I get a lot of DFS questions on a day-to-day basis, and a large number regard projected ownership. While the most important consideration is almost always finding production at a price you can afford, ownership is important, as well. Given your choice between two players who should provide the same value, you would like to play the least popular player.

Stacks are the same way. There is some value in playing obvious stacks—they are obvious for a reason. If the Twins score nine runs against Ubaldo Jimenez, you probably won’t care too much that a bunch of other people played them as well. That being said, my preferred stack of the day is one that will probably be pretty unpopular. I wouldn’t recommend the stack so highly if I didn’t believe in it, but if most DFS players fade that stack, that is all the better for us. As always, if you have any questions regarding these stacks, in the comments below, in the FANation forums or on Twitter.  

 

My Stacks for Wednesday, May 17, listed in order of preference:

Los Angeles Angels vs. Jake Odorizzi

Jefry Marte, Kole Calhoun, Danny Espinosa, Cameron Maybin, Luis Valbuena, Mike Trout, Andrelton Simmons

As good as Jake Odorizzi has been, he has a 4.58 FIP this season. The Angels are pretty cheap, especially on DraftKings, and their ownership will likely be low. Cameron Maybin has led off the last three games with Albert Pujols out, and if Pujols is out again, Maybin and Jefry Marte will be especially attractive plays.  If you wanted to go really cheap, you could fade Calhoun and Trout and simply stack the middle of the Angels order.

 

Detroit Tigers vs. Brad Peacock

Ian Kinsler, Alex Avila, Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton, Nick Castellanos

Brad Peacock has a 1.10 ERA and 1.04 WHIP this year and he had a 3.65 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in five starts last season. With that in mind, the Tigers may be less popular than the stacks listed below. Peacock has not gone more than two innings in any appearance this season, so this will mostly be a bullpen game. Kinsler, Avila and Miguel Cabrera are all riding hot streaks, and the rest of the Tigers are decent values.

 

Minnesota Twins vs. Ubaldo Jimenez

Max Kepler, Kennys Vargas, Miguel Sano, Brian Dozier, Joe Mauer, Robbie Grossman

The Twins have a nice balance of studs with home run potential (Dozier, Sano) and cheaper value plays (Vargas, Grossman, Mauer). Ubaldo Jimenez has allowed at least four earned runs in five of his seven starts this season, and he allowed three earned in 3.1 innings in another start.

 

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Jeff Hoffman

Freddy Galvis, Cesar Hernandez, Maikel Franco, Tommy Joseph, Aaron Altherr

Jeff Hoffman was pretty decent in his spot start against the Dodgers last week, but his 3.49 ERA at Triple-A this season shouldn’t scare anyone off the Phillies. The Phillies have the fifth-best home OPS in baseball at .820. They had a rough weekend on the road at Pittsburgh, but that should only serve to keep their ownership down.