Top GPP stacks of Week 6: Recent multi-GPP Winner Shares His Picks
Eliot Crist (@EliotCrist) is a special guest writer that took down TWO GPP’s last weekend! He was kind enough to do a write-up on his favorite stacks for week 6:
A very popular and successful strategy in GPPs (tournaments) is to stack a QB and one of his top WR/TE. This is a great way to get “double points” for a touchdown, and shoot up the leader board whenever they make a connection. Another good way to stack, is a running back and defense. A running back’s success often greatly depends on game script. When a team has a lead, they run more which means the defense is also playing well. With the basic understanding of the strategy, here are my top stacks of the week.
QB and WR/TE:
[if !supportLists]1. Russell Wilson and Jimmy Graham
Russell Wilson got off to a slow start this season, but he picked it up versus the 49ers before being hurt, and he lit up the New York Jets. Both of his two best weeks have been when Jimmy Graham has stepped up in a big way. In those two weeks Graham has 17 targets for 213 yards and a touchdown. Graham has looked like the player the Seahawks traded a 1st round pick and pro bowl center for. Often times players coming off of a bye week go under owned, as there is an out of sight, out of mind mindset. Wilson comes off of the bye as healthy as he has been this season, playing a Falcons team that struggles to get pressure on the QB -- which is huge, considering how bad the Seahawks’ offensive line is. The Falcons are 31st versus the tight end this season, which sets up for Jimmy Graham to light them up on America’s game of the week. This should be a fun stack where you can play a top 3 tight end in a great matchup, where he isn’t priced at his value, as well as a QB who has the highest ceiling of any QB on the slate due to his running ability.
[if !supportLists]2. Ben Roethlisberger and Sammie Coates
Big Ben led the way to me winning $10,000 on DraftKings stacking him with Coates, and I think it makes sense to go back to the well again this week. I really don’t think you’re chasing points here. The Miami Dolphins team is in shambles, having been lit up by the likes of Cody Kessler and Marcus Mariota. Big Ben has always been much stronger at home, but I think this game is still one where he can have a monster game. Coates has seen 19 targets in the last 2 games, 3 more the Antonio Brown, and has taken over the Bryant role as the deep threat. Coates has stone hands, but is a rare physical talent who can burn a defense, and turn a small gain into a massive one easily. He was the Steelers’ top look in the red zone last week. For his price point, I think he is the better option than Brown, who is almost impossible to fit in on a good team, especially at 10k on DraftKings. Make sure to stay up to date on his injury as he has a cast on his hand at the moment.
[if !supportLists]3. Drew Brees and Michael Thomas
Drew Brees at home is the definition of safe. He is a lock for 300 yards and a couple touchdowns, going up against a Panthers defense that recently gave up 500 yards to Matt Ryan, and whose best defense versus the Bucs was over throws. The popular stack option this week will likely be Brandin Cooks as he is considered the WR1 for the Saints. Michael Thomas is criminally underpriced on both DraftKings and FanDuel this week and has led the team in targets the last two weeks with 18 compared to Cook’s 13. The Panthers have struggled with bigger WR and Thomas is the closest player on the Saints to filling that roll. With Brees likely to throw for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns, it is safe to think Thomas gets at least 80 yards and a touchdown, making for an excellent stack.
[if !supportLists]4. Matthew Stafford and Anquan Boldin
The Rams defense is thought of as a good unit, but it is very weak versus the pass. They particularly struggle versus the slot WR, having been lit up this season by,Jeremy Kerley, John Brown, and Adam Humphries. The Rams will be without their top corner Trumaine Johnson as well. Anquan Boldin has run 81% of his routes out of the slot this year, as Golden Tate has moved outside. Boldin should be able to take advantage of his matchup and score a touchdown and catch 5-7 balls. Stafford has two straight bad weeks, but has a plus matchup at home where I look for him to bounce back. This stack should be under one percent owned, and if it hits it will have you near the top of leaderboards.
RB and D/ST:
[if !supportLists]1. Leveon Bell and Steelers D/ST
The Dolphins, as mentioned above with Ben and Coates, are playing truly horrible defense and have been getting pushed around. Teams have 60 minutes more of possession against them through 4 games, which means the defense will continue to wear down as the season goes on and that spells trouble when the best back in the NFL comes to down. Ryan Tannehill has an NFL passer rating of 31.3 versus the blitz which means that if you pressure him big things can happen for the defense. Bell is the safest back in fantasy, shown by his outing against the Jets where he was able to put up 25 fantasy points because he caught 9 passes for 88 yards. I think Bell has a chance at both bonuses in rushing and receiving on DraftKings, and should finally get in the endzone. He has 40 point upside this week. The Steelers defense should match what the Titans did last week pressuring Tannehill and getting 6 sacks.
[if !supportLists]2. LeSean McCoy and Bills D/ST
The 49ers come to town to face a red hot Buffalo Bills team, fresh off making a QB change to Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick struggled with accuracy and dead arm in preseason, meaning the Bills defense should try to match what the Cardinals did to the 49ers and create havoc. LeSean McCoy has been a top 3 running back in football this season, and is a very safe bet to get his touches versus a team that just lost their best defender for the season in Navaro Bowman. Since the Offensive Coordinator change in week two, McCoy is averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Also McCoy may want some revenge on his old coach Kelly for trading him from Philadelphia to Buffalo, which became a very public spat. The 49ers have let up 4 straight 100+ yard rushers, shady is up next.
[if !supportLists]3.DeMarco Murray and Titans D/ST
Murray is second in snaps this season among running backs, and has dominated both through the air and on the ground. He has also forced the most missed tackles of any running back this season. The Cleveland Browns come to town with an improved run defense, but they still have given up some big games this season. Murray has the game script to see a ton of touches as the Titans should be leading in this game; they are currently 7 point favorites. The Titans defense will either face a banged up Cody Kessler, or Kevin Hogan will make his professional debut fresh off of the practice squad. The Titans defense has scored double digit points in 2 out of 5 games this season, and will face the worst QB to play a game this season if Hogan is the starter. The thing to worry about here is whether Pyror gets matched up with Perish Cox, as that could lead to a long day for Cox.
[if !supportLists]4. Ryan Matthews and Eagles D/ST
The Eagles defense had their worst game of the season on the road in Detroit, but still managed 4 sacks. They have 3 or more sacks in each game as Jim Schwartz’s wide 9 scheme is having great success this season in Philly, and they will look to continue that this week versus a decent Washington offensive line. Kirk Cousins has thrown an interception in 4 out 5 games this season, and Matt Jones has a fumbling history which could lead to multiple turnovers versus the Eagles. Also the Eagles have Darren Sproles, who is as big a threat as any punt returner in the NFL to take it to the house. Ryan Matthews continues to be the workhorse back for the Eagles when healthy, and got involved in the passing game last week as well. This Redskins defense has been torn up by Shane Vereen, Isiah Crowell, Terrence West, Deangelo Williams, and Zeke Elliott. This is a sneaky stack that could put up a very nice day.
