NFL DFS season rolls on, and as more data comes in on each player and matchup, the pricing for DraftKings and FanDuel contests is only getting tighter. We know which teams are good, which are bad, and which are mediocre at this point in the season. That makes it important to find some sleepers and stacks that can help earn key lineup differentiation that will help you to win both cash games and tournaments.
Stacking is a necessary daily fantasy football strategy, and it involves using at least two players from the same team in the hopes of earning double points or targeting a favorable matchup on the slate. Why? Because the success of two players on the same team is usually correlated.
There are a few different ways to approach stacking. You can roll with top-tier players in strong offenses to give your lineups excellent floors, or you can take the contrarian option. Often, the latter is a good strategy to help you win in tournaments, as it provides you with key lineup differentiation.
WEEK 5 DFS: Best values
FanDuel and DraftKings remain the top DFS platforms, but DraftKings has the more variable pricing. That makes it a bit easier to craft creative stacks, especially when targeting cheaper receivers. That's not to say you can't stack on FanDuel; it's just sometimes harder to find value when doing so.
Below are some of our favorite sets of teammates for Week 5 DraftKings and FanDuel lineups.
WEEK 5 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Week 5 NFL DFS Picks: Top cash game stacks for DraftKings, FanDuel
QB Josh Allen, WR Stefon Diggs, and WR Gabe Davis, Bills vs. Steelers (DK Stack)
The Bills have played back-to-back games in unforgiving weather. First was the game in Miami during which it was 90-plus degrees and during which Buffalo's receivers cramped up. Then, in Week 4, the Bills played the Ravens, and it was windy and rainy for the majority of that game.
Provided that the weather cooperates, the Bills will put up big numbers this week The Steelers have some pieces on their defense, but they don't mesh well together with T.J. Watt (pec) out of the lineup. With extra time, Josh Allen will be able to find his receivers easily for big gains.
Diggs has averaged 10.3 targets, 7.8 receptions, 101.5 yards, and a TD per game so far this season. That makes him a safe play even at a high price. Meanwhile, Davis has been more volatile since suffering an ankle sprain, but he's cheap enough to slot in as an upside WR.
WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
QB Tom Brady, WR Mike Evans, and WR Chris Godwin, Buccaneers vs. Falcons (DK/FD Stack)
Are you ever going to be able to buy this low on the Bucs offense again? Brady is just the QB10 in terms of pricing on DraftKings, and his top two receivers both cost less than $7,000 in salary cap space.
Tampa Bay's offense just got going against Kansas City with Brady throwing for 385 yards and three TDs, Evans catching two touchdowns, and Godwin seeing 10 targets. They might not have to pass as much against the Falcons as they did against the Chiefs, but after a frustrating start to the season, Brady will surely be glad to pad some of his stats in what looks like a must-win game for the Bucs.
The Falcons are one of five teams to allow 700-plus yards and six-plus touchdowns to receivers this year, so despite the solid play of A.J. Terrell, this looks like a good matchup for all.
WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
RB Jeff Wilson Jr. and San Francisco D/ST, 49ers at Panthers (DK/FD Stack)
This stack will probably be a very popular one. The 49ers have one of the best defenses in the league and were just able to sack Matthew Stafford seven times while logging a pick-six in Week 4. They did that against the Rams without allowing a touchdown.
Now, San Francisco gets to face a Panthers team that has given up a lot of pressure and has one of the most inaccurate quarterbacks in the NFL in Baker Mayfield. The 49ers should be able to keep their defensive hot streak going thanks to that.
Meanwhile, Wilson is the lone running back on the roster that Kyle Shanahan and Co. seem to trust with Elijah Mitchell (knee) and Tyrion Davis-Price (ankle) out. Davis-Price could soon return, but even if he does, Wilson should continue to lead the San Francisco backfield. His touch floor makes him an idea start in cash game lineups.
WEEK 5 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Week 5 DraftKings, FanDuel Picks: Best stacks for daily fantasy football tournaments
QB Teddy Bridgewater, WR Tyreek Hill, and WR Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins at Jets (DK/FD Stack)
I know Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) is out, and that will lead many away from the Dolphins in this matchup. So, too, will the solid Jets cornerback tandem of D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner.
However, Hill leads the NFL in receiving yards with 477; Waddle isn't far behind in sixth place with 381. They should get open plenty against New York and won't see much of a downgrade from Tagovailoa to Bridgewater. Both still have a high target floor and high yardage ceiling.
As for Bridgewater, he's arguably the NFL's best backup quarterback and averaged 218 passing yards and 1.3 pass TDs per game last year. He also can run a bit and picked up 106 yards and two touchdowns on the ground last season.
UPDATE: With both Hill (quad) and Waddle (groin) "questionable," this stack is obviously riskier, but it could also mean these players have lower ownership. If either Hill or Waddle is out, you can sub in Cedrick Wilson or just make it a two-player stack.
QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, and WR Christian Kirk, Jaguars vs. Texans (DK/FD Stack)
The Jaguars were owned by the Texans in their two meetings last season, but in this one, Jacksonville has the advantage. The Texans' defense has been solid in some areas but not as good in others. Thus, it makes for an intriguing stacking opportunity.
Lawrence is on the cheaper side but has logged multiple TDs in each of his past three games. He is fresh off a five-turnover game against the Eagles, so he will be motivated to bounce back, especially with the Jaguars playing in better, non-rainy conditions.
Kirk has had a great connection with Lawrence so far during their four games together. He is averaging nine targets, five catches, and 81.8 yards per game this season with three touchdowns. His receiving numbers will play in both DraftKings' PPR format and FanDuel's half-PPR format.
Finally, Etienne is a bit of a wild card. Many will be going with James Robinson against a Texans defense that has allowed a league-worst 563 rushing yards to running backs, but Etienne could be a nice pivot. Robinson has outshined him between the tackles so far, but Etienne has more upside as a receiver and has still been on the field for 45 percent of the team's offensive snaps.
If he breaks a long run, Etienne could be a nice differentiator for our lineup. That's what makes this stack a better play in tournament games than cash games, as it does carry some risk within it.
RB Damien Harris and RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Lions (DK Stack)
The Patriots have a favorable matchup with their running backs, but it's tough to recommend starting their defense against a Lions offense that leads the league in points through four weeks. So, why not go with both backs?
Harris and Stevenson have roughly been splitting snaps this season. Harris has played 40 percent of the time while Stevenson has played 51 percent of the offensive snaps. The former is used more between-the-tackles while the latter has some pass-catching ability.
Each back has two performances of 80-plus scrimmage yards in New England's first two games, and they get to face a Detroit defense that has struggled mightily against the run. It has allowed a league-high eight rushing touchdowns to running backs, so both Harris and Stevenson could end up having big days and getting high-end double-digit points.
Few, if any, will start both Patriots backs in any tournament lineup, so, feel free to get freaky and exploit the Lions' defense. The only concern is whether the Patriots will be able to run if fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe has to start in place of injured quarterbacks Mac Jones (ankle) and Brian Hoyer (concussion).
