There are few things as exciting as the first week of NFL football. One could say that the only thing better than having the NFL back in full swing is stacking it with DFS main slates. Last week, stacks like Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett, Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill, or Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith helped people win some cash across multiple contests.
The aim here is to identify some of those key stacks to deploy as the foundation of winning lineups. Both Draft Kings and Fan Duel have adjusted some of their player pricing, meaning adjustments to roster construction. For additional help in compiling winning rosters, make sure you are utilizing the Lineup Optimizer.
There are some exciting potential games to explore for both sites, so let’s dive right in.
Create Optimal lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool 
Week Two Team Totals
For more detailed information on game lines and spreads, make sure you’re checking BettingPros.
Stacks to Target
DraftKings
Justin Herbert (QB - LAC): $6700 / Keenan Allen (WR - LAC): $7000 or Mike Williams (WR - LAC): $6100
Second-year pro Justin Herbert got off to a slow start last week in a matchup against the stout defense of the Washington Football Team. Undeterred, Herbert finished with 337 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. While not a stellar stat line, it was a passable performance against a very tough defensive unit. This week the Chargers host the high-octane offense of Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. With the highest implied point total on the slate, there are quite a few pieces to construct rosters with.
Let's start with Herbert and why he is an ideal quarterback to build a foundation with. Yes, he only threw one passing touchdown last week. Last season, he threw two or more touchdowns in 10 different games. On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys surrendered the sixth-highest fantasy points to wide receivers last season, and the fifth-highest points to quarterbacks this season.
Annually undervalued wide receiver Keenan Allen remains an absolute target hog and started the season with another double-digit target mark with 13 last week. His big-man counterpart Mike Williams saw 12 targets last week and came down with the lone receiving touchdown. The flip-side to this script is that Prescott and company have the firepower to move their offense and put points on the board, necessitating an aerial response.
With the $900 discount, Mike Williams is the preferred roster construction and high-upside play. His rostership percentage should remain marginally lower than Allen's. Meanwhile, Allen represents the PPR scoring appeal with all-but-guaranteed 10-plus targets in what should be a high-scoring affair.
Russell Wilson (QB - SEA): $7500 / D.K. Metcalf (WR - SEA): $7600 or Tyler Lockett (WR - SEA): $7200
Despite a respectable matchup week one against the Colts, Russell Wilson had zero problems hanging four touchdowns on the board. Four touchdowns and only five incompletions, to be precise. What remains truly impressive, is he managed this feat on 18 completions. The efficiency here is a crucial point that we will circle back to shortly. Wilson gets a $500 bump in cost and is the second-most expensive quarterback on the slate.
D.K. Metcalf started slow as he did not receive a target until the second half. His fourth-quarter touchdown grab salvaged his fantasy day, though disappointed those who had utilized him in their lineups. Tyler Lockett, on the other hand, impressed in that outing with 100 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was the recommended stacking option last week. However, that closed the salary gap by a significant margin. With the narrow difference and the softer defense, this is shaping up to look more like a Metcalf game.
The initial concern is with the softer defense how much will Russ need to throw to keep his team on top? Fair question. This is where efficiency comes into play. Wilson could end up doing most of his damage in the first half or into the third quarter and allowing the run game to close this one out. The offensive output last week from the Titans was more an outlier than what we have all become accustomed to, so expect them to be more competitive this week, which bodes well for more passing attempts from Wilson. Managers looking for a sleeper roll in this contest could include Gerald Everett at a measly $3600 for roster construction purposes and a pinch of touchdown upside.
Matthew Stafford (QB - LAR): $6400 / Cooper Kupp (WR - LAR): $6000 or Robert Woods (WR - LAR): $5700
After one week into the season, that ADP that was so heavily disputed throughout the preseason is completely null. Here we are, money on the line and the cheaper ADP option, Cooper Kupp is $300 more expensive than Robert Woods. Of course, this flip of the cost factor is influenced by Kupp's heavy involvement to the tune of a 38.5% target share. He also was mere inches away from adding a second touchdown to his 108-yard, one-score performance against the Bears. While either represents a solid investment, the $300 difference to add Kupp; a known red-zone monster, will probably be the more rostered option.
Matthew Stafford wasted zero time in assuring the Rams fans and staff that pursuing him via trade was the right call. Stafford was near perfect for over 300 passing yards and three (almost four) passing touchdowns. Now he draws a matchup against a Colts defense that was just fileted by Russell Wilson. Stafford is still bargain-priced in 4X territory in a game that could exceed the 47.5 implied point total. Managers looking to add depth could tack on $4100 for Tyler Higbee.
Honorable Mentions: Josh Allen, BUF ($7200) / Stefon Diggs ($7700) / Dak Prescott, DAL ($6800) / Amari Cooper ($6800) or CeeDee Lamb ($6400)
FanDuel
Jalen Hurts (QB - PHI): $7800 / DeVonta Smith (WR - PHI): $5600 or Dallas Goedert (TE - PHI): $5800
This may seem like an odd stack to start with, but hear me out for a moment. Over his last four complete games, Jalen Hurts is averaging 277.7 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 75.5 rushing yards, and .5 rushing touchdowns. This week he draws a matchup against the San Francisco 49ers who saw the Detroit Lions mount a bit of a comeback attempt in one of the crazier games last Sunday. Injury removed Jason Verrett due to an ACL injury and they are already struggling a bit filling the cornerback role. The defense has some holes.
We all know the threat Hurts presents with his legs, add some potential defensive mismatches and this could become an exploitable matchup. Dallas Goedert finished with 42 receiving yards and a score last week and could be in line for a similar stat line considering this secondary allowed T.J. Hockenson to finish with 97 yards and a score last week. However, there is some risk as Goedert is the third-highest tight end in the salary column.
The better value play seems to be DeVonta Smith. Smith finished with six targets, 71 receiving yards, and one score last week. He showed enough to be considered as a viable option, especially at a modest $5600 price tag. The sleeper pick in this matchup is receiving back Kenneth Gainwell ($5000) who finished with 12 opportunities and almost two scores in his NFL debut.
Kyler Murray (QB - ARI): $8700 / DeAndre Hopkins (WR - ARI): $8500
Yes, this is an expensive stack to target and will require some finesse to properly deploy, but could pay off big. Kyler Murray represents the most expensive quarterback on this slate after torching the Titans for five total touchdowns. His dual-threat ability was on full display, showcasing what appears to be continued growth as a pro. Murray did not need to rely on his legs and only totaled 20 rushing yards to pair with his one rushing score. Murray rushed for 20 or more yards in all but three games last season, meaning there is still plenty of meat on this bone.
What better pairing for the most expensive quarterback than the most expensive wide receiver? DeAndre Hopkins finished with six receptions, 83 yards, and two scores last week. The Vikings allowed the Bengals to battle back and win their week one matchup in overtime. They surrendered 261 passing yards and two touchdowns in that matchup and now get the fast-paced play style of Murray and company.
The stage is set for both Murray and Hopkins to score big and carry a lineup to some winnings. Christian Kirk is an option, but doubtful to repeat a two-touchdown performance. Rondale Moore also has some upside as he continues to get looks in this offense. Both represent potential upside tournament plays with risk.
Ryan Tannehill (QB - TEN): $7300 / A.J. Brown (WR - TEN): $7100
Let's be honest, Ryan Tannehill did not look good last week in a one-way stomping by the Cardinals. The offense as a whole did not look good. There are a couple of factors that could have contributed to the poor showing from the efficiency we have come to expect from Tannehill. Some believe it was just a bit of rust to knock off. Others point to the difference in the offensive scheme under new OC Todd Downing. With little preseason work in game type of situations and the significant reduction in play-action-based packages, the answer is most likely a bit of both. The fact is, a bad game from Tannehill is a rare sighting since assuming the starting role in Tennesee.
What this creates, my friends is a reduction in the expected roster-ship percentage. The Seahawks are going to score early against this porous defense, putting Tannehill in throw mode. The most explosive beneficiary of this is none other than A.J. Brown, who despite the lackluster score, still saw eight targets and came down with the touchdown. Tannehill and Julio Jones are not clicking yet, leaving Brown as the preferred weapon to utilize in lineups for the time being. Brown has seen seven or more targets in 12 of the last 15 games played. The targets should be there, and he remains a big-play threat anytime the ball is in his hands.
Honorable Mentions: Baker Mayfield, CLE ($7100) / Jarvis Landry ($6800) - Tom Brady, TB ($8200) / Antonio Brown ($6400) / Rob Gronkowski ($5800)
Create Optimal lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Beyond our daily fantasy football content, be sure to check out our Daily Fantasy Football Tools. From our Value Plays - which allows you to identify players who are projected to outperform their salaries - to our DFS Cheat Sheets - that helps you get a quick read on the day's players - we've got you covered this fantasy football season.
Beyond our daily fantasy football content, be sure to check out our Daily Fantasy Football Tools. From our Value Plays - which allows you to identify players who are projected to outperform their salaries - to our DFS Cheat Sheets - that helps you get a quick read on the day's players - we've got you covered this fantasy football season.
John Hesterman is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from John, check out his archive and follow him @John_Hesterman.
