RADIO
The majority of traditional, season-long fantasy football leagues ended this past weekend, but thanks to daily fantasy, you don't have to suffer through a football-less weekend just yet.
DFS contests typically run through conference championship weekend, meaning you've got another month of fantasy football. And if you hope to cash in DFS, you'll want to consider stacking a quarterback with a pass-catching teammate in many of your lineups. This is especially true in GPP (guaranteed prize pool) tournaments, where you're looking to maximize your points and hit on some low-owned gems.
These are some of the top potential stacks for Week 17, sorted roughly from most expensive to least expensive.
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High-Priced DFS Stacks
Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown at Cleveland
This past Sunday was ugly for the Steelers' normally potent passing duo. Roethlisberger was held to just 215 yards, his second-lowest total of the season, and failed to throw a touchdown for the second time in the last three games. As a result, Brown's output was also limited, as he finished with just 61 yards on seven catches.
The loss to Baltimore was also costly in the standings, as Pittsburgh now finds itself on the outside looking in entering Week 17. Expect Roethlisberger to rebound in a big way against the same team he torched for 379 yards and three touchdowns back in Week 10. And if that's the case, Brown will surely be productive as well.
Atlanta QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones vs. New Orleans
Despite Ryan's inconsistencies this season, Jones has produced at an elite level week in and week out. There should be no trepidation about plugging the Pro Bowl receiver into any DFS lineups. Ryan is riskier, but he is coming off of his first 300-yard game since Week 9. The most appealing aspect here, obviously, is the home matchup with the Saints.
New Orleans is allowing 281 passing yards per game, second only to the New York Giants, and has allowed an NFL-record 43 passing touchdowns this season. It's hard to imagine the Saints suddenly shutting down Jones. On top of costing a pretty penny, this particular combination will likely be highly owned (call it the "Saints Effect").
Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles and WR Allen Robinson at Houston
Hopefully you haven't waited until Week 17 to jump aboard the Bortles hype train. The second-year quarterback has taken a major leap forward, and his 35 passing touchdowns are second only to Tom Brady. Robinson has been on the receiving end of an NFL-high 14 of those touchdowns. For pure touchdown potential, no combination has been more potent this season.
Denver's Monday night win over Cincinnati kept Indianapolis' faint playoff hopes alive, meaning Houston won't be in a position to rest key players. However, both Bortles (331 yards, three TDs) and Robinson (86 yards, touchdown) produced strong outputs in the first meeting back in Week 6. With T.J. Yeldon still injured and Denard Robinson providing average production on the ground, Bortles remains a safe bet for 30-plus attempts every week. A fair portion of those will always be headed in Robinson's direction, making this an appealing stack.
Moderate DFS Stacks
New York Giants QB Eli Manning and WR Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Philadelphia
Manning was downright dreadful in Sunday night's loss to Minnesota, but in the two games prior to that, he tossed a combined eight touchdowns. Beckham sat out while serving a suspension for more or less assaulting Josh Norman. So, what's to like about these two as a pairing this week?
As the Giants skid toward another losing season, chatter over the future of head coach Tom Coughlin continues to grow louder. This could be his final game. If you buy into that, the New York narrative for an otherwise meaningless Giants-Eagles game becomes "let's send Tom out with a victory." And considering the opponent is a hated NFC East rival, you'd like to think Manning and Beckham, in particular, would be motivated. It also helps that the Eagles' secondary has been shredded by Kirk Cousins and Carson Palmer in the last two games.
Houston QB Brandon Weeden and WR DeAndre Hopkins vs. Jacksonville
We liked this stack last week and if you were brave enough to roll with it, you surely reaped the benefits. Weeden finished with 200 yards and two touchdowns, and added a rushing score against Tennessee. Hopkins finished with seven catches for 117 yards and one of Weeden's two TDs.
Jacksonville's offense has taken a major step forward this season, but its defense simply has not. Drew Brees, he of a torn plantar fascia, burned the Jags for 412 yards and three touchdowns. It'd be unwise to expect that kind of output from Weeden, but he should be able to connect with Hopkins regularly. Hopkins absolutely tore apart Jacksonville in their first meeting in Week 6, catching 10 passes for 148 yards and a pair of scores. Hopkins is one of the most expensive players in DFS, but Weeden can be paired with him at near minimum level.
Bargin DFS Stacks
Cleveland QB Johnny Manziel and TE Gary Barnidge vs. Pittsburgh
Another week, another Manziel party video. At least, that's how it seems. Monitor Manziel's status throughout the week. If he's benched because of a short video that surfaced on Monday, you can still pair Austin Davis with Barnidge, although that duo loses some luster.
Manziel had great success against the Steelers in Week 10, passing for 372 yards and a touchdown to Barnidge. While he might not be able to duplicate the high passing total, it's not unreasonable. Pittsburgh desperately needs a win and should be relying heavily on Roethlisberger. Passing yards, and points, could pile up in this game quickly. Barnidge had a quiet day this past Sunday, but has been one of the more reliable tight ends all season, and the Steelers enter Week 17 ranked 25th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends.
Chicago QB Jay Cutler and TE Zach Miller vs. Detroit
Cutler's ceiling appears to be capped by a lack of weapons in the passing game. Alshon Jeffery, Marquess Wilson and Martellus Bennett have all been bitten by the injury bug this season. But in the absence of those tarets, Miller has emerged as an up-and-coming one.
Miller has at least five receptions and 50 yards in each of the Bears' last three games. That's steady production from a position that's often volatile. He also has five touchdowns since Week 9, as he's become a regular target for Cutler in the red zone. Cutler's season high in yards came in Week 6 at Detroit (353 yards) and the Lions currently rank 29th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. There appears to upside here at a reasonable price.
Philadelphia QB Sam Bradford and TE Zach Ertz at New York Giants
Few tight ends can match Ertz's production over the last three weeks. He's had at least five catches and 78 yards in each of them, including a garbage time-fueled 13-catch, 122-yard performance in a loss to Washington. Garbage time or not, points are points, and it's impossible to ignore Ertz's increased attention from Bradford.
Bradford has eclipsed 360 passing yards in consecutive weeks and now gets to finish the season against the Giants' 32nd-ranked pass defense. In terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, the Giants rank 31st. There is a strong possibility for a shootout here, and a Bradford-Ertz stack would give you exposure at a friendly cost.
