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Ranking Week 17 Matchups for 2025 Best Ball Game Stacks

Game Stack to Win Big in Best Ball

Game stacking is a key tenet of a winning best ball strategy.

That's when you draft players from opposing teams in a given week. And it's especially powerful in big best ball contests such as Underdog Fantasy’s Best Ball Mania VI and FFPC’s Best Ball Tournament.

The idea is to roster multiple players from a game that blows up for tons of points in Week 17 to catapult your team to the top of the leaderboard.

We’re particularly looking to stack Week 17 matchups in best-ball contests – since that’s when the big money is won.

In Best Ball Mania VI, 11.9% of the entire prize pool goes to the contest winner. In the FFPC, that number is a whopping 20.6%.

But stacking Week 15 and 16 games has value, too. You'll need to have strong scores in those weeks to advance to the next round.

Which Games Should You Stack in 2025?

Exactly how much value there is in stacking Week 15 and 16 games compared to Week 17 depends on the contest's advancement structure. And that, in turn, impacts how you should build your roster.

To pinpoint the best teams and games to stack in 2025 best ball, we studied the advancement structures on Underdog and FFPC and assigned weights to the importance of Weeks 15, 16, and 17.

We then assigned each offense a Stack Strength based on that offense's overall firepower and target concentration. (More concentrated offenses are more valuable to stack.)

Finally, we matched each offense with its Week 15, 16, and 17 opponents to calculate the teams with the best playoff game-stacking value.

Here are the results for both Underdog and FFPC.

Underdog Best Ball Mania VI Game Stack Rankings

Underdog advancement structure:

• Week 15: Finish first in 13-team pod to advance
• Week 16: Finish first in 16-team pod to advance
• Week 17: Finish first in 539-team pod to win $2 million (11.9% of total prize pool)

Stack importance weighting:

• Week 15: 1x
• Week 16: 3x
• Week 17: 20x

FFPC Best Ball Tournament Game Stack Rankings

FFPC advancement and payout structure:

• Week 15: Finish top 2 in 12-team pod to advance
• Week 16: Finish top 3 in 12-team pod to advance
• Week 17: Finish first in 81-team pod to win $300,000 (20.6% of total prize pool)

Our stack importance weighting:

• Week 15: 1x
• Week 16: 2x
• Week 17: 30x

The Bengals, Buccaneers, and Dolphins check in as the three most valuable teams for best-ball tournament game stacks. The Dolphins are particularly intriguing. They get a bad Week 15 spot against the Steelers but play the Bengals and Buccaneers in Weeks 16 and 17. Both games have obvious shootout potential.

The Cardinals join the top tier of teams in the FFPC tournament, where Week 17 carries more weight. Arizona gets the Bengals in the final week of the tournament.

Regardless of contest ...

Week 17 carries easily the highest weight and should be your stacking priority.

So let’s rank the Week 17 matchups from least appealing to most appealing for game stacks. We're factoring in our Stack Strength scores, as well as potential weather concerns and how popular the stack will be in tournaments.

Week 17 Best Ball Game Stack Rankings

16. Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
15. New England Patriots at New York Jets
14. New York Giants at Las Vegas Raiders
13. New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans
12. Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
11. Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
10. Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
9. Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers
8. Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills
7. Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers
6. Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta Falcons
5. Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers
4. Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
3. Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders
2. Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins

16. Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

Projected Total: 40.5

We can debate most of these rankings — but it’s tough to argue against this being the least appealing Week 17 game stack.

A pair of defensive-minded NFC North rivals playing in Cleveland in late December. This game has the lowest projected total of the week.

How to play it: Don’t go into your best-ball drafts looking to stack this one up — even if it would be contrarian. Rookie RBs Quinshon Judkins and Kaleb Johnson could be the most valuable pieces in this game come Week 17.

15. New England Patriots at New York Jets

Projected Total: 41.5

The QBs on both sides of this game are exciting for fantasy football this year. But the stacks are less exciting.

Justin Fields derives much of his fantasy value from his rushing, while Drake Maye’s pass catchers are tough to parse.

Weather could also be a problem in this one.

How to play it: Fields and WR Garrett Wilson are both solid values, so you can consider stacking them with a cheap Patriots pass catcher like Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, or Hunter Henry.

14. New York Giants at Las Vegas Raiders

Projected Total: 42.5

This game is a long shot to shoot out, as the projected total suggests. But both offenses are relatively concentrated. It’s Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers, and Jakobi Meyers for the Raiders; Malik Nabers for the Giants.

This game also gets the benefit of being played indoors in Vegas.

How to play it: Pairing Nabers with one of the Raiders is a high-upside — if expensive — mini stack to consider.

13. New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans

Projected Total: 42.5

There’s value to be found on the Saints offense thanks to HC Kellen Moore’s fast-paced, high-volume offense. And QB Cam Ward could make the Titans offense a lot more exciting this year.

But this game is ultimately unlikely to turn into a shootout — especially being played outside in Tennessee.

How to play it: This isn’t a target for full game stacks, but mini stacks involving two of Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Calvin Ridley, and Chig Okonkwo could pay off.

12. Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

Projected Total: 43.5

The Panthers side of this game is more intriguing. QB Bryce Young had a strong second half last year, has some rushing upside, and is cheap. Rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan has exciting upside, while WRs Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and Adam Thielen are all cheap.

I have concerns about QB Sam Darnold behind a shaky Seahawks offensive line, though. And WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is way overvalued according to our ADP Market Index.

How to play it: Stack Young with two of his pass-catchers and run it back with RB Ken Walker. Hope for Seattle to get out to a lead via Walker — and for Young to have a big outing in comeback mode.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts

Projected Total: 45.5

The Jaguars should be fun this season with new HC Liam Coen and an explosive WR duo. The issue with this game is on the Colts side. We don’t know who will be playing QB come Week 17. And it figures to be a run-leaning to run-heavy offense regardless.

How to play it: Through Jacksonville’s passing game. WRs Brian Thomas and Travis Hunter are expensive. But Trevor Lawrence is one of the best QB values on the board. And you can tack on WR Dyami Brown or TE Brenton Strange with one of your last few picks. Run it back with RB Jonathan Taylor.

10. Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

Projected total: 44.5

Both of these offenses ranked top 15 in points last year and could be better in 2025. But the defenses finished third and fourth in points allowed.

This game stack figures to be overvalued in best ball tournaments.

How to play it: I’ve found myself drafting more Chiefs than Broncos, with WR Rashee Rice, TE Travis Kelce, and RB Isiah Pacheco standing out as nice values. QB Patrick Mahomes is decently priced, but I’d rather just mini stack this game with one piece from each side.

9. Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers

Projected Total: 46.5

Two quality defenses, two strong running games, and Lambeau in December make this game a potential dud. But there’s still a high ceiling here thanks to explosive players on both sides.

How to play it: Packers stacks are on sale after a run-centric 2024 season. Stack QB Jordan Love with two of his pass catchers against a Ravens defense that’s been a pass funnel in recent seasons. Bring it back with RB Derrick Henry.

8. Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills

Projected Total: 46.5

There’s certainly enough firepower to turn this game into a shootout. But both offenses lean run. And both defenses are good. Plus, weather could be a factor in Buffalo.

Throw in the fact that stacking the Eagles is expensive and stacking the Bills is tricky … and this game stack isn’t quite as appealing as it might appear.

How to play it: Jalen Hurts is one of the best values at QB right now, according to our ADP Market Index. So pairing him with one of his pass catchers and a Bill or two is viable. But my favorite way to play this game is paying up for Saquon Barkley and Josh Allen, and then adding a pair of cheap Bills pass catchers between Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Josh Palmer, and Dalton Kincaid.

7. Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers

Projected Total: 43.5

Two talented QBs in a dome. The lead WRs on both teams are expensive — but there are cheap rookies to tack onto this game stack later in drafts.

How to play it: You’ll need to reach a bit according to our rankings to get many players from this game. But you can land QB Justin Herbert and two of his secondary pass catchers without spending a pick in the first nine rounds. That’s a nice stack alongside Texans WR Nico Collins or RB Joe Mixon.

6. Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta Falcons

Projected Total: 46.5

Two offenses with concentrated target trees and high-end RBs playing in a dome. Stacking heaven!

How to play it: The premium pieces in this game — Drake London, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and the RBs — are expensive. But both QBs are cheap. Grab two or three of those skill guys early, and then tack on one or even both QBs late. I especially like stacking Atlanta’s passing game and running it back with Kyren Williams.

5. Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers

Projected Total: 46.5

The Bears could be 2025’s breakout offense with new HC Ben Johnson and a loaded pass-catching corps. The 49ers have finished top-7 in total yards in four straight seasons.

Weather shouldn’t be a problem in this game.

How to play it: The Ben Johnson effect has been priced into most Bears, so the 49ers side is the better value in this game. TE George Kittle has as much weekly upside as any TE, while Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, and Brandon Aiyuk are all sitting WR40 or later in ADP. You can also stack RB Christian McCaffrey with QB Brock Purdy.

4. Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings

Projected Total: 46.5

This is probably lower than you expected to find this game ranked. In fact, it might end up being the most popular game stack in best-ball tournaments.

That’s one reason to consider fading it. Another is that the Lions offense was already in for some natural regression, even before losing OC Ben Johnson and C Frank Ragnow.

How to play it: This still isn’t a game you want to fully fade. But consider getting contrarian by playing it from the Vikings side. QB J.J. McCarthy is one of our favorite fantasy football sleepers. And it’s a relatively concentrated passing game with WRs Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and TE T.J. Hockenson. WR Jameson Williams is the best cost-considered piece from the Lions.

3. Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders

Projected Total: 48.5

This game has the highest projected total of Week 18.

The Commanders pulled QB Jayden Daniels early in last year’s season finale against the Cowboys. But the first meeting between them produced 50 points, despite QB Dak Prescott not playing.

How to play it: It’s easy to like a Washington stack after Daniels’ monster rookie season. WR Terry McLaurin looks a tad overvalued after a 13-TD 2024 season, but WR Deebo Samuel and TE Zach Ertz are nice targets. The Cowboys are the more exciting side of this game considering cost. This offense could be much pass-heavier than the market is expecting, making QB Dak Prescott, WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and TE Jake Ferguson big potential values.

2. Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals

Projected Total: 47.5

Bengals games produced the third-most total points per game last year (53.3). The offense remains intact heading into 2025, while the defense remains leaky.

The Cardinals side of this game also brings plenty of offensive firepower and a beatable defense.

How to play it: A Joe Burrow-Ja’Marr Chase-Tee Higgins stack is the most potent in fantasy football. We know the Bengals will be pass-heavy. And we know where the ball is going. It’s an expensive stack, but worth it if you can get it. Cardinals stacks are a bit cheaper but similarly concentrated on TE Trey McBride and WR Marvin Harrison. This game stack looks strong from either side.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins

Projected Total: 47.5 

This game gets the nod over Cardinals-Bengals because:

1. The stacks are cheaper.
2. Weather is less likely to be a problem.

Last year’s Bucs produced the QB4, a pair of top-20 PPR RBs, and a pair of top-11 WRs in PPR points per game. OC Liam Coen is gone, but the personnel remains in place for another high-scoring season.

The Dolphins disappointed last year, due to injuries and a bad offensive line. But there’s still plenty of big-play juice on this unit to turn any game into a shootout.

How to play it: Mix and match this game throughout your best-ball tournament teams. The Dolphins side is the better value, with a Tua Tagovailoa-Tyreek Hill-Jaylen Waddle stack much cheaper this year than last. RB Jaylen Wright and WRs Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan are interesting guys to tack onto this stack in the back half of drafts.

Top 5 Week 15 Game Stacks

1. Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
2. Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams
3. Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys
5. Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs

Top 5 Week 16 Game Stacks

1. Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins
2. Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys
3. Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
5. Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals

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