When it comes to NFL DFS or all DFS sports for that matter, there are specific approaches you need to take when entering Guaranteed Prize Pools (GPPs) and stacking is one of them. If you’re unaware what stacking is, it’s taking multiple players off of the same team and using them all in one lineup. Most people know this, but we still need to reiterate for the new DFS players. If you have been playing DFS for years and haven’t been stacking, well you’re definitely behind the eight ball. Let's dive into some strategies behind it.

When to Stack

It was pretty much brought up in the introduction, but stacking in GPPs is the move. Two-man stacks in cash games are fine, even three players at times, but four-man cash stacks is too much. If that team does not score and you have four players from that team in your stack, you’re going to have a hard time reaching the cash line because you’re relying on the rest of your roster to pick up a TON of slack, and that’s just not feasible nine out of 10 times.

Stacking in GPP’s is ideal and if you enjoy making money, well, take this approach and run wild with it. A word you should always...ALWAYS remember in terms of stacking is variance. Variance is the quality of being different or divergent, which is exactly what we’re looking for when stacking in a tournament setting. Tournament’s are meant to be won, not to simply cash, so using variance with our stacks is how we should look at every GPP we enter.

Priority Stacks

Quarterback with Wide Receiver No.1

This feels quite obvious when but let’s talk about pairing a quarterback and his go-to wide out together. We call them “go-to” receivers because they receive the most volume. On both DraftKings and FanDuel and really all DFS platforms, they use a PPR system, so more volume equals more opportunity for points. Those WR1’s are going to be the most targeted players up and down the field and most of the time, they’re the primary target within the red zone as well. Every time a QB throws a touchdown pass to his WR1, you’re collecting points off of both of them thanks to the stack you’ve used.

Quarterback with Wide Receiver No.2

It’s generally not as impactful with the second receiver, but there are teams with WR2 that can be game changers at times. We saw Calvin Ridley score 10-plus touchdowns last season as the Falcons WR2. Jarvis Landry enters as the Browns WR2 this year and he’s caught 81 or more passes in each of his first five years in the NFL. The Vikings had TWO receivers catch 100 passes, surpass 1,000 yards and score nine touchdowns in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs . The list goes on, so we don’t need to continue giving examples, but this is slightly more contrarian than using the QB/WR1 approach.

Quarterback with Wide Receiver No.1 & Wide Receiver No.2

This is a very commonly used approach because if a QB is averaging 30 pass attempts a game, he’s not only throwing to one wide receiver the entire game. That’s where WR2 comes into play because like we mentioned in the section above, there are elite WR2’s in the game right now. When specific offenses are more ariel than ground-and-pound, this approach is especially formidable. You also should bring Las Vegas into play when considering this approach. If there is a high game total and we could see a potential shoot out, that’s where we pounce on using both pass catchers. We’re not telling you to always eat the chalk either, just know what offenses have high totals and good match-up’s going into each slate.

Quarterback & Pass Catching Running Back

This approach has become especially popular on DraftKings and full-point PPR DFS sites across the board. With how few bell cows there are and how many split backfields we have around the NFL, every team is fully equipped with a weapon out of the backfield that they can seemingly deploy to go out and catch eight passes each and every week if they wanted to take that offensive approach. We had four running backs just last year eclipse the 100 target mark and nine total with 80-plus, which is right in line with what we've been talking about this entire section.

Quarterback & Tight End

This pairing is definitely one that doesn't have a lot of traction behind it on a weekly basis, but one you should pay attention too. There were two tight ends in the top-10 in receiving yards and three in the top-16 last season, so why are we ignoring QB/TE stacks again? If you're looking past the top-tier TE's and looking in the value tier or even in the mid-range -- which is much cheaper than the mid-tier at the other skill positions -- it will help the rest of your builds with filling in your lineups with the elite, volume players at the running back and wide receiver positions.

Running Back & Defense/Special Teams

This one is used far less than it should be because everyone automatically assumes you NEED to stack a quarterback and wide receiver, but that’s not the case. The reason you would pair an RB and defense is because the better your defense plays, the more likely it directly impacts how a team’s offense calls it’s plays. The better your defense plays and holds the opposing team to the fewest points possible while their offense builds a lead, as the game progresses they’re going to run the ball more, which is why the pairing can work so well. It’s a VERY underrated and appreciated approach because of how much stock we put into QB’s & WR’s.

Are There Avoidable Stacks?

There are stacks that if deployed could hinder your lineups upside, which is what tournaments are all about. Using three wide outs from one team is so impossible to predict. Even if you love all three Rams’ a specific week, they still have a running game they’re going to establish and if they get out to a big league because their defense is playing lights out? You’ll be able to enjoy the rest of your Sunday early on and not worry about your DFS lineups.

It’s also not the best approach to stack a QB with the RB1 if he’s not a pass catcher. How much upside do you truly get from Marcus Mariota if he turns around and hands off to Derrick Henry 25 times in a game? There is a reason they’re pounding the rock and although in this particular situation Henry has tremendous value, what is Mariota’s upside? It’s not GPP winning upside, that’s for sure.