Welcome to the Top 10 DFS stacks article where I will be breaking down the DraftKings main slate to identify my top 10 DFS stacks for Week 16. Stacks in DFS can be defined as; playing two or players from the same team in a single lineup. Stacking in DFS contests has become the predominant roster construction strategy particularly for GPP tournaments, with a variety of unique and creative ways to build stacks and maximize your scoring upside each week. The most popular stacking options include the skinny stack, the double-stack, the run back stack, and the full-on game stack, and the running back paired with a defense stack.
The skinny stack is traditionally a quarterback paired with a skill position player. The double-stack includes the quarterback and two skilled position players. The run-back stacks normally consist of a quarterback and wide receiver from one team and an opposing wide receiver. A game stack can include up to five players from a single contest and include a 3/2 or 4/1 team ratio, and typically involves the quarterback. The running back stacked with defense is just that. Each week the stacks in the top 10 will include a variety of these stacks based on the scoring upside and likelihood of cashing.
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Top 10 DFS Stacks for Week 16
1. Justin Herbert (QB) Keenan Allen (QB) LA Chargers
Justin Herbert is the second leading scoring quarterback on DraftKings, averaging 25.2 points per game. In his last five games, Herbert is the number one quarterback averaging 28.2 points per game. This week he faces a Houston Texans defense that can be exploited. Cornerback Desmond King II has a PFF grade of 54.3 on the season and will primarily be tasked with shutting down Keenan Allen. The ninth-year wideout is sixth in the NFL with 134 targets and is averaging 10.9 per game over the last seven games. Allen leads the Chargers in target share with 27% on the season. With Austin Ekeler expected to miss Week 16 after being placed on the NFL’s COVID-19 list, expect Herbert to lean heavily on Allen in this matchup. I’m comfortable rolling this lineup out in mid-size single-entry GPP tournaments.
Total Cost: $14,900
Players to pair with: Alexander Mattison (RB) David Montgomery (RB)
2. Matthew Stafford (QB) Cooper Kupp (QB) LA Rams with Alexander Mattison (RB) Minnesota Vikings
Matthew Stafford is having one of his best seasons as a quarterback, completing 67.7% of his passes for 4,142 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. Stafford only trails Tom Brady by one touchdown for the NFL league lead. Cooper Kupp has been the primary beneficiary of the LA Rams quarterback upgrade. He currently leads NFL wide receivers in targets (164), receptions (122), yards, 1,625, and touchdowns (14). Kupp is averaging 6.3 more points than the second-leading wide receiver and is scoring 29% more points per game every week. Kupp will be heavily rostered, but he’s worth every penny.
Running it back with Alexander Mattison makes sense given Minnesota and Mike Zimmer’s commitment to running the football. The Rams defense gives up 22.4 points per game to running backs. I expect Mattison to see “Dalvin Cook” level touches and has the potential to post a 20 point run-back. I am playing this stack in larger field tournaments and all Cash games.
Total Cost: $22,600
Players to pair with: Bryon Pringle (WR) Cole Kmet (TE)
3. Tyler Huntley (QB) Mark Andrews (TE) Baltimore Ravens with Ja’Marr Chase (WR) Cincinnati Bengals
Tyler Huntley was on fire last week, scoring two rushing touchdowns and passing for two more against the Green Bay Packers. Lamar Jackson has missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday this week. If Jackson is ruled out for this week, I want the Huntley and Mark Andrews Ravens stack. Andrews was electric last week amassing 10 receptions for 132 receiving yards and two scores. His performance was robust enough to supplant Travis Kelce as the top-scoring DraftKings tight end. I expect more of the same this week against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has given up 106 receptions for 872 yards and 6 touchdowns to tight ends this year.
Running it back with Ja’Marr Chase is your biggest upside play in this game. Chase will be primarily matched up against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Kevon Seymour, who currently has a PFF grade of 39.2. Burrow was tremendous in his first matchup this season against the Ravens, connecting with Chase eight times for 201 receiving yards and a touchdown. Chase scored 37.1 points in that Week 7 game. This stack makes the most sense in mid-size GPP tournaments with 3-5 entries.
Total Cost: $20,100
Players to pair with: James Robinson (RB) Cordarrelle Patterson
4. Joe Burrow (QB) Tee Higgins (WR) Cincinnati Bengals with Mark Andrews (TE) Baltimore Ravens
Joe Burrow has put up one hell of a sophomore season, leading all NFL quarterbacks with 15+ yard touchdown passes with 17. Wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have allowed Burrow to take shots downfield all season. The last time these two teams met, Burrow lit the Ravens up for 416 yards and three passing touchdowns. The Ravens defense, normally a strength for a John Harbaugh-led squad, has been a liability this season. Last week they gave up 13 receptions for 165 yards, and a touchdown to wide receivers. Currently, Chase (18%) is picking up over 3x the projected rostership compared to Higgins (5%), making him the chalk to avoid in larger GPP field tournaments. Running it back with Mark Andrews is the best play given his accession to the top of the Ravens’ receiving pecking order.
Total Cost: $19,100
Players to pair with: David Montgomery (RB) Antonio Brown (WR)
5. Cordarrelle Patterson (RB) Atlanta Falcons with Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR) Detroit Lions
Cordarrelle Patterson is the leading DraftKings scorer for the Atlanta Falcons this season, averaging 17.1 points per game. The Detroit Lions rank 29th against running backs this season, having already given up over 2,000 total yards and 22 touchdowns. Patterson is in a smash spot this week in a game the Falcons are favored by 6 points. Expect the Falcons to be able to move the ball downfield and punch it in with Patterson at least once. On the Lions’ side of the ball, no one has been hotter than rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Sun God has been lit, averaging 12 targets and 21.2 points per game his last three. I like St. Brown a lot better if Jared Goff clears the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol and returns for the game. Play this mini-game run-back stack in all formats.
Total Cost: $12,300
Players to pair with: Anyone
6. Jalen Hurts (QB) Dallas Goedert (TE) Philadelphia Eagles with Kadarius Toney (WR) New York Giants
Jalen Hurts leads all NFL quarterbacks with 10 rushing touchdowns on the season. Passing touchdowns are only worth four points in DraftKings, making rushing touchdowns even more valuable. This week Hurts and the Eagles face NFC East bottom dwellers, the New York Football Giants. The Giants, who may be starting Jake Fromm. The Eagles are chasing a playoff spot. Also, they’re 10 point favorites. I expect a beatdown by the Eagles and Hurts to soar against a Giants team that has lost four of five and three in a row. Stick a fork in them, they are done.
The only bright spot on the whole season was Kadarius Toney’s Week 5 32.6 point performance against the Dallas Cowboys. This week he returns for the G-men and should slide into the WR1 role in the offense. Toney is a true wildcard who could score 30 points or 10 points, making this stack a play in larger GPP field tournaments.
Total Cost: $16,400
Players to pair with: James Robinson (RB) Justin Jackson (RB)
7. Ronald Jones (RB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers DST
Ronald Jones torched the Carolina Panthers last season in Week 10, rushing for 192 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Jones has been thrust into the Buccaneers’ starting running back role after Leonard Fournette injured his hamstring in Week 15. Jones is fresh, having only carried the ball 71 times so far this season. Last year Jones scored 18, 21, 28, and 29 points when Fournette missed time. The Buccaneers are 10.5 point road favorites heading into Carolina. Pairing Jones with the Buccaneers defense is a correlation play with high upside given Cam Newton‘s career propensity to turn the ball over. This running back/defense stack is in play in play for both Cash games and GPP tournaments.
Total Cost: $9,200
Players to pair with: Anyone
8. Antonio Brown (WR) Rob Gronkowski (TE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Antonio Brown is $4,900 on DraftKings this week. I’ll let you gather yourself and move some more money into your DraftKings account. Now that you are locked and loaded, let’s also add touchdown machine Rob Gronkowski, just for luck. Without Chirs Godwin and probably Mike Evans, Tom Brady’s $7,400 price tag isn’t worth the price. Brown and Gronk should get there on target volume alone. Their touchdown potential makes them both high-upside plays for Cash games and all GPP formats.
Total Cost: $11,100
Players to pair with: Anyone
9. Tyler Lockett (WR) Seattle Seahawks with David Montgomery (RB) Chicago Bears
Tyler Lockett is currently in the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol. Although, the Seahawks expect him to return to action this weekend against the Chicago Bears. The Bears rank 24th against wide receivers, having given up over 2,200 yards passing with 19 touchdowns on the season. Lockett has been averaging 20 points per game his last four games. He’s been Russell Wilson‘s favorite downfield target, catching two touchdowns in his last two games.
David Montgomery is sure happy to see Seattle this week. The Seahawks rank 31st against running backs, giving up 29.4 points per game. The Bears are 6.5 point underdogs on the road this week but don’t let that fool you. They should be able to control the clock with Montgomery in this matchup, hopefully punching it in for a touchdown in the process. At $5,700, Montgomery is one of the best run-back options on the slate this week.
Total Cost: $12,400
Players to pair with: Anyone
10. Byron Pringle (WR) Kansas City Chiefs with Diontae Johnson (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers
Patrick Mahomes will most likely be without both Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce this week when he faces the Pittsburgh Steelers. Byron Pringle‘s $3,300 price tag makes him an excellent candidate for a wide receiver run-back stack. Diontae Johnson is the play. Currently, he’s tied for fourth in the NFL with 134 targets. The total for this matchup is only 44.5, making it hard to stack Mahomes with anyone given his $7,700 price tag. I’m playing this stack in mid-size GPP tournaments.
Total Cost: $10,800
Players to pair with: Justin Jackson (RB) Rob Gronkowski (TE)
