FanDuel Stacks: Week 16

Brian Malone Posted On December 26, 2015

roethlisberger-brown Last week didn’t go very well, but Zach has offered me a chance to redeem myself in week 16. If you’re keeping track of my splits, I dominated in week 12 and struggled in week 15. Luckily, this is an even week, so you should probably play your entire bankroll based on my advice! [Editor’s note: please don’t play more than you can afford to lose this week (or any week), especially based on Brian’s advice.]

Week 15 review

Meh.

The best stack listed last week was Russell Wilson (26.6 points) and Doug Baldwin (18.5). Unfortunately, it was in the “Fool’s Gold” section. Apparently the editors missed my last-minute email instructing them to make that the Stack of the Week. I take zero responsibility.

In fact, none of these misses were my fault, really. I mean, we knew David Johnson was a solid option, but no one could foresee him dominating on the ground to the tune of 187 yards and 3 touchdowns, not leaving Carson Palmer (15.0) and Michael Floyd (9.5) enough scraps to even post 2x value. I mean, at least they could have thrown one of those touchdowns to Johnson. Spread the wealth, Arians.

Meanwhile Tom Brady (18.7) and Rob Gronkowski (13.9) seemed primed for a monster day, but James White did his best Dion Lewis impersonation and Brandon LaFell looked like Brandon LaFell — the good version.

Eric Ebron (9.9) was the Lions’ leading receiver in a game where they scored 35 points. But he didn’t catch a touchdown, and Matthew Stafford (22.1) scored less than 4 FanDuel points in the second half. The Lions conservative play didn’t cost them the win (though it was close), but it did cost Stafford and Ebron drafters.

And then you have Alex Smith (12.5) and Jeremy Maclin (14.5), who put up solid value, but didn’t actually help you win anything. Actually, I really should’ve seen that one coming. My bad.

Anyway, on to this week’s stacks.

Highest Upside

Ben Roethlisberger ($8,900)

Antonio Brown ($9,300)

Martavis Bryant ($7,200)

Roethlisberger and Brown lit up the vaunted Broncos secondary last week, showing they’re matchup proof. This week they get the Ravens, who allowed 27 combined FanDuel points to Smith and Maclin last week. Plus, they have an expected team total of 29.5. I figure Roethlisberger and Brown are about three times as good as Smith and Maclin, so you can count on 81 points from that combo alone. Add in Martavis, who is good for another 30 points by himself, and you’re looking at a very nice start to the week. [inlinead]

Now, by spending up on the Steelers’ Passing game, you’ll have to spend down at running back, but that’s not a problem because . . . pay attention now . . . Christine Michael is only $5,500!!! That’s right, you get the Seahawks’ starting running back and the undisputed most athletic player in the league for $5,500! With Michael and the Steelers’ Passing game, you’re well on your way to the perfect lineup. In fact, this stack is so good, I’m not going to bother recommending any others.

[Editor’s note: Yes you are.]

OK, fine. How about the . . .

Stack You Can Use in Addition to the Steelers’ Passing Game

Karlos Williams ($5,400)

Bills DST ($4,600)

I like to think of Karlos Williams as a “dented can version” of Christine Michael. So I guess he’s as good a guy as any to fill the RB2 role for you. LeSean McCoy will miss this week’s game, and Williams has thrived as the lead back for the Bills. McCoy missed part of week three and all of week four, and Williams posted a combined 180 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in those weeks.

The Bills are 7-pont favorites at home against a Cowboys team starting Kellen Moore at quarterback. Buffalo’s locker room is in disarray, but even discontented guys like Mario Williams are playing for their next contract, so don’t expect them to roll over.

So, adding that to the Steelers’ Passing game and Christine Michael gives you basically a whole GPP-winning lineup. Which means my work here is done.

[Editor’s note: Humor us.]

Fine, I’ll keep them coming. Here’s one:

What Would Be a Very Good Stack if the Steelers Weren’t Playing the Ravens this Week

Blake Bortles ($8,200)

Julius Thomas ($6,500)

As I noted last week, the Saints are the worst team in the league defending against the tight end. That didn’t change, as they allowed Eric Ebron to post his second-highest yardage total this season. This week, the Saints travel to face Blake Bortles (a younger version of Matthew Stafford) and Julius Thomas (a touchdown-catching version of Eric Ebron). So I’m going back to the well.

Some might try to convince you to play Allen Robinson ($8,400) instead of, or in addition to, Thomas. But that would be insane because then you wouldn’t be able to afford Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant. Please think these things through.

And lastly,

Fool’s Gold

Russell Wilson ($8,800)

Doug Baldwin ($7,700)

You probably thought I was going to do something cheesy like make this one “everyone who isn’t part of the Steelers’ passing game.” Please. Give me some credit. Now, the reason for fading Wilson and Baldwin is obvious: Christine Michael is going to dominate the Seahawks’ offensive touches.

No seriously. The Seahawks face the Rams, who are the fifth-stingiest pass defenses in the league (for fantasy football purposes, at least). And they’re surprisingly generous against the run, ranking in the middle of the pack. The Seahawks are a 14.5-point home favorite, and they can’t afford to slip up, as they’re playing for their postseason. Expect them to dominate in all facets of the game, which means plenty of work for Michael and maybe even some of the other running backs, whoever they are. Wilson will have a low-volume day, and Baldwin’s streak of multi-touchdown games ends here.

[ad5]