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Each week is an opportunity for us to gather more information and make adjustments in NFL DFS as Week 2 is now completed. Regardless of whether or not you had success the previous week, it's vital to always look forward in DFS and take note of new developments around the league.
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 third week of the season, here are my favorite stacks and bring-back options in NFL DFS on DraftKings and FanDuel.
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Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers
- Kirk Cousins ($6,900 DK, $7,800 FD)
- Justin Jefferson ($9,300 DK, $9,700 FD)
- T.J. Hockenson ($6,500 DK, $7,500 FD) or Jordan Addison ($5,500 DK, $6,800 FD)
The Los Angeles Chargers will travel to face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3 in a game that easily boasts the highest projected total (54) on the main slate. While I do like Justin Herbert and the Chargers, I'll be talking about Kirk Cousins and the Vikings at home for Sunday's anticipated matchup between 0-2 teams. The Vikings are first in neutral pass rate, Cousins leads all quarterbacks in fantasy points per game on both sites, and the Chargers are dead last in pass DVOA.
When using Cousins, you'll want to get Justin Jefferson in the lineup if you can as his usage is as close to a lock as you'll get at the wide receiver position. Jefferson is producing a healthy 28.7% target share through the first two weeks. You also expect the All-Pro wideout to find the end zone sooner rather than later after he fumbled the ball for a touchback in Week 2.
The hope is for T.J. Hockenson to get deeper targets soon (he is currently logging a mere 1.19 air yards per route run), but he's registered eight-plus targets in each of the first two weeks. Jordan Addison has now scored a touchdown in each of his first two games in the NFL and it's only a matter of time before he usurps K.J. Osborn in two receiver sets for the Vikings.
Bring-back options:
- Austin Ekeler ($8,500 DK, $9,800 FD)
- Keenan Allen ($7,600 DK, $8,800 FD), Mike Williams ($6,000 DK, $7,200 FD), or Joshua Kelley ($5,400 DK, $6,100 FD)
Austin Ekeler was inactive in Week 2 for the Chargers and it remains to be seen if he's able to return in Week 3. If the dynamic back does return, he's certainly viable as a bring-back option or as a stacking option with Herbert due to his usage in the passing game. His salary is much more palatable on DraftKings compared to FanDuel coming off an ankle ailment.
Targets seem to be funneled to Keenan Allen (27.1% target share) and Mike Williams (25.7% target share) at the wide receiver position for the Chargers. While Williams is considered the vertical threat on the outside, Allen leads the team with 33.3% of the air yards so far. Regardless of Ekeler's status, Joshua Kelley has a definitive role in this offense and he won't be going up against a stout run defense of the Tennessee Titans again on Sunday.
Denver Broncos at Miami Dolphins
- Tua Tagovailoa ($7,000 DK, $8,100 FD)
- Tyreek Hill ($9,000 DK, $9,600 FD)
- Jaylen Waddle ($7,500 DK, $7,800 FD) or Durham Smythe ($2,900 DK, $,700 FD)
Tua Tagovailoa has entered his name into the MVP discussion early in the season with 715 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions in the first two weeks. The former first-round pick looks comfortable in his second year in Mike McDaniels' offense and is creating more off-script plays than we're accustomed to seeing from him. The Denver Broncos are 28th in pass DVOA to begin the season and they just allowed Sam Howell to air it out for 299 yards and two touchdowns.
The New England Patriots did a remarkable job preventing Tyreek Hill from going nuclear in Week 2, but he still got home with another touchdown. Hill is a slate-breaking player each week, and even with Pat Surtain II expected to shadow him for portions of Sunday's game, McDaniels is finding unique ways to get him open.
Jaylen Waddle is in concussion protocol after exiting Sunday night's win over the Patriots. The good news is that McDaniel said Waddle is already progressing in the protocol. With Hill being the focal point of the offense, Waddle has totaled eight catches for 164 yards on 11 targets in his first two games. Durham Smythe isn't an exciting option, but he saves salary at tight end and he's run the most routes on the Dolphins so far.
Bring-back options:
- Jerry Jeudy ($6,500 DK, $6,100 FD)
- Courtland Sutton ($5,100 DK, $6,300 FD) or Javonte Williams ($5,500 DK, $6,100 FD)
Jerry Jeudy is still getting eased back into the offense for the Broncos after missing Week 1, logging 45 offensive snaps (68%) in Week 2. Once Jeudy is closer to full health, he should operate out of the slot on the majority of his snaps and should become Russell Wilson's go-to target.
Courtland Sutton doesn't have a high ceiling, but Sean Payton typically prefers having a big-bodied receiver on the field at all times and he's the only one that isn't injured. Javonte Williams has gotten plenty of opportunities (25 rushing attempts and nine targets) in the first two games for the Broncos despite returning from a torn ACL.
Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs
- Patrick Mahomes ($8,300 DK, $9,200 FD)
- Travis Kelce ($7,200 DK, $8,000 FD)
- Kadarius Toney ($4,600 DK, $5,500 FD) or Skyy Moore ($4,700 DK, $6,300 FD)
The team with the highest projected team total (30) in Week 3 is the Kansas City Chiefs. Some teams can reach their projected total by having a well-balanced attack, but the Chiefs want to do one thing with Patrick Mahomes under center: throw the ball as much as humanly possible. The Chiefs are third in neutral pass rate and the Chicago Bears are an absolute mess right now, which sets up Mahomes for an explosive performance at home.
Travis Kelce returned to the field in Week 2 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars after missing Week 1 due to a knee injury. The All-Pro tight end saw limited snaps (43) in his season debut and was on the field for only 68 percent of Kansas City's offensive snaps. Kelce still found the end zone despite being eased in and he'll likely see an increased workload in Week 3 against the Bears.
Aside from Kelce, it'll be musical chairs for the rest of the pass catchers on the Chiefs. It was Skyy Moore who posted three receptions, 70 yards, and a score in Week 2 and Kadarius Toney is a player the Chiefs are making a concerted effort to get touches. If you're someone who max enters GPPs, then you'll also want exposure to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Rashee Rice.
Bring-back options:
- DJ Moore ($5,700 DK, $6,400 FD)
- Khalil Herbert ($5,100 DK, $5,600 FD) or Cole Kmet ($4,300 DK, $5,100 FD)
I believe this is one of those rare occurrences where it's not necessary to have a bring-back player from the Bears. At the same time, the Bears are expected to be playing from behind, putting DJ Moore on our radar after hauling in six of his seven targets for 104 yards in Week 2.
Khalil Herbert remains the starting running back in Chicago as D'Onta Foreman was a healthy scratch in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cole Kmet leads the Bears in targets with 13 through the first two weeks. We saw rookie Roschon Johnson get more work last week and a decent number of touches in a blowout loss in Week 1. So for those who enter a ton of lineups, Johnson might be worth a dart throw if you use anyone from the Bears.
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