NFL WEEK 1 • DFS & FANTASY

NFL Week 1 DFS Stacks 2026: 5 QB-WR Combos to Target

Our NFL Week 1 DFS stacks 2026 highlight five quarterback-receiver combinations worth considering as fantasy users build opening-week lineups.

Published September 5, 2026 • American Casino Sweeps

NFL Week 1 DFS stacks 2026 graphic featuring a quarterback and wide receiver with five QB-WR combinations to target.

Week 1 DFS stacks at a glance Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase headline the list against Tampa Bay, while Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers bring dual-threat upside against Indianapolis. Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua offer a high-profile Melbourne combination, Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze have an appealing opening matchup in Carolina, and Josh Allen begins his first season throwing to DJ Moore in Buffalo.

Stacking in DFS means pairing a quarterback with one or more of his pass catchers. When the quarterback throws a touchdown to that receiver, both players can score fantasy points from the same play.

That correlation can make QB-WR combinations particularly useful in contests where lineup upside matters. The best stack is not always the combination with the biggest names, however. Player pricing, projected usage, matchup, ownership and contest format all influence how attractive a stack may be.

For more opening-week options, see our NFL Week 1 DFS picks for 2026, Week 1 DFS injury watch and Week 1 DFS value picks.

Best NFL Week 1 DFS stacks to watch

Stack	Week 1 matchup	Why it stands out
Joe Burrow + Ja’Marr Chase	vs Buccaneers	Established elite connection with significant touchdown and yardage upside.
Lamar Jackson + Zay Flowers	at Colts	Jackson adds rushing upside while Flowers remains Baltimore’s leading receiving threat.
Matthew Stafford + Puka Nacua	vs 49ers	High-volume passing offense with Nacua making good progress in his recovery ahead of Week 1.
Caleb Williams + Rome Odunze	at Panthers	Odunze enters the season as a starting receiver and established Williams target.
Josh Allen + DJ Moore	at Texans	Allen’s fantasy ceiling combines with Buffalo’s major offseason addition at receiver.

1. Joe Burrow + Ja’Marr Chase

Week 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals

Few quarterback-receiver combinations enter 2026 with a stronger established connection than Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.

Cincinnati opened training camp with Burrow immediately finding Chase during team work, continuing a partnership that has become central to the Bengals passing offense. Chase was also one of Cincinnati’s standout offensive players throughout training camp.

Chase has been managed with a knee issue ahead of Week 1, but Bengals head coach Zac Taylor indicated that the team expects him to be ready for preparation for the September 13 opener against Tampa Bay.

DFS angle: Burrow-Chase offers one of the clearest ceiling combinations on the Week 1 slate if Chase enters the opener without a meaningful workload restriction. The primary considerations will be price and how much salary the combination leaves for the rest of a lineup.

2. Lamar Jackson + Zay Flowers

Week 1: Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts

Lamar Jackson enters the season comfortable in Baltimore’s new offensive system and has said the offense has developed strong chemistry during the offseason.

His connection with Zay Flowers remains one of the most important pieces of that attack. Ravens coaches have highlighted the chemistry between the pair, while Flowers has described their playing styles as a natural fit.

Flowers returned to practice on September 3 after missing time with a quad issue. That gives him additional time to prepare for Baltimore’s opener in Indianapolis.

DFS angle: Jackson can produce fantasy points through both passing and rushing, while Flowers gives the stack access to Baltimore’s primary wide-receiver production. Flowers’ final practice participation should still be monitored before contests lock.

3. Matthew Stafford + Puka Nacua

Week 1: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne

Matthew Stafford enters 2026 after leading the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes last season.

Puka Nacua remains one of Stafford’s premier targets in a Rams offense that also features Davante Adams and Kyren Williams. Stafford and Nacua continued building their connection throughout training camp, including downfield work during first-team periods.

Nacua has been working back from a preseason psoas issue. Head coach Sean McVay said he is making good progress and has been hitting high-speed work at a good rate, making his availability and practice participation important to monitor before the Melbourne opener.

DFS angle: Stafford-Nacua offers concentrated passing-game upside if Nacua is cleared without a meaningful workload restriction. Because the game is played Thursday in Melbourne, DFS users should also confirm which contests and slates include it before building around the stack.

4. Caleb Williams + Rome Odunze

Week 1: Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers

Caleb Williams begins his third NFL season with Rome Odunze positioned as one of Chicago’s primary receiving options.

The Bears list Odunze as a starting receiver, while Chicago has described him and Luther Burden III as two of Williams’ key playmakers.

Williams and Odunze continued connecting during training camp, and the pair now enter Week 1 with a road matchup against Carolina.

DFS angle: Williams-Odunze offers a younger alternative to the more established stacks on this list. The combination may become especially interesting if platform pricing is lower than the elite Burrow-Chase or Allen-Moore pairings.

5. Josh Allen + DJ Moore

Week 1: Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans

Josh Allen begins the season with a new major receiving weapon after Buffalo acquired DJ Moore during the offseason.

The pair steadily developed their connection during training camp. Buffalo reported several notable Allen-to-Moore completions, including a 50-yard touchdown during padded team work.

Moore joins a receiving group that also includes Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir and Joshua Palmer, giving Allen several options in the passing game.

DFS angle: Allen brings elite standalone quarterback upside because of his passing and rushing ability. Pairing him with Moore adds correlation while targeting a receiver whose exact role in Buffalo’s offense is still being established.

How to choose a Week 1 DFS stack

The strongest stack on paper is not automatically the best choice for every contest. Salary, projected ownership and roster construction all matter.

Expensive combinations such as Burrow-Chase can offer enormous upside but may require cheaper options elsewhere. A lower-priced pairing can provide more flexibility if the projected workload and matchup remain attractive.

Week 1 also carries more uncertainty than later slates because there is no 2026 regular-season usage data yet. Practice participation, depth charts and preseason roles therefore carry additional importance.

Week 1 stacking checklist

Before contests lock, confirm that both players are active, check the final injury information, review platform pricing and make sure the game is included in the contest slate you are entering.

International and standalone games are particularly important to check because they may appear in some contests but not others.

Compare DFS platforms before Week 1

DFS platforms can offer different player pools, scoring systems, Pick’Em formats and contest structures. See our best DFS sites guide for platform comparisons, or see our DFS state availability guide before entering.

NFL Week 1 DFS stacks FAQ

What is a DFS stack?

A DFS stack combines players whose fantasy production can be correlated. The most common NFL stack pairs a quarterback with one of his receivers so a completed touchdown can generate fantasy points for both players.

What are the best NFL Week 1 DFS stacks for 2026?

Joe Burrow with Ja’Marr Chase, Lamar Jackson with Zay Flowers, Matthew Stafford with Puka Nacua, Caleb Williams with Rome Odunze and Josh Allen with DJ Moore are five quarterback-receiver combinations worth monitoring for Week 1.

Is Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase a good Week 1 DFS stack?

Burrow and Chase offer an established high-upside combination against Tampa Bay. Chase’s practice participation should still be monitored as he works toward Week 1 following a knee issue.

Is Zay Flowers expected to be available for Week 1?

Flowers returned to Ravens practice on September 3 after missing time with a quad issue. His return is an encouraging sign ahead of Baltimore’s opener against Indianapolis, although final practice participation remains important.

Can Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua be stacked in Week 1?

Stafford and Nacua remain an appealing passing combination against San Francisco. Nacua is making progress in his recovery from a psoas issue, so his final availability and expected workload should be confirmed before lineups lock. The game takes place Thursday in Melbourne, so users should also confirm that the matchup is included in the specific DFS contest or slate they plan to enter.

Is Josh Allen and DJ Moore a good DFS stack?

Allen offers significant passing and rushing upside, while Moore gives Buffalo an experienced receiving weapon. Their training-camp connection developed throughout August, making the pairing one of the more interesting new combinations entering 2026.

Bottom line

Week 1 offers several strong DFS stacking options. Burrow and Chase provide established chemistry, Jackson and Flowers combine receiving correlation with quarterback rushing upside, while Stafford and Nacua enter the Melbourne matchup as one of the week’s most recognizable passing combinations.

Williams-Odunze and Allen-Moore offer different roster-building paths, particularly if platform pricing creates a meaningful gap between the five stacks.

Final practice reports, player availability and contest-specific pricing should always be checked before lineups lock.

By Edvina Kaminskaite

Owner and Editor, American Casino Sweeps

Edvina oversees American Casino Sweeps’ casino, sports and fantasy coverage, including guides explaining DFS formats, Pick’Em contests, state availability, account requirements and operator rules for US readers.

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Sources

Published September 5, 2026. DFS pricing, projections, player availability, expected workloads and contest eligibility can change before games begin. Always check final team information and platform rules before entering.