Sneaky Stacks Part One-Bestball Strategy
by Alan Seslowsky – Twitter: @Alanseslowsky

“Stacking” is a trendy fantasy football strategy, particularly in bestball tournament formats. Stacking is simply drafting correlating players on the same NFL team in order to maximize your fantasy upside. Stacking is best used in formats that have top-heavy payouts. Contrast that with a redraft league, where all you want to do is make the playoffs and get hot from there.

One of the biggest mistakes fantasy players make when creating a stack, is to “reach” ahead of ADP in order to secure the stack. Another sub-optimal strategy is to pass on great players early to create a stack. For example, most of your leaguemates know that the Chiefs and Cowboys are going to likely be two of the top-five offenses in the NFL this season. You don’t want to create a stack of Cowboys or Chiefs by passing on other great players. There is a reasonable chance other teams in your league will be drafting Cowboys and Chiefs ahead of their ADP too. Below is a list of stacks you can secure that may be under the fantasy radar.

 

Indianapolis Colts Stack

Jonathan Taylor (ADP 7 Round 1)

Michael Pittman (ADP 103 Round 8)

Nyheim Hines (ADP 134 Round 10)

Ty Hilton (ADP 140, Round 11)

Parris Campbell (147 (Round 12)

Carson Wentz (ADP 156 Round 13)

Analysis: A Colts stack is one of RosterWatch’s sneaky bestball strategies. You do not need to secure Jonathan Taylor to have this stack pay off. It is highly unusual for a team to not have a WR with an ADP before round eight. The Colts project to have a top 15 offense. In season-long redraft leagues, it may be tough to project which pass catcher will be the fantasy star of the day. In best ball, you can get them all, and still secure your first seven picks. 

 

New York Giants Stack

Saquon Barkley (ADP 5 Round 1)

Kenny Golladay (ADP 60 Round 5)

Evan Engram (ADP 136, Round 11)

Daniel Jones (ADP 162, Round 13)

Sterling Shepard (ADP 168 Round  (Round 14)

Kadarius Toney (ADP 183 Round (Round 15)

Analysis: If you have a top five pick, and you are able to secure Barkley, you may want to consider this non obvious yet plausible stack. The NFC East projects to be a high scoring division this season. Stacking Giants still allows you to secure the best player on the board in rounds two and three. You can still target a Giants stack without drafting Barkley. 

 

Baltimore Ravens Stack

JK Dobbins (ADP 30 Round 3)

Mark Andrews (ADP 60 Round 5/6)

Lamar Jackson (ADP 54 Round 5)

Marquise Brown (ADP 94, Round 7)

Gus Edwards (ADP 109 Round 9)

Rashod Bateman  (ADP 126, Round 10)

Analysis: A Ravens stack does not require you to invest a top 24 pick. Stacking Ravens will cost you most of your mid-round draft capital to secure. The Ravens are not highly coveted players in 2021. If you are proactive, especially on the five/six turn you could have an under-rated, league-winning stack. 

 

Leave us a comment below, letting us know which stacks you have been drafting. Share with RosterWatch Nation, what teams may be league-winning corelative plays in bestball.