DFS Building Blocks – Week 16
It’s the 49ers world and we are just living in it. The chalky stack of Purdy + McCaffrey + Deebo paid off yet again, with Trey McBride also hitting 20 fantasy points. Everyone knew the 49ers would be good coming into the season, but the McBride storyline has been a dramatic rise. He is one of the more exciting young talents in the league.
The NFC West was looking good last week, with the Rams also providing us with a useful stack, and the Seahawks toppling the Eagles on Monday Night Football. The Seahawks pass catchers now get to play Tennessee’s generous secondary, so they should be popular this week.
With Christmas just a few days away, a cheeky DFS win to help us celebrate the big day would be lovely. Let’s see what we can do!
Game Overviews
Indianapolis Colts @ Atlanta Falcons
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Colts (+100) ; Falcons (-120)
Spread: Atlanta Falcons -1
Total: 44.5
Arthur Smith went back to being the villain last week, as none of his highly drafted offensive stars were heavily featured. I don’t think he makes the same mistake this week though. He must know that his position as head coach is in great jeopardy, and he won’t want to give anyone a reason to have a go at him. I like Bijan Robinson and Drake London to have big weeks this week.
Indianapolis is giving up the 7th most yards per game on the ground to opposing offenses, and Atlanta should be viewing this as the perfect opportunity to get Bijan Robinson going again. The Falcons are back in their comfortable dome, and I expect them to move the ball much better this week. Bijan and London should be the main beneficiaries, but I am not willing to extend to any of the other playmakers as a result of Taylor Heinicke being the quarterback.
For Indianapolis, it will be crucial to watch the status of Michael Pittman. The star receiver has been excellent over the last month but left last week’s game with a concussion. He managed to get a limited practice in on Wednesday, but there are still some hurdles to jump before he gets on the pitch. If he plays, he is a locked and loaded wide receiver one. If he misses, I like Josh Downs as a cheap fill in option. Downs showed good chemistry with Minshew earlier in the year and can pick up the chain-moving role.
There are question marks in the Colts running back room as well, but it seems Moss is out and Taylor in. Still skipping that spot against a good Atlanta defensive line.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Minshew + Bijan + Pittman
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Bijan
London
Pittman
Pitts
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Jonnu Smith
Seattle Seahawks @ Tennessee Titans
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Seahawks (-150) ; Titans (+130)
Spread: Seattle Seahawks -2.5
Total: 41.5
This looks like a fun matchup for the Seattle pass attack. Geno Smith should be back, but maybe a little banged up, and he was cooking with DK Metcalf prior to his injury. Metcalf is a great play against a Titans’ secondary that is giving up the 8th most points to the wide receiver position. I would be wary of Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba though. JSN scored an amazing touchdown last week but only had 4 targets. Whereas, Tyler Lockett received 9 targets from Drew Lock. In my opinion, they both take value away from one another and you should just ride with DK.
The running back decision is also easy after last week’s game against Philadelphia. Kenneth Walker is the man. It is a tough matchup against Tennessee, but it was also a tough matchup last week against the Eagles’ number-one run defense. He scored 20 fantasy points in that game, so I am happy to recommend him again here.
For Tennessee, I can’t recommend anyone. Will Levis suffered a high ankle sprain last week, and Tannehill is back. The only player I would consider is Tyjae Spears as a cheap lottery pick. He might receive more work now after Derrick Henry’s press conference comments put doubt on his future.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Smith + Walker + Spears + Metcalf + Seahawks D/ST
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Walker
Spears
Metcalf
Lockett
Seahawks D/ST
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Tyjae Spears
Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Lions (-175) ; Vikings (+150)
Spread: Detroit Lions -3.5
Total: 46.5
The Detroit Lions are rolling again after their dominant Saturday evening display last weekend. They head to Minnesota for a divisional clash with the Vikings. Everyone got involved in Detroit last week, and I think you can expect a similar story this week.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jamhyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are the players who will most likely be moving the ball for the Lions. The Vikings are giving up the second-fewest points to the running back position this year, so I will be leaning towards the pass catchers, which has proven to be fruitful so far this year. A stack with Goff, St Brown and LaPorta looks good to me. Gibbs can be added as he is so effective out of the backfield as a pass-catcher. Montgomery will be left out though.
Minnesota fell just short of a dramatic victory of their own last Saturday, losing narrowly to the Jake Browning-led Bengals. Nick Mullens played well, proving that he is just about good enough to get the Vikings’ talented playmakers going.
It is important to remember that he is a backup though, so let’s not get too carried away with the Vikings’ stacks, even though they are going up against a Lions defense who is in the bottom 10 when it comes to conceding fantasy points to wide receivers. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson can all be included as solo options or as part of a Lions stack.
Ty Chandler has emerged as a potential star in the backfield. Unfortunately, the Lions are a top 5 defense against running backs in fantasy, but his coaches have come out and said that he will receive a heavy workload moving forward. I think he is a good value at $5,600 but he’ll be really popular this week, so we might find a pivot.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Goff + Gibbs + Hockenson + LaPorta (be brave and go 2 TEs this week!)
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Gibbs
Chandler
St Brown
Jefferson
Addison
LaPorta
Hockenson
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Jameson Williams
Washington Commanders @ New York Jets
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Commanders (+140) ; Jets (-165)
Spread: New York Jets -3
Total: 36.5
The matchup is good here for New York, but can you really trust them with Trevor Siemian leading the way? Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson combined for 8.7 fantasy points last week, so you have to be brave to go with them again. I think the easiest thing to do is to just leave them out or stack if you play them. Wilson may be okay on DK simply for his expected volume.
It’s not much prettier on the Washington side. Sam Howell has been poor recently and was benched last week. Add in the fact that the Jets’ defense is one of the best in the league, and I will have to do something I have never done before. My official recommendation for this game is to not use anyone. Although, the Jets’ defense does look like a good option.
It’s Christmas everyone, let’s not ruin it by watching this game.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Hall + Jets D/ST
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Hall
Wilson
Jets D/ST
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Nope.
Green Bay Packers @ Carolina Panthers
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Packers (-240) ; Panthers (+200)
Spread: Green Bay Packers -5
Total: 36.5
The Packers enter this game with their tails between their legs after being picked apart by Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ offense. The Bucs exposed the Packers’ defense and moved the ball with ease. Unfortunately, the Panthers are not the best offense to try and capitalize on the good matchup.
Adam Thielen has been quieter in the second half of the season, but I think you can try him this week. $5,900 isn’t a bad price for him and he’s great against man coverage. The player I really like though is Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard has become the bell-cow running back for Carolina and now gets to go up against the Packers’ bottom 10 defense. Only 2 teams have given up more rushing yards per game than Green Bay, so fire up Hubbard with confidence. You won’t be the only one making this play though. A Thielen instead of Hubbard lineup would get you a lot of leverage on the field.
Green Bay also has some intriguing options. Jayden Reed unfortunately looks set to miss, but that could free up some targets for Romeo Doubs, Dontavyion Wicks or Tucker Kraft. Picking one of them could save you some cash, whilst also giving you some good upside.
Just like with Carolina though, it is the running back position that excites me the most. Aaron Jones received 13 carries and 4 targets without AJ Dillon in the lineup. Carolina is giving up the 3rd most fantasy points to the running back position this year, so I like me some Jones this week. Following above, a Jones + Thielen stack would be pretty unique this week with all the Hubbard ownership.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Jones + Theielen
Love + Jones + Hubbard + Kraft
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Jones
Hubbard
Doubs
Kraft
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Dontayvion Wicks
Malik Heath
Cleveland Browns @ Houston Texans
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Browns (-135) ; Texans (+115)
Spread: Cleveland Browns -2.5
Total: 40.5
The Joe Flacco experience continues to be fruitful – dare I say, elite – for the Browns, who are enjoying life despite missing their $230m quarterback, Deshaun Watson. Houston is ranked 25th when it comes to passing yards conceded per game, so there is no reason to think that it will stop now.
Amari Cooper is the wide receiver that you want in Cleveland. He has received 22 targets over his last two games, resulting in 188 yards and a score. The star of the Cleveland passing attack, however, has been tight end David Njoku. Njoku has had over 26 fantasy points in each of the last two games and now faces a Texans defense who is a bottom-three unit against tight ends. At $5,300 he is the 5th most expensive tight end, but his upside is as high as anyone else on the list.
I have personally decided to give up on the Browns backfield moving forward. Ford is a good player but his upside is massively capped by Kareem Hunt’s presence. He is good for around 10- fantasy points but lacks the opportunity to really explode on any given week.
For Houston, they will have their work cut out for them against the Browns’ elite defense. To make matters worse, CJ Stroud looks unlikely to play again this week due to his concussion. This means I do not trust any of the pass catchers. You could look the way of Devin Singletary though. The Browns secondary is giving up the fewest yards in the NFL, which leads me to think the Texans will simply pound the rock with Singletary who is a better fit for the Texans run scheme. We’ve been burned by this play before, but it does seem he’s officially moved ahead of Pierce.
That was their plan last week, when Singletary converted 26 carries into 121 yards, in addition to 4 catches for 49 yards. The offense will run through him, so I am happy plugging him in.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Flacco + Singletary + Cooper + Njoku (+Collins)
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Singletary
Cooper
Noah Brown
Njoku
Nico Collins
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Elijah Moore
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Time: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Money Line: Jaguars (-105) ; Buccaneers (-115)
Spread: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -1
Total: 42.5
It looks like Lawrence has cleared concussion protocol making this a great game to target.
Injuries to Zay Jones and Christian Kirk have reduced the target competition. Therefore, I think Evan Engram is a great start this week. The Buccaneers are giving up the 6th most fantasy points to the tight end position, and Engram has put together some very nice games in recent weeks.
I am less confident about Calvin Ridley and Travis Etienne. Travis Etienne is the running back 3 on the year, but he has only topped 4 yards per carry once since week 5. He is battling through a poor offensive line, but his volume and use as a pass catcher does give him a relatively solid floor.
Similarly, Calvin Ridley hasn’t topped 10 fantasy points in his last three games. I will be avoiding him, despite the good matchup against Tampa’s secondary. Take a shot here if you want though.
For the Buccaneers’ you have to feel good about them this week. They just humiliated Green Bay, producing big games from Rachaad White, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The Jaguars are giving up the 4th most passing yards per game, so I think Evans and Godwin are very good options. White has been a true stud recently, so a Buccaneer stack looks good to me.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Mayfield + White + Evans + Engram
Lawrence + Ridley + Evans + Engram
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
White
Evans
Godwin
Engram
Ridley
Etienne
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Parker Washington
Arizona Cardinals @ Chicago Bears
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago
Time: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Money Line: Cardinals (+170) ; Bears (-200)
Spread: Chicago Bears -4.5
Total: 43.5
This is a battle of rushing quarterbacks, and I like them both in this game. The Bears’ defense has been much improved in recent weeks, but they are giving up the 8th most fantasy points to tight ends. That is the best place to attack this Chicago unit, and it just so happens that Arizona has one of the best tight ends in the league.
Trey McBride has been incredible since Zach Ertz left the lineup. He has a great chance of being the top-scoring tight end this week. He will be chalky, but I am desperate to play him if I can make it work salary-wise.
Aside from him, James Conner is a pretty safe bet for good volume. Marquise Brown will surely miss this week after leaving the last two games with injury. That could make Michael Wilson a boom-bust lottery pick at a bargain price.
For Chicago, Justin Fields and DJ Moore are the names that stand out. The one risk to Moore’s production will be if Chicago decides to pound the rock, which they could do. Arizona is giving up the second most rushing yards per game this year, and Chicago is blessed with one of the most dangerous rushing quarterbacks in the NFL.
Even so, DJ Moore is such an incredible talent, and he has a fantastic connection with Fields. $6,900 is more than you usually have to pay for Moore, but I am happy to pay it. In regards to the running backs, it is too much of a rotation to trust any of them. Especially with Justin Fields stealing so much production on the ground. I’d leave them out unless taking a stab on a salary-saver. Foreman my preference in that case.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Kyler + Moore + McBride
Fields + Moore + McBride
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Conner
Moore
McBride
Kmet
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Michael Wilson
Cardinals D/ST
Bears D/ST
Dallas Cowboys @ Miami Dolphins
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Time: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Money Line: Cowboys (+100) ; Dolphins (-120)
Spread: Miami Dolphins -1.5
Total: 51.5
The Dolphins will be hoping that some of their players can get healthy before this game, as they reported their entire offensive line to be questionable at Wednesday’s practice.
We will cross our fingers that they do get healthy because this looks like a good matchup for Miami. Buffalo just ran all over Dallas’ defense, and we know how good Mike McDaniel is at scheming up run plays. The run game is a brilliant way to take Micah Parsons out of the game, and the Dolphins have the talent to do it.
Therefore, I like both Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane this week. Achane had a light workload last week, but I think that is because they were preserving him after his recent injury. I can see them letting him loose here, so he will be a popular pick for me. He is $200 cheaper than Mostert on DraftKings, but I think he has the bigger game.
Obviously, the Dolphins also have incredible talent at the wide receiver position. If Tyreek Hill plays, then he is a top option at wide receiver. If he doesn’t play, then Jaylen Waddle is a top option at wide receiver. I won’t be looking Waddle’s way if Hill plays though. I think he will be the forgotten man in that scenario, with the focus going on the running backs and Hill.
For Dallas, it is a tougher matchup against a Vic Fangio defense that has rounded nicely into form. They are giving up the 4th fewest rushing yards and the 10th fewest passing yards per game. Nothing could ever scare me off CeeDee Lamb, but I am officially concerned about Tony Pollard. Pollard has been underwhelming this year, and I worry the game script could get away from him if Miami has the same success running the ball as Buffalo did last week.
CeeDee Lamb is matchup proof through. He is the second most expensive wide receiver for a reason. Sticking him in a stack with Jake Ferguson sounds good to me, as they are the two pass catchers that Dak Prescott trusts the most.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Prescott + Hill + Lamb + Ferguson
Tua + Achane + Hill + Ferguson
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Achane
Mostert
Pollard
Hill
Waddle (if Hill misses)
Ferguson
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Brandin Cooks
Miami D/ST
The Lineup Build
We have a smaller pool of games to pick from on this Christmas Eve slate. It’s Cowboys and Dolphins or bust… or balanced lineup.
This is just the type of situation where Dallas will show up and we’ll get an 80 point game, removing all that talk of them being bad on the road, so they can build the fans up in time for annual playoff letdown. Mark me.
I’ll be, somehow, stacking that game. And then looking at some other more balanced lineups.
Tampa Bay is rolling at the moment, and I like them to keep the good vibes going against a Jaguars unit that are giving up the 4th most passing yards per game.
And I like the constantly overlooked Browns passing game.
I’ll also be looking to find room for Bijan because I simply feel that Smith has to get them going this week. If I am wrong, it wouldn’t be the first time with Arthur Smith. Proceed with caution…
FD
I’m staring with my Dak + Lamb + Hill stack here. It’s expensive, but it’s more feasible on FD than on DK. You’ve got to get creative to fill out the rest of the lineup. Michael Wilson and Cade Otton make nice salary-saver options. Taking a flier on Foreman on the other side of Wilson. It’s not easy – or comfortable – but it’s doable. If you prefer, you can easily drop down to cheaper options in the same game and get a bit more balanced. If it’s explodes though, you’ve got 90-point potential just from Dak + Lamb + Hill.
If you want to go a different route, Amon-Ra St Brown is a nice pivot from the other top WRS. He is joined by Goff, LaPorta and Hockenson in the flex.
The running back selections are Chuba Hubbard who looks like a great value, and Bijan Robinson. Might be able to play around with Jones + Thielen here instead.
Dontavyion Wicks at wide receiver, as we hope that he follows up his big game and makes the most of Jayden Reed’s absence. We have $4,500 left for our defense, but I can’t take my eyes off Seattle at $3,500, going up against an injured Will Levis or his backup.
DK
Going elite here with Flacco + Cooper + Njoku + Singletary. You could add Collins here if you really want to bank on the game outperforming.
I can get Evans + Engram in. Chalk with Hubbard, although I’m building other versions with Jones + Thielen.
Going a more unexpected route, Geno Smith kicks off our Seahawks stack, joined by DK Metcalf, Kenneth Walker and Tyjae Spears as our cheap dart throw to represent the Titans.
I don’t like many wide receivers below the $6,000 mark, so I am going to for Parker Washington at a cheap price of $3,800, which allows me to pay up for Mike Evans. Washington could see more volume with Christian Kirk and Zay Jones out.
We’ve got room for Achane in our flex. The Seahawks are the defense of choice to round out that stack.
Yahoo
We opt for the Buccaneers and Jaguars game for our Yahoo lineup. Baker Mayfield, Rachaad White and Mike Evans are joined by Jaguars tight end Evan Engram. I think Engram gets lots of volume this week.
There aren’t many good cheap options at wide receiver this week, so I have gone for Thielen as my cheaper player here and paid up for DJ Moore in the final wide receiver slot.
Aaron Jones takes the final running back spot, with Michael Wilson coming in as the lottery pick in the flex. Marquise Brown missing could propel him to a big game at a bargain price.
Washington is the defense of choice. They lack talented players, but they have a good interior defensive line and the Jets offense is a joke at this point.
It’s the 49ers world and we are just living in it. The chalky stack of Purdy + McCaffrey + Deebo paid off yet again, with Trey McBride also hitting 20 fantasy points. Everyone knew the 49ers would be good coming into the season, but the McBride storyline has been a dramatic rise. He is one of the more exciting young talents in the league.
The NFC West was looking good last week, with the Rams also providing us with a useful stack, and the Seahawks toppling the Eagles on Monday Night Football. The Seahawks pass catchers now get to play Tennessee’s generous secondary, so they should be popular this week.
With Christmas just a few days away, a cheeky DFS win to help us celebrate the big day would be lovely. Let’s see what we can do!
Game Overviews
Indianapolis Colts @ Atlanta Falcons
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Colts (+100) ; Falcons (-120)
Spread: Atlanta Falcons -1
Total: 44.5
Arthur Smith went back to being the villain last week, as none of his highly drafted offensive stars were heavily featured. I don’t think he makes the same mistake this week though. He must know that his position as head coach is in great jeopardy, and he won’t want to give anyone a reason to have a go at him. I like Bijan Robinson and Drake London to have big weeks this week.
Indianapolis is giving up the 7th most yards per game on the ground to opposing offenses, and Atlanta should be viewing this as the perfect opportunity to get Bijan Robinson going again. The Falcons are back in their comfortable dome, and I expect them to move the ball much better this week. Bijan and London should be the main beneficiaries, but I am not willing to extend to any of the other playmakers as a result of Taylor Heinicke being the quarterback.
For Indianapolis, it will be crucial to watch the status of Michael Pittman. The star receiver has been excellent over the last month but left last week’s game with a concussion. He managed to get a limited practice in on Wednesday, but there are still some hurdles to jump before he gets on the pitch. If he plays, he is a locked and loaded wide receiver one. If he misses, I like Josh Downs as a cheap fill in option. Downs showed good chemistry with Minshew earlier in the year and can pick up the chain-moving role.
There are question marks in the Colts running back room as well, but it seems Moss is out and Taylor in. Still skipping that spot against a good Atlanta defensive line.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Minshew + Bijan + Pittman
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Bijan
London
Pittman
Pitts
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Jonnu Smith
Seattle Seahawks @ Tennessee Titans
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Seahawks (-150) ; Titans (+130)
Spread: Seattle Seahawks -2.5
Total: 41.5
This looks like a fun matchup for the Seattle pass attack. Geno Smith should be back, but maybe a little banged up, and he was cooking with DK Metcalf prior to his injury. Metcalf is a great play against a Titans’ secondary that is giving up the 8th most points to the wide receiver position. I would be wary of Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba though. JSN scored an amazing touchdown last week but only had 4 targets. Whereas, Tyler Lockett received 9 targets from Drew Lock. In my opinion, they both take value away from one another and you should just ride with DK.
The running back decision is also easy after last week’s game against Philadelphia. Kenneth Walker is the man. It is a tough matchup against Tennessee, but it was also a tough matchup last week against the Eagles’ number-one run defense. He scored 20 fantasy points in that game, so I am happy to recommend him again here.
For Tennessee, I can’t recommend anyone. Will Levis suffered a high ankle sprain last week, and Tannehill is back. The only player I would consider is Tyjae Spears as a cheap lottery pick. He might receive more work now after Derrick Henry’s press conference comments put doubt on his future.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Smith + Walker + Spears + Metcalf + Seahawks D/ST
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Walker
Spears
Metcalf
Lockett
Seahawks D/ST
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Tyjae Spears
Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Lions (-175) ; Vikings (+150)
Spread: Detroit Lions -3.5
Total: 46.5
The Detroit Lions are rolling again after their dominant Saturday evening display last weekend. They head to Minnesota for a divisional clash with the Vikings. Everyone got involved in Detroit last week, and I think you can expect a similar story this week.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jamhyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are the players who will most likely be moving the ball for the Lions. The Vikings are giving up the second-fewest points to the running back position this year, so I will be leaning towards the pass catchers, which has proven to be fruitful so far this year. A stack with Goff, St Brown and LaPorta looks good to me. Gibbs can be added as he is so effective out of the backfield as a pass-catcher. Montgomery will be left out though.
Minnesota fell just short of a dramatic victory of their own last Saturday, losing narrowly to the Jake Browning-led Bengals. Nick Mullens played well, proving that he is just about good enough to get the Vikings’ talented playmakers going.
It is important to remember that he is a backup though, so let’s not get too carried away with the Vikings’ stacks, even though they are going up against a Lions defense who is in the bottom 10 when it comes to conceding fantasy points to wide receivers. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson can all be included as solo options or as part of a Lions stack.
Ty Chandler has emerged as a potential star in the backfield. Unfortunately, the Lions are a top 5 defense against running backs in fantasy, but his coaches have come out and said that he will receive a heavy workload moving forward. I think he is a good value at $5,600 but he’ll be really popular this week, so we might find a pivot.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Goff + Gibbs + Hockenson + LaPorta (be brave and go 2 TEs this week!)
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Gibbs
Chandler
St Brown
Jefferson
Addison
LaPorta
Hockenson
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Jameson Williams
Washington Commanders @ New York Jets
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Commanders (+140) ; Jets (-165)
Spread: New York Jets -3
Total: 36.5
The matchup is good here for New York, but can you really trust them with Trevor Siemian leading the way? Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson combined for 8.7 fantasy points last week, so you have to be brave to go with them again. I think the easiest thing to do is to just leave them out or stack if you play them. Wilson may be okay on DK simply for his expected volume.
It’s not much prettier on the Washington side. Sam Howell has been poor recently and was benched last week. Add in the fact that the Jets’ defense is one of the best in the league, and I will have to do something I have never done before. My official recommendation for this game is to not use anyone. Although, the Jets’ defense does look like a good option.
It’s Christmas everyone, let’s not ruin it by watching this game.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Hall + Jets D/ST
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Hall
Wilson
Jets D/ST
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Nope.
Green Bay Packers @ Carolina Panthers
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Packers (-240) ; Panthers (+200)
Spread: Green Bay Packers -5
Total: 36.5
The Packers enter this game with their tails between their legs after being picked apart by Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ offense. The Bucs exposed the Packers’ defense and moved the ball with ease. Unfortunately, the Panthers are not the best offense to try and capitalize on the good matchup.
Adam Thielen has been quieter in the second half of the season, but I think you can try him this week. $5,900 isn’t a bad price for him and he’s great against man coverage. The player I really like though is Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard has become the bell-cow running back for Carolina and now gets to go up against the Packers’ bottom 10 defense. Only 2 teams have given up more rushing yards per game than Green Bay, so fire up Hubbard with confidence. You won’t be the only one making this play though. A Thielen instead of Hubbard lineup would get you a lot of leverage on the field.
Green Bay also has some intriguing options. Jayden Reed unfortunately looks set to miss, but that could free up some targets for Romeo Doubs, Dontavyion Wicks or Tucker Kraft. Picking one of them could save you some cash, whilst also giving you some good upside.
Just like with Carolina though, it is the running back position that excites me the most. Aaron Jones received 13 carries and 4 targets without AJ Dillon in the lineup. Carolina is giving up the 3rd most fantasy points to the running back position this year, so I like me some Jones this week. Following above, a Jones + Thielen stack would be pretty unique this week with all the Hubbard ownership.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Jones + Theielen
Love + Jones + Hubbard + Kraft
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Jones
Hubbard
Doubs
Kraft
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Dontayvion Wicks
Malik Heath
Cleveland Browns @ Houston Texans
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston
Time: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Money Line: Browns (-135) ; Texans (+115)
Spread: Cleveland Browns -2.5
Total: 40.5
The Joe Flacco experience continues to be fruitful – dare I say, elite – for the Browns, who are enjoying life despite missing their $230m quarterback, Deshaun Watson. Houston is ranked 25th when it comes to passing yards conceded per game, so there is no reason to think that it will stop now.
Amari Cooper is the wide receiver that you want in Cleveland. He has received 22 targets over his last two games, resulting in 188 yards and a score. The star of the Cleveland passing attack, however, has been tight end David Njoku. Njoku has had over 26 fantasy points in each of the last two games and now faces a Texans defense who is a bottom-three unit against tight ends. At $5,300 he is the 5th most expensive tight end, but his upside is as high as anyone else on the list.
I have personally decided to give up on the Browns backfield moving forward. Ford is a good player but his upside is massively capped by Kareem Hunt’s presence. He is good for around 10- fantasy points but lacks the opportunity to really explode on any given week.
For Houston, they will have their work cut out for them against the Browns’ elite defense. To make matters worse, CJ Stroud looks unlikely to play again this week due to his concussion. This means I do not trust any of the pass catchers. You could look the way of Devin Singletary though. The Browns secondary is giving up the fewest yards in the NFL, which leads me to think the Texans will simply pound the rock with Singletary who is a better fit for the Texans run scheme. We’ve been burned by this play before, but it does seem he’s officially moved ahead of Pierce.
That was their plan last week, when Singletary converted 26 carries into 121 yards, in addition to 4 catches for 49 yards. The offense will run through him, so I am happy plugging him in.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Flacco + Singletary + Cooper + Njoku (+Collins)
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Singletary
Cooper
Noah Brown
Njoku
Nico Collins
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Elijah Moore
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Time: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Money Line: Jaguars (-105) ; Buccaneers (-115)
Spread: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -1
Total: 42.5
It looks like Lawrence has cleared concussion protocol making this a great game to target.
Injuries to Zay Jones and Christian Kirk have reduced the target competition. Therefore, I think Evan Engram is a great start this week. The Buccaneers are giving up the 6th most fantasy points to the tight end position, and Engram has put together some very nice games in recent weeks.
I am less confident about Calvin Ridley and Travis Etienne. Travis Etienne is the running back 3 on the year, but he has only topped 4 yards per carry once since week 5. He is battling through a poor offensive line, but his volume and use as a pass catcher does give him a relatively solid floor.
Similarly, Calvin Ridley hasn’t topped 10 fantasy points in his last three games. I will be avoiding him, despite the good matchup against Tampa’s secondary. Take a shot here if you want though.
For the Buccaneers’ you have to feel good about them this week. They just humiliated Green Bay, producing big games from Rachaad White, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The Jaguars are giving up the 4th most passing yards per game, so I think Evans and Godwin are very good options. White has been a true stud recently, so a Buccaneer stack looks good to me.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Mayfield + White + Evans + Engram
Lawrence + Ridley + Evans + Engram
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
White
Evans
Godwin
Engram
Ridley
Etienne
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Parker Washington
Arizona Cardinals @ Chicago Bears
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago
Time: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Money Line: Cardinals (+170) ; Bears (-200)
Spread: Chicago Bears -4.5
Total: 43.5
This is a battle of rushing quarterbacks, and I like them both in this game. The Bears’ defense has been much improved in recent weeks, but they are giving up the 8th most fantasy points to tight ends. That is the best place to attack this Chicago unit, and it just so happens that Arizona has one of the best tight ends in the league.
Trey McBride has been incredible since Zach Ertz left the lineup. He has a great chance of being the top-scoring tight end this week. He will be chalky, but I am desperate to play him if I can make it work salary-wise.
Aside from him, James Conner is a pretty safe bet for good volume. Marquise Brown will surely miss this week after leaving the last two games with injury. That could make Michael Wilson a boom-bust lottery pick at a bargain price.
For Chicago, Justin Fields and DJ Moore are the names that stand out. The one risk to Moore’s production will be if Chicago decides to pound the rock, which they could do. Arizona is giving up the second most rushing yards per game this year, and Chicago is blessed with one of the most dangerous rushing quarterbacks in the NFL.
Even so, DJ Moore is such an incredible talent, and he has a fantastic connection with Fields. $6,900 is more than you usually have to pay for Moore, but I am happy to pay it. In regards to the running backs, it is too much of a rotation to trust any of them. Especially with Justin Fields stealing so much production on the ground. I’d leave them out unless taking a stab on a salary-saver. Foreman my preference in that case.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Kyler + Moore + McBride
Fields + Moore + McBride
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Conner
Moore
McBride
Kmet
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Michael Wilson
Cardinals D/ST
Bears D/ST
Dallas Cowboys @ Miami Dolphins
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Time: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Money Line: Cowboys (+100) ; Dolphins (-120)
Spread: Miami Dolphins -1.5
Total: 51.5
The Dolphins will be hoping that some of their players can get healthy before this game, as they reported their entire offensive line to be questionable at Wednesday’s practice.
We will cross our fingers that they do get healthy because this looks like a good matchup for Miami. Buffalo just ran all over Dallas’ defense, and we know how good Mike McDaniel is at scheming up run plays. The run game is a brilliant way to take Micah Parsons out of the game, and the Dolphins have the talent to do it.
Therefore, I like both Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane this week. Achane had a light workload last week, but I think that is because they were preserving him after his recent injury. I can see them letting him loose here, so he will be a popular pick for me. He is $200 cheaper than Mostert on DraftKings, but I think he has the bigger game.
Obviously, the Dolphins also have incredible talent at the wide receiver position. If Tyreek Hill plays, then he is a top option at wide receiver. If he doesn’t play, then Jaylen Waddle is a top option at wide receiver. I won’t be looking Waddle’s way if Hill plays though. I think he will be the forgotten man in that scenario, with the focus going on the running backs and Hill.
For Dallas, it is a tougher matchup against a Vic Fangio defense that has rounded nicely into form. They are giving up the 4th fewest rushing yards and the 10th fewest passing yards per game. Nothing could ever scare me off CeeDee Lamb, but I am officially concerned about Tony Pollard. Pollard has been underwhelming this year, and I worry the game script could get away from him if Miami has the same success running the ball as Buffalo did last week.
CeeDee Lamb is matchup proof through. He is the second most expensive wide receiver for a reason. Sticking him in a stack with Jake Ferguson sounds good to me, as they are the two pass catchers that Dak Prescott trusts the most.
Building Blocks (stacks to build around)
Prescott + Hill + Lamb + Ferguson
Tua + Achane + Hill + Ferguson
Individual Plays (players that can be rostered alone to fill out your lineups that are built around other stacks)
Achane
Mostert
Pollard
Hill
Waddle (if Hill misses)
Ferguson
Lottery Picks (stacks and individual players that can surprise in a large-field
tournament)
Brandin Cooks
Miami D/ST
The Lineup Build
We have a smaller pool of games to pick from on this Christmas Eve slate. It’s Cowboys and Dolphins or bust… or balanced lineup.
This is just the type of situation where Dallas will show up and we’ll get an 80 point game, removing all that talk of them being bad on the road, so they can build the fans up in time for annual playoff letdown. Mark me.
I’ll be, somehow, stacking that game. And then looking at some other more balanced lineups.
Tampa Bay is rolling at the moment, and I like them to keep the good vibes going against a Jaguars unit that are giving up the 4th most passing yards per game.
And I like the constantly overlooked Browns passing game.
I’ll also be looking to find room for Bijan because I simply feel that Smith has to get them going this week. If I am wrong, it wouldn’t be the first time with Arthur Smith. Proceed with caution…
FD
I’m staring with my Dak + Lamb + Hill stack here. It’s expensive, but it’s more feasible on FD than on DK. You’ve got to get creative to fill out the rest of the lineup. Michael Wilson and Cade Otton make nice salary-saver options. Taking a flier on Foreman on the other side of Wilson. It’s not easy – or comfortable – but it’s doable. If you prefer, you can easily drop down to cheaper options in the same game and get a bit more balanced. If it’s explodes though, you’ve got 90-point potential just from Dak + Lamb + Hill.
If you want to go a different route, Amon-Ra St Brown is a nice pivot from the other top WRS. He is joined by Goff, LaPorta and Hockenson in the flex.
The running back selections are Chuba Hubbard who looks like a great value, and Bijan Robinson. Might be able to play around with Jones + Thielen here instead.
Dontavyion Wicks at wide receiver, as we hope that he follows up his big game and makes the most of Jayden Reed’s absence. We have $4,500 left for our defense, but I can’t take my eyes off Seattle at $3,500, going up against an injured Will Levis or Tannehill.
DK
Going elite here with Flacco + Cooper + Njoku + Singletary. You could add Collins here if you really want to bank on the game outperforming.
I can get Evans + Engram in. Chalk with Hubbard, although I’m building other versions with Jones + Thielen.
Going a more unexpected route, Geno Smith kicks off our Seahawks stack, joined by DK Metcalf, Kenneth Walker and Tyjae Spears as our cheap dart throw to represent the Titans.
I don’t like many wide receivers below the $6,000 mark, so I am going to for Parker Washington at a cheap price of $3,800, which allows me to pay up for Mike Evans. Washington could see more volume with Christian Kirk and Zay Jones out.
We’ve got room for Achane in our flex. The Seahawks are the defense of choice to round out that stack.
Yahoo
We opt for the Buccaneers and Jaguars game for our Yahoo lineup. Baker Mayfield, Rachaad White and Mike Evans are joined by Jaguars tight end Evan Engram. I think Engram gets lots of volume this week.
There aren’t many good cheap options at wide receiver this week, so I have gone for Thielen as my cheaper player here and paid up for DJ Moore in the final wide receiver slot.
Aaron Jones takes the final running back spot, with Michael Wilson coming in as the lottery pick in the flex. Marquise Brown missing could propel him to a big game at a bargain price.
Washington is the defense of choice. They lack talented players, but they have a good interior defensive line and the Jets offense is a joke at this point.