RADIO
Stacking, or pairing a quarterback with a pass catcher from the same team, is one of the most popular strategies when building a lineup for daily fantasy. This is especially true for GPP (guaranteed prize pool) tournaments, where you're trying to maximize your points across the roster.
We typically highlight this strategy each week in the winning Millionaire Maker content, so why stop now as the regular season approaches its conclusion? Draftkings user "cflanders002" paired Carolina quarterback Cam Newton with top wideout Ted Ginn Jr. in this week's contest. Those two combined for a whopping 75.1 of their lineup's 272.80 points.
Always keep in mind that stacking has risks, but the potential payoff makes it worth it. These are some of the top stacks to consider for Week 16, sorted roughly from most expensive to least expensive.
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High-Priced DFS Stacks
Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown at Baltimore
Big Ben and Brown are the most dangerous offensive duo in the NFL and have firmly cemented their matchup-proof status. In case you needed more evidence, the Steelers' comeback win over Denver should have provided it. Roethlisberger passed for 380 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Brown, who totaled 189 yards on 16 receptions. The numbers are just silly, and that was against the top-ranked pass defense.
This week, the Steelers draw the division rival Ravens, who have allowed 28 passing touchdowns against just four interceptions. The ownership percentages will be high and the threat of a blowout is real, but Roethlisberger and Brown simply cannot be ignored.
Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles and WR Allen Robinson at New Orleans
What's not to like here? Bortles and Robinson have been fantasy stalwarts all season long, and now they draw a road matchup with the Saints' league-worst pass defense? Sign us up. Matthew Stafford just had no trouble moving the ball up and down the field in the Superdome, so Bortles should find similar success.
New Orleans has allowed a staggering 39 passing touchdowns this season, eight more than any other team. Robinson, meanwhile, is tied for the league lead with 13 receiving touchdowns and has found the end zone six times in the last four games. Sometimes, the obvious plays are the right ones.
Seattle QB Russell Wilson and WR Doug Baldwin vs. St. Louis
Speaking of obvious plays, Wilson and Baldwin have become one of the safest stacks in recent memory. The two have combined for an absurd 10 touchdowns over the last four games, and with a home game against the Rams coming up, there's little reason to think the hot streak couldn't continue.
Wilson sports a 15-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio in home games this season and should be able to move the ball against a Rams defense that just gave up 363 yards to Jameis Winston. Baldwin has the most upside as a wide receiver pairing because of his knack for scoring touchdowns, but Tyler Lockett and Jermaine Kearse are also solid plays. All three have had value in December.
Moderate DFS Stacks
New York Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and WR Brandon Marshall vs. New England
There's a lot to like about this stack. First, the Jets are in must-win mode as they fight for a playoff spot. Second, Fitzpatrick had a nice outing when these teams met back in Week 7 (295 yards, two TDs). And third, Marshall is coming off a down game (by his standards) after finishing with four catches for 74 yards against Dallas. That also snapped a streak of six straight games with a touchdown for Marshall.
Neither secondary should present a major challenge in this game, which could evolve into a shootout. If that's the case, expect Marshall to reach his season averages of six catches and 80-plus yards, with upside for much more.
Tampa Bay QB Jameis Winston and WR Mike Evans vs. Chicago
Winston and Evans did most of their damage in the second half while staging a furious comeback attempt against the Rams last week. Still, any receiver drawing 17 targets is someone that should register on the DFS radar. Evans finished with 157 yards on nine receptions while Winston passed for a career-best 363 yards.
The Bears' defense was just shredded by Teddy Bridgewater, one of the least potent statistical quarterbacks in the league. That bodes well for Tampa Bay, despite Chicago's No. 3 overall ranking in pass defense (216 yards allowed per game). Winston and Evans could be a lower-owned stack that pays off.
Detroit QB Matthew Stafford and WR Golden Tate vs. San Francisco
If you prefer stability and a relatively safe floor, look elsewhere. Stafford is truly a wild card when it comes to fantasy production, but when he's locked in, few can put up the points like he can. The 49ers feature one of the league's worst pass defenses (262 yards allowed per game) and he has played better at home than on the road this season.
Calvin Johnson, normally Stafford's top target, has had back-to-back games of just a single reception. Meanwhile, Tate has exploded, collecting at least six passes with five total touchdowns over the last five games. Riding the hot hand with Tate would seem to be the prudent move.
Bargin DFS Stacks
Minnesota QB Teddy Bridgewater and WR Stefon Diggs vs. New York Giants
The Vikings' on-field success has not been a result of Bridgewater's evolution into a stat-stuffing passer, but you wouldn't be able to tell that this past weekend. Bridgewater torched Chicago for 231 yards and five total touchdowns. Can he replicate that against New York? Perhaps not, but another solid game is absolutely within reach.
The Giants are allowing a league-worst 308 passing yards per game and only five teams have allowed more than the 28 passing touchdowns they've surrendered. Diggs has been quiet in recent weeks after a strong mid-season showing, but he did score a pair of touchdowns against the Bears. The Giants have also struggled defending tight ends this season, so Kyle Rudolph (insert Christmas-themed joke here) could be a sneaky pairing.
Houston QB Brandon Weeden and WR DeAndre Hopkins at Tennessee
Weeden came in for an injured T.J. Yates in Sunday's win over Indianapolis and, interestingly enough, didn't look terrible in the process. He finished with 105 yards and a touchdown. While Yates is out for the season with a torn ACL, starter Brian Hoyer remains a question mark because of a concussion. Double check his status before Sunday's kickoff, but either Weeden or Hoyer would make for a dart-throw pairing with Hopkins.
Hopkins finished with eight catches for 94 yards against the Colts, one week after a three-catch dud against New England. Hopkins has gone two weeks without a touchdown and four weeks without a 100-yard game. He's simply too talented and too involved in Houston's offense for that continue, especially against a Titans defense that's allowed 30 passing touchdowns this season (29th in NFL).
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