This article first appeared on RotoBaller.com
[sc name=”Author Andrew C Lovell”]
How is it Week 4 already? By this coming Tuesday, the NFL season will officially be one quarter of the way through the regular season. That’s … a bummer. Fortunately, we’ve still got 14 more weeks of regular-season DFS to keep us busy.
The goal of this weekly column is to help find the most profitable DFS 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 DFS stacks for Week 4, loosely sorted by salary.
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High-Priced Week 4 DFS Stacks
New England QB Tom Brady and WR Brandin Cooks vs. Carolina
That’s more like it. Cooks finally had a major breakout performance in his third game as a Patriot, totaling 131 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions against Houston in Week 3. Cooks’ overall volume has dipped since arriving from New Orleans; he hasn’t seen more than seven targets yet with New England.
The Panthers struggled to contain Cooks’ former team last Sunday, and were particularly vexed by Michael Thomas (87 yards, one TD). Look for Cooks to stay hot this Sunday. And for Brady? Well, he’s Brady. You can always justify starting him.
Atlanta QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones vs. Buffalo
The Bills haven’t allowed more than 16 points in a game this season, but few teams are scarier on their home turf than the Falcons. Ryan, the NFL’s reigning MVP, sports a 4:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio, which is far below his lofty standards.
Ryan is due for a breakout game at some point, and that game will likely involve a touchdown or two to Jones. The Falcons’ standout receiver has seen his receptions and targets increase in each of Atlanta’s three games, but he’s still seeking his first touchdown. It could come this weekend.
Dallas QB Dak Prescott and WR Dez Bryant vs. Los Angeles Rams
The perception out there is the Rams’ have an elite defense. The reality is it just surrendered 332 yards and three total touchdowns to Brian Hoyer. Sure, the San Francisco 49ers were in comeback mode, but that’s a lot of production for below-average journeyman.
Prescott had a brilliant game Monday night, accounting for three total TDs against Arizona. Bryant garnered only two targets, though one resulted in a highlight-reel touchdown. Expect Bryant to find himself much busier at home against Los Angeles.
Moderately-Priced Week 4 DFS Stacks
Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green at Cleveland
Dalton is always a risky play, albeit one with high upside. Green, despite Dalton’s struggles, is one of the safest plays in DFS. The six-time Pro Bowler has at least five receptions and 65 yards in each of his three games. That includes a breakout 111-yard performance in Week 3 against Green Bay.
Green also has a history of dominating the Browns. In his only matchup against Cleveland last season, he finished with 169 yards and a touchdown. Dalton and Green represent a nice mid-tier, high-upside stack.
Carolina QB Cam Newton and RB Christian McCaffrey at New England
It’s been a rough start to the season for Newton, but it’s been an even rougher start for the Patriots’ pass defense. Newton has just two touchdown passes against four interceptions through three games, but the Patriots rank last in the NFL in passing touchdowns allowed (eight) and passing yards allowed per game (331).
Expect Newton to air it out to keep pace with Brady’s offense, and expect McCaffrey to be heavily involved. The former Stanford star had nine catches for 101 yards last Sunday, so a repeat performance is certainly possible.
Arizona QB Carson Palmer and WR Larry Fitzgerald vs. San Francisco
The Fountain of Youth must be located somewhere in Arizona. Fitzgerald, now 34, turned in one of his best performances in recent memory with a 13-catch, 149-yard performance Monday night against Dallas. He should be able to keep that momentum rolling against the 49ers.
San Francisco was just torched by Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods, two far less accomplished receivers with a less explosive offense. Best of all, Fitzgerald’s DFS price didn’t skyrocket. This is a solid stack.
Bargain-Priced Week 4 DFS Stacks
Denver QB Trevor Siemian and WR Demaryius Thomas vs. Oakland
Siemian was the toast of Colorado over the first two weeks of the season, but some of that shine disappeared with a mediocre showing on the road in Buffalo. Siemian returns to the Mile High City this weekend against a beatable defense.
The Raiders are allowing 252 passing yards per game, which ranks 23rd in the NFL. Look for Siemian to find the end zone at least twice, with Thomas being a good bet to score his first touchdown of the season.
Buffalo QB Tyrod Taylor and TE Charles Clay at Atlanta
Clay is typically a touchdown-dependent option, as are most mid- to low-tier tight ends. But on the road against the high-powered Falcons, the Bills will likely need to air it out to keep pace. That bodes well for Clay.
Clay has scored in two of Buffalo’s three games, and he’s a good bet for a busy fantasy day. This is a cheap stack that actually carries some nice upside.
Minnesota QB Case Keenum and WR Adam Thielen vs. Detroit
Stefon Diggs might be the highlight-reel wideout, but Thielen is the steadier of this now-potent duo. Thielen has at least five receptions in all three games this season, but he’s yet to find the end zone (Diggs, on the other hand, has four TDs).
While the rest of the DFS world turns to the similarly-priced Diggs, it makes sense to pivot and roll with Thielen in a nice home matchup with the Lions. He could register 100-plus yards and a touchdown.
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