DFS Building Blocks – Week 10
Week nine of the NFL season was a big week for the AFC North, with all teams recording a win to keep its place as the most hotly contested division in the NFL. The Ravens, Bengals, Steelers and Browns all occupy a playoff spot at this moment in time, which adds some extra spice to an intriguing Baltimore vs Cleveland matchup in the early slate this weekend. The Ravens have been dealing in recent weeks, topping 30 points three games in a row, but not delivering the week-winning stacks that we were hoping for. Lamar Jackson’s consecutive 13-point games are frustrating for DFS players but a testament to an elite running game.
CJ Stroud and the Texans’ playmakers certainly did deliver. Stroud now holds the record for most yards in a game by a rookie quarterback, helping three of his receivers to over 100 yards in the game. His game against an underrated Bengals defense this week is going to be a fascinating test.
I hope you read Danger’s Chalk Board last week, where he crushed it, naming Stroud, Dak, White, Lamb, Ferguson as great pivots off higher owned players. It’s a must-read each week to get a sense of where the public is going with their lineups. We don’t have to completely fade highly owned players, but it’s a great way to leap frog your way up to the leaderboard if a lower-owned player (or team like the Texans last week) has similar upside.
CeeDee Lamb was the star for Dallas yet again, registering 191 yards on 11 receptions to reward players who were counting on Dak Prescott’s hot streak to continue. A matchup against the New York Giants this week could make the duo a popular stack yet again.
Let’s home in on the Texans and Cowboys for a minute. We’ve talked a few times this season about the lower scoring across the board leading to scenarios where a single game outproduces all the others, allowing game overstacks to win tournaments. Last week we saw it again with the Texans. Take a look at the winning lineup:
Stroud + Collins + Dell + Schultz from the Texans and White on the other side for the Bucs. This game played to 39 to 37, making the overstack a winner.
We also targeted an overstack last week, but focused on the Cowboys.
Dak + Lamb + Ferguson all put up great, near tourney-winning scores (in a week where there isn’t a monster 39 to 37 game). We added Pollard to that stack expecting elevated passing targets for him. We did see Turpin and Tolbert each catch a TD from Dak, both of which could have reasonably been drawn up for Pollard instead. We had Swift on the other side who continues to be “due”. We also had Smith, completing our full overstack.
So, right strategy, wrong game. Our job is to control the strategy and be there when variance falls in our favor.
There are a few eye-catching games this week, meaning one could turn into a monster, but also meaning several could be good enough that a more balanced lineup wins the week. Let’s dive into all the games and see what’s in store for us this weekend.
Game Overviews
Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati
Moneyline: Houston Texans +250, Cincinnati Bengals -300
Spread: Cincinnati Bengals -7
Total Points: Over/Under 48.5 (Opened: 44)
What a treat it was to watch CJ Stroud dice up the Buccaneers last weekend. He toyed with the Tampa Bay secondary in the second half and made elite passes with pinpoint accuracy and timing. Life won’t be as easy this weekend against a Bengals secondary that has pinched the second most interceptions (11) and is a top-10 unit.
Nico Collins has been out of practice this week, which could make Tank Dell an even better play. It is a tough matchup, but Dell would be peppered with targets and has proven to have fantastic chemistry with Stroud. Noah Brown would be an option as a lottery pick if Collins doesn’t go as well.
The most exciting option for Houston though is Dalton Schultz. The Bengals are giving up the 4th most yards to the tight end position this year. Schultz is another player who has gelled with Stroud instantly and makes for a great option this week.
Injuries on the Bengals’ offense also create question marks heading into this game. Tee Higgins is set to miss the game with a hamstring injury sustained in practice, and Chase is questionable as well. Tyler Boyd, and even Irwin, is a strong option. Mixon is in a great spot as well and could pick up some extra receiving work.
The Texans are also giving up plenty of points to the tight end position. Burrow targeted tight ends 13 times last week, but it is very difficult to know which Bengal tight end to go for. If you are feeling really brave, Irv Smith could be a lottery pick for you.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Mixon + Schultz
Burrow + Mixon + Chase + Schultz
Stroud + Dell + Chase/Boyd + Schultz
Burrow + Boyd + Dell + Schultz
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Mixon
Chase
Boyd
Collins (q)
Dell
Schultz
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Noah Brown
Irv Smith
Trent Irwin
New Orleans Saints @ Minnesota Vikings
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
Moneyline: New Orleans Saints -140, Minnesota Vikings +120
Spread: New Orleans Saints -2.5
Total Points: Over/Under 41.5 (Opened: 38.5)
Can Josh Dobbs do it again? It was an incredible story for Dobbs to lead the Vikings to a victory last week, despite Kevin O’Connell having to describe the plays to him through the headset. He hadn’t even practiced with the team before taking live game snaps.
Dobbs’ presence is great news for TJ Hockenson. Dobbs peppered Zach Ertz with targets early this year and then hit Trey McBride with 14 targets in his last game as a Cardinal. If he continues to target the tight end, Hockenson could push for the overall TE1 position by the end of the year.
It is probably good news for Jordan Addison and Alex Mattison as well, but this is a very tough matchup for both players. I would leave these guys out this week, but definitely in consideration moving forward.
The Vikings’ defense also poses a tough matchup for running backs, but Alvin Kamara’s insane usage in the receiving game makes him immune to tough situations. He remains a top option every week, but Williams and Hill continue to take away his rushing upside.
It was good to see Chris Olave get involved last week. The Saints featured him more in the short passing game, and he even caught a red zone touchdown. The Vikings’ secondary can be scored on, so Olave looks to be a good value at $6,400 on DraftKings. Rashid Shaheed had 3 targets again in week 9, this time only going for 22 yards. His lack of targets makes him a true boom-or-bust receiver and more of a lottery pick, but he does offer high upside and extremely low ownership.
A player who does remain involved is Taysom Hill. He is getting it done as a rusher, receiver and passer, giving him incredible upside for a tight end. The issue with Hill used to be the potential for a 0-point outing, but his recent usage is giving him a solid floor for the first time. Hill’s presence does greatly cap the ceiling of Derek Carr though, so I wouldn’t include him in too many stacks.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Kamara + Olave + Hockenson
Kamara + Hockenson + Hill
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Kamara
Olave
Hill
Hockenson
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Rashid Shaheed
Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
Moneyline: Green Bay Packers +150, Pittsburgh Steelers -175
Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers -3.5
Total Points: Over/Under 39.5 (Opened: 37)
This is a battle between two struggling offenses. Kenny Pickett and Jordan Love are failing to elevate their offensive playmakers, suggesting that we could be in for a frustrating game.
Only five receivers have scored more PPR points since Diontae Johnson returned from IR. He is one of the best route-runners in the league and Pickett likes to throw his way. A matchup with Jaire Alexander could prove tricky though, which may explain his cheap price of $5,400. Even at that price, I may wait to use him another week.
There aren’t many exciting options elsewhere on the field in this one. I could be tempted by George Pickens who is always capable of breaking a big touchdown, and may see more targets with Johnson occupied against Jaire Alexander. No one else interests me on the Pittsburgh side, especially with the two running backs splitting work.
It is a similar story on the Green Bay side. Pittsburgh’s secondary can be scored on, but I don’t trust Jordan Love at all. Everything looked hard last week against the Rams’ woeful defense and I expect the Steelers’ defensive line to come out on top this week.
The only Packer that you can feel comfortable with is Aaron Jones. He was back to full health and a workhorse role last week. The Steelers are giving up the seventh most points to running backs so I would be confident in him having a good game.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Jones + Pickens
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Jones
Pickens
Johnson
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Christian Watson
Jayden Reed
Tennessee Titans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Moneyline: Tennessee Titans +100, Tampa Bay Buccaneers -120
Spread: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -1.5
Total Points: Over/Under 38.5 (Opened: 38)
The Will Levis show is fully underway, and what a matchup for him. The Buccaneers’ secondary just got cooked by fellow rookie CJ Stroud, and Levis has shown that he is more than willing to throw the ball deep. His introduction to the starting lineup is excellent news for Deandre Hopkins, who is a fantastic option this week.
Levis elevates the whole offense, making Derrick Henry more appealing and even someone like Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as a lottery pick. He came up with a deep touchdown in Levis’ debut and I expect to see lots of passes like that in this game.
For Tampa Bay, it is easy to gloss over the fact that Baker Mayfield also managed to execute an ‘almost’ game-winning drive last week. His dart to Cade Otton looked to secure the victory with 46 seconds left on the clock. Mayfield has thrown for over 230 yards and 2 touchdowns in each of his last two games, and the Titans’ defense can certainly be passed on.
This makes Mike Evans and Chris Godwin good options in what could well be a shootout. Mike Evans is a bit more expensive, but he has scored 5 touchdowns in comparison to just 1 for Godwin. He gets the nod for me.
The Titans are excellent at stopping the run, but that’s less of a problem here because the Buccaneers can’t run the ball anyway. Rachaad White is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry this year, but 21 targets across his last four games are keeping him relevant. Only one of those 21 targets was an incompletion. This game could be high scoring and I am happy to recommend Rachaad White.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Levis + Henry + Hopkins + Evans
Levis + Henry + Godwin
Mayfield + White + Evans + Hopkins
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Henry
White
Hopkins
Evans
Godwin
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
San Francisco 49ers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Venue: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
Moneyline: San Francisco 49ers -155, Jacksonville Jaguars +135
Spread: San Francisco 49ers -3
Total Points: Over/Under 45.5 (Opened: 44)
Another massive game in this Sunday slate. Both teams are coming off a bye, with the 49ers looking to stop their slide and the Jaguars looking to prove they are a true contender.
The defenses are solid in this one, but I expect the offenses to see success. The 49ers have an embarrassment of riches, and whoever scores the fantasy points can rotate on a weekly basis. The 3-game losing streak came without Deebo Samuel on the field, so I expect them to get him involved. Brandon Aiyuk could also pop off for a big game, but it tends to be one or the other. I would pick one and cross your fingers it is their turn for the big game.
With both receivers healthy, I will give Kittle a miss this week. He has been very boom or bust and there are too many mouths to feed. Christian McCaffrey, on the other hand, is automatic. He is a very confident start every single week, especially as he attempts to set the record for 18 consecutive games with a touchdown. I think the 49ers have a good game on offense this week, which makes Brock Purdy a solid start to the stack as well.
I have similar expectations for the Jaguars. The 49ers’ defense has been softer than in recent years, and Trevor Lawrence should be able to move them up the field. Travis Etienne is a true bell-cow running back and his price of $7,100 looks like a bargain to me. He is $2,100 cheaper than McCaffrey but should see similar touches in this high-scoring affair.
When looking at the Jaguars’ pass catchers, Christian Kirk and Evan Engram make the most sense to me. They have been consistent all year long and should see plenty of volume this week.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Lawrence + Etienne + Deebo + Engram
Lawrence + CMC + Deebo + Kirk
Purdy + CMC + Aiyuk + Kirk
Purdy + CMC + Deebo + Engram
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
CMC
Etienne
Deebo
Aiyuk
Kirk
Ridley
Engram
Kittle
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Zay Jones
Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
Moneyline: Cleveland Browns +220, Baltimore Ravens -270
Spread: Baltimore Ravens -6
Total Points: Over/Under 37.5 (Opened: 37.5)
This is a very juicy AFC North clash between two teams that demolished their opponents last week. The Ravens embarrassed the Seahawks and Cleveland swept aside the Cardinals. It sets up a fascinating game that could be dominated by the two best defenses in the league.
Despite all the offensive stars on display, the defensive excellence means that this points total is at just 37.5. There is no love lost between these two teams, so I expect it to be a grind of a game, with little between the two sides. Therefore, I wouldn’t have too much exposure. This is more of a sit back and enjoy the game, rather than one to win your DFS lineup.
If you do want to have some skin in the game, then the Baltimore side is the way to go. Deshaun Watson is too much of a wildcard and I do not trust him at all against this elite Ravens defense. The only players I would want to play in this if you are desperate to, are Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews. Zay Flowers could be an option as well, but he hasn’t topped double-digit points in the last two weeks and only had one target last week. Even Mark Andrews is risky. He sits as the most expensive tight end in DFS, despite going up against the defense that gives up the fewest points to the position.
I would just avoid this one from a DFS perspective.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Lamar + Andrews
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Andrews
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Elijah Moore
Atlanta Falcons @ Arizona Cardinals
Time: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Moneyline: Atlanta Falcons -120, Arizona Cardinals +100
Spread: Atlanta Falcons -1.5
Total Points: Over/Under 42.5 (Opened: 41)
Surely this is where they cut Bijan Robinson loose? It has been a frustrating season so far for the rookie running back, with Arthur Smith’s infatuation with Tyler Allgeier putting an end to our hopes and dreams that Robinson could be a top 5 running back. Still, the Cardinals are lousy, and I truly do believe that Bijan will go big this week. Smith is feeling the pressure and a huge day from Robinson would go some way to alleviating that.
Tyler Allgeier’s usage means that he could go big as well. He is getting all of the red zone work and could punch in a couple of touchdowns in a game where the Falcons will be forecast to score more than normal. He is all the way down at $4,700 on DraftKings, making him a high-risk, high-reward flex play on the cheap.
I will stay away from the Falcons pass catchers this week. Heinicke isn’t a huge upgrade over Ridder and you just don’t know who is going to get the opportunities. Jonnu Smith had his big game last week, but was quiet the two weeks prior.
There are more options on the Cardinals’ side, surprisingly, but they come with risk given that it will be Kyler Murray’s first game back in 10 months. Even so, Murray has a brilliant connection with Marquise Brown, who should enjoy a much better second half of the season. He has had plenty of targets, and they should be far more valuable coming from Kyler.
Trey McBride also stands out as a good option. Without Ertz on the field, McBride has been trusted with a much bigger workload and has delivered. The Falcons are averaging 52 yards conceded to the tight end position, and I expect McBride to see enough volume to take him past that mark.
James Conner is now practicing in a limited capacity. He may return, but the Falcons are a stout run defense and I would prefer to wait a week on him.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Kyler + Bijan + Brown
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Bijan
Allgeier
Brown
McBride
Pitts
Smith
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Michael Wilson
Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Chargers
Time: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Moneyline: Detroit Lions -135, Los Angeles Chargers +115
Spread: Detroit Lions -2.5
Total Points: Over/Under 48.5 (Opened: 48.5)
The Los Angeles Chargers’ passing attack has declined massively following the injury to Mike Williams and now Josh Palmer. Quentin Johnston is struggling to separate, which means Justin Herbert is finding himself short of options. Thankfully, Keenan Allen is playing as well as he ever has, and the condensed target tree makes the Herbert + Allen stack one of the more exciting of the week.
The Lions’ passing attack is also an easy one to follow for fantasy purposes. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta dominate the targets and will always be solid options. The only x-factor in this Lions offense is the return of David Montgomery, which could make them much more run-heavy.
The Chargers are giving up the second most receiving yards to running backs this year, which means Jahmyr Gibbs should also have a big role this weekend. His price on DraftKings is all the way up at $7,000 now though. That is a hefty price to pay when we know that Montgomery will get all of the goal-line carries.
Austin Ekeler is the running back on the other side of the ball and he’s in play for the highest overall fantasy points every week. The lack of passing options for the Chargers means plenty more targets will go Ekeler’s way. He is expensive, but worth paying up for.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Goff + Ekeler + Amon-Ra/Williams/Laporta
Herbert + Ekeler + Amon-Ra
Herbert + Montgomery + Allen
Herbert + Ekeler + Allen
Goff + Ekeler + Amon-Ra + Laporta
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Ekeler
Montgomery
Gibbs
Allen
Amon-Ra
LaPorta
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Jameson Williams
New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys
Time: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Moneyline: New York Giants +800, Dallas Cowboys -1400
Spread: Dallas Cowboys -16.5
Total Points: Over/Under 38.5 (Opened: 38.5)
Injuries to both Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor mean that Tommy DeVito will be under center for the Giants this week. That makes our life relatively easy. Don’t start a single New York Giant other than maybe Saquon Barkley.
Barkley projects to be the whole offense moving forward, which I am not sure should sit that well with him given the team’s lack of willingness to sign him long-term. The Dallas defense will have the highest projected fantasy points on the week and will be the most expensive. However, it is worth considering that if New York simply runs the ball every snap, there will be fewer opportunities for sacks and interceptions. Avoiding the chalk on them could be an interesting contrarian play in a secondary lineup, but I’ll be locking them into my primary. The Bengals are very interesting if going away from Dallas DEF.
When Dallas has the ball, you can fire up CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard and Jake Ferguson. Be wary that weird game scripts earlier in the year did lead to low outputs from these players, but the matchup is still very appealing. I’ll be prioritizing Pollard paired with Dallas, hoping regression brings him a monster game.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Pollard + Dallas D/ST
Dak + Pollard + Lamb
Dak + Pollard + Ferguson + Dallas D/ST
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Pollard
Saquon
Lamb
Ferguson
Dallas D/ST
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Luke Schoonmaker
Washington Commanders @ Seattle Seahawks
Time: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle
Moneyline: Washington Commanders +225, Seattle Seahawks -275
Spread: Seattle Seahawks -6.5
Total Points: Over/Under 46.5 (Opened: NL)
We finish things up with what could be an enjoyable game of offensive action. The Washington Commanders’ secondary has been one of the easiest to pass on this year, which sets Geno Smith, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett up for big games.
Kenneth Walker has been hobbled by injury this week, which makes him harder to trust. The Seahawks have been giving more opportunities to Zach Charbonnet and could do so again here to protect Walker. If Walker is ruled out, Charbonnet would become a great play.
There are a lot of options for Washington as well. The Seahawks are a bottom-12 defense against the run and the pass, which means Sam Howell could continue his entertaining season. He is currently second in the league for passing yards, and he makes a great target at QB.
I really like him in a stack with Jahan Dotson this week. Dotson had a disappointing first half to the season but has had three solid outings in a row with at least 8 targets in each. Terry McLaurin should see a heavy dose of Devon Witherspoon in this game, which could free up Dotson for some explosive plays against a secondary that is otherwise weak.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Howell + Dotson + Metcalf/Lockett
Geno + Metcalf + Dotson
Geno + Metcalf + Lockett + Dotson
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Walker
Robinson
Metcalf
Lockett
Dotson
McLaurin
Thomas
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Antonio Gibson
The Lineup Build
A few games stand out to me as obvious options this week. I like the Seahawks passing attack versus Washington especially. They will be looking to bounce back after putting up just 3 points last week, and DK Metcalf is due a blow-up performance soon.
I also love the Detroit vs Los Angeles game, as I see both of those teams moving the ball well through the air. Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler will be the focal point of the Chargers’ offense moving forward, and Jared Goff and company should be able to keep up with their offensive playmakers.
Finally, I see this week as a huge bounce-back opportunity for the 49ers against Jacksonville. Shanahan will be eager to help Purdy bounce back, and I see that being a very high-scoring game.
I’ll either be building overstacks based on these games or squeezing in as many mini-stacks as possible to hit all of them in a more balanced lineup.
My favorite solo play of the week is Dalton Schultz going up against the Bengals, at surprisingly low ownership, and I like adding Mixon to the other side.
FD
We will start things off with The Seahawks and Commanders game. Geno Smith is really cheap on FanDuel, which should come in handy later. I am going to lean into this being an all-out aerial attack, so the three wide receiver slots will all be from this game. DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jahan Dotson; come on down!
Geno is expected to be the most popular QB on FD though, so I’m going to play around with starting Howell instead at much lower ownership. Goff, and even Herbert, are surprisingly expected to be equally low owned. Purdy and Lawrence as well. Geno + Lockett + Metcalf are all highly owned, so adding Dotson gives you some differentiation in an otherwise chalk build.
Really tempted to throw Allgeier in there, at tiny ownership, especially given his goal-line role.
I’ll be looking for ways to get Pollard plus the Cowboys locked in here instead though.
You can build Ekeler + Jameson Williams, Geno + Njigba + Dotson, Mixon + Schultz, Pollard + Cowboys. The clear place to get more flexibility is by dropping out of Ekeler. That opens up a lot of other options for you. Play around with swapping out different mini-stacks.
DK
Easy to build stars and scrubs on DK with players like Ikhine, Irwin, Boyd, Watson, Najee, Shaheed, Dotson, Pickens, and others all seemingly too cheap for their roles this week. Goff at QB, then adding Ekeler, Allen, St. Brown, and LaPorta.
The scrubs come in the form of Allgeier who could pop off against Arizona, Watson + Najee, and Ihkine. And taking a flier on Bengals DEF. Play around with the names above, you can find a lot of other mini-stacks to round out your lineup.
You can also start your stars core with any of the other strong games this week. I especially like exploring Purdy + CMC.
Yahoo
Brock Purdy will get our Yahoo lineup started, along with Christian McCaffrey. I am going to go with Brandon Aiyuk over Deebo this week to complete the 49er stack.
Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz form a mini Houston stack, with George Pickens taking the final wide receiver slot. It could be a big week for him with Jaire Alexander likely to shadow Johnson.
I need to save money on the defense so Tennessee is the choice, facing off against Baker Mayfield. That leaves enough money to put Aaron Jones into the second RB slot and I’ll play around with flex options.
