NFL DFS: Best Stacks for DraftKings Week 7 Main Slate

For those that have been reading my weekly NFL DFS article, I want to thank you for taking the time to view my content. And for those that are new here, I’ll explain how this article is going to be organized. Each week, I list my favorite stacks to target on DraftKings’ main slate for NFL DFS. Stacking is when you pair a quarterback with his pass-catchers or running back to get the most correlation possible in your lineups. Along with my favorite stacks, I will proceed to list my favorite bring-back options from the opposing team. It has been shown that having a player on the opposite team as your stack can be beneficial as it adds even more correlation. A bring-back player could be any position that isn’t a quarterback or a defense, so the possibilities are bountiful. If you ever need any aid on creating lineups or anything fantasy football related, you can reach me @skyler_carlin on Twitter. With all of that now bouncing around in your head, here are my favorite stacks and bring-back options in Week 7.

Favorite Stacks

KC: Patrick Mahomes ($8,400), Tyreek Hill ($8,600), Travis Kelce ($7,600), Mecole Hardman ($4,300)

Given the circumstance of this week, I guess I’ll use Mahomes in my lineups. Mahomes is just one of two quarterbacks remaining (the other is someone mentioned later in the article) that has recorded 20+ DraftKings points in each of the first six weeks, so the floor is certainly there. And while Mahomes has a floor of around 20 points, he could reach his ceiling this week against the No. 27 ranked pass defense in DVOA in the Titans. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce are both the main beneficiaries in the offense, seeing a combined 53.89% target share for the Chiefs. Hill didn’t practice in back-to-back days heading into Friday, but he did the same routine last week before suiting up in Week 6. Mecole Hardman is a cheaper option at wide receiver if you are looking to get exposure to the passing attack of the Chiefs.

Bring-back options: Derrick Henry ($9,200), A.J. Brown ($6,300), Julio Jones ($6,100), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine ($3,300)

Where would the Titans be without Derrick Henry? Henry has 100+ rushing yards in five straight games and he’s accumulated an eye-popping 10 rushing touchdowns in that same span of time. With Tennessee wanting to limit the possessions that Mahomes gets, Henry should be extremely busy — like usual — against Kansas City’s second-worst ranked defense in rush DVOA. A.J. Brown has been on the injury report for an illness and is questionable for Week 7. Julio Jones is also questionable with a hamstring injury that he suffered in Week 6, which could have been a reaggravation of his previous hamstring ailment. It seems like Brown has the better shot to play, and if Jones is ruled out, then Nick Westbrook-Ikhine could be a value wideout that could return value in a projected high-scoring contest.

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LAR: Matthew Stafford ($7,100), Cooper Kupp ($8,400), Robert Woods ($6,400), Tyler Higbee ($4,500), Van Jefferson ($3,500)

Matthew Stafford will face his former team in the Detroit Lions in Week 7. Stafford has been remarkable for the Los Angeles Rams, eclipsing 20+ points on Draftkings in five out of his first six games this season. The veteran signal-caller is on the team that holds the highest projected total on the slate, setting him up for multiple touchdowns through the air. Cooper Kupp eats breakfast with Stafford so not much more needs to be said. Robert Woods has had one explosive performance this season, but he could remedy that this Sunday versus the Lions. Jefferson is capable of finding the end zone as the No. 3 wide receiver on the Rams as he’s seen no fewer than three targets in each game this season. Tyler Higbee is an option at tight end if you want to differentiate yourself from those that use Kelce, Darren Waller, or Mark Andrews. I’m not against using Darrell Henderson in stacks as he should be one of the top performers at running back barring an injury.

Bring-back options: D’Andre Swift ($6,000), T.J. Hockenson ($5,100), Kalif Raymond ($4,700), Amon-Ra St. Brown ($4,100)

You might need to take Excedrin if you’re going to try and determine who the reliable options are in Detroit’s offense. Of the skill players on the Lions, D’Andre Swift has had the most consistent role on the team, seeing a healthy 42 targets in the first six weeks. Most of his production has come in garbage time, which is completely fine considering that the Lions are expected to be down by a ton of points in Week 7. T.J. Hockenson is questionable, and if he’s available, then he becomes the second-best option from the Lions. If you’re adamant about having one of the wide receivers from Detroit’s aerial attack, then Kalif Raymond and Amon-Ra St. Brown are the two best options with Quintez Cephus and Tyrell Williams sidelined.

BAL: Lamar Jackson ($7,400), Mark Andrews ($6,000), Marquise Brown ($5,800), Rashod Bateman ($3,400)

If I was given a vote for NFL MVP, I’d give it to Lamar Jackson right now. Jackson has carried a hobbled Baltimore Ravens squad to an impressive 5-1 record thus far. For fantasy football, Jackson has been fantastic as he brings a solid floor with his production on the ground. Jackson leads the Ravens in rushing with 392 yards and Latavius Murray could be out on Sunday. When Baltimore has Jackson put the ball in the air, Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown are his two favorite targets. Andrews is one of the top selections at tight end and allows you to save some salary from Kelce. While Brown is the wide receiver to have on the Ravens, rookie Rashod Bateman did lead Baltimore in targets in his season debut in Week 6 despite seeing just 65% of the offensive snaps. Bateman is a perfect salary relief option for those that play cash contests, especially if Sammy Watkins is out for the second consecutive week.

Bring-back options: Joe Mixon ($6,500), Ja’Marr Chase ($6,200), Tee Higgins ($4,900), Tyler Boyd ($4,700)

The Joe Mixon haters were seething with anger in Week 6 as the dynamic running back for the Cincinnati Bengals posted 153 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown against the Lions. Mixon seems to have his usual workload again after being limited to an extent in Week 5. Ja’Marr Chase is Joe Burrow’s favorite weapon and he continues to score touchdowns. Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are viable ways to leverage against those that use Chase. Of the three wideouts on the Bengals, Higgins might be my favorite of the bunch in a game where Cincinnati may be playing from behind.

MIA: Tua Tagovailoa ($5,500), Jaylen Waddle ($5,600), DeVante Parker ($5,000), Mike Gesicki ($4,700)

The Miami Dolphins have done a woeful job at expressing their support for Tua Tagovailoa. While Tagovailoa hasn’t proven he’s a franchise quarterback just yet, he had one of his best performances in Week 6 as he threw for 329 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. It was his first game back from a three-game absence due to a rib injury. With Tagovailoa back in action, Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki become premier value plays at their respective positions. Gesicki has the third-most air yards among tight ends and when he’s on the field, there’s a good chance he’s running a route. DeVante Parker could return to the offense, so the Dolphins could have three viable choices versus an Atlanta Falcons defense that is allowing the ninth-most points per game on DraftKings to wide receivers.

Bring-back options: Calvin Ridley ($6,600), Cordarrelle Patterson ($6,300), Kyle Pitts ($5,900), Mike Davis ($5,200)

It appears as if Calvin Ridley was able to get himself healthy over Atlanta’s bye week in Week 6. Ridley missed Week 5 for the Falcons, which helped Kyle Pitts have the best game of his young career in the NFL. While Ridley has been hard to trust this season, he’s in a perfect get-right spot as he squares off with the Dolphins. Miami’s defense is giving up the third-most points per game to wide receivers on DraftKings. If Byron Jones and/or Xavien Howard is ruled out for Miami, then Ridley gets an even bigger boost. Cordarrelle Patterson has been a pleasant surprise in fantasy football despite seeing fewer than 50% of the offensive snaps for the Falcons in four out of their first five games. Pitts is a viable tight end while Mike Davis gives us a decent floor but a limited ceiling at the running back position.

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PHI: Jalen Hurts ($6,900), DeVonta Smith ($5,400), Dallas Goedert ($4,600), Jalen Reagor ($3,800)

As mentioned above, the only other quarterback besides Mahomes to produce 20+ points every single week thus far on DraftKings is Jalen Hurts. Yes, Hurts hasn’t looked like a great NFL quarterback in real life. But in fantasy football, he’s exactly what you want in a quarterback as he’s able to overcome his flaws as a passer with rushing upside. DeVonta Smith has the highest ceiling of any of the pass-catchers on the Eagles as he could break loose for a big plat at any moment. Dallas Goedert has been cleared from the reserve/COVID-19 list and should see an expanded role with Zach Ertz being traded from Philadelphia. While Quez Watkins has seen more targets than Jalen Reagor in recent weeks, this just feels like a week where Reagor could have a productive game.

Bring-back options: Darren Waller ($6,700), Josh Jacobs ($6,200), Henry Ruggs ($5,500), Hunter Renfrow ($4,800)

On the other side of the field, Derek Carr has been performing well for the Las Vegas Raiders. Darren Waller hasn’t seen an enormous target share since Week 1, but it’s just a matter of time before he has one of his explosive outputs. Josh Jacobs could have success against a weak run defense of the Eagles. However, I don’t see him as a running back that reaches his ceiling and there are better options in the same price range. Henry Ruggs has had something of a breakout season for the Raiders as he leads the league with 22.3 yards per reception on 20 receptions. Hunter Renfrow has a relatively solid floor in PPR formats, but he doesn’t have a high ceiling as he operates in the short-to-intermediate range of the field for the Raiders.