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
New England Patriots vs Washington Redskins, Team Total 33 points
QB Tom Brady $8,500-WR Julian Edelman $8,200 Total Stack $16,700 (33.4% of salary)
QB Tom Brady $8,500-TE Rob Gronkowski $8,000 Total Stack $16,500 (33% of salary)
New England is the largest home favorite of the season at -14 points. The game has the highest total of the week at 52 points. Vegas is expecting the Patriots to light up the scoreboard again this week. Brady has thrown multiple touchdowns in every game this season. 3 touchdown passes is a given in this matchup. Brady does not come cheap. His DraftKings salary is $1,100 more than the next ranked quarterback. Edelman and Gronkowski both have multiple-touchdown upside every week. They are both extremely expensive as compared to other options at their respective positions. If you are playing multiple GPP lineups on DraftKings this week, you should probably have some exposure to the Patriots offense.
New Orleans vs. Tennessee Titans, Team Total 27 points
QB Drew Brees $7,200-WR Brandin Cooks $5,800 Total Stack $13,000 (26% of salary)
QB Drew Brees $7,200-TE Benjamin Watson $4,000 Total Stack $11,200 (22.4% of salary)
The Saints are a 8 point home favorite vs. the Titans. The game total is set at 46 points. The regency bias crowd will be all over Brees after his record setting 7 touchdown performance last week. The Saints are now ranked second in passing yards, 2,585, and the third most passing yards/per game, 323.1, this season. Without a true go-to receiver, the passing targets have been difficult to gauge on a week-to-week basis in New Orleans. The Titans are only allowing 197.9 passing yards/per game. Based on the expected high Brees ownership, I recommend a fading a Saints stack in your DraftKings GPP tournaments this weekend.
Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers, Team Total 25.75 points
RB Devonta Freeman $8,000-DEF Falcons Defense $3,400 Total Stack $11,400 (22.8% of salary)
Atlanta is a 7 point road favorite at San Francisco. The game total is set at 44.5 points. The game script sets up for a correlation play with Freeman and the Falcons defense with this matchup. The 49ers are a hot mess with a record of 2-6. Colin Kaepernick has been benched for Blaine Gabbert. Carlos Hyde and Anquan Boldin are expected to miss the game due to injury. It will be difficult for the 49ers to score points without their play-makers. Devonta Freeman is leading all running backs with 709 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns. The Falcons will be able to control the line of scrimmage and time of possession during the game. Freeman has multiple-touchdown upside in this matchup. Similar to the Patriots, if you are playing multiple GPP lineups on DraftKings this week, you should probably have some exposure to Freeman.
Under the Radar Stacks
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Oakland Raiders, Team Total 26 points
QB Ben Roethlisberger $6,600-WR Antonio Brown $8,100 Total Stack $14,700 (29.4% of salary)
QB Ben Roethlisberger $6,600-WR Martavis Bryant $5,500 Total Stack $12,100 (24.2% of salary)
QB Ben Roethlisberger $6,600-TE Heath Miller $2,700 Total Stack $9,300 (18.6% of salary)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a 4 point home favorite vs. the Oakland Raiders. The game total is set at high 48 points. This is a big game as far as the Wild Card in the AFC. The Raiders defense has been stout vs. the run allowing the second least rushing yards/per game, 82.9, this season. The Steelers will look to move the ball through the air this week. Oakland has allowed the second most passing yards/ per game, 302.1, this season. Ben Roethlisberger should be lower owned this week as compared to normal due to an off-game last week vs. Cincinnati. Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant are both priced down on DraftKings and make for high upside stacks. Oakland has struggled vs. the tight end position all season. Adding a cheap Heath Miller to your Pittsburgh WR stack is an differentiation option. I will be heavily targeting the Steelers offense this Sunday in my GPP tournaments.
Oakland Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers, Team Total 22 points
QB Derek Carr $5,500-WR Amari Cooper $6,700 Total Stack $12,200 (24.4% of salary)
QB Derek Carr $5,500-WR Michael Crabtree $4,900 Total Stack $10,400 (20.8% of salary)
On the other side of the field we have the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders are a 4 point road underdog at Pittsburgh. Vegas has the game total set at 48 points and I think that we have a good chance to see a shootout. Derek Carr's 4 touchdowns vs. the Jets last week were under-appreciated due to the touchdown bonanza in New Orleans. Carr has at least 23 DraftKings points in four out of seven games this season. If he scores at least 23 DraftKings points this week, it will be good for 4x his salary of $5,500. The Steelers defense has allowed the 7th most passing yards, 2,156, this season. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree are both under-priced on DraftKings. Crabtree has at least 4 receptions in every game this season. Target both sides of the Steelers/Raiders passing offense this Sunday.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants, Team Total 22.5 points
QB Jameis Winston $5,200-WR Mike Evans $6,800 Total Stack $12,000 (24% of salary)
The Tampa Bay Bay Buccaneers are a 3 point home underdog vs. the New York Giants. The total is set at a high 48 points. Many will chase last week's 6 touchdown performance from Eli Manning. I am looking on the other side of the field in this matchup. Vincent Jackson looks unlikely to play again this week. Austin Seferian-Jenkins is questionable to return this week. This leaves Mike Evans as the main target in the Buccaneers offense. Many were dissapointed with Evans stat line of 3 receptions for 48 yards last week, myself included. But I am going back to the well in this matchup. The Giants have the lowest ranked passing defense in the league allowing 315.5 passing yards/per game.
