Welcome back, RotoBallers. In this article, I will cover five of my favorite boom or bust DFS plays for Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs. These players can make or break your daily fantasy football lineups in the NFL's Wild Card weekend.

The Boom or Bust play is one of the most talked about aspects of fantasy football each week. Boom or Bust players can be used as lineup options in deeper leagues, when it appears you are a heavy underdog in your head-to-head matchup or even in Guaranteed Prize Pool Tournaments in DFS. Let's get rolling.

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Quarterback

Matt Moore, Dolphins QB vs PIT

If you want a late round quarterback in your playoff fantasy draft or are looking for a cheap quarterback for the weekend, Moore might be someone you would consider. With eight touchdowns to three interceptions, Moore has played better than most expected after the Ryan Tannehill injury, but success has been a bit misleading as Moore has yet to eclipse 300 passing yards despite averaging 27.33 passes per game in his 3 starts.

In the wild card round, Moore faces a Steelers defense that has been stingy against quarterbacks, allowing the seventh fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. The Dolphins will likely try and use Jay Ajayi to exploit the Steelers run defense that has allowed the eighth most fantasy points to running backs this season. The Dolphins are the biggest underdog of the weekend, projected to lose by 10 with a team total of 18. Weather is expected to been in the teens in Pittsburgh, which will likely be a factor for Moore and the Dolphins offense that is used to playing in sunny Miami.

Verdict: Bust

 

Running Back

Latavius Murray, Raiders RB at HOU

The Raiders announced yesterday rookie quarterback Connor Cook will make his first career start in a road playoff game against the Houston Texans. Normally, when a team is starting a QB in this precarious of a situation, I tend to avoid the entire offense like the plague. However, given the lack of other options and the plus matchup for running backs, I think this is a solid spot for Murray.

With Cook in, the Raiders will likely be running as much as possible against a Houston defense that ranks in the top five in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks and wide receivers this season. If the Raiders are to have a chance at advancing, they will need to use Murray early and often. Additionally, in the “survivor” type playoff format, the Raiders aren't likely to go deep into the playoffs and put you in a situation where you'd want to use the Raiders again.

Verdict: Boom

 

Wide Receiver

Doug Baldwin, Seahawks WR vs DET

After two season of finishing as a top 11 PPR fantasy wide receiver, saying things like “Doug Baldwin is good” or “Doug Baldwin is a really good play this week” is hardly going out on a limb. However, often times he isn't referenced in the same frame as guys like Antonio Brown, Deandre Hopkins or Amari Cooper, even though he may have a better matchup than them this week.

The Seahawks lost Tyler Lockett late in the season, which means that they will be even more likely to pepper Baldwin with targets against a Lions defense that allowed the third most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. The Seahawks have a team total of 25 as -8 point home favorites which should help to equal a big day for Baldwin against the Lions secondary.

Verdict: Boom

 

Tight End

C.J. Fiedorowicz, Texans TE vs OAK

Jimmy Graham will likely be the choice for everyone and their monkey's uncle this weekend, but if are looking for an alternative option, look no further than C.J. Fiedorowicz. Fiedorowicz finished the season as the TE17 despite missing one game and not becoming involved in the offense until week 4. Since week 4, Fiedorowicz has scored eight PPR points or more in 10 of 12 games with six 10+ PPR point games.

Fiedorowicz may not provide the floor or ceiling that Jimmy Graham has, but he is significantly cheaper and he faces an Oakland defense that has been exploited by the tight end, allowing the eighth most fantasy points to the position. In the event Tom Savage plays, Fiedorowicz becomes a slightly less attractive play, but still a solid play whoever is under center.

Verdict: Boom

 

Hail Mary of the Week

In the Hail Mary of the Week, I will choose a Boom/Bust candidate who is available on the waiver wire or at the end of benches in most fantasy football leagues and could have a big week:

Zach Zenner, Lions RB at SEA

Zenner was one of the favorites among draftniks during the 2015 NFL draft season and toward the latter part of 2016, Zenner began to show why some of that hype may have been warranted. In his last two games, Zenner has 32 carries for 136 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Zenner has also been involved in the Lions passing game with 10 catches on 13 targets for 128 receiving yards in three games.

Zenner has emerged as the RB1 in the Lions offense with Riddick out and now he faces a Seattle defense that has been stout throughout the season, allowing the sixth fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Despite the poor road matchup, Zach Zenner still makes for a solid play this weekend because he will get the necessary volume to live up to his DFS price. In an eliminator style tournament, the Lions are not a team to threaten to go deep into playoffs, so using a running back who could get significant usage and likely won't cost you later in the playoffs is a great play.