Best Value QB/WR Stacks
Each week, with the help of our premium DFS Stacking Page, we’ll be diving into the main DFS slates for DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo to give you the quarterback-wide receiver stacks that represent the best value on the board.
When possible, we’ll look to avoid throwing out the obvious names. However, just because a player is well known, that doesn’t mean they’re the easy pick when filling out your roster — and it also doesn’t mean that their price tag accurately matches their potential production.
Last week, we were deprived of getting to see the Matt Ryan-Calvin Ridley combination against the Carolina Panthers, but Carson Wentz and Michael Pittman Jr. performed well in an overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans. Wentz threw for 231 yards with three touchdowns and Pittman had 10 catches for 86 yards and two scores.
With last week in the rearview mirror — the Colts already earned a win over the New York Jets last night — here are the five combinations we’re eying for Week 9 of the NFL regular season:
Baltimore Ravens (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
- QB – Lamar Jackson (DraftKings: $7,300 / FanDuel: $8,300 / Yahoo: $36)
- WR – Rashod Bateman (DraftKings: $4,000 / FanDuel: $5,400 / Yahoo: $16)
We never want to go out and suggest a player of Jackson’s caliber, as it definitely seems a little too easy. However, Jackson is insanely affordable when considering that the Ravens are coming off a bye week. Baltimore has now had extra time to prepare for a matchup with a Minnesota team that just lost to the Dak Prescott-less Dallas Cowboys.
This Vikings secondary allowed Cowboys backup Cooper Rush to march down the field for a game-winning touchdown drive last week, making it very difficult to imagine them finding a way to stop Jackson and the rest of a well-rested Baltimore offense. Jackson is ranked third in the NFL in fantasy points per game at the quarterback position, and he is even better when playing in front of the fans at M&T Bank Stadium. Look for him to show out in this one.
The best receiver to pair with Jackson in this game Bateman. The rookie is extremely cheap this week and should be in for a breakout performance. He had three catches for 80 yards last week and the Ravens have had some extra time to work him into the offense. Of course, it’d be understandable if you want to ditch a receiver and play Mark Andrews at tight end. This, however, would save you a lot of money, and Bateman won’t be rostered by that many players.
Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
- QB – Jalen Hurts (DraftKings: $6,700 / FanDuel: $7,800 / Yahoo: $30)
- WR – DeVonta Smith (DraftKings: $5,200 / FanDuel: $5,800 / Yahoo: $12)
This duo is tied for our top value on the board on Yahoo, but it should also perform nicely everywhere else. This game has the highest total on the entire slate, so you should expect some fireworks here.
Over the last three weeks, the Chargers are allowing an average of 34.3 points per game. They have been especially weak against the run, and they have actually allowed more fantasy points per game to opposing running backs than all but four teams this year. That might make it odd to be backing two members of the passing game, but Hurts is a dual-threat quarterback. He hasn’t run quite as much as people thought he would this season, but he should find some big openings this week. Also, whereas last week’s game script in a blowout win over the Detroit Lions didn’t allow him to throw the ball a lot, he should have to pass more in what is likely to be a close game.
As for Smith, the rookie has received at least nine targets in three of the last five games. He has serious big-play potential, but he’s also a polished route runner. Hurts might not have the most efficient passing game against this stout secondary, but he’ll go to the air pretty often and Smith is his favorite target.
New York Giants (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)
- QB – Daniel Jones (DraftKings: $5,600 / FanDuel: $7,300 / Yahoo: $25)
- WR – Kadarius Toney (DraftKings: $5,200 / FanDuel: $5,700 / Yahoo: $16)
The Raiders have a middle-of-the-pack fantasy defense when it comes to defending opposing quarterbacks, and Jones has an extremely high floor as a daily fantasy option. The 24-year-old rarely ever scores less than 15 or so fantasy points in a week, and it helps that he has the ability to run the ball. Jones has had five games in which he has rushed for at least 25 yards this year, and he also has two rushing touchdowns. It has, however, been over a month since Jones broke off a run of 20 or more yards, but he’s due for a big gainer soon.
Jones has also been throwing the ball very accurately in recent weeks, as he has completely 69.2% of his passes over the last two games. This week, Jones is set to get Kenny Golladay back from an injury. Golladay’s ability to stretch the field as a deep threat opens up a ton of space for the rest of New York’s receivers. That should help Toney, who has gotten five or more targets in three of the last four games.
This combination is one of our favorites across all daily fantasy sites, so you shouldn’t be afraid to fire it up anywhere. There’s probably more risk here than with the other options we’ll give you this week, but there’s also some real upside. It’s also affordable enough to allow you to spend up on a few stars.
Denver Broncos (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
- QB – Teddy Bridgewater (DraftKings: $5,300 / FanDuel: $7,100 / Yahoo: $24)
- WR – Jerry Jeudy (DraftKings: $5,000 / FanDuel: $5,800 / Yahoo: $20)
Bridgewater has somewhat burned fantasy players in recent weeks, and he really hasn’t been playing well in the weeks immediately leading up to this one. Denver earned a win over the Washington Football Team last week, but Bridgewater threw for just 213 yards and one touchdown in that game. The good news for those considering him is that he’s extremely cheap and shouldn’t be in too many daily fantasy lineups.
Dallas’ defense has been rock-solid all season long, which is a huge reason the Cowboys are playing so well right now. The team does, however, have an extremely explosive offense, and the passing game has all of the talent in the world. Prescott is an absolute monster at the quarterback position and has wideouts like CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper to throw to. With that in mind, the Cowboys should turn in a big offensive performance — despite the fact that they’re playing a very good Broncos secondary. If Dallas is able to start scoring at a high rate, that should help those that play Bridgewater. Having a quarterback that is playing catchup can be unbelievable for fantasy purposes, and this Cowboys defense is the type to give up some meaningless yards and scores.
Jeudy wasn’t anything special in his first week back, as he caught four passes for 39 yards against Washington. But the second-year stud looked healthy in that game and that’s really the most important thing. His numbers will come as he gets more comfortable playing after that ankle injury.
Houston Texans (vs. Miami Dolphins)
- QB – Tyrod Taylor (DraftKings: $5,000 / FanDuel: $6,900 / Yahoo: $24)
- WR – Brandin Cooks (DraftKings: $6,100 / FanDuel: $6,800 / Yahoo: $18)
Only two teams have given up more fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks than the Dolphins, and the Texans could be a little amped up with Taylor making his return under center. The 32-year-old hasn’t played since getting injured against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, but the dual-threat quarterback had looked awesome before that. Through two games, Taylor had thrown for 416 yards with three touchdowns, and he also added another 55 yards and a touchdown as a runner.
This week, there’s no reason to believe that Taylor won’t be able to find some success against Miami. It doesn’t hurt that the sharp money appears to be siding with the Over in this one, as it never hurts to have a fantasy quarterback involved in a somewhat high-scoring affair. Cooks, meanwhile, is an incredible option at wideout. On the season, the 28-year-old has been targeted 70 times. He has also made a lot of big plays, and Taylor likes looking in his direction.
