will lean heavily on their passing game again at Buffalo. Marshall might be slightly overlooked due to easy matchups for the week's four most expensive receivers. But averaging over 115 receiving yards and scoring a total of six touchdowns is a streak that shouldn't be ignored.
Twist: Eric Decker ($7,400) rounds out my favorite triple stack of the week.
Less Common Stacks
Brian Hoyer ($6,900) + DeAndre Hopkins ($9,000) = $15,900
After missing the past two weeks with a concussion, Brian Hoyer returns to lead the Texans in a cake matchup against the visiting Jaguars. Over the last five games, Jacksonville has allowed quarterbacks to overperform their typical fantasy output by a league-worst 48 percent. With many of the other top receivers in positive matchups, DeAndre Hopkins should provide a nice pivot off of higher-owned players like Julio Jones.
Tom Brady ($8,900) + Rob Gronkowski ($8,100) = $17,000
I'm going back to the well on this stack. Patriots will be under-owned due to negative recency bias and high pricing. But with value opportunities available at other positions, ponying up for Patriots shouldn't be a problem. It's rare that an elite duo with so much upside is as low-owned as the Patriots will be this week. They should have no problem rolling over a Dolphins team that lost its motivation before the season really began.
Twist: Danny Amendola ($6,300) is a game-time decision and seems on track to play, but I'd rather lean on Keshawn Martin ($5,600) for triple stacks and additional differentiation. Martin had double-digit targets last week for the first time in his short career.
Defensive Stacks
Pittsburgh Steelers ($4,900) + DeAngelo Williams ($8,200) = $13,100
Pittsburgh is a 10.5-point favorite at Cleveland and have the second-highest implied team total with 28.75 points. To make the playoffs, the Steelers need to win and have the Bills defeat the Jets. So Pittsburgh will be motivated to play its starters for a full game after last week's embarrassing loss to the Ravens. Williams is a chalk play this week against a Browns team allowing a league-worst 135 rushing yards per game on the season.
St Louis Rams ($4,600) + Tre Mason ($4,600) = $9,200
With Todd Gurley doubtful for Sunday's game at San Francisco, Tre Mason will step into the Rams' starting role. Over the last five weeks, the Niners have allowed a league-worst nine rushing touchdowns. Mason is only $100 over the running back minimum price and should be used heavily in all formats. The Rams defense is the best value at their position. They should have have no problem vexing a Niners team that has averaged less than 15 points per game and lost by an average of more than 10 points per game this year.
Austin Lee hang-glided in Rio, climbed The Great Wall, and caught passes from both Dan Marino and Joe Montana. For more of his DFS insights, watch The Footballguys Daily Fantasy Hour presented by Rotogrinders on Wednesdays at 9:30pm ET or listen to The Audible's FanDuel podcast on Friday mornings. Also check out his Normalized Strength of Schedule tool or hit him up for advice on Twitter.
