This piece will identify some of my favorite NFL DFS stacks of the weekend. Be sure to use our Stacking Tool within our Player Models to find the highest projected stacks, the stacks that figure to be chalky, and more. Our Correlation Dashboard is also an excellent resource for finding hidden edges in stacking positions and games.
You can also plug these stacks into our Lineup Builder to hand-build the rest of it, or you can optimize it with our projections. And if you like to create multiple lineups, our Lineup Optimizer allows you to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups.
The Lineup Optimizer has endless customization opportunities.
Oh yeah! And our SimLabs Lineup Generator gives you the ability to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
You can check out our in-depth SimLabs guide here.
Week 5 NFL DFS Stacks and Picks
Justin Herbert + Omarion Hampton + Quentin Johnston + Deebo Samuel
- Justin Herbert ($6,100 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel)
- Omarion Hampton ($6,500 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)
- Quentin Johnston ($5,700 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)
- Deebo Samuel ($6,300 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel)
With international games and the introduction of byes this week, the NFL DFS Main Slate is only 10 games in Week 5. Ownership will be more concentrated this week than in past weeks; however, building game stacks and focusing on one game is still the best way to get to the top of the leaderboard in tournaments.
The first game stack we will target is the Chargers and Commanders, which has a total of 47 points, with the Chargers being three-point home favorites. After a shocking loss to the Giants last week, the Chargers are looking to get back on track at home, where they are 2-0 with victories over the Chiefs and Broncos.
Justin Herbert leads the way at the quarterback position with a whopping 20.3% optimal rate in our NFL sims. The next closest player barely reaches 10%. Herbert will be popular, but deservedly so, ranking fourth in the league in passing yards and totaling seven touchdowns and three interceptions.
After being one of the best pass defenses in the league last year, the Commanders rank 28th in dropback EPA per play and are allowing 248.5 yards per game through the air through their first four weeks. Herbert is the best quarterback available this week and is still reasonably priced across the industry.
With veteran running back Najee Harris out for the season, rookie Omarion Hampton got his chance to shine last week and did not disappoint. Hampton had 100% of the team’s rushing attempts and delivered 128 yards on the ground, including one touchdown, and 37 yards through the air on five catches for a career-best 30.5 DraftKings points.
Hampton’s salary has increased a healthy amount, but he has been utilized incredibly well in this offense the past two weeks with 42 total touches. His value is still too good to pass up on this slate.
After such a great rookie season, Ladd McConkey has taken a backseat to veteran Keenan Allen and third-year breakout Quentin Johnston. McConkey makes the most sense on FanDuel due to his cheap price tag, but Johnston is the wide receiver to target on DraftKings. Johnston has double-digit targets in each of his last two games with four touchdowns throughout the first four weeks of the season.
Johnston leads the Chargers in target rate, ADOT, and air yards this season with 38%. He has an over 90% route rate in each of his last three games and has been Herbert’s top option. Johnston is averaging nearly 20 DraftKings points per game and is still priced in the mid-range on DraftKings at $5,700.
To make this Chargers stack have a little more upside, consider bringing it back with Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Keep an eye on his status because Samuel did not practice on Thursday, but he looks poised for another great week if he is able to suit up.
With Terry McLaurin out last week and for the foreseeable future, Samuel had his best game of the season with over 20 DraftKings points. Samuel hit paydirt and hauled in all six of his targets for 72 yards. He added three rushes on the ground and will now get quarterback Jayden Daniels back from injury. Samuel will be the focal point on offense for the Commanders this week.
According to the DraftKings sportsbook, currently 67% of bets have been placed on over 47 points in this game. There is potential for a high-scoring affair, but the Chargers side has more enticing fantasy options to target. Make them the focal point in this Chargers and Commanders game stack this week.
Don’t forget to check out our SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
Bryce Young + Tetairoa McMillan + De’Von Achane + Jaylen Waddle
- Bryce Young ($4,700 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel)
- Tetairoa McMillan ($5,700 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel)
- De’Von Achane ($7,300 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel)
- Jaylen Waddle ($5,400 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel)
The Panthers hosting the Dolphins may not be the best football purist watch on Sunday, but it has the potential for a plethora of fantasy goodness. With both teams holding a record of 1-3, this game total sits at 44.5 points, with the Panthers being 1.5-point home underdogs.
Both the Panthers and Dolphins are dealing with significant injuries to their offenses, which makes immediate value on both sides. Panthers’ running back Chuba Hubbard is expected to miss this week due to a calf injury, and Dolphins’ star wide receiver Tyreek Hill is out for the season.
Leading off this stack is quarterback Bryce Young, who has seen his salary drop to an astounding $4,700 on DraftKings. Getting a prime matchup against a Dolphins defense that ranks 31st in both defense and dropback EPA per play is a great spot to deploy Young. He has had a relatively slow start to the season, but this salary and matchup are too strong to pass up.
With Hubbard out, the Panthers may look to utilize Young’s rushing ability more, which increases his floor. He has rushed 10 times this season for 53 yards and a touchdown. With limited passing weapons, it would not be surprising if Young had a scramble rate more than his average this week.
Young’s number one option this season has been rookie Tetairoa McMillan. The wide receiver leads the team in every major receiving category and has a 25% target share. McMillan has yet to find the end zone but has averaged 8.75 targets per game with 41% air yards. It’s hard to find a player with better numbers priced under $6,000 for the fourth straight week.
Panthers’ backup running back Rico Dowdle is in play at his cheap price tag, but for this specific game stack, targeting the Dolphins’ top two weapons is the best route to take. That all starts with running back De’Von Achane, who has the highest optimal rate at the running back position in our NFL Sims at an incredible 46%! He is projected to be the most popular player on the slate, but it is hard to disagree.
Achane has a 77% route participation for the Dolphins, which is second only to Jaylen Waddle at 81%. More on Waddle later. Achane has not only seen his rushing attempts increase each week, but he is still heavily involved in the Dolphins passing attack with 19 targets already this season. With Hill out for the season, the Dolphins will become even more reliant on giving Achane the ball in space.
The Panthers had the second-worst tackling grade last season, which is music to the ears of a slippery running back. Lock in double-digit fantasy points for Achane this week with a massive ceiling if he is able to find the end zone. Achane is the best running back available in Week 5.
Jaylen Waddle has been a strong second option for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa but is now going to be his primary target. Waddle is off to a fine start, catching 17 of his 23 targets for 185 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage is down mainly due to the Dolphins’ slow offensive start. It would not be shocking if Waddle matched his yearly production in this week’s game.
Waddle will be a popular mid-range value play with his expected fantasy points continuing to rise without Tyreek Hill. Do not hesitate to put both Waddle and Achane in a lineup together to capture all Dolphins’ fantasy points this week. That’s if Darren Waller doesn’t steal all the touchdowns again this week.
Play Young paired with McMillan and use Achane and Waddle as the double bring back in Week 5.
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Pictured: Quentin Johnston
Photo Credit: Imagn
