The NFL is already hitting Week 3, and it’s time to get in your fantasy football lineups. Picking the winning lineup is difficult and often a crapshoot. However, there is one thing that can definitely help your lineup succeed – a DFS stack. Taking your quarterback and stacking with a wide receiver or tight end is a great way to rack up points. But who are the best Week 3 DFS stacks?
If you haven’t played DFS before, a stack is taking a team’s quarterback and wide receiver in the same lineup. Any points your receiver gets, your quarterback also gets. It’s a great way to capitalize on good performances and rack up points quickly. For Week 3, let’s look at some of the best stacks in every game for the weekend.
Week 3 DFS: One DFS Stack For Each Week 3 NFL Game
Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns
DeShaun Watson – $6,100
Amari Cooper – $5,700
The first game we’re going to look at for an NFL Week 3 DFS stack is one of the hardest. The Titans’ passing attack has not been good. The Browns haven’t been much better. Coming off an emotional loss where they also lost Nick Chubb for the season, how will the Browns rebound? If you’re looking at these two quarterbacks, you have to go with Watson. At the very least, he will get you some rushing yards. His cost is low, too, allowing you to be able to put some playmakers on your team around him.
The best receiver to stack him with is Amari Cooper. He’s received 24.5% of the target share and is only going to cost you $5,700. The targets didn’t exactly equal a lot of points in Week 1. However, last week, he had seven receptions for 90 yards. Watson is going to continue to look at him early and often. This game feels more like a stay-away game for fantasy football purposes unless it’s Derrick Henry. However, if you’re looking for a stack, Watson and Cooper are the way to go.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions
Jared Goff – $6,500
Amon Ra St. Brown – $7,900
This NFL Week 3 DFS stack jumps out as one side has a much better passing attack. That’s nothing against the Falcons. Their passing attack doesn’t need to be good when you have the rushing attack they have. Therefore, we’ll start on the other side of the ball with the Lions and Jared Goff. The Falcons defense is tough. However, Goff has thrown four touchdown passes this year, three of them last week. He’s averaged 279 passing yards during that time. He doesn’t have rushing upside, but he throws the ball more than Desmond Ridder.
For his stack, we’ll go with his favorite target, Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown has received 24% of the target share. With that target share, he’s had six receptions in each game and a total of 173 yards. There’s only been one touchdown this year. However, St. Brown is the player who’s going to get the most looks in this offense, and stacking him with Goff makes sense. You can also make an argument for Jahmyr Gibbs with Montgomery out, but I was trying to stick to just pass-catchers.
New Orleans Saints vs. Green Bay Packers
Derek Carr – $5,500
Chris Olave – $7,000
I know Jordan Love has accrued more fantasy points than Derek Carr to this point. I also know that both of these defenses have been decent. However, I think the Saints defense has been better. Therefore, I’m going to take the Saints’ side on offense, which starts with Derek Carr. He hasn’t put up fantasy football numbers, but if you listened to Old-Fashioned Football’s episode of Start/Sits this week, he’s on the start list. I called for him to have two touchdowns this week, and he’s only $5,500.
With him, you have to stack the guy averaging over 30% of his targets, Chris Olave. Olave is only $7,000, likely because he doesn’t have a touchdown this year. Still, with 30% of the target share, he’s gone over 80 yards each game. Double-digit targets normally lead to big points eventually, and this is the week I think it happens. Carr and Olave are an interesting NFL Week 3 DFS stack that not a lot of people are going to have.
Denver Broncos vs. Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa – $7,000
Jaylen Waddle – $7,500 (If he doesn’t play: Braxton Berrios – $3,600)
I know Russel Wilson had a decent game last week, but I don’t trust a repeat performance. Therefore, we have to start with the fast-paced, big-play offense of the Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa has looked great through two weeks, and as long as he’s healthy, he should continue to accrue points. He’s only $7,000 this week, which is a little high, but I still feel comfortable taking it.
Of course, there are two receivers you can put in your NFL Week 3 DFS stack with Tua. However, I decided not to take Hill. There were several reasons, but it mainly came down to his price. Monitor Waddle’s health, as he is questionable this week. He’s averaging 12.1 points and 5.5 targets a game. I think Denver focuses everything on Hill this weekend, and Waddle steps up. If he ends up missing this weekend, Braxton Berrios could be a sneaky play that only costs you $3,600. Berrios is a speedy veteran receiver who has 70 yards through two weeks.
LA Chargers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins – $6,900
Justin Jefferson – $9,300
Jordan Addison – $5,500
This game has two pass catchers who can rack up points for fantasy football. However, the best Week 3 DFS stack for this game seems to be on the Vikings’ side of the ball. The Chargers defense has been terrible at stopping the pass. In fact, they’ve given up the most passing yards in the league on a per-game average through the first two weeks. So taking Kirk Cousins, who is only 6,900, is the route to go in this one.
Picking his pass catchers is a little tougher. The obvious answer is to take Justin Jefferson, who has scored an average of 28 fantasy points per game on Draft Kings. However, Jefferson is $9,300, which is really tough on the budget. However, I can’t blame you for stacking both top receivers. Jordan Addison doesn’t get as many targets but has scored a touchdown in each game. He’s averaging 16.2 fantasy points per game and is still at great value at $5,500.
New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
Mac Jones – $5,300
Hunter Henry – $4,100
Another game on the Week 3 DFS stack slate that I’d probably stay away from. However, if you have to pick somebody, I’d pick Mac Jones. Jones has thrown the ball over 42 times each game this year, which is a crazy number for him. Week 1 worked out really well, as he had 28.1 points. Week 2 didn’t go as well, as he only had 14.7 against Miami. Still, Jones is going to be throwing the ball often in this new offense, it seems. He’s only $5,300 because he still has a lot to prove, and the Jets’ defense is really solid.
If you’re picking one target of Mac Jones, it has to be Hunter Henry. Targeted at least six times each game, he’s caught a total of 11 passes for 107 yards. He also has a receiving touchdown in each game. If this continues, he’s going to remain in the Top-10 of tight ends. Jones relies on Henry, especially in the redzone, and that can add up to some good stack points for your team.
Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Commanders
Sam Howell – $5,400
Brian Robinson Jr. – $5,800
Jahan Dotson – $4,900
I know the obvious choice here is Josh Allen. However, I see a scenario where Washington could pressure him into some mistakes. Therefore, this Week 3 DFS stack starts with Sam Howell for only $5,400. He took another step forward last week against Denver and scored 21.3 fantasy points. It’s nothing huge, but the price is right to save you money for other players. I also like throwing Brian Robinson in. You don’t normally stack running backs in, but he has been on fire. He’s averaging 21.3 fantasy points a game, the same as Sam Howell.
It’s hard to choose between these receivers. Terry McLaurin is solid but has only been targeted 10 times this year. I went with Jahan Dotson. He’s cheaper and has received more targets. That hasn’t equaled more points, though. Still, I think he has a decent game and makes some big chunk plays for the Commanders. Plus, $4,900 is very affordable for somebody who is going to get you some guaranteed points.
Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
CJ Stroud – $5,300
Nico Collins – $5,300
Tank Dell – $3,600
Trevor Lawrence is a safer play here, but for the value, I had to go with CJ Stroud at $5,300. Using him in my Week 3 NFL DFS stack makes it easier to get some better players at running back, as well. Last week, he threw for 384 yards and two touchdowns, resulting in 25.5 points. It won’t be as easy against the Jaguars, but I still think they end up throwing the ball a lot. So far, through three weeks, he’s thrown the ball 91 times and for 626 yards.
The other nice thing about taking CJ Stroud is the stacks that go with him are dirt cheap. Nico Collins is the first one at $5,300. Collins has received 20 targets in the past two weeks and has turned those into 13 catches for 226 yards and a touchdown. Last week, he hit an even bigger stride, getting 146 yards and a touchdown. Plot twist: he was a priority waiver from us on Old-Fashioned Football.
However, I’m not stopping there. I’m also going to take Tank Dell as a DFS stack with Stroud. Last week they said they wanted to get him more involved. That’s why Old-Fashioned Football had him on their start list. Have you taken the hint you should be listening to or watching Old-Fashioned Football yet? He backed up our prediction with seven catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson – $7,700
Mark Andrews – $6,000
You’re going to see several lineups try and get cute and start Gardner Minshew of the Colts to try and get some Minshew mania going. Don’t fall for that. Even though Lamar Jackson hasn’t looked stellar in the passing game, he will move the ball well enough against the Colts. Not to mention, he’ll likely pick up quite a few rushing yards.
For the NFL Week 3 DFS stack with Jackson, you have to go with Mark Andrews. Andrews came back last week after missing Week 1 and picked up where he left off as Jackson’s favorite target. Five catches on eight targets for 45 yards and a touchdown got him 15.5 points. With another week of practice and a little healthier, he’s likely going to do even more damage against the Colts’ defense.
Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith – $5,700
Tyler Lockett – $6,400
This is a stay-away game for me. Andy Dalton is starting for the Panthers, and I can’t trust him to do much. Geno Smith is going against a Panthers’ defense that has done really well at limiting quarterbacks so far this year. Still, if I have to pick one, I’m picking Geno Smith for $5,700. After a really bad Week 1, Geno bounced back last week with 26.1 fantasy points while throwing for 328 yards and two touchdowns.
For his stack, I’m stacking Tyler Lockett with him. DK Metcalf is also a great option. However, he’s recovering from a rib injury and hasn’t practiced for two days in a row. I have concerns that he could take a hard hit and have to exit the game. Lockett is coming off a big performance where he scored two touchdowns. He was targeted 10 times that game, and I think Geno knows exactly where he wants to put the ball, and that’s in Lockett’s hands.
Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes – $8,300
Travis Kelce – $7,900
Taking Justin Fields for a potential rushing upside a week after he calls coaches out makes sense. However, as a Bears fan, I can’t, in good faith, advise anybody to do anything regarding the Bears until they stop looking like a trash can. Therefore, I have to go with Patrick Mahomes. The Bears’ defense has looked terrible, and there are so many outside distractions. I do have some concerns. Mahomes and the Chiefs just go through the motions in this game, but against such a bad defense, I think you have to take him.
It’s no secret who his NFL Week 3 DFS stack should be. Actually, it should be his stack every week. While Kelce’s return didn’t rack up a bunch of points, he did get in the end zone. Through the past several years, or maybe even a decade, the Bears have been at stopping alpha pass-catchers. Travis Kelce is an alpha pass-catcher, and I don’t think he’s going to be stopped.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals
Dak Prescott – $6,600
CeeDee Lamb – $7,700
It’d be fun to pick up a chippy Cardinals’ stack with Joshua Dobbs, especially with the unfortunate news of Diggs’ injury. The Dallas defense may not look the same without him. However, the Cardinals are still one of the worst teams in the NFL, and I don’t think the Cowboys are going to sleep on them. Therefore, I took Dak Prescott as my DFS stack in this game. Prescott hasn’t been overly impressive, but he hasn’t needed to. He may need to pass the ball more if the defense does take a step back without Diggs.
His stack has to be his favorite target, CeeDee Lamb. Last week, when the Cowboys passed the ball a little more than in Week 1, Lamb was targeted 13 times. He caught 11 of those for 143 yards. He’s unstoppable when he and Dak are on the same page, and I think they’ll torch this Cardinals’ defense easily. There’s a little concern they get ahead and don’t pass as much. However, I think you can trust Lamb to get you enough points to matter.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Jimmy Garoppolo – $5,200
Davante Adams – $7,800
Suppose this Steelers’ defense plays as well as they did against the Browns. Still, the Raiders have remained more competitive than I expected. There’s also the fact that Kenny Pickett and that offense have not looked good at all. With not being able to trust the Steelers’ offense and Matt Canada, I took Jimmy Garoppolo for $5,200. Jimmy G is still finding his groove on his new team, but he’s been able to take advantage of having guys like Jakobi Meyers and Davante Adams.
Speaking of Davante Adams, he’s the clear-cut NFL Week 3 DFS stack that goes with Jimmy G. He averages 8.5 targets, 6 catches, 75 yards, and 0.5 a touchdown a game. Adams is a playmaker, no matter who is throwing him the ball. Meyers is intriguing after his big Week 1 game prior to being ruled out with a concussion. However, I still like playing Adams.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Bucs
Jalen Hurts – $8,000
AJ Brown – $7,700
One of the most expensive stacks on my NFL Week 3 DFS stack list is this one. I almost got cute and went Baker. However, this feels like a get-right game for both Jalen Hurts and AJ Brown. Hurts had a good game against Minnesota last week, where he scored 26.2 points. I think he does even more against the Bucs. Look for him to sling the ball on a defense that can get taken advantage of, as well as use his legs to pick up yards and fantasy points.
A lot of people are going to want to go for Devonta Smith here, but this feels like a get-right game for A.J. Brown. The Bucs just allowed a 100-yard receiver on the Bears. I don’t know if I’ve made this point clear yet, but the Bears suck. So if Fields and Moore can move the ball and get D.J. Moore 19.4 fantasy points, Brown is looking at having even more than that.
LA Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Matt Stafford – $5,600
Puka Nacua – $6,100
Tutu Atwell – $5,200
This might be my favorite stack, if I’m being honest. Is Matt Stafford the sexiest NFL Week 3 DFS stack pick? No. However, in this game, we don’t know if Joe Burrow will even play. Therefore, I have to go with the guy I know is playing. Stafford hasn’t been bad, averaging 18.2 fantasy points per game. One of those games was against a really good 49ers defense as well. However, the main reason to stack is his receivers.
There isn’t much you have to say about Puka Nacua. He’s been targeted 35 times through two weeks and caught 25 of those for a total of 266 yards. He is averaging 29 fantasy points per game and has yet to score a touchdown. Can you imagine what his score will be like once he starts scoring touchdowns? Plus, he’s only $6,100. If he keeps up his current pace, he’ll be north of $7,000 before long.
You can also add a triple stack with Tutu Atwell for only $5,200. This could serve as some insurance, but Tutu has also been really good. He’s averaged 18.1 points per game. Atwell has turned 17 targets into 13 catches and 196 yards. Both of these receivers can combine for some mega points.
