Every fantasy football participant has slightly different beliefs about the best way to draft.
One tactic that has gained some traction in recent years is the stacking technique. This involves taking players from the same team who directly impact each other. Rather than having players who have completely independent values, stacking players makes each other’s production interdependent. The most common example is taking the top wide reviewer and quarterback from the same team.
Pros of Stacking
This is a volatile overall strategy as both players are dependent on each other. However, when the players are each playing well it gives an edge in the total points you can produce.
If your quarterback throws a touchdown to the wide receiver you also drafted, that is at least a 10-point play plus the yardage that occurred with it. These types of big swings can give your team the edge on winning the week.
To view it positively, stacking can help reduce the amount of variables that impact your chances. Having players on the same team creates a greater chance that they both have a great week than it would if they were in completely separate matchups.
For example, say you are deciding between drafting Jared Goff or Tua Tagovailoa. These quarterbacks hold an average ADP of 105.5 and 106.5 currently. If you already have selected Amon-Ra St. Brown, it may make sense to raise the ceiling of your team and stack this duo. This is not more important than weighting their overall ADP, but something to consider nonetheless.
Cons of Stacking
While it works great when both players are playing well, there also is some downside when you stack a pair of players.
In this same example, if Jared Goff has a down season, it directly impacts Amon-Ra St. Brown. The two will also face tough defenses at the same time and have the same bye week as well. Keeping in mind the bye week is especially important because eliminating two players from your regular starting team increases the chance of a loss significantly that week.
Injuries are a risk no matter how you cut it in fantasy football. But the impact of this is even greater when you are stacking players. For example, if Jared Goff were to suffer an injury, it would negatively impact St. Brown for as long as he is out. You essentially get punished double as you must find a new quarterback for your lineup and will be forced to endure reduced production from St. Brown until Goff gets back.
Top Stacking Targets
It is most important to approach the draft with your mind on making the right overall pick. However, if a good opportunity to stack arises, you should not avoid it.
Heading into the 2024 season, there are 12 combinations of top 30 wide receivers (ADP-wise) who will be playing with quarterbacks who are expected to be in the top 12 in ADP.
- CeeDee Lamb & Dak Prescott
- Amon-Ra St. Brown & Jared Goff
- Ja’Marr Chase & Joe Burrow
- A.J. Brown & Jalen Hurts
- Deebo Samuel & Brock Purdy
- Nico Collins & C.J. Stroud
- Brandon Aiyuk & Brock Purdy
- Stefon Diggs & C.J. Stroud
- DeVonta Smith & Jalen Hurts
- Zay Flowers & Lamar Jackson
- Tee Higgins & Joe Burrow
- Tank Dell & C.J. Stroud
Ultimately, you should not approach your draft with the goal of stacking. But if the draft board falls this way, it also should not prevent you from going in this direction. Finding an early-round stack is an intriguing way to increase your team’s ceiling when picking from the same general level of talent.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) 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 do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. 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.
