In this weekly article, we will provide you with some popular "chalk" stacks and some "under the radar" stacks to use in your DraftKings GPP tournaments. (GPPs)
Chalk Stacks
Arizona Cardinals vs. Baltimore Ravens, Team Total 27.75 points
QB Carson Palmer $6,700-WR Larry Fitzgerald $7,400 Total Stack $14,100 (28.2% of salary)
QB Carson Palmer $6,700-WR John Brown $5,500 Total Stack $12,200 (24.4% of salary)
Arizona is a 7.5 point home favorite vs. Baltimore. The game total is set at 48 points. Carson Palmer has been lights out at home this season passing for over 300 yards in each of his three home games. His DraftKings salary has remained under-priced as compared to the other top-tier QB options. Palmer has scored a minimum of 18.34 DraftKings points in every game this season. His high floor/high ceiling combination makes him a great cash and GPP option. Larry Fitzgerald has been a consistent WR option this season with at least 5 receptions in every game. Most will look to stack Palmer with Fitzgerald but John Brown is also a good option for an Arizona stack. Using Brown saves you $1,900 and provides you with a similar ceiling for GPPs.
San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders, Team Total 25.25 points
QB Philip Rivers $6,500-WR Keenan Allen $7,700 Total Stack $14,200 (28.4% of salary)
QB Philip Rivers $6,500-TE Antonio Gates $5,000 Total Stack $11,500 (23% of salary)
San Diego is a 4 point home favorite vs. Oakland. The game total is set at 46.5 points. Philip Rivers leads the NFL's top ranked passing offense in this game. Rivers has been great at home this season with at least 358 passing yards and 2 touchdowns in each of his three home games. The question is whether there will be any changes with his receiving options. Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates did not practice earlier in the week. Oakland's struggles vs. the tight end position have been well documented this season. Through the first four weeks, Oakland has allowed at least 1 TD/per game to opponents tight ends. If Gates is inactive, Ladarius Green becomes a solid value play with a DraftKings salary of only $2,900. Make sure you monitor San Diego's injuries prior to Sunday and whether they influence the Vegas line.
St. Louis Rams vs. Cleveland Browns, Team Total 23.5 points
RB Todd Gurley $5,000-DEF Rams Defense $2,400 Total Stack $7,400 (14.8% of salary)
The Rams are a rare 5.5 point home favorite vs. Cleveland. The game total is set at 41.5 points. All signs are pointing to a favorable game script for a correlation play with Gurley and the Rams defense. Gurley has assumed the workhorse RB role in this offense with at least 21 touches and 146 rushing yards in each of the Rams past two games. Through six weeks, Cleveland has the league's worst rush defense allowing 149.8 yards/per game. Gurley is severely under-priced at $5,000 which makes him a must play in your cash games. He will be very popular but is a risky GPP fade based on the home matchup. The Rams defense is also a bargain basement price facing a Browns offense with the lowest projected team total of the week at 18 points. If you are entering multiple DraftKings GPP contests, make sure you have some shares of Gurley/Rams defense.
Under the Radar Stacks
Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints, Team Total 28.5 points
QB Andrew Luck $7,600-WR Donte Moncrief $5,200 Total Stack $12,800 (25.6% of salary)
QB Andrew Luck $7,600-WR T.Y. Hilton $6,500 Total Stack $14,100 (28.2% of salary)
Indianapolis is a 5 point home favorite vs. New Orleans. The game total is the highest of the week at 52 points. Vegas expects this game to be a shoot-out and I agree. Luck's ownership percentage should remain low because he has the second-highest DraftKings QB salary this week. Many will prefer to spend down at QB on attractive options such as Carson Palmer who is $900 cheaper or Philip Rivers who is $1,100 less. Luck bounced back last week with 312 passing yards and three touchdowns vs. New England. Moncrief will have a higher ownership percentage as compared to Hilton this week due to his $1,300 discount. Both wide receivers have multi-touchdown upside in this matchup.
New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts, Team Total 23.5 points
QB Drew Brees $7,000-WR Willie Snead $4,300 Total Stack $11,300 (22.6% of salary)
QB Drew Brees $7,000-TE Ben Watson $3,300 Total Stack $10,300 (20.6% of salary)
On the other side of this game, New Orleans is a 5 point road underdog at Indianapolis. Similar to Luck, Brees ownership percentage should remain low with cheaper QB options available. Indianapolis has allowed the fourth most passing yards, 1,735, in the league this season. Willie Snead has emerged as a consistent option in the passing game with at least 4 receptions/per game over the past five weeks. Snead is still under-priced with a DraftKings price of $4,300. While Snead will be popular this Sunday, most will not stack him with Brees. Another New Orleans stack option is Ben Watson who broke out last week vs. Atlanta with 10 receptions for 127 yards and 1 touchdown.
Carolina Panthers vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Team Total 25.25 points
QB Cam Newton $6,600-TE Greg Olsen $6,100 Total Stack $12,700 (25.4% of salary)
QB Cam Newton $6,600-WR Ted Ginn Jr Jr. $3,300 Total Stack $9,900 (19.8% of salary)
Carolina is a 4 point home favorite vs. Philadelphia. The game total is set at 46.5 points, which is the highest in a Carolina game this season. Cam Newton is healthy and back to his running ways this season with 225 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns through five games. Olsen reminded us last week while he is still the top receiving option in Carolina when he posted 7 receptions for 131 yards and 1 touchdown in Seattle. Don't sleep on Ted Ginn Jr Jr. this week. His DraftKings price of $3,300 is too cheap based on the matchup with the Philadelphia secondary.
