Finding the best game environments and stacking them up is the most essential thing in NFL DFS tournaments. There is a correlative nature to accruing fantasy points, and finding those optimal correlations is our number one goal. Let’s look at some of the best game environments and stacks we have for week three.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs – O/U 54.5 | Chiefs -6.5
There’s nothing not to love about this one, and the great thing is that we have dynamic quarterbacks on both sides at different price points that we can stack up. I will have primary stacks featuring both quarterbacks from this game and secondary stacks in other lineups.
Not only do we have the third-highest total on the slate, but this game has shootout written all over it despite the somewhat substantial spread. We’ve got two of the worst defenses in the league, for one. The Chargers rank eighth in the league in pace. Both are pass-happy offenses.
The Chargers side might even be more appealing considering that Justin Herbert and his pass-catchers make for a cheaper stack. They should be playing from behind and looking to push the pace and move the ball downfield.
Still, we saw in week one that despite how expensive Mahomes and his key-pass catchers are, Mahomes double-stacks with both Hill and Kelce can find their way into winning lineups. With the right value pieces around them, they can still be optimal if they go nuclear.
There are many viable ways you can stack this game up. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are highly playable pieces on the KC side. We have Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler, and Jared Cook on LAC if you want to fill a tight end spot. You could dip down to a Mecole Hardman or Jalen Guyton if getting frisky.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Los Angeles Rams – O/U 55.5 | Buccaneers -1
This one appears set for absolute fireworks. It will be interesting to see a matchup between the Rams and the Buccs with Brady facing Stafford at the helm for the Rams in favor of the less dynamic Jared Goff of last season.
It is clear that the Buccaneers have a decidedly pass-focused offense, and they don’t seem to be gaining much trust in their running backs as the season goes on. Brady leads the league in touchdown passes thus far this season with nine. He does, however, face off against a strong Rams defense. Still, that is nothing Brady can’t overcome, as he’s shown time and time again.
Brady is a little easier to stack now with Antonio Brown temporarily out of the fold with Covid. We can essentially boil his targets down to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and the newly revitalized Rob Gronkowski. With the tight spread, there’s no reason to expect anything but a pass-centric attack despite the Buccaneers being slight favorites.
The Buccaneers’ defense is tough to run on and is known as the most profound pass-funnel in the NFL. The Rams may even be without starting running back Darrell Henderson Jr., and they don’t seem comfortable with backup Sony Michel at this point in the season. We should expect a heavy air-based attack on both sides of the ball. It is easy to break down Stafford’s target tree as well with Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Tyler Higbee set to handle the bulk of the passing action. You could mess around with the savings of Van Jefferson Jr. on the Rams’ side or Scotty Miller for the Bucs as WR3s if you wanted to get off the beaten path, but this would not be a safe option. Miller does have additional appeal since he is priced for being a fringe WR4 but should get more looks with Brown out.
It is tough to play either Ronald Jones Jr. or Leonard Fournette, given the nature of the Bucs offense and unpredictable backfield split. While the Bucs run defense is generally to be avoided, Sony Michel could be a great value if Henderson were to miss for the Rams. It would most likely thrust him into an RB1 role in his stead. The lack of much viability in the running game makes this an even more accessible affair to attack. We can feel pretty confident that the fantasy points will be scored through the air on both sides.
Seattle Seahawks @ Minnesota Vikings – O/U 55 | Seahawks -1.5
Last but not least, we have Seattle at Minnesota, featuring the second-highest total on the slate and a close spread that should denote a shootout. Just like early last year, Russ has been cooking in Seattle, and it seems like one of Tyler Lockett/DK Metcalf will be putting up a slate-winning performance every week. I will undoubtedly have lineups featuring Russell Wilson to Lockett and Wilson to Metcalf and perhaps sprinkle in a cheap Gerald Everett at TE for double-stacks. You have ample run-back options on the Vikings with three viable receivers in Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson, and upstart K.J. Osborn. You can also fill a running back slot with Dalvin Cook, one of the best RB plays on the slate if he is healthy. Currently questionable, if Cook were to miss, Alexander Mattison would be in play.
I’m less prone to full-stack the other side because of the lack of ceiling offered by the immobile Kirk Cousins. Still, he does come with a discount over Russ and could well exceed his price tag in a perfect storm situation. Since if he gets it done, it’s going to be through the air, I’d be more prone to double-stack him with two receivers. A benefit is that K.J. Osborn is cheap, making a Cousins/Thielen/Osborn or Cousins/Jefferson/Osborn stack quite affordable. You can then run it back with one of Metcalf or Lockett or Chris Carson at running back. If you really wanted a cheaper game stack, you could even bring it back with Gerald Everett to fill your tight end spot, enabling you to pay up in the rest of your lineup.
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