This article first appeared on RotoBaller.com
By Andrew C. Lovell (@Andrew_Lovell)
Welcome to Week 3, RotoBallers! The goal of this weekly column is to help find the most profitable DFS stacks, while avoiding the duds.
Stacking, or pairing multiple players from the same NFL team, is an ideal way to maximize your point production, which is crucial in larger GPP (guaranteed prize pool) tournaments.
Let’s take a look at some of the top DFS stacks for Week 3, loosely sorted by salary.
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High-Priced Week 3 DFS Stacks
Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown at Chicago
After giving the Atlanta Falcons a scare in the season opener, the Bears were predictably overwhelmed by Tampa Bay in Week 2. The key culprit? Mike Evans, who finished with 93 yards and a touchdown on seven catches.
That bodes well for Brown, another elite, matchup-proof wide receiver. Brown tallied five catches for 62 yards in Week 2 against Minnesota, a disappointing outing by his standards. He’s a good bet for 100 yards and at least one touchdown against a porous Bears defense.
Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers and WR Jordy Nelson vs. Cincinnati
Let’s take a moment to offer this friendly reminder: be sure to check Nelson’s status before kickoff. All indications are that Nelson will play Sunday and won’t be hampered by the quad injury that sidelined him in Week 2, so he’s a solid play if healthy.
The Bengals’ defense has actually played well this season, but the Packers can score on any team at Lambeau Field. At this point, there’s a greater chance wideout Randall Cobb (chest) sits out, which would boost Nelson’s value. As always, a Rodgers-Nelson stack has tremendous upside.
Los Angeles Chargers QB Philip Rivers and WR Keenan Allen vs. Kansas City
The Chiefs’ defense surrendered a pair of touchdowns to wide receivers last week against Philadelphia. Will that trend continue against Los Angeles? It’s worth a roll of the dice, especially considering the frequency in which Rivers is targeting Allen.
Through two games, Allen has 20 targets, six more than any other player on the Chargers. He’s not traditionally a big red-zone target, but considering his workload, he’s worth a look. Rivers is always a reasonable bet for 300 yards and two touchdowns … along with two or three interceptions. Hey, we did say it was a roll of the dice!
Moderately-Priced Week 3 DFS Stacks
Carolina QB Cam Newton and WR Kelvin Benjamin vs. New Orleans
Reliable tight end Greg Olsen is sidelined with a broken foot, which should translate to more opportunities for Benjamin. The fourth-year wideout caught six of his eight targets for 77 yards in Week 2 against Buffalo, but the Week 3 matchup against the Saints is far more appealing.
New Orleans just surrendered 436 yards and three touchdowns to the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots, so Newton and Benjamin should be able to connect regularly. Running back Christian McCaffrey and perhaps Devin Funchess, if you’re feeling gutsy, are also stacking options.
Philadelphia QB Carson Wentz and TE Zach Ertz vs. New York Giants
Sure, the Giants’ offense has struggled mightily this season. But New York’s defense has failed miserably in defending opposing tight ends. Jason Witten totaled seven catches for 59 yards in Week 1, while Eric Ebron finished with five receptions for 42 yards. Most importantly, both Witten and Ebron found the end zone.
Look for the Giants’ struggles against tight ends to continue in Week 3. Wentz and Ertz are off to hot starts this season, and there’s little reason to think that won’t continue against a disappointing Giants team. This is an attractive stack with a big upside and a low price tag.
Miami QB Jay Cutler and WR DeVante Parker at New York Jets
It’s going to be a long, long season for the Jets. New York was thoroughly torched by Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders in Week 2, and while the Cutler-led Dolphins aren’t quite as explosive, they should find plenty of success against a young secondary.
Jarvis Landry is the possession extraordinaire, as evidenced by his 13-catch, 78-yard outing in Week 2, but Parker is the more explosive option. He’s a solid bet to get free for a deep touchdown. Kenny Stills is also worth a look.
Bargain-Priced Week 3 DFS Stacks
Houston QB Deshaun Watson and WR DeAndre Hopkins at New England
Sure, the track record for young quarterbacks making starts against Bill Belichick’s defenses is abysmal. But Watson has shown a knack for making big plays and winning games, both in college at Clemson and in his brief NFL career to date.
Hopkins will continue to be peppered with targets; he has an NFL-high 29 entering Week 3. That volume alone makes Hopkins a viable DFS play each and every week. Stacking him with Watson, who is always a threat for 50-plus yards and a touchdown on the ground, is a decent idea against a highly-beatable Patriots defense.
New York Jets QB Josh McCown and WR Jermaine Kearse vs. Miami
Let’s just keep riding this train for as long as possible, shall we? Yes, the Jets are terrible, but that will continue to create favorable situations for McCown (as long as he’s starting) and Kearse, who has 11 catches and two touchdowns on 14 targets through two games.
McCown could find himself in a position where he has to throw — and throw a lot — to keep the Jets competitive, and the main beneficiary of that is Kearse. This stack comes dirt cheap, so it’s worth a long look.
Indianapolis QB Jacoby Brissett and TE Jack Doyle vs. Cleveland
While the Giants have struggled defending tight ends this season, the Browns have been downright burned by them. Jesse James finished with six catches for 41 yards and two touchdowns in the opener, while Benjamin Watson and Maxx Williams combined for 12 catches for 112 yards in Week 2.
Brissett leaned heavily on Doyle last week, connecting with him on eight passes for 79 yards. A similar workload should be in store, and a trip to the end zone is a high probability.
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