If you're looking for a week to get in on the DraftKings and FanDuel action, then Week 13 is for you. There are plenty of high-end teams squaring off against low-end competition, but there are also a few games that feature strong offenses playing one another. That means daily fantasy football players will have a solid slate of games from which to find DFS stacks, be it a lopsided affair or one of the highest-scoring games of the week.
Either way, you'll want some sort of stack in your lineup. They are a tried-and-true strategy for daily fantasy football players because they set up double points opportunities and give your lineups higher ceilings. And if you use a stack that contains within it the right sleeper, your lineup can really rise on contest leaderboards.
WEEK 13 DFS: Best values | Lineup Builder
There are more great RB-defense stacks that could pan out this week than usual this week and there are still plenty of QB-WR duos (or trios) that could work. The quarterback slate is loaded, so spending down and pairing a QB with his high-end weapons continues to be one of the best stacking strategies.
DraftKings pricing continues to be more variable than that of FanDuel which makes it easier to create stacks. That said, stacking is still a viable strategy on FanDuel. It's just important to find worthwhile sleepers in the lower price range to balance your lineup.
Below are some of our favorite sets of teammates for DraftKings and FanDuel lineups. Be sure to follow our Twitter account @SN_Fantasy to see all of our DFS content heading into kickoff every week.
WEEK 13 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
Week 13 NFL DFS Picks: Top cash game stacks for DraftKings, FanDuel
QB Matthew Stafford, WR Cooper Kupp, & WR Odell Beckham Jr., Rams vs. Jaguars (DK/FD stack)
The Rams desperately need to get a win after a three-game losing streak. They're playing the Jaguars this week, so they should get one, but the Rams are also looking for a good overall performance and will not hesitate to pile up points on the Jaguars as they fix some of their issues. For that reason, it's probably a good idea to have a Rams stack in cash game lineups. They will be very popular, but the fact of the matter is that the Rams are just safe plays. Even when they've struggled as a team, their key players haven't been terrible for fantasy purposes.
Stafford, for example, has scored at least 20 fantasy points in eight of 11 games this season. He has been steady with "boom" potential and has had a relatively low bust rate. He is nursing a back injury, but he should do well against against a Jaguars team that has been decent against quarterbacks.
Jacksonville gives up the 11th-most fantasy points per game to receivers. That spells good news for the trio of Kupp, Beckham Jr. and Van Jefferson. All three could have big games, but Kupp is the safest bet to produce. Rolling with him and Beckham, who Stafford could look to build chemistry with during this easy-looking matchup, seems like the right move.
WEEK 13 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
RB Jonathan Taylor & Colts D/ST, Colts at Texans (DK/FD stack)
We don't need to break this one down too much beyond these few facts. Jonathan Taylor is a potential MVP candidate playing a Texans defense allowing 135.6 rushing yards per game, good for the second most in the NFL. In the Colts' first matchup with the Texans this year, Taylor racked up 145 rushing yards on just 14 carries. The Colts may ride Taylor a bit harder in this one considering it's a must-win situation for them.
As for the defense, it has been solid this year and though the unit isn't fully healthy, they held the Texans to three points in their first meeting. They should have a chance to limit the Texans' low-level offense once again and force some key turnovers.
WEEK 13 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
RB Alexander Mattison & Vikings D/ST, Vikings at Lions (DK Stack)
Another RB/defense stack in a cash game? You bet. It's a good week for strong running backs facing weak run defenses. The Lions have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to RBs at a mark of 23.2. They have also allowed 17 total touchdowns, and the Vikings figure to rely on Alexander Mattison to carry them in this one.
Mattison is taking over for Dalvin Cook, who suffered a shoulder injury last week. Mattison is a bit cheaper than what Cook would have been despite his excellent talent. In two starts this year, Mattison has averaged 162 scrimmage yards per game. That included a game against Detroit during which he totaled 30.3 DK points. He is a safe play and so is the Vikings' defense.
The Lions have scored more than 19 points in a game just once this year. That came in garbage time in Week 1 against the 49ers. Minnesota should limit the Lions, who they held to 17 points in Week 5, especially with D'Andre Swift (shoulder) likely to miss the game.
WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Week 13 DraftKings, FanDuel Picks: Best stacks for daily fantasy football GPPs/tournaments
QB Jimmy Garoppolo, RB Elijah Mitchell, & TE George Kittle, 49ers at Seahawks (DK stack)
Last time the 49ers played the Seahawks, their offense looks a lot different than it does now. Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt during the game and Elijah Mitchell missed it with an injury. As a result, these were the statistical leaders for San Francisco in that game:
- Trey Lance: 157 passing yards, two TDs, 41 yards
- Trey Sermon: 89 rushing yards
- Deebo Samuel: Eight catches, 156 receiving yards, two TDs
None of these three will repeat their performances in Week 13. Lance is backing up Garoppolo, Sermon is not currently a part of the 49ers' running back rotation and Samuel is out 1-2 weeks with a groin injury. So, new players will step up to replace them.
It's a safe bet that Garoppolo and Mitchell will find success. Garoppolo had 165 passing yards and a touchdown before exiting with a calf injury in the first half. Over a full game, he should prove more productive. Meanwhile, Mitchell has performed well almost every time he has been out on the field and should gash Seattle's run defense, which has allowed 124.9 yards per game.
To further enhance this stack and our lineup differentiation, we'll add Kittle to the fold. Few DFS players will start all three of those players, but all could have big games. Kittle posted four catches for 40 yards against Seattle, but he ranked second on the team in targets with 10 in that contest. He should be the No. 1 receiving option for the 49ers without Samuel, so he can be trusted here.
Between Kittle's targets, Mitchell's 4.8 yards per carry average, and Garoppolo's steadiness, this stack isn't too expensive but comes with a lot of upside. It's worth a shot in tournament play, as the 49ers have been one of the most consistent teams in football — when healthy.
QB Russell Wilson, WR DK Metcalf, & WR Freddie Swain, Seahawks vs. 49ers (DK/FD Stack)
Aren't you glad the Seahawks-49ers game moved out of prime time? It creates some excellent opportunities to stack this game, including with the Seahawks passing game. Seattle has been atrocious running the ball of late, averaging just 70.8 rushing yards in its past five games, and that includes a mark of 34 last game. The Seahawks will have to pass a lot against the 49ers if they can't spark that, and I don't think they will, given San Francisco's solid run defense.
As such, Russell Wilson and Co. will look to beat the 49ers deep. That's an area in which the 49ers have had some issues, and they allowed five touchdowns to wide receivers in Weeks 3 through 5. That included scores to both Metcalf and Swain.
Are we chasing points a bit? Maybe, but Metcalf is a safe pick here. He has to be frustrated that he is averaging just 28.3 yards per game in his past four outings, so the Seahawks will probably look to get him the ball early and often to make up for that. He wasn't even targeted in the first half last week, so Pete Carroll, Shane Waldron, and Wilson will all look to get him involved and engaged early.
Swain is the wild card of the group, but we're not targeting him just because he caught a TD last week against Washington. He caught three-of-four targets in his last game against San Francisco for 20 yards and a TD. That's 11 DraftKings points and 9.5 FanDuel points, so that's not bad for a very low-cost receiver. He has also played at least 60 percent of the Seahawks' offensive snaps in six of the past seven games, so that makes him a very nice sleeper, especially when paired with Wilson and Metcalf.
RB Joe Mixon & Bengals D/ST, Bengals vs. Chargers (DK stack)
Joe Mixon seems likely to be highly owned on this slate. After all, he is playing against the NFL's worst run defense, as the Chargers are allowing a cool 145.3 rushing yards per game so far this season. You should definitely want to be in on Mixon, but how can you get him while earning some key lineup differentiation? Why not consider starting the Bengals defense? They have a tough-looking matchup against Justin Herbert and the Chargers on paper, yet there is a high enough floor that you can trust them.
The Chargers have allowed multiple sacks in all but two games this season. Herbert has also thrown seven interceptions in his past six games and only failed to recover a pick in one of his past four games. Is that enough for the Bengals to find success? Maybe not. But could they find a way to slow down the Chargers? Absolutely.
Remember, Los Angeles scored just 13 points against Denver last week and they were blown out by the Ravens 34-6 earlier in the year. Cincinnati is coming off games with back-to-back outings with 10-plus DK points, so feel free to roll with them as a cheap, mid-tier defensive option. If Herbert falters, the game script will benefit Cincy significantly.
