Every Friday, this article provides several FanDuel stacks. Most of these positively correlated combinations are best suited for tournament play. But some of the safer duos with high floors can be used in cash games. We'll discuss highly-owned stacks with some twists to make them more unique. We'll also unearth less common stacks for top-heavy contests and create strong lineup anchors with defensive stacks.
Highly-Owned Stacks
Philip Rivers ($8,500) + Keenan Allen ($8,000) = $16,500
The Chargers are three point underdogs at Baltimore in the sportsbooks' only 50+ point game on the main slate. Philip Rivers is averaging more than 350 yards and two touchdowns per game. Keenan Allen has the third-most targets and receiving yards in the league. This will likely be the highest-owned stack of the week.
Twist: You won't gain much differentiation using Ladarius Green ($5,300) instead of Allen, but it buys you an extra $2,700. It seems likely that Antonio Gates' knee injury will keep him out this week.
Cam Newton ($8,000) + Greg Olsen ($6,400) = $14,400
I know I've touted this one before, but it's hard to ignore a pair of players who will be top-three owned at their positions. Only the Falcons are projected to score more points than Carolina on the main slate this week. The Panthers host the struggling Colts and are favored by a touchdown.
Twist: I like using Olsen more in a Carolina stack, but Ted Ginn Jr Jr. ($5,300) is the classic high-risk, high-reward option you can use in a top-heavy prize structure. If the difference in price were greater between Ginn and Corey "Philly" Brown ($4,700), I'd even consider using Brown to infuse some serious differentiation into my lineup.
Andy Dalton ($8,100) + Tyler Eifert ($6,000) = $14,100
The Bengals are one point underdogs in Pittsburgh. Cincinnati was favored earlier in the week, but the return of Ben Roethlisberger breathes life into the entire Steelers offense and gives this game shootout potential. Both Dalton and Eifert will be top-three owned at their positions. The Steelers have given up six touchdowns and five fifty-yard games to tight ends this season.
Twist: A.J. Green ($8,200) won't be as highly owned as Eifert, but he'll still form a fairly common Bengals stack. The price is steep, but Dalton-to-Green packs a ton of upside.
Less Common Stacks
Ben Roethlisberger ($8,200) + Antonio Brown ($8,400) = $16,600
On the other side of that high-scoring AFC North tilt, Ben Roethlisberger was only two percent owned in Thursday's contests. That number is sure to rise as at becomes more clear that he's ready to start this weekend, but some people may be nervy about his first week back. Roethlisberger's return should be exactly what Antonio Brown needs to get his fantasy season back on track. Buy into this stack at its lowest price of the year.
Twist: Martavis Bryant ($7,200) offers the more boom or bust option. In smaller GPPs, I prefer the stability of Brown. In top-heavy prize structures, Bryant is your guy.
Jameis Winston ($6,600) + Austin Seferian-Jenkins ($5,200) = $11,800
The Buccaneers are touchdown underdogs at Atlanta in one of the highest scoring games of the week. With Vincent Jackson unlikely to play and Louis Murphy out for the year, Tampa Bay's pass-catching depth is thin. If Seferian-Jenkins can return from his shoulder injury this week, he'll be one of the primary targets in Winston's comeback efforts.
Twist: More people will roster Mike Evans ($7,800) after his big game last week, and he has a good shot to have a strong performance again this week. If Seferian-Jenkins can't suit up, Evans will be a target hog and should be in your lineups.
Defensive Stacks
St. Louis Rams ($5,100) + Todd Gurley ($8,100) = $13,200
Both the Rams defense and their starting running back will be highly owned this week. Hosting the woeful Niners could make both choices the top fantasy scorers at their positions this week. I don't usually stack in cash games, but I feel confident enough in this duo to pair them in all types of contests.
Seattle Seahawks ($5,200) + Marshawn Lynch ($8,300) = $13,500
This stack isn't the slam dunk it once was, especially on the road. But even with Dez Bryant likely to return, Vegas has Dallas scoring the second fewest points of the week. Mistake-prone Matt Cassel will help the Seahawks beat the 5.5 point spread and set up good field position for Marshawn Lynch to do his damage.
Austin Lee hates scary movies, loves board games, and once won one of the largest scavenger hunts in the world. For more of his DFS insights, watch The Footballguys Daily Fantasy Hour presented by Rotogrinders on Wednesdays at 9:30pm ET or listen to The Audible's FanDuel podcast on Friday mornings. Also check out his Normalized Strength of Schedule tool or hit him up for advice on Twitter.