With most fantasy championships finished, we have a unique opportunity. We now have more players flooding the DFS apps trying to get their fix of football. At first glance, this sounds like a bad thing for our chances. More players mean less chance of winning a slate, right? That’s wrong.
Now, we get to take advantage of the newbies, the novices and the rookies within this weekend’s slate. The biggest issue with this slate is playoff implications affecting who plays and how long. With this daunting new twist, we are here to help you build your stacks and construct a strong core to walk away at the end of the week with extra cash.
Let’s begin our breakdown with my favorite stack to look into this week.
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NFL DFS Week 18 Stacking Advice & Strategy
Andy Dalton + Chris Olave (QB +WR NO)
One of the most significant issues this week is wondering if someone will play the whole game. That issue is null and void within this game as both teams are out of the playoff race. We can now exploit a Panthers defense missing their best cornerback in Jaycee Horn, which has led to the team struggling in the passing game.
Over the last three games, the Panthers have allowed the eighth most passing yards in the NFL. the game narrative should lean towards Dalton throwing the ball efficiently again after coming off a game of extreme efficiency in completions.
We can stack Dalton with Olave in this game. Olave will face a lot of cover 1/3, which should allow him to operate freely on the outside. With his target share sitting at 28.6% and his target route per run sitting above 29%, we have the safe floor tied into our quarterback.
With Horn being injured, we now have a star wide receiver without dominant coverage. Olave can reach a ceiling game to end the season this Sunday.
Geno Smith + DK Metcalf (QB + WR Sea)
The Rams like to run cover 3/4 at a high rate. Geno has faced five games where teams ran this rate against him at 60% or more throughout the season. He was shut down by the San Francisco 49ers, like most opponents. However, in the other games, Smith averaged 322 yards, 2.3 touchdowns and 11.43 yards per attempt.
One of those games is against this week’s opponent, the Los Angeles Rams. In that game, Smith threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns. Usually, playing an opponent twice leads to lower totals for the quarterback position; however, Geno Smith will buck that trend this week.
When we look for players in our wide receiver positions, I like to look at those with elite athletic ability who also possess size. No player fits the definition quite like Metcalf. This combination of skill and size can break slates wide open and allow you to win the slate.
This week, Metcalf faces a defense that allows the fourth most receptions and the seventh most receiving yards. Plus, the bonus on Draftkings, where they allow the seventh most fantasy points per game to the wide receiver position.
If you want to break the slate, turn to the Seahawks, who have playoff implications on the line and stack this offense.
Cam Akers + Latavius Murray (RB LAR + RB DEN)
It’s Week 18 so let’s get weird with our “stacks.” This combination isn’t a stack in the conventional sense. However, we are discussing using a pair of players at a position. So first, let’s discuss Akers.
Akers has finished as a top-20 running back in two of his last three weeks. He has also surpassed 20 touches in two of the previous three weeks and topped 100 yards in two of the last three weeks. He has the volume in the Rams backfield locked up while facing a team in Seattle that allows the second most rushing attempts, sixth most rushing yards and fourth most rushing touchdowns.
This Seattle defense is also a bottom-ten team in the NFL when it comes to defending running backs in the passing game. Akers is lined up to be a volume play in an excellent game narrative; that’s just the combination we need to win some cash.
The other running back we should be looking into is Murray. With Murray’s age and the Broncos having Javonte Williams returning next year, this is probably his last chance to start in the NFL. He also faces a Chargers defense that allows the second-most rushing yards, fifth-most rushing touchdowns and the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the running back position.
The Chargers may also be resting their starters by the time this game begins, which is only another feather in Murray’s cap. With these two running backs giving you 30+ combined touches, your running back spots will be solidified, allowing you to take more opportunities elsewhere in your lineup.
If you need more help constructing your lineup, read the rest of our articles on FantasyPros or reach out to me on Twitter at @jpep20. Good luck with weekend 18!
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