RADIO
Hey there RotoBallers! After another high-scoring slate of games in Week 2, you are probably looking forward to getting some lineups set for Week 3. NFL offenses have been on fire through the first two weeks of the season, especially passing offenses. This makes stacking a quarterback with his top passing game target a must in daily fantasy contests.
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 3 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 come from Football Outsiders while cornerback and wide receiver matchups and grade references come from Pro Football Focus.
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High-Priced Week 3 DFS Stacks
Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes and WR Tyreek Hill vs. San Francisco
Mahomes has been the talk of the fantasy world early in the 2018 season, boasting an impressive 10 touchdowns and no interceptions through his first two games. The second-year signal-caller turned in one of the signature games in the NFL in Week 2 as he shredded the Steelers with six passing touchdowns. This week he will take his shots against a 49ers pass defense that ranks just 22nd in DVOA this season. While the 49ers lack the ability to slow opposing passing games, Jimmy Garoppolo and company have the offensive chops to keep the pressure on the Chiefs to keep scoring.
Tyreek Hill continues to dominate opposing secondaries and his weekly multi-touchdown upside regularly makes him a top GPP play. Hill shouldn't encounter much trouble on Sunday as he figures to draw primary coverage from San Francisco cornerback K'Waun Williams. Williams is allowing 16.9 yards per reception to receivers he has covered through the first two weeks. Hill and Mahomes figure to be one of the highest-owned stacks this weekend but they are worth trotting out there as they have plenty of week-winning upside.
New Orleans QB Drew Brees and WR Michael Thomas @ Atlanta
There's no reason to go away from one of the most productive quarterback/wide receiver stacks through the first two weeks of the season. This Saints-Falcons game has a massive 53-point over/under and sets up to be a high-scoring affair between these two division rivals. Brees turned in a slow performance in Week 2 against a Browns defense that has been much better than many realize but look for him to bounce back in Week 3 against a Falcons pass defense that ranks 15th in DVOA through the first two weeks.
For much of the Drew Brees tenure in New Orleans, the star quarterback has been known for spreading the ball around to all of his receiving options. That has changed drastically this season as stud wideout Michael Thomas has commanded an impressive 28 targets on 80 Brees pass attempts. Thomas has enjoyed facing the Falcons in his career, averaging 7.75 receptions, 102.5 yards, and scoring in three of his four career games against Atlanta. He sets up as the top wide receiver play on the main slate.
Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins and WR Adam Thielen vs. Buffalo
Cousins has certainly enjoyed his early days as the Vikings' starting quarterback. Throwing to one of the most talented wide receiver duos in the league in Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen certainly has to help make him feel comfortable in purple. Cousins draws a great Week 3 matchup against a Buffalo team that is among the worst in the league. The Bills pass defense ranks dead last in the league in DVOA through the first two games of the season and the Vikings rank fifth in passing yardage.
It isn't a bad idea to stack Cousins with both Diggs and Thielen in Week 3, as the duo has combined to draw 44 of Cousins' 84 pass attempts. With the targets so concentrated in Minnesota, there is plenty to go around for both receivers. That being said, it will be rather expensive to roster the trio. Go ahead and do so if you feel comfortable with the other pieces around them. If not, and you choose to only go with one, Thielen is the man to target in Week 3. He figures to run the majority of his routes against Buffalo slot corner Rafael Bush, whose play over the past two seasons has earned him just a 55.9 grade from Pro Football Focus. Thielen doesn't possess the touchdown upside of Diggs, but he has gone over 100 receiving yards in both of his games this season. That makes him an extra fine play on DraftKings where you get a three-point bonus for 100-yard games.
Moderately-Priced Week 3 DFS Stacks
Indianapolis QB Andrew Luck and WR T.Y. Hilton @ Philadelphia
Luck didn't turn in a huge game in Week 2, but his team's easy win over Washington only required him to throw the ball 31 times. The veteran quarterback comes into Week 3 as one of the better value-priced quarterbacks on DraftKings, where he's only $5,600. The Eagles are fresh off of allowing Ryan Fitzpatrick to roast them for 402 yards and four scores in Week 2. With Philadelphia getting Carson Wentz back, this game is a darkhorse candidate to develop into a shootout.
No one in football is happier to have Andrew Luck back at quarterback more than T.Y. Hilton. After mostly struggling in 2017, Hilton is off to a fast start in 2018 with 12 catches for 129 yards and two scores while drawing 11 targets in each of his contests. He draws a great matchup in Week 3 as the Eagles have been shredded by opposing No. 1 wide receivers dating back to 2017. Philly allowed Mike Evans to post 10 catches for 83 yards and a score in Week 2 and Julio Jones hung a 10/169/0 line on them in Week 1. Hilton is normally a much better play at home but the Eagles' struggles against opposing No. 1 receivers is a matchup worth exploiting despite the road game.
Philadelphia QB Carson Wentz and WR Nelson Agholor vs. Indianapolis
Wentz is expected to make his season debut after the Eagles brought him along slowly following his ACL injury toward the end of 2017. While in cash games it would be preferable to wait a week and see how Wentz looks, he's worth using right away in GPP contests. Wentz is one of the signature quarterbacks in the NFL and he showed in 2017 that he has week-winning upside with both his arm and his legs. The main question here is just how much running will Wentz do following his knee injury. That being said, the Colts secondary provides an excellent opponent to shake off the rust against as they have annually been one of the worst units in the league.
Alshon Jeffery continues to practice on a limited basis but he has next to no chance to play in Week 3. Provided that does indeed end up being the case, Nelson Agholor can be locked in for another double-digit target game while going up against a burnable Indy secondary. As mentioned above in the Luck/Hilton section, this game has sneaky shootout potential.
San Francisco QB Jimmy Garoppolo and WR Marquise Goodwin/Pierre Garcon @ Kansas City
While many will flock toward the Kansas City players in this tilt, don't let Jimmy G and friends go overlooked. As good as the Chiefs' offense has been this season, their defense has been equally as bad through the first two weeks. Garoppolo will go up against a Kansas City pass defense that is allowing the most fantasy points per game to the quarterback position and ranks 29th in pass defense DVOA.
Garoppolo is a strong option in all DFS contests this weekend. His stacking partner, however, will depend on a few variables. It appears that Marquise Goodwin, who was Garoppolo's favorite preseason target, will be able to play this weekend after getting in a limited practice on Wednesday. If Goodwin plays, he instantly becomes my favorite stacking partner with Garoppolo, especially in GPPs. If Goodwin doesn't play or there are reports he will be limited in the game, Pierre Garcon becomes a solid option, especially in cash games. Furthermore, don't overlook second-year tight end George Kittle, who has played on just under 78% of his team's offensive snaps this season and has drawn 13 targets. The Chiefs just allowed the unathletic Jesse James to rack up 138 yards and a touchdown in Week 2.
Bargain-Priced Week 3 DFS Stacks
Carolina QB Cam Newton and WR Devin Funchess vs. Cincinnati
Newton checks in as one of the top quarterback values on the slate, especially on DraftKings, where he's priced as the QB8. The veteran quarterback draws a neutral matchup against a Bengals defense that has been decent to begin the season. That being said, Newton should always be a GPP consideration based on his rushing upside alone. Newton has already logged 18 rushing attempts for 100 yards and a score this season.
With Greg Olsen injured, the 6'4" Funchess is elevated to the top option in the red zone for the Panthers going forward. He doesn't have a great matchup against a solid Bengals secondary, but he should be the team's first option when they choose to pass near the goal line. He's also coming off a productive Week 2 which saw him haul in seven of his nine targets for 77 yards.
Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles and WR Keelan Cole vs. Tennessee
Bortles went off for 377 yards and four touchdowns in Week 2 against the Patriots. The veteran quarterback has also been providing sneaky rushing production since last season. Bortles has rushed 10 times for 77 yards in his two games this season and has reached at least 27 rushing yards six times since Week 10 of the 2017 season. The Titans pass defense ranks 25th in DVOA through their first two games.
Cole shook off a slow Week 1 performance to shred the Patriots for seven catches, 116 yards, and a score in Week 2. While the Jaguars tend to spread the ball around, Cole stands out as the receiver to roster in fantasy going forward. As mentioned above, the Titans pass defense ranks 25th in DVOA this season and that number drops to 29th in the league against opposing No. 1 wideouts.
"YOLO" Contrarian Stack
Washington QB Alex Smith and WR Josh Doctson vs. Green Bay
Smith was a huge letdown in Week 2 in what appeared to be a prime spot against the Colts. That should serve to keep his ownership levels down in Week 3 when he takes on a middling Packers pass defense. Green Bay is allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing QBs this season.
Consider pairing Smith with wideout Josh Doctson as a low-owned stack. Doctson hasn't done much this season, catching just five passes for 48 scoreless yards. That being said, he did see a promising seven targets from Smith in Week 2. He remains one of Washington's top red zone threats and he draws a great cornerback matchup against Green Bay right corner Kevin King. King has just a 49.2 grade from PFF over the past two seasons.
