The top player stacks for Week 1 in DFS

The stacking strategy in DFS involves pairing multiple skill position players from the same team. In some occasions, there is value in loading up with an “onslaught” — as it’s termed in the DFS community — with sometimes up to four players from the same team.

Just like any strategy option in DFS, there are multiple ways to grab value from stacking. You can pay up for your stack and find two of the highest-scoring players in all of DFS that week. Sometimes, you can even find two of the highest scorers without paying up and instead finding value in the middle range. And of course, you can win using my favorite strategy — bargain stacks that allow you to find game-winners in the rest of your lineup.

Every week we’ll break down 10-15 of my favorite stacks overall and make the case for why you should be using them in your DFS tournament and cash games.

Both DraftKings and FanDuel

Marcus Mariota, QB, and Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee Titans

Mariota and Walker fit into the mid-level price range on both major DFS sites, but you get a slight break on DK. The Raiders defense has struggled throughout the offseason and no player has struggled more than cornerback Sean Smith who will be forced to play often in Week 1. The Raiders are shallow in the secondary, but they’re even weaker covering the tight ends. In 2016, the Raiders allowed the fifth-most yards per game and ninth-most fantasy points to tight ends. The Titans wide receiver position is uncertain entering Week 1 so buy in on the proven piece in the passing game who also thrives in the red zone.

Jared Goff, QB, and Sammy Watkins, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Watkins is just two seasons removed from one of the most efficient fantasy years by any receiver and yet he’s been completely written off. Meanwhile, in Week 1, he enters a matchup against a Colts defense without a viable pass rush, without their top cornerback (Vontae Davis), and with three new faces in the secondary. Cooper Kupp may eventually emerge as Goff’s favorite target, but Watkins is the best bet to be the tournament-winning play.