Tom Brady returned from his Deflategate suspension last weekend, and no one was happier about it than his top two tight ends. Rob Gronkowski finished with five receptions for 109 yards, but Martellus Bennett shined even brighter -- six catches, 67 yards, three touchdowns. Daily fantasy players that stacked Brady and Bennett were probably pretty happy, too.
The goal of this weekly column is to help find the most profitable stacks, while avoiding the duds. Stacking, or pairing multiple players from the same NFL team, is an ideal way to maximize your point production, which is crucial in larger GPP (guaranteed prize pool) tournaments. Let's take a look at some of the top stacks for Week 6, loosely sorted by salary.
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High Priced Week 6 DFS Stacks
New Orleans QB Drew Brees and WR Brandin Cooks vs. Carolina
Brees has been fairly pedestrian on the road this season, but at home? Oh boy, has he been far from pedestrian. The future Hall of Famer is averaging just shy of 400 yards per game, along with seven touchdown passes, at the Superdome this season.
The Saints host the Panthers and their much-maligned pass defense this weekend, presenting a wonderful chance for Brees to get back on the same page with Cooks. The speedy Cooks has just been limited to just 44 total yards in his last two games. Expect a breakout game against Carolina.
Carolina QB Cam Newton and WR Kelvin Benjamin at New Orleans
Of course, the Saints won't be the only ones cashing in on the fantasy fun Sunday at the Superdome. The Panthers are 1-4, and in desperate need of a win to keep their quickly-dwindling playoff hopes alive.
Newton could return after a one-game absence due to a concussion, but if not, Derek Anderson would be fine GPP pairing with Benjamin. To be clear, tight end Greg Olsen is a solid play, but his ownership should be quite high. Benjamin's upside and likely-lower ownership make him more attractive.
Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown at Miami
Well, you knew these two would make an appearance, didn't you? One week after Big Ben passed for 380 yards and four touchdowns (78 yards and one touchdown, respectively, to Brown), the Steelers' stars find themselves in another solid matchup.
Opposing quarterbacks have had little difficulty moving the ball against the Dolphins this season, and that trend should continue. Brown's price tag is, quite frankly, astronomical ($10,000 on DraftKings), but that could help keep his ownership down. If you can afford him, go for it.
Moderately Priced Week 6 DFS Stacks
Arizona QB Carson Palmer and WR Larry Fitzgerald vs. New York Jets
While we're on the topic of defenses getting torched by opposing quarterbacks, allow us to present the 2016 Jets. New York currently ranks 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (303) and the 12 passing TDs allowed are tied for 28th. In other words, it's not good.
This is a perfect spot for Palmer, who is expected to return from a concussion for the Monday night matchup. John Brown, Michael Floyd and even David Johnson make for reasonable pairings with Palmer, but Fitzgerald is the best option.
Seattle QB Russell Wilson and WR Doug Baldwin vs. Atlanta
The early-season bye week came at a perfect time for Wilson, who is nursing ankle and knee injuries. He gets a tasty home matchup with the Falcons, who have been one of the most generous pass defenses this season (290 yards per game, NFL-worst 14 TDs).
Baldwin and tight end Jimmy Graham, who has turned in consecutive 100-yard games, make for solid stacks with Wilson, but a less obvious choice might be wide receiver Jermaine Kearse.
Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles and WR Allen Robinson at Chicago
We're still waiting for a breakout Bortles-to-Robinson game, but that wait might come to an end this weekend. Bortles has topped 300 yards in two of his four outings, but his seven-to-six touchdown-to-interception ratio leaves plenty to be desired.
Robinson has yet to top 75 yards in a game this season, but Chicago's defense is beatable, despite playing well of late. This game is a strong candidate to become a high-scoring shootout, so Bortles and Robinson could both turn in solid performances.
Bargain Week 6 DFS Stacks
Kansas City QB Alex Smith and WR Jeremy Maclin at Oakland
The Raiders might be 4-1, but their pass defense has still been dreadful this season. Oakland is allowing 331 yards per game through the air, which ranks last in the NFL. Their 12 touchdown passes allowed are tied for 28th with the Jets.
Kansas City will never be confused with a high-flying, pass-first offense, but even Smith can find some room to work with in this game. Tight end Travis Kelce is a solid stack, but Maclin is due for a breakout game. This is his best chance to date.
Tennessee QB Marcus Mariota and TE Delanie Walker vs. Cleveland
Mariota was locked in last weekend, passing for 163 yards and three touchdowns, while adding another 60 yards and a touchdown on the ground against Miami. That's the kind of performance he should be able to build off of and carry some momentum into Sunday's game against the Browns.
Walker is Mariota's favorite target, and the Browns are coming off a game in which they were absolutely torched by Patriots tight ends Bennett and Gronkowski. Walker should follow suit.