Top DFS Game Stacks and Leverage Plays for DraftKings

In this article, I'm going to take a deeper dive into game stacks and leverage options. Let's first take a look at what injuries could affect the 12-game main slate.

Visit RotoWire's DFS Top Plays page to see our recommended targets!

*No weather issues to monitor.

Injuries to Monitor

Jauan Jennings : Jennings (shoulder) logged a limited practice Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday. Should he miss the game, Ricky Pearsall ($5,300) would be in line for a big target share. 

Wan'Dale Robinson : Robinson was a limited practice participant the last two days with an ankle injury after catching 6-of-8 targets for 55 yards in Week 1. I think he'll play, but if he's unable to go, Malik Nabers ($7,100) is the only receiver I'd feel comfortable rostering.

Analyzing Game Stack Rankings for Maximum DFS Impact

Here is how each game ranks in implied points, projected pace/plays per game and how popular we expect each game stack to be in GPPs:

There are a lot of different ways you can form a game stack, with my primary option being a QB with two pass catchers (due to correlation) and one player from the other team (commonly referred to as a bring-back). QB-WR-WR and bringing back a WR is the most popular, but I'm fine going with a TE as one of the pass catchers or an RB from the opposing team. 

My preferred stacks

NYG/DAL: Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson with Malik Nabers

JAX/CIN: Trevor Lawrence, Brian Thomas and Travis Hunter with Chase Brown

CIN/JAX: Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with Travis Etienne

DEN/IND: Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin with Tyler Warren

My under-the-radar stack this week is Denver. Nix went for at least 29.8 DK points in three of the final 10 regular season games last year, and I don't anticipate the Colts will be anywhere near as good defensively as Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins made them look last week. 

Key Leverage Plays for GPP DFS Success

In this section, I'll briefly discuss 10 players that we project to be rostered by less than 10 percent of lineups in GPPs. These can be used as contrarian plays to differentiate yourself from the competition. 

RB Saquon Barkley ($8,000) at KC: Barkley had a quiet Week 1 by his standards with 18.4 DK points, but he did have 22 touches and Hurts had two TD runs inside the 10. DFS players are going to pay up for Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey, leaving Barkley under-rostered.

RB James Cook ($6,400) at NYJ: Cook's snap share in Week 1 was his highest since Week 5 last year, and he took advantage with 102 yards and a score. It could've been even better but he was stopped at the one-yard line late in the game. The Jets also allowed 34 points to start the year.

RB Breece Hall ($6,200) vs. BUF: Braelon Allen had the summer hype but it was Hall who looked considerably better with 145 yards on 21 touches, although Allen did vulture a TD. Hall now faces a Bills defense that allowed 169 yards and two scores to Henry.

RB D'Andre Swift ($5,700) at DET: Swift was inefficient Monday night but did have all 17 of the RB attempts. Roschon Johnson will return from injury but it's likely he'll be eased back. Swift's usage is high for this range and a way to pivot off the more popular Travis Etienne and Tony Pollard.

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown ($7,000) vs. CHI: Concern over the Lions offense is likely overstated, especially after the Commanders struggled mightily against the Packers on Thursday. I have to think the Lions will be focused on getting their star receiver more involved in Week 2.

WR Tyreek Hill ($6,400) vs. NE: It was a disastrous season opener for the Dolphins but this salary is just too enticing to pass up. Hill still led the team in targets and the Patriots allowed Jakobi Meyers to go for eight catches and 97 yards on 10 targets.

WR Davante Adams ($5,900) at TEN: Puka Nacua continued where he left off last season, but Adams quietly had eight targets while nobody else on the team had more than two. I'll take the $1,700 discount on him in a favorable matchup against the Titans.

WR DK Metcalf ($5,900) vs. SEA: Metcalf had a solid 24.1 percent target share in his first game with Aaron Rodgers and it's hard to imagine that gets lowered much in this receiving corps. The Seahawks allowed a 100-yard receiving game to Pearsall last week.

WR Rome Odunze ($4,800) at DET: DJ Moore led the Bears with 68 receiving yards but it was Odunze who led them in targets (nine to Moore's five). That 26.5 percent target share isn't something you find often at under $5k.  

WR Elic Ayomanor ($3,200) vs. LAR: At first glance, it was an uneventful debut for the rookie Ayomanor as he posted a 2-13-0 stat line. However, he had seven targets and looks to clearly be the team's No. 2 WR. He'll benefit from a home matchup on top of not having to play the stout Denver defense.