RADIO
This will be my final week this season writing up my favorite NFL DFS stacks for RotoBaller, so I want to thank everyone who followed along and read this piece each week. With it being my final week, let's dive into the upcoming main slate in hopes it can help someone hit big in a tournament in Week 16.
In this weekly article, we'll be taking a look at stacks and bring-back options that are ideal plays in GPPs (guaranteed prize pools) on DraftKings and FanDuel. Salaries and scoring formats can differ on both sites, making some players much better options on one site compared to the other.
When looking at stacks and bring-back players each week, you have to take into account potential game scripts and correlation. Before the 16th week of the season, here are my favorite stacks and bring-back options in NFL DFS on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 10% off using code BALLER! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans
- Joe Flacco ($5,500 DK, $7,100 FD)
- Amari Cooper ($6,400 DK, $7,500 FD)
- David Njoku ($5,300 DK, $6,600 FD) or Elijah Moore ($4,200 DK, $5,500 FD)
Backup quarterbacks are taking over the NFL right now, and Joe Flacco is among the group that is performing well. The veteran signal-caller is set to make his fourth straight start for the Cleveland Browns in Week 16 versus the Houston Texans. Flacco has thrown for at least 250 yards and multiple touchdowns in each of his first three starts, including back-to-back games with 300-plus yards.
The Browns are trusting him to throw it often as he's attempted at least 44 passes in each of his first three starts. As a result of their trust in Flacco, Cleveland is third in neutral pass rate since Week 12. The pass attempts should be high for Flacco again this week against a Texans team that is 23rd in pass defense DVOA and fifth in run defense DVOA.
Amari Cooper is beginning to grow more comfortable with Flacco, earning 22 total targets in his last two games. The talented wideout turned eight targets into four receptions for 109 yards and a score in Week 15 against the Chicago Bears. The volume is certainly there for Cooper and Flacco is trusting him to make plays down the field. Cooper boasts a 3.11 air yards per route run, which is 12th among receivers who have run at least 230 routes this season. Entering Sunday's matchup, Cooper needs just 15 yards to become the first player in Browns history to register over 1,000 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons.
David Njoku has become a safety blanket for Flacco, and he's always capable of generating yards after the catch. The athletic tight end has totaled 16 catches, 195 receiving yards, and three touchdowns on 22 targets in his last two games with Flacco at the helm.
The matchup is a favorable one for Njoku as the Texans surrender the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the tight end position. Elijah Moore has been quiet in recent weeks since, hauling in four of his 12 targets for 83 yards in Week 13 versus the Los Angeles Rams. Moore still has a solid rapport with Flacco due to their time together on the New York Jets, but I'd prioritize Cooper and Njoku in Flacco stacks first.
Bring-back options:
- Devin Singletary ($5,500 DK, $6,200 FD)
- Noah Brown ($5,200 DK, $6,900 FD) or Dalton Schultz ($4,600 DK, $5,800 FD)
It won't be necessary to use a bring-back piece from the Texans if C.J. Stroud is ruled out for a second straight game. There's also a chance Nico Collins misses another game, making Houston thin at the receiver position. Devin Singletary seemingly has the featured role (again) after touching the ball 30 times to Dameon Pierce's one time in Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans. With Case Keenum under center, Singletary becomes a solid dump-off option as the Browns will undoubtedly look to blitz the veteran backup quarterback often.
Noah Brown led the Texans with eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets in Week 15. The experienced pass catcher could be the No. 1 wideout for Houston again on Sunday if Collins is forced to miss another game. Dalton Schultz returned last week following a two-game absence due to an injury, tallying four catches for 58 yards on five targets. Once again, I'd be much more inclined to force a bring-back option from the Texans if Stroud is active. That said, it appears Stroud is trending toward being ruled out again because of him remaining in concussion protocol.
Win more with expert tools and advice from proven winners. A valued RotoBaller Premium subscriber won half a MILLION dollars in Week 3! Join in on the winning and get your edge with our NFL Premium Pass which includes our exclusive DFS Cheat Sheets, the #1 Lineup Optimizer, and access to our VIP Chatrooms. RotoBaller's Premium Pass comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Gain access now!
this is my community.. this is my family.. without them this would not happen @WinDailySports @RotoBaller@BaronZito973 @mb_guruDFS #OTC there are others and you know who you are and I love you all for the help! pic.twitter.com/psRCDbCqqL
— Scott (@scottd923) September 25, 2023
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Baker Mayfield ($6,000 DK, $7,300 FD)
- Mike Evans ($7,600 DK, $8,700 FD)
- Rachaad White ($7,400 DK, $7,700 FD) or Chris Godwin ($6,200 DK, $6,900 FD)
Baker Mayfield had one of the best -- if not THE best -- performances of his career in Week 15 versus the Green Bay Packers. The former first-round pick completed 22 of his 28 attempts for 381 yards and four touchdowns in the win over the Packers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sit atop the NFC South and they'll need to finish strong to ensure they earn a spot in the playoffs. The Jacksonville Jaguars could be without Trevor Lawrence on Sunday, and their defense forces teams to throw more than run.
Teams are attempting the fourth-most passes per game (37.2) and the seventh-fewest runs per game (18.8) against the Jaguars. After letting Mayfield loose in Week 15, the Buccaneers should let him cook again in Week 16 against a Jaguars squad that is allowing the fifth-most passing yards per game (271.4) to quarterbacks.
Mike Evans is a touchdown machine as the Pro Bowl receiver corraled his 11th touchdown in Week 15 against the Packers. Since Week 7, Evans has just two games where he hasn't found the end zone. Only DeAndre Hopkins has more air yards per route run than Evans (3.77) among receivers who have run at least 230 routes. But unlike Hopkins, Evans is getting semi-consistent play from Mayfield and he's turning his deep targets into touchdowns. The Jaguars have given up the fifth-most receiving touchdowns (15) to wide receivers thus far.
Stacking Rachaad White with Mayfield is one way to differentiate yourself from others who are stacking the Buccaneers. While White may not have loads of success on the ground against a formidable Jaguars run defense, they are allowing the most receptions (94) and the third-most receiving yards (654) to running backs.
White has a receiving touchdown in back-to-back games and there isn't anyone else in Tampa Bay's backfield that is stealing many touches. Chris Godwin had his best game of the season in Week 15, posting 10 catches for 155 yards on 12 targets. Even though the Jaguars are strong against slot receivers, Godwin has already set a career-high mark in snaps out wide (490) this season.
Bring-back options:
- Calvin Ridley ($6,300 DK, $6,800 FD)
- Evan Engram ($5,400 DK, $6,300 FD) or Parker Washington ($3,800 DK, $5,300 FD)
Make sure to pay close attention to the status of Lawrence in this game as the skill players on the Jaguars become much less enticing if he's inactive. The Buccaneers have been a pass-funneling defense for years, so I'd prioritize using one of the pass catchers instead of Travis Etienne Jr. if you're using a bring-back from the Jaguars. Calvin Ridley has been inconsistent in his debut season in Jacksonville, but he could be the lone starting receiver remaining if Zay Jones is ruled out. The Buccaneers permit the fourth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Evan Engram leads the Jaguars with a 22.5% target share and he could be the go-to option in the offense if Lawrence is unable to play. The matchup is also a positive one for Engram as the Buccaneers are surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the position. If Jones is ruled out for the Jaguars, Parker Washington becomes a dart throw in tournaments as he'll be the No. 2 wideout alongside Ridley as Christian Kirk is also sidelined. The rookie receiver has garnered six targets in two of his last three games.
Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals
- Justin Fields ($7,100 DK, $8,300 FD)
- DJ Moore ($6,900 DK, $8,200 FD) or Cole Kmet ($4,400 DK, $6,200 FD)
Last but not least, we have Justin Fields and the Bears going up against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16. Fields will be one of the highest-rostered quarterbacks this week -- and for good reason. Not many quarterbacks possess a higher floor and ceiling as a runner than Fields. The dual-threat quarterback has 12 or more rushing attempts in three of his last four games, and the Cardinals are giving up the eighth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. The Cardinals are also 31st in pass defense DVOA and 30th in run defense DVOA, so there's a real possibility for a massive ceiling game for Fields in Week 16.
Stacking the Bears isn't hard as we'll want to focus on DJ Moore and Cole Kmet. Moore will likely be in all of my Fields lineups as he owns a healthy team-high 27.6% target share. The big-play receiver had at least 100 yards or a touchdown in three straight games with Fields before his tough matchup versus the Browns in Week 15. One way to get unique is to double-stack Fields with Moore and Kmet. Kmet has seven-plus targets in six of his last seven games. The young tight end also leads the Bears in red zone targets (13), red zone receptions (10), and red zone touchdowns (5) this season.
Bring-back options:
- Trey McBride ($5,700 DK, $7,000 FD)
- Greg Dortch ($4,000 DK, $4,700 FD), Michael Wilson ($3,700 DK, $5,100 FD), or Rondale Moore ($3,500 DK, $5,000 FD)
Marquise Brown has been dealing with a heel injury in recent weeks, and it seems unlikely that he'll play in Week 16. I won't be clamoring to force a bring-back piece from the Cardinals into my Fields stacks, but Trey McBride is the only option I'd feel comfortable playing. McBride has emerged as Arizona's No. 1 option in the passing game, commanding nine-plus targets in five of his last seven outings. The second-year tight end has also caught at least seven passes in three consecutive games as he's built a nice rapport with Kyler Murray.
If you insist on using a receiver from the Cardinals, Greg Dortch, Michael Wilson, and Rondale Moore could all see more snaps if Brown is ruled out. The Bears aren't a favorable matchup for wide receivers, so all three of these guys are strictly tournament plays that carry a ton of risk. James Conner should dominate touches in the backfield if the game remains close, but the Bears have the third-best run defense in DVOA. We've also seen Conner lose snaps when the Cardinals are playing from behind. McBride is the only skill player on the Cardinals you can play with confidence this week.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
