Stack Em Up DraftKings Week 8 2018

If you look at most winning lineups at the end of each slate, many if not most of them will have a stack. For those who are not familiar with what stacking means, let’s define what we are calling a stack. Stacking is pairing multiple players from one team. In this instance I will be referring to a quarterback and one of his receivers, tight ends, or running backs. When you pair up a quarterback with one of his pass catchers, you are increasing upside. Generally you want to pair up a signal caller with his primary receiver, but at times, you can change that approach depending on matchups, potential game script, or any other variable that can have an impact on your decision making. Each week I’ll go over some of my favorite stacks and provide you with multiple ways to approach the stack, as well as give you my favorite option. That said, let’s jump right into it and go over my top stacks on the main slate this week.
 

Cincinnati Bengals

Game Over/Under: 54.5
Team Implied Points: 29
Andy Dalton $6,200 has struggled in recent weeks, scoring fewer than 20 DKFP in each of his last three games. This week, however, he finds himself in a great bounce back spot against Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are yielding the most DKFP per game to quarterbacks this season (30). In addition, they have allowed 2,050 passing yards (6th most) and 18 passing touchdown (most in the NFL), while ranking dead last in DVOA against the pass. The Bengals have one of the higher implied team totals of the week, so I expect them to score some points and they will likely be through the air, as the Bucs are respectable against the run. Dalton went on a stretch where he topped 21 DKFP in three consecutive games and that is the type of performance I expect this weekend.

A.J. Green $8,000 has been peppered with double-digit targets in each of his last three games and has topped 100 receiving yards twice in that stretch. The volume is trending in the right direction and it could not come at a better time. The Bucs secondary is among the worst in the league and they have been extremely generous to opposing wide outs. They have surrendered 100 receptions (7th most) for 1,161 yards and 11 touchdowns (most in the NFL). Green is expected to draw coverage from Carlton Davis, a matchup that Green has a 35 percent advantage rating in, per PFF. He leads the team with a 27 percent target share and is seventh in the league in air yards (822), while also among the league leaders in red zone targets with 13. There really isn’t much to dislike about Green this week, in fact nothing at all, making him a priority play on the slate.

Aside from the great matchup against the Bucs vulnerable defense, Tyler Boyd $6,700 also draws a nice one-one-one matchup against MJ Stewart, a matchup that Boyd has a 27 percent advantage rating in. He is second on this offense with 56 targets (22 percent) and has been peppered with seven red zone targets (18.4 percent). Boyd has been either really good or below average in most games, making him a volatile option. However, this is a matchup that sets up nicely for him and it should be a situation he will be able to exploit. I like the idea of pair Dalton up with both Green and Boyd this week.

C.J. Uzomah $3,500 is another option that you can pair up Dalton with, and he draws a phenomenal matchup. The Bucs come into this week allowing the most DKFP per game to tight ends (20.1), while also having surrendered 40 receptions (4th most), 538 receiving yards (2nd most), and four touchdowns (2nd most) to the position. With the injuries to Bengals offense this year, Uzomah has seen more opportunity on the field, playing in 72 percent of the offensive snaps and is accounting for seven percent of the target share. He saw seven targets a couple of weeks ago and scored a touchdown last week, so there is a good chance he continues to be utilized this week, in a potential blowup spot.

Other Options: You can always make a case for considering Joe Mixon in a Bengals stack because he is talented and accounts for nine percent of the team’s target share. That said, he is not someone I am prioritizing in my Cincy stacks this weekend. He can be considered more of a secondary option.

My favorite option: Dalton/Green
 

Indianapolis Colts

Game Over/Under: 50.5
Team Implied Points: 26.75
Andrew Luck $6,300 has been playing lights out recently and draws a very favorable matchup this week against the Raiders. Oakland ranks 31st in DVOA against the pass and are surrendering over 20 DKFP per game to opposing signal callers. Luck has thrown no less than three touchdown passes in each of his last four games, averaging 29.7 DKFP per game during that stretch. He leads the league in pass attempts (311) and is second in passing touchdowns (20). Last week he only attempted 23 passes, but still managed to toss four touchdowns, and I will not be placing a ton of emphasis on the amount of passes he threw, as the game script called for it. I do expect him to get back on track and sling it this week, like he has done pretty much all season, since the Colts don’t have a strong running game. He should continue to roll in this spot.

T.Y. Hilton $6,300 returned last week after missing two games with a hamstring injury and wasted no time to get back on track. He caught all four of his targets for 25 yards and two touchdowns. He has now scored a touchdown in three of his five games played this season. Despite missing two games, Hilton is still third on the team in targets. Prior to the injury, he was getting peppered with double-digit targets in each game. He is expected to see one-on-one coverage from Daryl Worley, who grades out average at best on PFF, and it is a matchup the Hilton has an eight percent advantage rating on. The Raiders have been generous to the wide out positon this season, giving up 173 receiving yards, 19 receptions, and 39.4 DKFP per game to the position, while allowing nine touchdowns. This is a situation that Hilton should have no trouble excelling in.

Other Options: You can certainly throw Eric Ebron in the mix here, as he remains a key part of this offense, leading the team with 19 percent of the target share. That said, the Raiders have actually done a solid job against tight ends this season, which is why Ebron is not a primary stacking option this week with Luck, but does fall in the secondary option category for me.

My favorite option: Luck/Hilton
 

Los Angeles Rams

Game Over/Under: 56.5
Team Implied Points: 33
Jared Goff $6,000 has not been as efficient recently, but should get back on track this week as he is back at home, where he has played far better football this season. When you look at his home road splits this season, there is a significant difference. At home this season (three games), he is averaging 391.3 passing yards and 31.4 DKFP per game, throwing nine touchdowns passes. Whereas, on the road (four games), he is averaging 239.3 passing yards and 15.4 DKFP per game, tossing five touchdowns. The Packers are middling in DVOA against the pass, ranking 15th, but this will not steer me away from Goff as this Rams offense is loaded with Weapons and the scheme is one of the best ones in the league. The Rams have the highest implied team total of the slate and should produce plenty of fantasy goodness.

Robert Woods $6,800 disappointed last week in a great spot, but should bounce back nicely this week. He draws a one-on-one matchup against Josh Jackson, a matchup that Woods has an 18 percent advantage rating in. This Packers are yielding 39 DKFP per game to wide outs this season and have allowed 10 receiving touchdowns to the position, which is tied for second most. This is a matchup that he should be able to exploit without a doubt. Woods leads the team in snaps (448), targets (58), and air yards (653). The opportunity should continue to be there for him, especially with Cooper Kupp expected to miss this week once again. Despite letting us down this week, this seems like a spot you want to be invested in Woods.

Very few running backs can be considered in a stack with their quarterback, but Todd Gurley $9,800 is one of those. He accounts for 16 percent of the target share for the Rams and leads the team with 13 red zone targets. In addition, he leads the league with 43 rush attempts in the red zone – keep in mind, second is Alvin Kamara with 25. Rostering Gurley and Goff together means that you pretty much can account for all the scoring for the Rams offense and so far this season, they have linked up for three touchdowns. The Packers have done a decent job limiting the damage by opposing backs, but Gurley can make great defenses look silly. Don’t hesistate to pair these two up this week, after all, this team does have the highest implied team total of the week.

Other Options – Brandin Cooks has tremendous upside, but is more volatile than Woods and a tad more expensive, which is why I lean more on Woods this week. The matchup for Cooks is just as good and the targets should be there. Woods will likely garner more ownership this week, so pivoting to Cooks might be a good idea. That said, I am prioritizing Woods over Cooks in my Rams stacks.

My Favorite Option: Goff/Woods
 

Additional Notes

The Bears stack nearly made the top three cut and by Sunday, I would not be at all surprised to have increased my exposure to this offense. Mitchell Trubisky has been lights out recently, throwing for over 300 passing yards and eclipsing 30 DKFP in each of the last three games. This week he draws a matchup against a Jets team that has really struggled against the pass recently, allowing 300+ passing yards in three of their last four games. The secondary is banged up for the Jets and it is clear. Trey Burton would be my top choice to stack with Trubisky as he has scored in three straight games and the Jets have allowed the second most touchdowns to tight ends this season. Tarik Cohen, Allen Robinson, and Taylor Gabriel can also be considered as stacking options.

The Steelers stack is firmly in play this week as Ben Roethlisberger is coming off of a bye and is at home where he plays best. If you plan on rolling him out this week, he makes for a great pairing with Antonio Brown or Juju Smith-Schuster. Of the two, I give Brown the edge by a small amount. James Conner is also a viable stacking option here, as he continues to be involved in the passing game for the Steelers. Vance McDonald can also be considered, but there are plenty of tight ends on this slate, making him less appealing. This team has a healthy implied team total of 28.5 points, so they should produce some fantasy goodness.

Green Bay should be playing from behind this week, which should force Aaron Rodgers to sling it. Whenever that is the case, I have interest in a Packers stack. He and Davante Adams make for a very strong, potentially low-owned stack. Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison are expected to return this week, putting them as secondary options.

A lot of people are planning on playing the Steelers defense from what I have seen. That really makes me interested in a Browns stack with Baker Mayfield and Jarvis Landry or David Njoku. Both are very strong pairing options, but I am leaning more towards Njoku, only by a small amount. I do not know yet if I plan on having a full blown stack here, but I do intend to have pieces of this offense in my lineups as this sets up to be a good game environment and the Steelers have struggled to defend the pass this season.

Can’t end the article without talking about the Chiefs. I will never talk anyone off of Patrick Mahomes and his pass catchers, but this week, I will be more heavily invested on Kareem Hunt than the receivers. In fact, going Mahomes and Hunt to get all of the scoring for the Chiefs who have a healthy implied team total might be the way to go.


Good luck to all this week. If you have any questions, you can always find me on the Twitter machine @Armando_Marsal