NFL Week 13: Stacking To Win It

Each week we will be covering two top stacks, a value stack, and a contrarian stack. Playing two or more players from the same team can add to your ceiling, especially if that team goes off. Stacking is a great way to get an advantage in tournaments, and even cash games. We will narrow down projected fantasy points, ownership, and info for their matchups.

Top Stack 1

Chargers vs Browns - Team Total 27.75

As we saw with the Bengals last week, a matchup against the Browns can help even the most stagnant of offenses get going. This situation is a different one, however, as the Chargers have scored 33 PPG over their last three (5th in the NFL). Philip Rivers and Keenan Allen have been arguably the best QB/WR combo over the last two week, hooking up 23 times (27 targets) for 331 yards and three scores. Although the Browns have been an improved defense this season, they still rank 27th against the pass (Per Football Outsiders), which is great news for this electric duo that has now played their way back into the AFC playoff picture. The Chargers D/ST makes for an elite play as well, as they have scored three touchdowns over the last two weeks, and have forced nine turnovers over the last three. If you're looking to load up on the offense, I'll roll out Melvin Gordon here as well. The Browns rank 2nd against the run, per FO, but were just dominated on the ground by a Bengals team that came into Week 12 as the worst rushing offense in the NFL. Gordon's workload continues to be one of the most consistent in the NFL, and 20+ touches seems to be a lock once again.

Value Stack

Texans at Titans - Team Total 18.75

Tom "The Turnover Machine" Savage is listed at the stone minimum on both sites, and despite the fact that he has an affinity for giving the ball away (10 TO in four games since the Watson injury), he has faced some tough matchups (Rams, #3 vs pass, Ravens, #2, Cardinals #13). This is in NO way an endorsement on him as a QB of the future, but I'm going to take a shot in a GPP with any QB that is throwing the ball to DeAndre Hopkins (10-125 vs BAL, 7-111 vs LAR), who has seen 49 targets over the last four games with Savage under center. The Titans rank 24th against the pass this season, per FO, and 18th against the run, which puts this cheap stack in play for me as a deep flier. Hopkins went for 10-107-1 in the first matchup, but keep in mind that game was played with DeShaun GOATson under center. Miller had a MONSTER game against the Titans first time out, totaling 131 yards and a pair of scores, and while that type of ceiling seems unlikely, he makes for a viable GPP target at his price, especially in the midst of a Texans stack. Savage is likely still an awful QB, but at his price, the upside is certainly there, even with the TO issues. We've seen this old story a million times, medicore to bad QBs posting big games with Hopkins.

Patriots at Bills - Team Total 28.75

No surprise here, as the Patriots once again claim the top team total of the week, as they take on a Bills defense that has been the worst in the NFL over the last three weeks (37 PPG allowed), despite only allowing 10 points to the Chiefs last week. The Pats are coming off a monster 38-point performance against the Dolphins, and look to move their win streak to 10 games on Sunday. Dion Lewis has emerged (we think) as the lead back for this team, seeing at least 10 carries for six straight games, and has 30 touches over the last two games. Betting on any Pats running back to be a safe play is always a risk, but here in a GPP stack, Lewis is the one I'll be targeting. Rex Burkhead scored a pair of touchdowns last week, but Lewis is still seeing a solid amount of snaps (both had 28 last week, per Lineups.com), and is seeing more touches (Burkhead has 24 over the last two). The Brady/Gronk combo is one that has been dominant since the beginning of time, and despite facing a Bills defense that is ranked 12th against TEs (per FO), we all know that Gronk is matchup-proof. Continue to roll out your Pats stacks this week and reap the benefits.

Vikings at Falcons - Team Total 22

The simple fact that Case Keenum hasn't been named the starter for the rest of the season is the most egregious thing I've seen in the NFL this season (yes, worse than Crabtree vs. Talib Round 2, worse than Zeke Elliott). Keenum has been a legitimate MVP-caliber player for the Vikings this season, accounting for 15 TD with just 5 INT and has led the Vikings to a 7-2 record in the tough NFC. Enough about Keenum, this is actually a sneaky-good spot for the Vikings, as Atlanta ranks 18th and 32nd against the pass and run, per FO. Latavius Murray has been a viable option in the mid-range of late, and out-snapped Jerick McKinnon 40-33 last week against the Lions. More importantly, he is dominating the goal-line carries, as he has had 9 carries inside the 5, compared to just 2 for McKinnon. Adam Thielen has emerged as arguably (not really an argument, IMO...) the best young receiver in the NFC this season, and is already over 1,000 yards on the season. In fact, among WR, only Antonio Brown, Golden Tate, and Tyreek Hill have more YAC than Thielen's 308. Fire up the Vikings as a viable stack with upside.