NFL DFS – Main Slate Optimizer Groups & Stack Rankings – Week 7 – Sunday Update

The Week 7 slate brings a mixture of quality that does not inspire much enthusiasm around the industry. There are several games carrying totals at or below 40 points in Vegas, with only the Chargers vs Chiefs game cracking even 48 points and no game over 50. There are a few strong value options on the board, as can be found in both our quarterback rankings and the stack rankings board below, and a few of the more popular spots on the board should be highly owned for good cause. A few key value options include Joshua Dobbs and the Cardinals’ passing game as well as Geno Smith and his Seahawks as one of the leading quarterbacks on the slate, and Jordan Love whose Packers will be taking on the inept Denver defense at very fair prices. Veteran backup Brian Hoyer is taking the reins for Las Vegas this week, while the Bears will be rolling with an undrafted backup quarterback who doubles as the NCAA’s all-time touchdowns leader. Hoyer is a potentially sneaky value option at a very cheap price on the DraftKings slate, where he ranks 10th by points-per-dollar value despite a limited overall scoring projection, his three strong skill player options make for good stacking considerations. This is a slate that demands a broad spread across lineups with a bit of a lean toward skinny stacks with non-required bring-backs in most situations.

This article focuses on building lineups with a quality foundation by utilizing the powerful Groups and Rules/Limits tools within the industry’s optimization tools. All of the concepts and pairings included below can be applied to hand-building as well. The goal is to create lineups that have high-scoring correlation and take advantage of combined outcomes within stacks while limiting the likelihood of building inefficient or negatively correlated entries for a full slate of NFL DFS lineups.

This video was made in a former life and features a detailed demonstration of how to apply these concepts in one leading optimizer tool: Fantasy Cruncher – How-To Video

All references to Sims were done via friends of the site: acemind.io

Don’t miss the new Above/Below feature article for a few of our top picks

Catch up on Saturday’s game-by-game breakdown of every little piece of the slate, starting at 6:30 ET…

Week 7 DraftKings & FanDuel NFL DFS Stack Rankings

The following stack rankings were created by pairing each team quarterback with his top three scoring options, whether they are three wide receivers, two wide receivers and a tight end, a wide receiver, tight end, and running back, or any viable combination. In some cases, an expensive running back, such as Tony Pollard, can push the overall price point of his team stack in the value rankings.

Week 7 DraftKings & FanDuel NFL DFS Stacks & Optimizer Groups

Overview

Rules and limits are powerful tools for lineup creation for NFL DFS where our primary focus is creating highly correlated lineups via stacking players from the same game. Lineups will typically be coordinated around the quarterback selection, which informs at least one pass-catcher choice, establishes a budget, eliminates a defense, and sets the tone for the lineup. We will typically look to correlate a quarterback and at least one of his pass-catchers in every lineup, with most of those including a skill player from the opposing team who will have a chance to support the stack in a high-scoring game that drives offense on both sides to create additional correlated scoring potential. Stacking multiple pass-catchers in the same lineup is a sound approach as well, though there are typically overall ceilings on how much volume is available at any given position. We do not typically include running backs who are not pass-catchers as priorities in NFL DFS groups, they typically stand alone with the selection of the quarterback-based stack informing remaining salary which then informs the running back selections. High-volume backs and pass catchers out of the backfield can be included in the groups utilized below, but it is frequently not necessary to do so with the very best players, they arrive in lineups without help.

The following rules and limits are typically applied in an optimizer’s Advanced Options menu. Notes are included to elucidate the reasons behind each rule and to explain what it does during the lineup creation process. These settings can typically be saved for re-use, which is highly recommended. Saving the Week 1 groups that will be created below is also a very good idea to save time with updates instead of recreation each week. These groups are created manually, but most optimizers include automated group creators that can help accelerate the curation process.

DraftKings + FanDuel Settings & Advanced Options

Unique Players Per Lineup– This setting forces the optimizer to utilize at least X new players who were not in Lineup 1 when it creates Lineup 2, and so on. It is recommended to utilize at least two, and more can be applied depending on the degree of differentiation desired within lineups.

Team Salary– a minimum or maximum salary spend can be applied here as needed, though this is not a part of the recommended process in this space as leaving salary on the table is an easy path toward creating unique lineups while not necessarily making a negative expected value play.

FLEX position– allows restrictions on what positions can be rostered at the FLEX spot. The only position to consider in this case is tight end, but that is something to be restricted at the individual level via Groups, rather than at the global level.

Global Exposure Setting – allows caps on the maximum percentage of lineups a player can appear in within a given pool of lineup construction. This is a powerful tool for shaping lineups but if settings are too low attempts to build a full set will fall short due to a lack of available players, one of the most common errors in optimizer building. Most optimizers include the ability to calculate ownership caps continuously or at the end of the pool creation process. If caps are calculated continuously, a player with a 25% cap who is utilized in Lineup 1 will not be available for use again until Lineup 5 , we recommend turning OFF continuous calculation.

Randomness – provides a random multiplier to each player’s projected point total based on the set values. This is a valuable tool that helps differentiate lineups instead of simply creating them in order of highest median projected scores. Using some randomness for lineup generation is strongly recommended but the degree to which it is applied is down to personal preference, but 15-25% is fine to get started. We suggest heavier randomness to more event-based players like wide receivers while tracking volume-based positions like running backs more toward their median or ceiling projections.

DraftKings + FanDuel Team Stack Rules

This set of rules will force optimizers to build lineups with certain combinations. We are looking to stack at least one skill player, almost always a pass-catcher, with his quarterback while also playing a skill player from the opposing team in the lineup. The theory behind this build is that a high-scoring stack will require some response from the opposing team to deliver a ceiling score in most situations. When that is not the case, the team that is winning will simply slow down and run out the clock. Most optimizers utilize a “complete the sentence” approach for rule creation with selections from drop-down menus following a very straightforward logic. Exceptions to these rules can be added for specific teams and players on most optimizer products.

• QB with at least one WR/TE from Same Team (note: It is fine to set this to two or to utilize two versions of this rule, one with WR/TE and one with RB/WR/TE, but we refine this via Groups)
• QB with at least one RB/WR/TE from the Opposing Team (we typically prefer the pass-catchers but high-volume running backs can be effective here)
• QB with at most zero DST from the Same Team (this is a personal preference; high-scoring teams and quarterbacks tend to leave their defenses on the field, exposing them to simple point-scoring negatives)

Limits & Custom Rules and Requirements

Limit rules can be applied to restrict certain combinations from coming together. This is powerful for limiting multiple running backs from the same team or getting overweight to a certain stack within a lineup.

• Limit QB/RB/WR/TE from Same Team to three
• Limit RB/WR/TE from the Same Team to one unless paired with QB from the Same Team OR the Opposing Team
• Limit RB from Same Team to one (we also do this with WR in a separate rule that adds an “unless paired with QB or opposing QB” but it’s a personal preference for NFL DFS, we typically do not want two pass-catchers from the same team without their quarterback)

We will maintain the list of rules and limits throughout the season, with occasional tweaks, if needed. Each week sees yet another fresh crop of value plays as situations change and injuries create opportunities around the league. These changing roles and emergent value plays are accounted for in the process of creating these groups from week to week. After a large pool of lineups is created utilizing these groups, it is still of critical importance to filter them for factors including ceiling projections and leverage potential. These groups should help ensure that a highly correlated premium set of options that rotates through a variety of combinations is utilized to create the full lineup pool.

Sunday Updates

Any changes and recommended boosts to specific players will be provided in an early morning update each Sunday.

NFL DFS Week 7 Features & FREE Projections

• Week 7 FanDuel & DraftKings Projections – FREE
• Week 7 Above/Below – Key Picks
• Week 7 Quarterback Scoring & Value Rankings
• Week 7 Running Back Scoring & Value Rankings
• Week 7 Pass-Catcher Scoring & Value Rankings
• Week 7 Defense Scoring & Value Rankings

Construction Concept

Team groups are built by utilizing the quarterback as the KEY player in group settings. The quarterback decision in each lineup is the driving factor in which stack is utilized in that lineup and which corresponding plays are then made to work within the structure and requirements. Built to specification, each team will have two groups, a team group, and an opponent group, both of which utilize the same quarterback as the key player. Each game will have a total of four groups. This is the best approach to truly capture the requirement of playing individual “run-back” plays from the opposing team. A more basic approach would be to include all of the skill players from a game in each quarterback’s group and rely on rules and limits to restrict any potential overflow. It is highly recommended to save the Week 1 groups as a foundation that will be updated for the rest of the season. The recommended groups will include skill players who have an active role in their offense and provide significant correlation with their quarterback’s scoring, often bell-cow running backs who do not specialize in the passing game will not be included in groups as they are projected highly and appear on their own in basically correct distributions, while also not always providing the strongest positive correlation plays. Stacking quarterbacks with pass-catchers and allowing running backs to fall into the lanes then created by settings, available salary, and randomness should create a well-distributed set of quality lineups. These groups are updated weekly to account for changes in utilization, schemes, injuries, target shares, and more.

Team Groups for DraftKings & FanDuel – Week 7

The goal is to create a large pool of well-built lineups that can be utilized in any large-field GPP contest. Our approach is to build far more lineups than needed and utilize a sorting table or sim process to filter to the best set of lineups for entries. The lineups created in these crunches should provide a broad distribution that includes some of the lower-owned high-upside skill players from each stack. Applying boosts is critical in pushing and pulling ownership to individual players within their team’s stacked lineups if they are appearing too much or too little.

The groups below are designed so that each quarterback will have two groups to create, one with his skill players and another with the opposing team. A more basic approach would be to add them all to one large group with an “at least three” and let rules and limits set things, but there is a more granular level of control in creating them separately.

Utilizing two groups also allows us to place running backs into the “run-back” position in certain teams while not including them in the primary stack for their team. This is useful when there is a situation with an extremely highly projected running back who does not necessarily fit into his team’s passing game. These players are threaded throughout the following construction recommendations.

Note for the Rotogrinders optimizer, we recommend trimming the automatically created groups that can be accessed under Team Groups, Opponent Groups, and Max Position Groups to match these groups for lineup building. We typically utilize the Stacks tab to enforce constructions as well, but a key requirement is missed in the automated groups. The Max Position groups need the manual addition of the running backs and tight ends to the group that is created with the wide receivers with a setting of max 1 and the team’s quarterback selected as a key player with the designation of using that group when the quarterback is NOT in the lineup. This is done to eliminate the possibility of three skill players from the same team appearing at running back, tight end, and wide receiver together without their quarterback involved. A simple limit of three players per team will keep things to just a quarterback with two skill players in stacks after that. Update: if one were to reset their saved settings on RG’s optimizer new options will reveal themselves, including thankfully a toggle to take care of this from the main build rules page. There is also a non-QB group with a max-1 setting that works better for this purpose because the toggle on the main page will limit stacks to just a 1-1 combination, seemingly as a bug.

Note for all optimizers the rules can be utilized to force bring-back plays in some sets of crunches and turned off for others as a global function instead of changing each group to “exactly one” bring-back play, wherever applicable, but it will apply to all teams.

Arizona Cardinals

Key Player: Joshua Dobbs

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore, Zach Ertz, Michael Wilson, Trey McBride

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: DK Metcalf (Q), Tyler Lockett, Kenneth Walker III, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Noah Fant

Lineup Notes: we like both sides of this game, the Cardinals are a leading value stack in what could be a bit of a shootout if Dobbs returns to his early season form in a good matchup. Trey McBride is an addition from the first cut, he saw an uptick in opportunities in the team’s most recent outing with five targets on a season-high 20 routes run. Jake Bobo would be a dart-throw addition to the bring-back group if DK Metcalf sits, he is a game-time decision.

Atlanta Falcons

Key Player: Desmond Ridder

Setting: exactly one

Team Group: Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith, Mack Hollins, Van Jefferson (more of a large field dart throw)

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Cade Otton, Trey Palmer

Lineup Notes: Both Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts share their jobs with capable backups in Tyler Allgeier and Jonnu Smith, both of whom have been regularly involved at levels exceeding that of more prominently owned players around the industry. Smith caught 4 of 5 targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 while Pitts also scored while catching four of six targets for 43 yards. Robinson carried the ball 13 times and was targeted another eight times with five catches for a total of 80 yards in Week 6 while Allgeier received 13 carries and posted 51 yards in Week 6 and had 17 carries for 40 yards the week before while also receiving significant carries in the red zone. Overall this game is potentially a better source of skill players as individual one-off options on either side, both teams have relatively effective defenses and at lower-echelon quarterbacks.

Baltimore Ravens

Key Player: Lamar Jackson

Setting: at most two (using an “at most” setting allows for lineups with Jackson on his own)

Team Group: Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Josh Reynolds, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond (large field)

Lineup Notes: the defenses on both sides of this game are solid but there are capable quarterbacks with a few good weapons in play in a short week and this game is among the better overall totals in Vegas, we will have pieces of both stacks. Kalif Raymond is an addition to the bring-back group for Detroit as a bit of a dart throw for large-field contests.

Buffalo Bills

Key Player: Josh Allen

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Stefon Diggs, James Cook, Gabe Davis, Dawson Knox, Dalton Kincaid, Deonte Harty (large field), Trent Sherfield (large field)

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Rhamondre Stevenson, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry (Q), DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster

Lineup Notes: the Patriots are an extremely limited opponent for Buffalo, they will struggle to provide a good bring-back option and the Bills may get up by several scores early to limit the overall game ceiling. James Cook and Latavius Murray are in a bit of a job share situation in the Bills backfield, the group can, and perhaps should, be run at times without including either of the running backs.

Chicago Bears

Key Player: Tyson Bagent

Setting: exactly one

Team Group: DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, Darnell Mooney, Tyler Scott, Robert Tonyan

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs, Jakobi Meyers, Michael Mayer

Lineup Notes: the starting quarterbacks on both sides are out for this game, Raiders quarterback Brian Hoyer is an interesting DraftKings value option with several strong skill players for correlated scoring, the Raiders make an effective bring-back option in Bears stacks, but Chicago may be challenged to provide much fantasy scoring. Tyson Bagent is an undrafted quarterback who has the all-time NCAA touchdown passing record across all divisions of college football with 159, but he achieved the milestone at a D-II school, he has his fans in the industry as a sleeper play this week but we prefer the other side with far better skill player pairings. We are restricting Bagent to “exactly one” for skinny stacks, but these can be extended at will.

Cleveland Browns

Key Player: Deshaun Watson

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Amari Cooper (Q), Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt (Q), Elijah Moore, David Njoku, Donovan Peoples-Jones

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Michael Pittman Jr., Jonathan Taylor, Zack Moss, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce (Q)

Lineup Notes: Deshaun Watson is starting barring a morning setback, he projects as a good option on both sites against a pass funnel defense. The Browns have an excellent defense against the run and pass, Indianapolis will have its work cut out keeping pace, they were limited with Gardner Minshew at quarterback the last time out and they have a split backfield situation that is problematic for fantasy purposes. The Colts are potentially a better source of one-off plays than stacks this week.

Denver Broncos

Key Player: Russell Wilson

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Adam Trautman, Marvin Mims Jr. (large field), Brandon Johnson (large field)

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Aaron Jones (Q), Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Luke Musgrave, Jayden Reed

Lineup Notes: Denver is operating with a three-way split in the backfield with Javonte Williams being eased back into the primary role, Jaleel Mclaughlin and Samaje Perine are siphoning touches and lowering the ceiling for the entire backfield. Numbers are shining through on the Green Bay side in this game, the hope is that Denver can keep pace in the passing game.

Detroit Lions

Key Player: Jared Goff

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, Josh Reynolds, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond (large field)

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor (large field)

Lineup Notes: these teams are both good on both sides of the game, the defenses are solid and scoring will potentially be limited, but there is too much talent to ignore. Goff is in play as a strong quarterback option, the bring-back plays from Baltimore are somewhat dependent on Lamar Jackson having a good game but not doing all of the scoring on his own, but the Lions’ skill players are solid options even against an excellent pass defense. Jahmyr Gibbs is a playable option in stacks in his return to action.

Green Bay Packers

Key Player: Jordan Love

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Aaron Jones (Q), Luke Musgrave, Jayden Reed

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Adam Trautman, Marvin Mims Jr. (large field)

Lineup Notes: the Packers and Jordan Love are looking like a solid option against the inept Denver defense this week, the hope is that Russell Wilson can manage a throwback game to keep pace and push the overall total. AJ Dillon can be in our lineups but he is not a strong passing game option and does not need to be included in stack groups. The Packers have two strong wide receivers in Watson and Doubs as well as a good value dart of a target in Jayden Reed, who has seen a whopping nine targets in the red zone this season. Tight end Luke Musgrave is also a good positional option.

Indianapolis Colts

Key Player: Gardner Minshew II

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Michael Pittman Jr., Jonathan Taylor, Zack Moss, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce (Q), Drew Ogletree

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Amari Cooper (Q), Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt (Q), Elijah Moore, David Njoku, Donovan Peoples-Jones

Lineup Notes: Minshew and his Colts are not a high-priority stack against an outstanding Browns defense, Indianapolis is a reasonable source of one-off talent in other lineups and as bring-back options against Watson-Browns stacks. Both Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss have seen enough action in the passing game to warrant inclusion, but their timeshare in the backfield is not ideal, Taylor is our more highly projected and preferred option between the two.

Kansas City Chiefs

Key Player: Patrick Mahomes

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco, Rashee Rice, Kadarius Toney, Jerick McKinnon, Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman (acquired this week, expected to play), Noah Gray (large field)

Opposing Setting: exactly one (this can be set to “at most one” to make bring-back plays optional instead of required in this target game)

Opposing Group: Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer, Austin Ekeler, Gerald Everett, Quentin Johnston

Lineup Notes: this game has all the makings of a shootout, it is very likely to be the most popular of the slate on both sides. Mecole Hardman is a wildcard on both sites, he was just added to the team and has a totally undefined role but he knows the offense intimately and posted totals of 297 yards and four touchdowns in eight games with this team last year, with 693 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games in 2021,  nearly 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns combined across his first two full seasons in 2019 and 2020. Noah Gray was also added as a large field cheap tight end dart throw as a way to diversify Chiefs lineups with a player who is still drawing regular snaps, routes, and targets. Gray ran 21 routes on 39 snaps in the team’s last game, catching two of two targets for 14 yards, he scored a touchdown in catching one of three targets in week 4 and was involved in the week 5 game with 25 routes and 2-2 receiving as well. Gray is a large field, touchdown-dependent dart throw option at best.

Los Angeles Chargers

Key Player: Justin Herbert

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer, Austin Ekeler, Gerald Everett, Quentin Johnston, Donald Parham Jr. (large field)

Opposing Setting: exactly one (this can be set to “at most one” to make bring-back plays optional instead of required in this target game)

Opposing Group: Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco, Rashee Rice, Kadarius Toney, Jerick McKinnon, Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman

Lineup Notes: this game has all the makings of a shootout, it is very likely to be the most popular of the slate on both sides.

Los Angeles Rams

Key Player: Matthew Stafford

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell, Tyler Higbee

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Jaylen Warren, Allen Robinson II, Calvin Austin III, Connor Heyward (large field)

Lineup Notes: The Rams lost Kyren Williams and will be going into action with Zach Evans, Royce Freeman, who has been largely irrelevant since 2019, and Darrell Henderson Jr. who was signed off the street and just added to the FanDuel pool. Overnight reporting suggests that Henderson and Freeman will carry the bulk of the workload, which turns the Evans value play on its ear. Henderson is far from a washed-up grizzled old veteran, he gained 283 yards and scored three touchdowns on 70 carries in 10 games for this team last year and had 688 yards and five touchdowns on 149 carries in 2021 with similar totals the year before and is just 24-years old. Henderson knows the offense well and could see touches immediately, casting some doubt over a buzzy value play, we greatly prefer the Rams passing attack. The Steelers have Diontae Johnson coming back and adding a weapon, George Pickens is a good bring-back receiver, and they have several capable parts but they will go only as far as Kenny Pickett can take them, which has not been far in 2023. Pittsburgh is without key tight end Pat Friermuth and will split the position with a slight lean in both routes and targets in favor of Connor Heyward over Darnell Washington in the last two contests.

Las Vegas Raiders

Key Player: Brian Hoyer

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker (large field), Michael Mayer, Austin Hooper (large field)

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, Darnell Mooney, Tyler Scott

Lineup Notes: this game has backup quarterbacks on both sides, Hoyer is a grizzled veteran who most recently threw 200 pass attempts in 2017 in six games with the 49ers. Hoyer was an encouraging 6-10 for 102 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in his appearance in relief last week, he posted an encouraging 13.5-yard average depth of target in the 10 attempts and has three excellent skill players in Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams, and Jakobi Meyers. Tre Tucker was added to the Raiders group as a large-field receiver option.

New England Patriots

Key Player: Mac Jones

Setting: exactly one

Team Group: Rhamondre Stevenson, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry (Q), DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mike Gesicki, Demario Douglas (large field)

Opposing Setting: exactly one

Opposing Group: Stefon Diggs, James Cook, Gabe Davis, Dawson Knox, Dalton Kincaid

Lineup Notes: the Patriots’ offense has been extremely limited, we do not expect much against a good Buffalo pass defense with a strong pass rush and pressure rate against struggling Mac Jones. Stevenson is playable as a one-off but he has not been good this year and Bourne has some volume-based potential. The Bills have plenty of solid bring-back options that would be nearly essential in most versions of a game in which the Patriots post a slate-winning combination, we are using an “exactly one” rule to ensure a correlated Bills play, but it can be turned off at will.

New York Giants

Key Player: Tyrod Taylor

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Saquon Barkley (Q), Darren Waller, Wan’Dale Robinson (Q), Darius Slayton, Jalin Hyatt, Isaiah Hodgins (large field), Parris Campbell (large field)

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Terry McLaurin, Josh Dotson, Brian Robinson Jr., Logan Thomas, Curtis Samuel, Antonio Gibson (large field)

Lineup Notes: Daniel Jones is questionable trending in the wrong direction OUT for Week 7 he will be replaced him with Tyrod Taylor. Taylor looked better than Jones in most aspects of throwing the ball in his start last week and would fill in admirably in this spot. All of the questionable skill players from the Giants are expected to suit up, this is a very limited stack with Washington looking like the better option in this game, but the Giants have some cheap potential with Taylor helming the offense, Wan’Dale Robinson in particular is an interesting value option. Darius Slayton sees plenty of snaps and runs routes but has provided limited output, Hyatt saw an uptick in involvement with Taylor in last week, while both Hodgins and Campbell have lost shares over the past two weeks and are providing very limited projections. Darren Waller has strong any given slate upside at the tight end position and should benefit from playing with Taylor.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Key Player: Kenny Pickett

Setting: exactly one

Team Group: Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Jaylen Warren, Allen Robinson II, Calvin Austin III, Connor Heyward (large field)

Opposing Setting: exactly one

Opposing Group: Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell, Tyler Higbee, Zach Evans

Lineup Notes: Diontae Johnson is coming back for Week 6 after missing all but 26 snaps in Week 1. Johnson had 48 yards on three receptions and six targets in the limited snaps early in the season and is fresh off the IR. George Pickens was 6-10 for 130 yards and a touchdown last week, he retains potential in the Steelers’ offense alongside Johnson, both should benefit from the limitations at tight end. Allen Robinson and Calvin Austin are limited third and fourth options who trail Jaylen Warren for upside in the passing game. Warren and Najee Harris split he backfield duties with Harris handling more early down rushes and Warren seeing more work in the passing game and at the goal line. The Rams have plenty of solid bring-back options that would be nearly essential in most versions of a game in which the Steelers post a slate-winning combination, we are using an “exactly one” rule to ensure a correlated Rams play, but it can be turned off at will.

Seattle Seahawks

Key Player: Geno Smith

Setting: at least one

Team Group: DK Metcalf (Q), Tyler Lockett, Kenneth Walker III, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Noah Fant, Jake Bobo (large field/if DK Metcalf is out), Colby Parkinson (large field)

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore, Zach Ertz, Michael Wilson

Lineup Notes: Geno Smith is one of our strongly projected and favored quarterbacks this week with everything looking strong for Seattle against the league-worst Denver defense. DK Metcalf is questionable and is a true game-time decision, the stack remains in play without him but is much stronger if he takes the field. Kenneth Walker III sees enough action in the passing game to warrant inclusion in stacks and Jaxon Smith-Njigba took a step forward in depth of target last week and could benefit from a Metcalf absence or limitation. The Cardinals have several good options in the bring-back slot to support the Seattle play, we will not force it initially but it is an option that should be toggled ON for sets of builds.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Key Player: Baker Mayfield

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rachaad White, Cade Otton, Trey Palmer, Deven Thompkins (large field)

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith, Mack Hollins, Van Jefferson (large field)

Lineup Notes: this game looks like a better source of one-off options with better skill players than quarterbacks but there is a bit of potential for an eruption of fantasy scoring from either side if the signal callers are on their games.

Washington Commanders

Key Player: Sam Howell

Setting: at least one

Team Group: Terry McLaurin, Josh Dotson, Brian Robinson Jr., Logan Thomas, Curtis Samuel, Antonio Gibson, Dyami Brown (large field)

Opposing Setting: at most one

Opposing Group: Saquon Barkley (Q), Darren Waller, Wan’Dale Robinson (Q), Darius Slayton, Jalin Hyatt

Lineup Notes: The Commanders look like a solid option against the extremely limited Giants’ defense. New York has managed a paltry five sacks in six games this season and Howell has weapons at his disposal. McLaurin and Dotson should be primed for big days and Samuel sees plenty of action in his featured role in the passing game. Logan Thomas could be a terrific tight end play for a fair price against a defense that has struggled against the position almost as an organizational philosophy over the years. Both Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson have potential against this defense as well. The Giants have limited but playable bring-back options, we removed both Isiah Hodgins and Parris Campbell based on their limited inclusion the past two weeks, they remain in primary stacks of Giants as large field options.

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