This article first appeared on RotoBaller.com
[sc name=”Author Andrew C Lovell”]
Today is Friday the 13th, but the New York Giants have been living a horror movie since early September. In addition to falling to 0-5, New York lost wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall to season-ending injuries this past weekend. It’s safe to say the Giants would take a mulligan on this season if they could. Fortunately, when it comes to daily fantasy, every week is a fresh start.
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 6, loosely sorted by salary.
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High-Priced Week 6 DFS Stacks
Atlanta QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones vs. Miami
Falcons fans and DFS players alike are still waiting for a true breakout game from last season’s NFL MVP. Ryan hasn’t topped 300 passing yards in a game since the season opener, and he’s thrown just five touchdowns against five interceptions. One of these weeks, that will change.
A home matchup against the Dolphins’ below-average pass defense seems like as good a time as any. With wide receiver Mohamed Sanu a major question mark due to a hamstring injury, Jones could see an increase in his already substantial workload.
New Orleans QB Drew Brees and WR Michael Thomas vs. Detroit
Let’s see: two of fantasy football’s elite players at quarterback and wide receiver at home against the 27th-ranked pass defense? Yes, sign us up please. Brees has only topped 300 yards once this season, but he’s tossed eight touchdowns without an interception.
Thomas has shown remarkable consistency of late, catching at least five passes for at least 85 yards in three straight games. More importantly, he’s found the end zone in his last two contests. He’s a good bet to make it three straight Sunday against the Lions.
Houston QB Deshaun Watson and WR DeAndre Hopkins vs. Cleveland
Over his last two games, Watson has 544 passing yards, 55 rushing yards, and 10 total touchdowns. He’s been nothing short of unstoppable, and now draws a juicy home matchup against the winless Browns. Expect the dominance to continue.
Hopkins has been the biggest beneficiary of Watson’s offensive explosion, totaling 14 catches for 159 yards and four TDs in Weeks 4 and 5. Do you really expect Cleveland and its 19th-ranked pass defense to slow him down? Neither do we.
Moderately-Priced Week 6 DFS Stacks
Arizona QB Carson Palmer and WR Larry Fitzgerald vs. Tampa Bay
The Cardinals are not a good football team. Their two wins this season have both come in overtime by a combined six points against the Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers. Yuck. That hasn’t prevented Palmer from quietly putting up solid fantasy numbers.
He’s topped 300 yards in three of his last four games, and has attempted at least 40 passes in three straight games. That volume alone makes him fantasy relevant, and that’s especially true against a Buccaneers defense ranked 31st ranked the pass.
Kansas City QB Alex Smith and WR Tyreek Hill vs. Pittsburgh
Raise your hand if you predicted Smith to break into the NFL MVP conversation this season. Now put it down; we know you’re lying. Smith, branded early in his career as a “game manager,” has been nothing short of brilliant this season. Entering Week 6, he ranks third in the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns, and first in QB rating.
The Steelers actually rank first in the league against the pass, but this presents an opportunity to go against the stats. If tight end Travis Kelce misses the game, Hill is the stack you want, but it’s not a terrible idea to pair Smith with running back Kareem Hunt either.
Washington QB Kirk Cousins and WR Terrelle Pryor vs. San Francisco
Oakland’s Amari Cooper certainly has to be the most disappointing fantasy receiver so far in 2017, but Pryor isn’t far behind. The former Ohio State star hasn’t made much noise in his debut season for Washington, but this matchup against the rebuilding 49ers could be a breakout opportunity.
Pryor caught a 44-yard touchdown in Week 4 against the Chiefs, so that bodes well moving forward. Cousins should have little trouble passing against a team that allows 250 yards per game through the air, so it’s worth a dice roll that Pryor is heavily involved.
Bargain-Priced Week 6 DFS Stacks
Minnesota QB Case Keenum and WR Adam Thielen vs. Green Bay
Keenum looked infinitely better this past Monday than the hobbled Sam Bradford, so Keenum had to start against the Packers. He should be able to move the ball against a team with a solid but unspectacular defense. The Vikings could (and probably will) find themselves trailing on the scoreboard, necessitating more throws.
With Stefon Diggs uncertain because of a groin injury, Thielen stands out as the top stacking option. Tight end Kyle Rudolph is also a viable option, but the underrated Thielen has more upside.
New York Jets QB Josh McCown and WR Jermaine Kearse vs. New England
No one will ever confuse McCown with Tom Brady, but let’s be real: the Patriots’ defense is paper-thin this season. New England ranks dead last in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (323) and passing touchdowns allowed (12).
Brady will have little trouble putting up points on the Jets’ defense, but the McCown-led Jets offense will be able to answer back. This has sneaky shootout potential. Kearse, who leads the Jets in catches, yards, and touchdowns, would stand be benefit from such an outcome.
