RADIO
Week 8 was yet another solid week for this column, as DeAndre Hopkins, Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, Alvin Kamara, A.J. Brown, and Derrick Henry were all mentioned. Tua stacks were massive on Sunday, but the true differentiator came in the form of cheap Panthers like D’Onta Foreman and D.J. Moore.
I had a pretty solid single-entry lineup going before the Panthers decided to Panther, but it happens. We move to Week 9, a week with just 10 main-slate games. Seattle-Arizona is catching my eye as a game-stack option, but some individual teams in great spots are also viable. Let’s dive right in.
Each section will feature a stack for each major site (DraftKings & FanDuel), along with a preferred bring-back and possible leverage piece to make your lineup different from the field. The labeling of each stack is based on the QB’s pricing, not necessarily the weapons they’ll be throwing to.
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High-Priced DFS Stacks for DraftKings
Justin Herbert ($7200) + Josh Palmer ($5100) AND Gerald Everett ($4800)
We have yet to see Justin Herbert’s ceiling in 2022. The talented third-year gunslinger has not topped 28 DraftKings points in any game this season. However, Week 9 presents as good a chance as any for the Chargers’ QB to post a huge outing.
Atlanta has been getting carved up by opposing passing attacks this year, yielding the fifth-worst completion percentage (68.8%), the most completions (220), and the most passing yards (2,455). Herbert could be without his top two pass catchers in Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, but Josh Palmer and Gerald Everett are capable of putting together big games on their own. Their price tags are also very accommodating on DK.
Palmer is the 30th WR listed on DraftKings, while Everett is the fourth TE listed. However, both are phenomenal values – especially if Allen is ultimately ruled out with his hamstring issue. Arthur Smith’s team has yielded the most DraftKings points to WRs (48.6) this season, while also allowing the fourth-most TE points (16.0). Their pass rush has accumulated the third-lowest sack total in the NFL (12) on top of that.
Preferred bring-back: Drake London ($4900)
Leverage piece: Donald Parham ($2600)
Looking like he’s trending toward playing after a concussion has held him out since Week 6, Donald Parham is a cheap, athletic playmaker that will likely not get clicked on a ton. At just $2600, he’s a good differentiator in Herbert stacks. He’s caught six touchdown passes in 29 career games. A 3/35/1 stat line is all you really need here – which is virtually a given against a defense as bad as Atlanta.
High-Priced DFS Stacks for FanDuel
Kyler Murray ($8200) + DeAndre Hopkins ($8600)
Since his return two weeks ago, DeAndre Hopkins has vacuumed up 22 receptions on 27 targets. The 30-year-old appears to be all the way back, and he gets a Seattle secondary that has been exposed week in and week out next.
The price tag is very steep for the Kyler Murray-Hopkins connection, but the two appear to be on the same page. Pete Carroll’s defense has been terrorized so far this season, allowing the sixth-most total yards per game (377.4). Vegas is also backing this game, as the total sits at 49.5 currently (I will note that it has come down one point, however).
Seattle profiles more as a run-funnel defense, but Arizona’s propensity to throw the ball has been on display all season; the Cards have attempted the second-most passes and the 12th-most rushing attempts to this point in the year. And with James Conner still not all the way back yet (limited practice Wednesday), it’s hard to see Arizona force-feeding their other backs.
Preferred bring-back: DK Metcalf ($7400)
Leverage piece: Zach Ertz ($6600)
The Seahawks have been awful versus virtually every position in fantasy, but tight ends have been putting up numbers against them. Seattle is allowing the most yards and the most DraftKings and FanDuel points to the position. Ertz has been a safety blanket of sorts for Murray, having caught at least six passes in five of his seven outings this year. Bet on the veteran tight end here.
Mid-Priced DFS Stacks for DraftKings
Geno Smith ($5800) + DK Metcalf ($6400) AND/OR Tyler Lockett ($6100)
Much like MIA-DET a week ago, SEA-ARI is a game I’m really into. We go to the other side of things with Seattle on DraftKings. The target distribution has been highly concentrated for Geno Smith this season, as the duo of Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf have combined for 50.8% of the team’s targets. Additionally, they’re drawing a combined 51.7% of the targets in the red zone.
Knowing exactly where the ball is likely going to go within a high-volume game environment is very valuable in DFS. If Seattle and Arizona both put up points, it will almost certainly lead to elevated fantasy output from Lockett, Metcalf, or both.
Arizona ranks bottom five in completions, attempts, passing yards, and TDs allowed to quarterbacks, so Geno to his top two targets should be part of your lineup portfolio this weekend. Kliff Kingsbury’s team also struggles to get after the passer – as they’re one of just eight teams with 15 sacks or fewer.
Preferred bring-back: DeAndre Hopkins ($7900)
Leverage piece: Kenneth Walker ($6200)
Seattle’s passing offense has been concentrated, but Kenneth Walker has stolen the show in the backfield in recent weeks as well. He has posted 88 total yards or more in three of his last four outings and scored at least one touchdown in all of them. He’s still too cheap for how explosive he is and this game environment as a whole.
The rookie has broken off nine rushes of 15 or more yards in his debut season on just 85 carries, which equates to a 10.6% breakaway run rate, ranking fourth in the NFL (Player Profiler). Arizona has been somewhat stingy against the run, but Walker can accelerate a game with just one touch. Stay on the bandwagon in this spot.
Mid-Priced DFS Stacks for FanDuel
Aaron Rodgers ($7000) + Romeo Doubs ($6100) AND/OR Robert Tonyan ($5000)
It must seem like I pick on Detroit every week. Well, that’s because I do — they’re that terrible defensively. The Lions have allowed six different 100-yard receivers this season along with three 300-yard passers in seven games. Aaron Rodgers has certainly looked better for the majority of his career than he has in 2022, but a matchup with Detroit might be just what the doctor ordered for A-A-Ron.
In a must-win spot, Green Bay’s offense should sleep well leading up to Week 9, as they’ll face off with a defense yielding the most total yards per game (421.3) and the most points per game (32.1). Last in completion percentage (69.3%) and yards per attempt allowed (8.1), Detroit’s secondary will be no match for Rodgers and this offense.
Allen Lazard could return in Week 9, but it’s highly unlikely the Iowa State product will run his full allotment of routes and play his regular snaps. That leaves the door open for Romeo Doubs, who has posted three games of 13.7 PPR points or more thus far. Along with that, the rookie has drawn seven red-zone targets in eight contests.
Robert Tonyan has mostly underwhelmed in 2022, but he does possess a ceiling, as we saw in Week 6 against the Jets. In a domed game environment against a Lions defense that has surrendered five touchdowns to tight ends, you could do a lot worse.
Preferred bring-back: Amon-Ra St. Brown ($7100)
Leverage piece: Green Bay RBs - Aaron Jones ($7800) OR A.J. Dillon ($6100)
Dan Campbell’s Lions are one of six teams allowing 5.0 or more yards per carry in 2022. They’re also tied for the second-most rushing TDs allowed (13). It’s hard to endorse A.J. Dillon much anymore, but the matchup on paper is about as good as it gets. However, keep in mind that Aaron Jones has out-touched him 41-15. Green Bay could certainly lean on their two-headed monster backfield in this game.
Low-Priced DFS Stacks for DraftKings
Justin Fields ($5300) + Darnell Mooney ($4700)
Like Kenneth Walker, the price is not matching up with the recent production for Justin Fields. Chicago’s signal-caller is the 15th QB listed on DraftKings. However, he’s dropped 17.0 or more DK points in four straight games – and 24.3 and 26.0 in the last two. He’s also rushed for 47 or more yards in six straight outings.
Keeping up with Miami’s high-octane offensive attack will be paramount, but Chicago has shown some offensive life recently with scoring outputs of 29 and 33 in consecutive weeks. The Bears’ fire sale at the trade deadline resulted in the loss of Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith, which can only help the prospect of Fields and Co. playing catch-up in this particular game.
Enter Darnell Mooney, who, despite only seeing 44 targets on the year, leads the Bears in target share at a strong 28.4% figure. That ranks 11th in the league in that category. Miami ranks fifth in yards per attempt allowed (7.3), and Chicago’s third-year receiver possesses a strong 12.9 aDOT. If the Bears were to ever flip the switch to a pass-happy approach, a date with the Dolphins could be the impetus.
Preferred bring-back: Raheem Mostert ($6100)
Leverage piece: Chase Claypool ($4800)
Recently-acquired Chase Claypool is new to the playbook in the Windy City. He might not even play many snaps, but the Bears gave up a lot for this young playmaker, and they’re in desperate need of a second fiddle to the aforementioned Mooney. Equanimeous St. Brown is Chicago’s No. 2 receiver production-wise, to the tune of 11 catches for 164 yards and one score. Ouch.
Claypool is cheap and capable of breaking off big plays. He’s more of an MME-type play, but don’t count him out just because he’s new to the team.
Low-Priced DFS Stacks for FanDuel
Trevor Lawrence ($6800) + Christian Kirk ($6300) AND/OR Evan Engram ($5200)
Only the Lions are allowing a higher completion percentage this season than the Raiders (69.2%). The Steelers and Chiefs are the only teams that have given up more passing touchdowns than Las Vegas’ 15. It doesn’t help matters for Josh McDaniels’ defense when their pass rush is dead last in sacks at just nine.
Jacksonville will certainly be an under-the-radar team to stack in Week 9, but the matchup is very good. Christian Kirk started the season red hot, but he’s cooled off significantly. He’s had one game over 12 PPR points in his last five, but he started the season with three straight games above 19 PPR points.
Evan Engram hasn’t been taken seriously in the fantasy community for a while, but the former Giant is quietly putting together a decent season; he’s currently the TE10 in PPR formats, and he ranks fifth in routes run at the position per game (26.0). Only the Patriots and Cardinals have fallen victim to more receiving scores by TEs than the Raiders (six), so the setup is nice for Engram.
Preferred bring-back: Davante Adams ($8100)
Leverage piece: Hunter Renfrow ($5400)
Davante Adams is the obvious bring-back for the Raiders in this game. However, Hunter Renfrow possesses a ceiling too and would be great leverage. I know he has let us down most of the year, but this is strictly a suggestion based on projected ownership. I would venture to guess Renfrow will draw maybe one-fourth of the ownership Adams will garner on Sunday.
Good luck this weekend! Feel free to contact me on Twitter about DFS or fantasy football in general. I can be found here -- @thejacksonkane.
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