In this weekly article, we will provide you with some popular "chalk" stacks and some "under the radar" stacks to use in your DraftKings GPP tournaments. (GPPs)
CHALK STACKS
Seattle Seahawks vs. Cleveland Browns, Team Total 28.75 points
QB Russell Wilson $7,000-WR Doug Baldwin $5,800 Total Stack $12,800 (25.6% of salary)
The Seahawks are 14.5 point home favorites vs. the Browns. Seattle has the second-highest team total of the week at 28.75 points. Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin will be the highest owned stack this week on DraftKings for good reason. The Seahawks will be without RBs Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls. This will force the Seahawks to pass more than usual this week. Wilson and Baldwin are under-priced due to their recent performances. Wilson is coming off a historic 4 game stretch with 16 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Since Jimmy Graham suffered a season-ending injury, Baldwin has been the main beneficiary. Over the past three games, Baldwin has amassed 17 receptions for 321 yards and 8 touchdowns. Cleveland has allowed the second-most points per game (27.5) with 26 passing touchdowns this season. If you are entering multiple DraftKings GPP lineups, you should have some exposure to the Seahawks offense.
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants, Team Total 26.5 points
QB Cam Newton $7,800-TE Greg Olsen $6,900 Total Stack $14,700 (29.4% of salary)
QB Cam Newton $7,800-WR Ted Ginn Jr Jr. $4,600 Total Stack $12,400 (24.8% of salary)
The undefeated Panthers are 5 point road favorites at the Giants. Vegas has the game total set at a high 48 points. MVP candidate Cam Newton has averaged 24.4 DraftKings fantasy points/per game this season. Newton has multiple touchdowns in 11 out of 13 games. Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart has been ruled out due to a foot sprain. This injury will force the Panthers to pass more than usual this week. Newton is a QB that doesn't require stacking but there are a couple of solid receiving options in the Panthers offense. Ted Ginn Jr Jr. will be a popular option this week after his 2 touchdown performance. I prefer Greg Olsen as he has been the more consistent option over the course of the season averaging 15.8 fantasy points/per game. The Giants have the worst-ranked pass defense in the league allowing a staggering 308.4/passing yards per game. Make sure you have some exposure to the Newton and the Panthers offense this week.
Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints, Team Total 23.75 points
QB Matt Stafford $6,100-WR Calvin Johnson $6,900 Total Stack $13,000 (26% of salary)
QB Matt Stafford $6,100-WR Golden Tate $5,500 Total Stack $11,600 (23.2% of salary)
The Lions are 3 point road underdogs at the Saints. The game total is currently the highest of the weekend at 50.5 points. Matt Stafford will be a popular option due to his low DraftKings salary and his matchup. The Saints have allowed a league-leading 30.5/points per game with 36 passing touchdowns this season. Golden Tate will be a popular option to stack with Stafford after his 2 touchdown performance. I prefer Calvin Johnson in this matchup. Don't underestimate the red questionable tag next to Johnson's name on DraftKings. This will help keep his ownership level down. I envision Johnson having a couple of games this season to pad his overall receiving stats. On Thanksgiving, Johnson had 8 receptions for 93 yards with 3 touchdowns, good for 35.3 fantasy points. Johnson will flourish again this week in the bright lights of Monday Night Football.
UNDER THE RADAR STACKS
New England Patriots vs. Tennessee Titans, Team Total 30.75 points
QB Tom Brady $7,800-TE Rob Gronkowski $7,700 Total Stack $15,500 (31% of salary)
QB Tom Brady $7,800-WR Danny Amendola $5,700 Total Stack $13,500 (27% of salary)
The Patriots are 14.5 home favorites vs. the Titans. The Patriots have the highest team total of the week at 30.75 points. With LaGarrette Blount out with a hip injury, the Patriots will continue to attack through the air. Brady will carry a lower ownership percentage as compared to Russell Wilson and Cam Newton due to recency bias. Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski returned from injury last week and put up 18.7 fantasy points on 4 receptions for 87 yards and 1 touchdown. While Julian Edelman remains out with a foot injury, Gronkowski will be a focal point of the Patriots offense. Over the past 3 weeks, Tennessee has allowed 11 passing touchdowns. Tom Brady has a chance for a very big day this weekend.
Buffalo Bills at Washington Redskins, Team Total 22.5 points
QB Tyrod Taylor $5,600-WR Sammy Watkins $6,200 Total Stack $11,800 (23.6% of salary)
The Bills are 1 point road underdogs at the Redskins with an average game total of 44 points. I expect the Bills to bounce back after a hard fought loss to the Eagles last week. Tyrod Taylor has been under-priced on DraftKings all season and remains a great value at $5,600. Over the past three weeks, Taylor has 8 touchdowns and 1 interception, good for an average fantasy points/per week of 25.1 over that time. Bills WR Sammy Watkins has thrived over the past three weeks with 14 receptions for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns. Watkins has averaged 26.3/fantasy points per week over that time period. The Redskins defense is prone to lapses in pass coverage where Watkins has an opportunity to break-off a long touchdown reception.
Cincinnati Bengals at San Francisco 49ers, Team Total 22.5 points
QB A.J. McCarron $5,400-WR A.J. Green $7,900 Total Stack $13,300 (26.6% of salary)
The Bengals are 4.5 point road favorites at the 49ers with a lower than average game total of 40.5 points. I am higher on A.J. McCarron than most and expect similar production as compared to Andy Dalton. McCarron has 3 full seasons of SEC conference experience where he had 77 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Bengals TE Tyler Eifert is unlikely to play this week due to suffering a concussion. This will result in an uptick in targets for WR A.J. Green. The 49ers are the 6th worst pass offense allowing 24.2 points per game. Target an A.J. to A.J. stack in your DraftKings GPPs this weekend.
