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It's the day after Thanksgiving; how are you feeling? If you're a Minnesota Vikings fan, you probably savored every bite of the turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. If you're a Dallas Cowboys fan, well, not so much. Whether or not your favorite NFL team is doing well this season, always remember you can find comfort in the unbiased greatness of daily fantasy football.
The goal of this weekly column is to help find the most profitable DFS stacks, while avoiding the duds. Stacking, or pairing multiple players from the same NFL team, is an ideal way to maximize your point production, which is crucial in larger GPP (guaranteed prize pool) tournaments.
Let's take a look at some of the top DFS stacks for Week 12, loosely sorted by salary.
High-Priced Week 12 DFS Stacks
New England QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski vs. Miami
Brady was his usual self in the Patriots' rout of Oakland last Sunday, passing for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Gronkowski, however, was quiet, finishing with just three catches for 37 yards on a season-low three targets.
Gronkowski has only scored once in his last four games, but that trend should change this Sunday. The Dolphins rank 17th against the pass, but they've been particularly poor against opposing tight ends, allowing four touchdowns to tight ends over the last five games. This is a prime bounce-back spot for "Gronk."
Atlanta QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones vs. Tampa Bay
Ryan isn't putting up the same eye-popping numbers he did in his 2016 MVP season, but he has tossed two touchdowns in four straight games. There's something to be said for consistency. Ryan should easily hit that total against the Buccaneers' 31st-ranked pass defense.
Jones has just one receiving touchdown this season, but it's worth noting he scored in both games against Tampa Bay last season. He boasts an incredibly high ceiling in this elite fantasy matchup.
Seattle QB Russell Wilson and WR Doug Baldwin at San Francisco
Wilson has been on an absolute tear since late October, and the proof is in the numbers. He's averaging 315.8 passing yards and 44.4 rushing yards per game over his last five outings, along with 14 total touchdowns. Now he draws a matchup against the 49ers' 23rd-ranked pass defense. Wilson should dominate.
The red-hot Jimmy Graham (seven TDs in his last six games) is a fine stacking option, but Baldwin is due for a bounce-back performance after a quiet week (two catches, 40 yards, TD).
Moderately-Priced Week 12 DFS Stacks
Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green vs. Cleveland
Green hurt a lot of fantasy players back in Week 9, when he got ejected for fighting after tallying just one catch. In the two weeks since then, he's been on fire, totaling 165 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions.
The winless Browns are, well, the Browns, and Green has feasted on their defense throughout his career. In 12 games against Cleveland, he has seven touchdowns, the most against a single opponent in his career. He should be able to add No. 8, and perhaps No. 9 this Sunday.
Tampa Bay QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and WR Mike Evans at Atlanta
Fitzpatrick impressed in last Sunday's win against Miami, finishing with 275 yards, two touchdowns and, perhaps most importantly, not a single turnover. A matchup with the divisional-rival Falcons poses a tougher test, but Fitzpatrick offers nice upside in what should be a high-scoring matchup.
Evans returned from a one-game suspension to tally five catches for 92 yards last Sunday. Similar production should be in store for one of the NFL's most talented players. He hasn't scored since Week 7, so he seems due for a trip to the end zone.
Carolina QB Cam Newton and TE Greg Olsen at New York Jets
Make sure Olsen is activated and starting before deploying him in DFS lineups. Assuming he is activated from injured reserve, Olsen is in line for a heavy workload right out of the gate, as the Jets have surrendered five touchdowns to tight ends over their last six games.
Newton, who gashed Miami for 254 passing yards, 95 rushing yards and four total TDs in his last game, should immediately lean on Olsen, given the lack of an established, veteran target following Kelvin Benjamin's trade.
Bargain-Priced Week 12 DFS Stacks
Denver QB Paxton Lynch and WR Emmanuel Sanders at Oakland
It's hard to imagine Lynch can play worse than Trevor Siemian or Brock Osweiler have this season. That's not exactly the most ringing endorsement, but Lynch does have first-round pedigree. Most experts aren't expecting much, but hey, he could surprise.
He draws one of the best possible matchups in his first start of 2017. The Raiders rank 27th in passing yards allowed per game, but have given up 17 touchdowns without a single interception this season. That's downright staggering, and gives any opposing quarterback a level of upside.
Cleveland QB DeShone Kizer and WR Corey Coleman at Cincinnati
This isn't a stack you'll want a lot of exposure to, but Coleman's return to the lineup last week boosts Kizer's upside. Coleman tallied six receptions for 80 yards on a team-high 11 targets in last week's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Coleman stands out as the Browns' most talented wide receiver, so it seems likely Kizer will continue to force-feed him targets. Targets equal opportunity, and opportunity equals fantasy upside. This stack carries significant risk, but at such a discounted price, it's worth a roll of the dice.
More Week 12 DFS Analysis
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