Now that the NFL schedule has been released, fantasy managers are already looking ahead at matchups. In best ball tournaments, it’s essential to maximize your scoring potential in Week 17 if you want a shot at the top prize. Here are the best stacks fantasy football managers can realistically draft in best ball.
Best Ball’s Top Week 17 Game Stacks
You can’t draft best ball teams thinking only about Week 17. What good is putting together an incredible Week 17-correlated roster if you don’t even make it there, right? But what good is getting to Week 17 with a loaded team if you can’t light up the scoreboard?
Neither school of thought is wrong. But one thing is certain: Week 17 matters more than the rest. It’s the week your team needs massive upside — the kind that can outscore dozens or even hundreds of other teams to take down a large-scale prize.
The best way to maximize your scoring potential? Game stacking. That means drafting players from both sides of a game with shootout potential. Here are the best matchups to target.
Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals
Let’s get one thing out of the way: the Bengals will be better defensively in 2025. They had one of the worst defenses in NFL history last year, leading to a ton of high-scoring games. Even with some improvement, they’re still beatable.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals finished dead last in pass defense success rate. This one has serious shootout vibes.
Stack targets based on current ADP:
- Ja’Marr Chase (top-three pick)
- Tee Higgins (2/3 turn)
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (2/3 turn)
- Joe Burrow (early Round 5)
You could also pivot to Trey McBride instead of Higgins or Harrison, and target Kyler Murray in Rounds 8-9.
Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta Falcons
Both teams were bottom-third in pass defense success rate in 2024. They also ranked 21st and 22nd in rush defense success rate. This has shootout — and fantasy fireworks — written all over it. Plus, there could be playoff stakes involved.
Stack option 1:
- Bijan Robinson (top-five pick)
- Davante Adams (Round 3)
- Darnell Mooney (Rounds 8-9)
- Matthew Stafford (Rounds 13-15)
MORE: Toughest Playoff Weeks for Fantasy Managers
Stack option 2 (Falcons pass game focus):
- Drake London (early Round 2)
- Kyren Williams (late Round 3)
- Darnell Mooney (Rounds 8-9)
- Michael Penix Jr. (Rounds 12-14)
Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills
Two high-end offenses. Two good defenses. Doesn’t matter. This one could explode on the scoreboard.
Balanced stack:
- Saquon Barkley (top-five pick)
- Josh Allen (2/3 turn)
- Khalil Shakir (Rounds 7-8)
- Joshua Palmer (Rounds 13-14)
If you land Allen, you’ll likely be able to get his receivers cheap. Dalton Kincaid is a strong addition, too.
Pass-heavy stack option:
- A.J. Brown (mid-Round 2)
- Jalen Hurts (Round 3)
- DeVonta Smith (Round 4)
- Any Bills pass-catcher (various later rounds)
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders
This is a dream stack. Both teams have consolidated touches and the ADPs line up well.
- CeeDee Lamb (anywhere in Round 1)
- Terry McLaurin (Round 3)
- Jayden Daniels (Round 4, if available) or Dak Prescott (Rounds 9-11)
- George Pickens (Round 5)
Running back Jaydon Blue is also basically free in the late rounds.
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
We just saw this matchup in Week 17 last year. The Vikings didn’t hold up their end, but they did in a 31-29 Week 7 thriller. This one still has serious stack appeal.
Potential combos:
- Jahmyr Gibbs or Amon-Ra St. Brown (Round 1)
- Jameson Williams (Rounds 4-5)
- Jordan Addison (Rounds 5-6)
- Sam LaPorta (Rounds 5-6)
- T.J. Hockenson (Round 7)
- Jared Goff (Rounds 9-11)
Or you can go the Justin Jefferson route in Round 1, pair with Addison or Hockenson, grab J.J. McCarthy late, and load up on Lions skill players like LaPorta or Gibbs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins
This is your sneaky Week 17 stack. It’s not flashy, which means low ownership. Plus, it’s a Florida game in December — no weather concerns.
Best value stack option:
- De’Von Achane (Round 2)
- Mike Evans (Round 3)
- Baker Mayfield (Round 7)
- Emeka Egbuka (Rounds 8-9)
You can also flip the approach with Bucky Irving and Miami pass-catchers if Achane goes too early.