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Matt Terelle offers up optimal high, mid, and low-priced DFS stacks for Week 10 of the NFL season. These GPP tournament stacks are worth considering on FanDuel and DraftKings daily fantasy sports games.
Hey there RotoBallers! Week 10 brings us several tasty matchups from a fantasy standpoint, including a Saints-Bengals game with a nice 54-point over/under. The main slate also boasts several other games with over/unders of 50 points or more. That would include the Falcons-Browns game (51 points), Cardinals-Chiefs (50), Washington-Buccaneers (51.5), Chargers-Raiders (50.5), and Seahawks-Rams (51.5). These are games you will want to consider getting some exposure to in DFS tournaments this weekend.
The goal of this weekly column will be to locate some of the best DFS stacks each week. Stacking, or pairing a quarterback with one of his pass-catchers, is a great way to maximize point scoring. This method is generally viewed as a strategy in tournaments, but I also have no problem using safe, high-floor stacks in cash games, as well.
The top Week 10 DFS stacks will be listed below, loosely sorted by salary. The focus will be on the main slate (1:00 PM and 4:00 PM EST Sunday) games across both sites. All references to team defense DVOA come from Football Outsiders while cornerback and wide receiver matchups and grade references come from Pro Football Focus.
High-Priced Week 10 DFS Stacks
Atlanta QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones @ Cleveland
Ryan, and the Atlanta offense have enjoyed a huge bounce-back season after mostly disappointing in 2017. They will take on a Browns defense that has been tough on opposing passing games this season, but one that will also be without several defensive starters. Linebackers Christian Kirksey and cornerback E.J. Gaines were both placed on injured reserve this week while star rookie defensive back Denzel Ward can be considered questionable after missing Wednesday's practice with a hip injury. The Falcons have been one of the top offenses in the league this season and have a high 27.5-point implied total for Sunday.
The long wait is over as star receiver Julio Jones finally found the end zone in Week 9. As mentioned above, Jones could be in luck this week as Denzel Ward, Cleveland's top cover corner, is looking extremely questionable for this weekend's matchup. Even if Ward does play, Jones is worth teeing up as a solid stack partner with Matt Ryan in what should be a high-scoring affair.
New Orleans QB Drew Brees and WR Michael Thomas @ Cincinnati
The Brees-Thomas stack certainly came through for daily gamers in Week 9 as the two connected for 12 receptions, 211 yards, and one touchdown against the Rams. There's no reason to go away from the dynamic pairing in an excellent Week 10 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati's pass defense has struggled this season, ranking 16th in DVOA and allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to enemy signal-callers.
Thomas has been one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL this season, buoyed by a massive 28.3% target share and amazing hauling in all but nine of his 79 targets this season. The star wideout will run most of his routes at William Jackson, who has just a 64.3 grade over at Pro Football Focus. This sets up as another smash spot for the Thomas and Brees pairing.
Moderately-Priced Week 10 DFS Stacks
Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton and WR Tyler Boyd vs. New Orleans
The Bengals will be fresh coming out of their Week 9 bye and draw one of the top matchups in the league for passing offenses. The Saints have set up as a pass-funnel defense this year, locking down enemy running games but allowing the third-most passing yards and fourth-most passing touchdowns per game. Dalton has been mostly solid this season and can be expected to throw often as the Bengals attempt to keep up with an explosive New Orleans offense on the scoreboard.
With A.J. Green unlikely to play thanks to a Week 8 toe injury, breakout slot receiver Tyler Boyd is a lock to see double-digit targets. Boyd will also be aided by the fact that top New Orleans cover corner Marshon Lattimore almost never ventures into the slot, which is where Boyd runs 73% of his routes. Instead, Boyd will draw coverage from regular burn victim P.J. Williams, who has just a 38.6 grade at PFF. Playing Boyd is close to a no-brainer in all fantasy formats this weekend.
Los Angeles QB Philip Rivers and WR Keenan Allen @ Oakland
Long-time Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is next in line to take a shot at the openly tanking Raiders. Rivers hasn't had a massive game since Week 1 against the Chiefs but he's been extremely consistent this season, throwing for at least two touchdowns in all eight of his games played. Oakland's secondary has been a mess this season, ranking dead last in pass defense DVOA and allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to the position. The only concern here is that the Chargers will build a big lead early and go into clock-killing mode, but Rivers should still get his even if that does happen.
Keenan Allen finally had a breakout game in Week 9 after struggling for much of the season. He turned in his first 100-yard receiving game since Week 1, which also happens to be the last time he found the end zone. Allen has a good shot at snapping that streak in Week 10 as he takes on a Raiders defense against which he's averaging 7.3 catches and 89.3 yards over their previous three meetings. Allen will run most of his routes against Oakland slot corner Leon Hall, who has a 58 grade at PFF.
Bargain-Priced Week 10 DFS Stacks
Los Angeles QB Jared Goff and WRs Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks vs. Seattle
The pricing for the Rams stack appears to be a little off as this has been one of the best offenses in the league this season. Savvy daily gamers will want to take advantage of this fact and load up on a Rams offense that has a 30.75-point implied total, second-highest on the slate after the Chiefs. The Seahawks have been solid against the pass this season, ranking fifth in DVOA, but the Los Angeles passing attack is simply too much for opposing defenses to handle. Goff topped 300 yards back when these two teams met in Seattle in Week 5 but managed just one score and two interceptions. Look for his results to be better back at home in Week 10.
It continues to be hard to pick between Cooper Kupp, Cooks, and Woods, although there's merit to pairing the three with Goff and trying to collect all the passing touchdowns. The Rams passing offense has been rather concentrated this season, with 62.1% of Goff's targets going to one of the three aforementioned receivers. That number would be even higher if Kupp hadn't missed almost three entire games with an MCL sprain. Either way, of the three wideouts, Woods has the best matchup as he will run most of his routes against Shaquill Griffin, who has a 48.6 grade at PFF. Slot corner Justin Coleman is the highest graded of the Seattle corners. If forced to choose just one to pair with Goff in DFS, I'd go Woods, Cooks, and then Kupp in that order.
Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield and WR Jarvis Landry vs. Atlanta
In Week 9 against the Chiefs, Mayfield played his best game in over a month. Most likely not a coincidence as that was the first game after the team cut loose head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Mayfield will draw another plus matchup as the leaky Atlanta secondary visits Cleveland in Week 10. The Falcons rank 28th in pass defense DVOA and are allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to the quarterback position.
Jarvis Landry has disappointed over the past two weeks, but it hasn't been for lack of chances. The veteran slot receiver has hauled in 14 passes on 19 targets, but has just 89 receiving yards to show for it. While he isn't likely to turn into a downfield threat, Landry certainly has more upside than he has shown over the previous two contests. The stars are aligned for him to have a big game as the Falcons are allowing the third-most points per game to wide receivers and slot corner Brian Poole has just a 60.2 grade at PFF.
"YOLO" Contrarian Stack
Indianapolis QB Andrew Luck and WR T.Y. Hilton vs. Jacksonville
Many fantasy gamers will see the Jaguars across from Andrew Luck's name and shudder but this is a good spot to be contrarian and plug Luck into a tournament lineup. Jacksonville hasn't been quite as dominant against the pass this season and Luck is fourth in the league with 342 pass attempts this season. Consider pairing Luck with burner T.Y. Hilton, who will be at home where he has historically performed much better on the fast track at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jacksonville will attempt to slow Hilton with top corner Jalen Ramsey. While Ramsey is a dominant force, he has been playing through ankle and knee issues this season, which have limited his effectiveness. For what it's worth, Vegas doesn't seem overly concerned about the Jacksonville defense, either, listing the Colts with a 25-point implied total.
