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
New England Patriots at New York Giants, Team Total 31.25 points
QB Tom Brady $8,600-WR Julian Edelman $8,200 Total Stack $16,800 (33.6% of salary)
QB Tom Brady $8,600-TE Rob Gronkowski $8,000 Total Stack $16,600 (33.2% of salary)
The New England Patriots are a 7.5 point road favorite at the New York Giants. Vegas has this game with the highest total of the week at 55 points. The Giants defense comes into this game allowing the most passing yards (2,770) in the league this season. They are allowing 307.8/passing yards/per game. That is not good when Tom Brady is on the other side of the field. The Dion Lewis injury may lead to the Patriots passing more to their wide receivers. Julian Edelman is the fourth highest priced WR this week on DraftKings and has multiple-touchdown upside. Twice this season he has scored 2 touchdowns in a game. Rob Gronkowski is the highest priced TE on DraftKings. Value does exist at other positions if you are looking to play a Patriots stack this weekend.
Washington Redskins vs. New Orleans Saints, Team Total 24.75 points
QB Kirk Cousins $5,200-TE Jordan Reed $4,600 Total Stack $9,800 (19.6% of salary)
QB Kirk Cousins $5,200-WR DeSean Jackson $5,400 Total Stack $10,600 (21.2% of salary)
The Washington Redskins are a 1 point home underdog to the New Orleans Saints. Vegas has this game at a very high 50.5 total points. The Saints defense has been historically bad this season. They have allowed a league leading 24 passing touchdowns and are on pace to allow the highest opponents' passer rating of all time (112.0) according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Kirk Cousins is near minimum salary this week on DraftKings. He will be very highly owned in GPP tournaments and cash games for good reason. Jordan Reed will be the chalk option to stack with Cousins. If you are looking to differentiate your Washington stack, DeSean Jackson is a great GPP option. Many will be off him due to his recent injury and poor performance vs. the Patriots. He has the potential for a huge stat-line at a low ownership percentage.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans, Team Total 28.75 points
QB Andy Dalton $6,500-TE Tyler Eifert $5,800 Total Stack $12,300 (24.6% of salary)
QB Andy Dalton $6,500-WR A.J. Green $7,600 Total Stack $14,100 (28.2% of salary)
The Cincinnati Bengals are 10.5 point home favorite vs. the Houston Texans. Vegas has the game total set at 47 points. Many will be chasing the three touchdown performance from Tyler Eifert last week. Eifert has been a great GPP target this season with three multiple-touchdown games. The game script this week will be run-heavy for the Bengals. Houston has allowed the sixth most rushing yards/per game (123.5) this season. Devonta Freeman and Lamar Miller had huge games vs. the Texans defense earlier this season. I recommend fading the Bengals passing attack and letting others chase the Eifert points in this match-up
Under the Radar Stacks
Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens, Team Total 21.25 points
QB Blake Bortles $5,600-WR Allen Robinson $6,700 Total Stack $12,300 (24.6% of salary)
QB Blake Bortles $5,600-TE Julius Thomas $3,700 Total Stack $9,300 (18.6% of salary)
The Jacksonville Jaguars are 5.5 point road underdogs at the Baltimore Ravens. Vegas has the game total set at a high 48 points. The Ravens defense is fourth worst this season allowing 283.9/passing yards/per game. Allen Hurns suffered a foot sprain in Week 9 and is listed as questionable on the injury report. If Hurns is inactive, a Blake Bortles-Allen Robinson stack will have a much higher ownership percentage. Robinson has scored over 20 DraftKings points in five games this season. Target a Bortles/Robinson stack in your DraftKings GPP tournaments regardless whether Hurns is active or not. Julius Thomas is strictly a differentiation play.
New York Giants vs. New England Patriots, Team Total 23.75 points
QB Eli Manning $6,700-WR Odell Beckham Jr $8,800 Total Stack $15,500 (31% of salary)
QB Eli Manning $6,700-RB Shane Vereen $4,300 Total Stack $11,000 (22% of salary)
The New York Giants are 7.5 point home underdogs vs. the New England Patriots. Vegas has this game with the highest total of the week at 55 points. The game script favors the Patriots building an early lead. This will force the Giants to pass to keep up with the Patriots scoring. Odell Beckham Jr saw a quiet 17 targets last week as compared to Antonio Brown's 23 targets. For the Giants to keep the game close, Beckham will need to be a major factor in the passing game. If the Patriots are able to contain Beckham, Eli Manning will be forced to look to his secondary options. Shane Vereen has scored a touchdown in each of the past two games. He will be a reliable check-down option for Manning in this match-up.
Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions, Team Total 29.75 points
QB Aaron Rodgers $7,500-WR Randall Cobb $6,700 Total Stack $14,200 (28.4% of salary)
QB Aaron Rodgers $7,500-WR Davante Adams $4,200 Total Stack $11,700 (23.4% of salary)
The Green Bay Packers are a 11.5 point home favorite vs. the Detroit Lions. The total is set at a high 48 points. The Packers return home after two difficult road match-ups vs. the Broncos and Panthers. The Lions have allowed the most points/per game (30.6) this season. Aaron Rodgers bounced back last week with 369 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. Expect more of the same this Sunday vs. Detroit. Rodgers is the second highest priced quarterback on DraftKings. If players are paying up at the QB position, I expect them to go all the way up to Tom Brady or Drew Brees for $100 less. Getting Rodgers at home with a low ownership percentage is a winning GPP play. Randall Cobb saw 12 targets last week and is the popular option to stack with Rodgers. A solid alternative stack is a Green Bay stack with Davante Adams. He looks to be over his ankle injury as he assumed 11 targets last week.
