Explore key strategies for stacking players in the upcoming NFL Conference Championship games
Washington: Fantasy football doesn’t stop after the regular season. If you’re like me and love predicting player performances, daily fantasy contests are where it’s at.
This weekend, let’s talk about game stacks. You want to pick multiple players from one of the two games, especially if you think one team will score a lot. If one team goes off, the other usually has to keep up, right?
If you think a quarterback and a couple of his receivers will shine, it’s smart to add a pass catcher from the opposing team. If your QB-WR combo lights it up, chances are the other team’s receiver will get some love too.
In big DFS contests, the trick is to avoid the “chalk” players—those everyone is picking. You want to find some hidden gems, and I’ve got a few ideas for you.
First up, we have the Commanders facing the Eagles. The game total is set at 47.5 points. We’ve got two games to analyze, so let’s dive in.
Washington’s Jayden Daniels is a bit banged up. In their last matchup, they were 2% below their expected pass rate, but in Week 16, they were 5% above it. They beat the Eagles in that game, so they might stick to what worked—more three-receiver sets and aggressive passing.
In that Week 16 game, Washington used three-wideout sets 78% of the time, way up from their usual 57%. This means guys like Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus should see plenty of action. Zaccheaus had a great game last time, catching two touchdowns, but he’s nursing a groin injury, so keep an eye on his status.
I’ve been a bit skeptical about Brown, but he’s been targeted a lot lately. If Washington wants to move the ball against the Eagles’ defense, he’ll be key. Expect him to be a popular pick as people look to save some cash for bigger names.
Now, Zach Ertz isn’t in the best spot. The Eagles allowed a lot of tight end catches this season, but Ertz hasn’t been targeted much against them. Still, he’s running routes and could sneak into the end zone.
If you’re stacking a Washington running back with Daniels, Austin Ekeler might be the way to go. He’s been getting more targets lately, but it’s a tough matchup against the Eagles’ defense.
On the Eagles’ side, Jalen Hurts is dealing with a knee injury. If he plays, he might not be as mobile, which could mean more work for Saquon Barkley. This could also open up opportunities for A.J. Brown, who thrives against man coverage.
DeVonta Smith has had decent games against Washington, but he’s better against zone coverage. Dallas Goedert might be a low-cost option if you’re stacking Eagles, but man coverage hasn’t been kind to him this season.
To win big in DFS, you sometimes have to take risks. Fading Barkley and stacking a limited Hurts with his receivers could pay off big time if you’re right.
Next, we have the Bills taking on the Chiefs, also with a game total of 47.5 points. Patrick Mahomes will keep doing his check-downs as the Chiefs head into their 28th straight AFC title game.
Mahomes has been throwing short passes, especially against zone coverage. This means Travis Kelce is likely to be a top target. He’s been on fire lately, so you can’t go wrong stacking him with Mahomes.
But you’ll need another pass catcher since Mahomes doesn’t run much. DeAndre Hopkins hasn’t been involved, but Marquise Brown could be a good option if Mahomes goes deep.
In the backfield, Kareem Hunt is leading the way, but he’s not much of a passing threat. If you’re looking for a touchdown, he might be your best bet against a Buffalo defense that struggles against the run.
On the other side, Josh Allen will face a Chiefs defense that plays a lot of man coverage. He’s been running a lot against these types of defenses, so he might be a solid play on his own.
If you stack Allen, look at Khalil Shakir or Curtis Samuel as options. Shakir had a great game against the Chiefs last time, while Samuel is a bit of a gamble.
Dalton Kincaid is splitting time with Dawson Knox, making both of them risky plays. And it looks like James Cook is taking over as the Bills’ main pass-catching back.
One interesting lineup could be Allen, Hunt, Kelce, and either Brown or Worthy, hoping Allen can rack up points with his legs while Mahomes sticks to short passes.