RADIO
Hey there RotoBallers! After an intense, high-scoring Week 1 you are probably looking forward to getting some lineups set for Week 2. Week 1 was not only high-scoring but it was also a week which saw a lot of the chalk plays hit, and hit big. It is important to identify what performances were the outliers and which players can be trusted again this weekend when setting lineups.
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 2 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 Sunday) games across both sites. All references to team defense DVOA comes from Football Outsiders while cornerback and wide receiver matchups and grade references come from Pro Football Focus.
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High-Priced Week 2 DFS Stacks
Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown vs. Kansas City
Roethlisberger disappointed in Week 1 while Antonio Brown was his normal, steady self against the Cleveland Browns. Big Ben turned the ball over five times on a rainy, soggy day by the shores of Lake Erie. With the weather report looking better in Pittsburgh on Sunday, look for the veteran quarterback to bounce back in a big way against a Kansas City pass defense that ranked 23rd in the league in DVOA in 2017 and is fresh off of allowing Philip Rivers to roast them for 424 passing yards and three scores.
Brown is the overall WR1 on any slate and, as such, always carries a prohibitive salary. That being said, he truly draws a mouth-watering Week 2 matchup. Brown figures to primarily draw coverage from Steven Nelson, who grades out at just 64.3 at Pro Football Focus. This game has one of the highest over/unders on the slate and should provide plenty of scoring opportunities. If this game goes as expected, this could end up being one of Brown's most productive games in 2018.
New Orleans QB Drew Brees and WR Michael Thomas vs. Cleveland
There's no reason to go away from one of the most productive quarterback/wide receiver stacks from Week 1. Brees and Thomas connected 16 times for 180 yards and a score in Week 1. Brees will enjoy another inviting home matchup, this time taking on the Cleveland Browns in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Cleveland's defense was stout against the run in 2017 but struggled against the pass, which served to funnel additional opportunities toward the passing game. Brees is a legitimate top-three quarterback in fantasy this weekend.
Michael Thomas was an absolute beast in Week 1 and the Saints had him run routes out of the slot at a higher rate than he ever did over his first two NFL seasons. The star wideout figures to draw some coverage from No. 4 overall draft pick Denzel Ward, who played well against Antonio Brown in Week 1, but he will move around enough that Ward isn't a concern. Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Terrance Mitchell are the other defensive backs who will attempt to cover Thomas. Boddy-Calhoun has earned a 71.1 grade from Pro Football Focus while Mitchell has just a 58.3 grade.
Houston QB Deshaun Watson and WR DeAndre Hopkins @ Tennessee
Watson got off to a slow start in Week 1 as he struggled against the New England defense. Look for him to find it easier to move the ball downfield in Week 2 against Tennessee. The Titans defense was not impressive in Week 1, allowing Ryan Tannehill to complete 20-of-28 passes for 230 yards and two scores. Will Fuller is expected to play after missing Week 1, so look for Watson to turn in a much better outing in Week 2. Watson brings the added bonus of excellent rushing production, picking up 40 yards on the ground in Week 1.
Hopkins got the New England treatment as the Patriots focused their defensive efforts on taking away the Texans' top option on offense. He still finished with 78 yards on eight catches in the game. The return of Fuller should help open up the field for Hopkins to maneuver in Week 2. Tennessee's secondary is fresh off of allowing Miami receiver Kenny Stills to burn them for 106 receiving yards and two scores.
Moderately-Priced Week 2 DFS Stacks
Denver QB Case Keenum and WR Emmanuel Sanders vs. Oakland
Keenum turned the ball over three times in Week 1 but he also threw for 329 yards and three scores. He finds himself in an excellent spot in Week 2 as the Broncos welcome a weak Oakland Raiders pass defense to town. Oakland's pass defense ranked 30th in DVOA in 2017 and no longer employs elite pass rusher Khalil Mack after a preseason trade with the Chicago Bears. Look for Keenum to post another 300-yard, multi-touchdown game in Week 2.
The chemistry Keenum showed with receiver Emmanuel Sanders in the preseason carried over to Week 1 one as Sanders shredded the Seahawks for 10 catches, 135 yards, and one touchdown. Sanders should have no trouble turning in another excellent effort in Week 2 as he will run the majority of his routes at either Leon Hall or Rashaan Melvin, neither of whom are very effective in pass coverage. Sanders is locked in as a low-end WR1 in Week 2, yet he's only priced as a low-end WR2 on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
New England QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski @ Jacksonville
The New England passing game draws a tough Week 2 road matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars but Tom Brady has done enough in his career to be considered matchup-proof. Despite the tough matchup, Brady still ranks as a top-10 quarterback option in Week 2. While the Jaguars were tough against outside receivers in 2017, they were susceptible in the middle of the field. Look for Brady to lean on Rob Gronkowski, his slot receivers, and pass-catching back James White to move the ball in Week 2. Brady's ownership percentage should come in lower than normal due to the tough matchup which puts him in play as a solid, low-owned option in GPPs.
Gronkowski turned in a vintage Gronk performance in Week 1, popping off for seven catches, 123 yards, and a touchdown. The Jaguars struggled to contain enemy tight ends in 2017, ranking just 20th in pass defense DVOA against the position. Gronk is likely to lead his team in targets in Week 2 and is the ideal stacking partner with Brady.
Bargain-Priced Week 2 DFS Stacks
Cleveland QB Tyrod Taylor and WR Jarvis Landry @ New Orleans
Taylor was ineffective as a passer in Week 1 as he struggled with his accuracy on a rainy, slippery day in Cleveland. While he didn't pass well, Taylor still managed to eclipse 20 fantasy points thanks to his rushing ability. That rushing ability is what makes him an excellent DFS play in reasonable matchups. The Saints represent just that as they are fresh off of allowing journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to pass for 417 yards and four touchdowns. He also added a rushing score for good measure. There's no way the Saints pass defense is that bad but they certainly are worth targeting in fantasy until they prove otherwise. This game could turn into a shootout and Cleveland's fantasy players are certain to be lower-owned then the guys in black and gold on this slate.
Landry's usage in Week 1 was eye-popping as he led the Browns with 15 targets. Not only that, but Cleveland didn't just target him near the line of scrimmage as he ripped off two 30-plus yard gains and just missed connecting with Taylor on some other deep routes. While most fantasy gamers regard Landry as more of a cash game option, he brings a higher ceiling to the table with the Browns using him downfield more frequently.
Washington QB Alex Smith and WR Jamison Crowder (cash) or WR Paul Richardson (GPPs) vs. Indianapolis
Smith draws one of the top matchups of the weekend as he will square off against a Colts pass defense that seems to have been a bottom-10 unit in the league almost annually. Indy's pass defense ranked dead last in DVOA in 2017 and offered very little resistance to Andy Dalton and the Bengals in Week 1. Smith is one of my favorite Week 2 quarterbacks in DFS and is a great play in cash and tournaments.
Smith's stacking partner comes down to what type of contests you are entering. For cash games, look to slot receiver extraordinaire Jamison Crowder. Crowder should be able to rack up the receptions in the middle of the field against the Colts on Sunday. In GPPs, take Paul Richardson into consideration instead of Crowder. Richardson has 4.40 wheels and is a splash play specialist. He will primarily draw coverage from Colts corner Nate Hairston, who runs a 4.52 40-yard dash. Hairston graded out at just 57.1 in coverage on Pro Football Focus and has no chance to stick with Richardson.
New York Jets QB Sam Darnold and WR Quincy Enunwa vs. Miami
Darnold certainly impressed in his NFL debut, completing 16 of his 21 pass attempts for 198 yards and two scores. The final numbers could have been much better but this game was basically over early in the second half. Darnold draws another favorable matchup in Week 2 when the Miami Dolphins head north to take on the Jets. Miami has sported one of the worst pass defenses over the past few seasons, ranking 29th in the league in DVOA in 2017. They shouldn't be expected to provide much resistance for Darnold in Week 2.
Enunwa appears to be Darnold's favorite option in the passing game as he dominated the target share in Week 1. Enunwa drew 10 of Darnold's 21 pass attempts, finishing with six catches for 63 yards and a score. While he will not continue to see 48% of his team's targets, Enunwa appears primed for a big season for the Jets this year. Miami will attempt to slow Enunwa with rookie slot corner Minkah Fitzpatrick on Sunday. That is a matchup that favors Enunwa.
"YOLO" Contrarian Stack
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady and WR Chris Hogan @ Jacksonville
Chris Hogan was a disappointment in Week 1, catching just one pass in what appeared to be a decent matchup against Houston. He now heads on the road to take on a formidable Jacksonville secondary in Week 2. Many fantasy gamers will be off of Hogan for those two reasons listed above but he does have some appeal as a contrarian play this weekend. Hogan should run almost half of his routes out of the slot during Julian Edelman's suspension, which means he will be able to avoid coverage from stud corners Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. Instead, he will see coverage from slot corner D.J. Hayden, which is a much friendlier matchup. Look for New England to attack the middle of the field on Sunday against Jacksonville. Don't forget, former Patriots slot receiver Danny Amendola hung seven catches for 84 yards and two scores on the Jags in the AFC Championship game last January.
