It’s no secret that the Pro Bowl slate can be tough. Usually, it’s not even worth rostering the biggest names for the most expensive price tag, since the starters come out early and let some of the backups get their time to shine. That being said, there are going to be some pairings that have a good chance of standing out.
Here are some QB/WR stacks that I think could get a chance to pop in this year’s Pro Bowl:
AFC: Ryan Tannehill ($5,400) and Courtland Sutton ($4,200)
These are a couple of first-time Pro Bowlers that should be brought in as third-stringers in this game. In this situation, those are both good things. Being the last players to enter the game usually means extra playing time, and playing in your first Pro Bowl provides some extra motivation that a stack like Drew Brees and Michael Thomas might lack. The knock on Tannehill all season is that Tennessee didn’t need to use him because it ran the ball so much, but he was efficient when he did throw. The AFC handed the ball to a RB 11 times in the Pro Bowl last year, so Tannehill should be in this game to air it out. Sutton just happens to be one of the guys that should be out there working the hardest to get open in the second half — and it doesn’t hurt that he’s super affordable.
NFC: Kirk Cousins ($5,000) and Kenny Golladay ($4,600)
This will be the second Pro Bowl for Cousins, who saw a lot of volume when he played in the game in 2017 — 14/20 for 158 yards. With established veterans ahead of him in Brees and Russell Wilson, Cousins could play the full second half of this game. He was named as a replacement for Aaron Rodgers in the game, so maybe Cousins has some motivation to prove he belongs. Golladay is similar to Sutton in this stack. He’s a super talented target that’s built perfect for Pro Bowls where the deep ball should play a big role. This is Golladay’s first Pro Bowl, so he’ll be looking to show out.
Combo: Ryan Tannehill ($5,400) and Andre Roberts ($400) OR Kirk Cousins ($5,000) and Deonte Harris ($800)
This is where these stacks get interesting. I’ve already mentioned, I think Tannehill and Cousins should be the two most motivated QBs in the game, and I’d project each of them to lead their respective teams in snaps at the position.
We always forget about, or simply overlook the special teams players that get named to the Pro Bowl, but they play a role. Of course, Roberts or Harris could return a kick and get us six points, but I think we could see some targets for them as well. Once all the top WR names are out of the game, we could see these special teamers line up opposite guys like Sutton or Golladay. That’s a good reason to play the two earlier stacks, but also a great way to get value out of guys that are essentially free to play.
I go back to Anthony Sherman, who was named a Pro Bowler on special teams last season. He wound up making as large an impact on the game as anyone — three receptions for 92 yards, and four carries for 11 yards and a touchdown. Finding this year’s Sherman could be what breaks the slate.
I am an avid fan and user (my username is jedlow) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.