QB/RB/WR Stack
Cam Newton/Christian McCaffrey/D.J. Moore
The Carolina Panthers paid off in big way last week, and we’re going back to the well this weekend. Carolina currently ranks 13th in the NFL in total yards (370.7) and 10th in points (26.1) per game this season. They get an elite matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who rank 27th in total yards (391.0) and and 31st in points (30.7) allowed per game. Carolina scored 42 points in their first meeting with the Bucs, and they are -3.5 point favorites in a game set at 55 points this week. They own an implied total of 29.3 points in a game that is expected to be relatively close.
Cam Newton has been one of the most consistent fantasy quarterbacks in the NFL this season. Through 11 games, he’s averaging 245.4 yards and 2.0 touchdowns on 32.6 pass attempts per game. He’s also averaging 37.9 yards and 0.4 touchdowns per game on the ground this season. Newton only scored 21.18 DK points in his first matchup against Tampa Bay, but he comes with significantly more upside than that. D.J. Moore has taken on a larger role over the last two weeks because of injury, and he has now earned more snaps. Over those two weeks, he has totaled 15 receptions for 248 yards and one touchdown on 17 targets. Devin Funchess and Curtis Samuel are both dealing with injuries, which could add to the upside of Moore. Regardless, Moore will likely see similar targets, even if everyone is healthy. Christian McCaffrey has also been enjoying an elite season for Carolina. He’s averaging 124.1 yards and 0.9 touchdowns on 20.4 touches per game. He is also averaging 6.5 receptions on 7.5 targets per game. McCaffrey also posted 32.7 DK points in his only matchup against Tampa Bay this season. Newton and McCaffrey make up one of the safest and most consistent stacking options in the NFL, while Moore adds more upside to this stack.
QB/WR/WR Stack
Jared Goff/Brandin Cooks/Robert Woods
The Los Angeles Rams have featured one of the best passing offenses in the NFL this season, as they rank fifth in the league with 310.0 passing yards per game. Los Angeles has also totaled 26 passing touchdowns through 11 games. They get a matchup against the Detroit Lions, who are allowing only 238.0 passing yards per game this season. With that being said, they have allowed 24 passing touchdowns in 2018, while recording only four interceptions. The Lions also rank second last in the NFL in opposing quarterback rating (115.1). The Rams are currently -10 point favorites in a game set at 54.5 points, giving them an implied total of 32.3 points this weekend.
Jared Goff has struggled on the road this season, which is a bit of a concern. With that being said, Goff is averaging 322.5 yards and 2.4 touchdowns on 34.6 attempts per game. Goff also proved that he can play away from home a few weeks ago, scoring 33.34 DK points in New Orleans. Robert Woods is the easiest player to pair with Goff, as he gets the best matchup, which can be read in my WR/CB Matchups article. Woods has dealt with injuries at times this season, but he has played in each of LA’s 11 games this season. Overall, he’s averaging 5.4 receptions for 82.2 yards and 0.4 touchdowns on 8.2 targets per game. Woods has also scored double digit fantasy points in each of his last 10 games, while flashing tremendous upside with 36.7 DK points against the Los Angeles Chargers. Brandin Cooks is expected to be shadowed by Darius Slay, which will be the most difficult matchup for Los Angeles. With that being said, Cooks has looked outstanding in essentially 10 games this season. In those games, he’s averaging 5.9 receptions for 96.4 yards and 0.3 touchdowns on 8.4 targets per game. Cooks has seen eight or more targets in each of his last four games, including 12 targets in each of his last two. Over that four game span, Cooks is averaging 22.3 DK points per game, and he should still find plenty of success, even in this matchup.
QB/WR/TE Stack
Patrick Mahomes/Tyreek Hill/Travis Kelce
The Kansas City Chiefs own the best passing attack in the NFL this season. They are averaging 318.0 passing yards per game, while totaling a league-high 37 touchdowns through 11 games. They get a matchup against the Oakland Raiders, who are allowing 239 passing yards per game this season. Oakland has allowed 25 passing touchdowns, while recording only nine interceptions this season, as well. They have allowed opposing quarterbacks to record a 106.2 QB rating this season, which ranks in the bottom-three of NFL in 2018. The Chiefs are -15.5 point favorites in a game set at 55 points, and they feature the highest implied total on the slate at 35.3 points.
Patrick Mahomes leads fantasy quarterbacks with 30.8 DK points per game this season. Through 11 starts, he’s averaging 329.8 yards and 3.4 touchdowns on 35.6 pass attempts per game. He has also recorded 186 yards and two touchdowns on the ground this season. Furthermore, Mahomes has posted 30+ DK points in five of his last six games. Travis Kelce leads the Chiefs in targets this season. Through 11 weeks, he’s averaging 6.1 receptions for 83.1 yards and 0.6 touchdowns on 9.2 targets per game. Similarly to Mahomes, Kelce leads his position in DK points per game (19.3) on this slate, and comes with as much upside as any tight end on this slate. Tyreek Hill isn’t quite in the same boat as Mahomes and Kelce, but he’s averaging 24.3 DK points per game this season, ranking second on the slate at receiver. He’s only averaging 8.6 targets per game this season, but he has turned those into 5.9 receptions for 100.5 yards and 1.0 touchdown per game. Hill has also caught fire recently, totaling 17 receptions for 332 yards and four touchdowns (82.2 DK points) on 24 targets over his last two games. There is quite a bit of concern about a blowout in this game, but this trio of players has proven that they can all contribute, even in blowouts.
High Upside GPP Stack
Marcus Mariota/Corey Davis/Jonnu Smith
The Tennessee Titans have struggled offensive this season, ranking 30th in the NFL in passing yards (191.0) per game. They have also totaled only 12 passing touchdowns in 2018. They get a matchup against the New York Jets, who are allowing 246.0 passing yards per game. New York has also allowed 19 passing touchdowns, while recording 10 interceptions this season. Furthermore, the Jets have allowed 24+ points in five of his last six games. Over that span, they’re allowing 29.3 points per game, and the Titans are -7.5 point favorites in a game set at 40.5 points. They possess an implied total of 24 points this week.
Marcus Mariota has struggled to stay healthy throughout the 2018 season, and he has struggled a bit while on the field, as well. Through 10 games (not all healthy), he’s averaging 188.6 yards and 0.9 touchdowns on 23.9 pass attempts per game. He’s also averaging 28.3 yards and 0.2 touchdowns per game on the ground. Mariota has been heating up a bit recently, though, as he has thrown for two touchdowns in three of his last four games. In those three games, Mariota has displayed tremendous upside for his price, averaging 24.4 DK points per game. Corey Davis has been a target monster this season, recording a 28.4% target share for Tennessee. Overall, he’s averaging 4.5 receptions for 63.8 yards and 0.3 touchdowns on 7.6 targets per game. Davis has scored 23.5 and 28.5 DK points in two of his last three games, and he gets one of his best matchups of the season this weekend. Jonnu Smith is an athletic tight end, who has caught fire over his last four games. Over that span, he’s averaging 3.3 receptions for 46.3 yards and 0.8 touchdowns (12.4 DK points) on only 3.8 targets per game. Smith isn’t getting a ton of volume, but he has been absurdly efficient, and comes with plenty of upside at a weak position.
