The 2025 NFL season has kicked off and there’s little time to waste heading into the Week 1 Sunday slate. We’ll preview several of the best stacks to insert into lineups for both DraftKings and FanDuel DFS contests.
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NFL DFS Week 1: Best DFS Stacks
DraftKings Salary: $50,000 | FanDuel Salary: $60,000
Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Player (Position) | Team | DK $ | FD $ |
| Michael Penix Jr. (QB) | Atlanta Falcons | $5,600 | $6,700 |
| Baker Mayfield (QB) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $6,600 | $7,900 |
| Ray-Ray McCloud III (WR) | Atlanta Falcons | $3,700 | $4,700 |
| Emeka Egbuka (WR) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $4,600 | $5,000 |
| Bucky Irving (RB) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $7,100 | $7,700 |
An NFC South rivalry game between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers is a recipe for production. The point total is 47.5, indicating oddsmakers believe this will be a high-scoring game.
Last year, both of these defenses allowed at least 5.5 yards per play, including 6.1 and 6.3 net pass yards per attempt. Michael Penix Jr. and Baker Mayfield are both valuable commodities in lineups, especially Penix, who had a full offseason to develop in OC Zac Robinson’s as QB1.
A lot of the Falcons’ top talent, like Bijan Robinson and Drake London, are too expensive. Ray-Ray McCloud III is a cheap streamer who will be either WR2 or WR3, as Darnell Mooney is currently tagged questionable with a shoulder injury.
There’s a palpable buzz about Tampa Bay’s rookie wideout, Emeka Egbuka. The first-round draft pick out of Ohio State is going to immediately get action on the field due to injuries in the Buccaneers’ wide receiving corps.
Egbuka is priced fairly high ahead of his debut but it could be worth the return on investment by stacking him with Mayfield. Tampa Bay’s franchise quarterback had a career year in 2024. He lost OC Liam Coen but Mayfield has had to adapt to new playbooks throughout his career.
Bucky Irving is an expensive prospect to roster in lineups this week. If he continues to be an asset in the passing attack like last year, recording at least three receptions in nine games, Irving is going to be worth the investment, particularly if he’s stacked with Mayfield.
Miami Dolphins vs. Indianapolis Colts
| Player (Position) | Team | DK $ | FD $ |
| Jaylen Waddle (WR) | Miami Dolphins | $5,700 | $5,500 |
| Tyler Warren (TE) | Indianapolis Colts | $4,400 | $5,100 |
| Tua Tagovailoa (QB) | Miami Dolphins | $5,800 | $7,300 |
| Josh Downs (WR) | Indianapolis Colts | $4,600 | $5,200 |
| Ollie Gordon II (RB) | Miami Dolphins | $4,200 | $4,300 |
The Dolphins and Colts game is an underrated matchup for stacking. With the unknown element of Daniel Jones starting as QB1 for Indianapolis in Shane Steichen’s offense, I’m going to be bullish on rookie tight end Tyler Warren.
Warren should have targets funneled to him all over the field. Tight ends are a safety blanket for quarterbacks who are either struggling or prefer making comfortable throws in the middle. At a fairly cheap price, Warren is a must-start.
The other Colts skilled player who could return value based on price is WR Josh Downs. Downs plays out of the slot and should be the other high-volume wideout with Jones under center. His speed can turn a quick reception into a huge chunk play.
Tua Tagovailoa is the most expensive player to stack amongst the five I’ve highlighted in this game. He’s a machine when the offensive line is giving him time to operate within head coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme.
Indianapolis finished 2024 ranked 29th in net yards per pass attempt. Jaylen Waddle is the Dolphins wideout I’m targeting, cheaper than Tyreek Hill, but also a proven veteran who can handle a big target share and turn it into touchdowns.
The unknown longshot, Miami rookie RB Ollie Gordon II, was a workhorse player during his tenure at Oklahoma State. Gordon slid to the sixth round before the Dolphins drafted him. Based on how much De’Von Achane was involved in the passing attack last season, Gordon could also steal some of those targets, along with getting high-value carries inside the red zone.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns
| Player (Position) | Team | DK $ | FD $ |
| Joe Flacco (QB) | Cleveland Browns | $4,900 | $6,600 |
| Jerry Jeudy (WR) | Cleveland Browns | $5,400 | $6,200 |
| David Njoku (TE) | Cleveland Browns | $4,700 | $5,700 |
| Mike Gesicki (TE) | Cincinnati Bengals | $3,600 | $4,900 |
| Andrei Iosivas (WR) | Cincinnati Bengals | $3,700 | $4,900 |
The Battle for Ohio sends Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on the road against the Cleveland Browns. Despite the perception that Cleveland is in a full rebuild due to its quarterback room, I believe there’s going to be a lot of DFS points in this AFC North tilt.
Burrow is overpriced, so we’re going to opt for Flacco instead at an affordable rate. He’s a proven veteran that has already spent time in head coach Kevin Stefanski’s system in 2023.
Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku are both key targets within the Browns’ offense. Flacco should have rapport built with them against a Bengals defense that struggled to stop opponents last season. Jeudy and Njoku are value plays compared to Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. If the Browns are going to try to keep pace with the Bengals, Flacco is going to pepper Jeudy and Njoku with downfield targets.
On the other sideline, I’m recommending Mike Gesicki and Andrei Iosivas from the Bengals’ offense. They are cheaper options but Gesicki is now entering his second season with Cincinnati and will likely feature in the slot.
With all eyes on Chase and Higgins, Iosivas and Gesicki could wind up benefitting from the way Cleveland plays its coverage. Iosivas is a former track runner who has high-end speed and underrated hands. Burrow looked to his WR3 in clutch moments last season, as Iosivas finished with 36 receptions for 479 yards and six touchdowns during his second NFL season.
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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for BettingPros and FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.