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Boom or Bust DFS Lineup Picks: Wild Card Weekend

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.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive BOTH our full season NFL and NBA Premium Passes for free, a $119.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium Passes.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

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.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

De'Von Achane

to Start the Week as Limited in Practice
CFB

Sherrone Moore Remains in Police Custody
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Joe Klanderman Joining Baylor Coaching Staff
Alex DeBrincat

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Dylan Guenther

Lights the Lamp Twice Wednesday
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Kentucky Hiring Jay Bateman as Next Defensive Coordinator
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Tallies Three Points Against Mammoth
Vince Dunn

Caps Off Three-Point Performance With Overtime Winner
Spencer Knight

Stops Rangers From Scoring Wednesday
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Makes Early Exit Wednesday
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Injured in Wednesday's Win
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Misses Third Consecutive Game
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Still Out Thursday
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Iffy for Thursday
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Likely to Remain Out Thursday
Zach LaVine

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Alperen Sengun Back From Two-Game Absence Thursday
Stephen Curry

on Track to Return Friday
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Closes 2025 With Strong Finish Among Putting Woes
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Robert MacIntyre

Closes Out a Steady 2025 Campaign
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Chip Kelly Interviews for Georgia Tech Offensive Coordinator Job
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Louisville Receiver Chris Bell has a Torn ACL
Davante Adams

in Good Spot for Week 15 Despite Hamstring Soreness
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Considered Questionable for Thursday
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Sidelined for Wednesday's Matchup With Spurs
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to Miss Thursday's Matchup
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Min Woo Lee

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Nick Bjugstad

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Sidelined at Least One Week
John Carlson

Could Return Thursday
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Sits as Healthy Scratch Wednesday
Wyndham Clark

has Up-and-Down 2025 Golf Season
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Michigan Fires Head Coach Sherrone Moore
Dereck Lively II

to Undergo Season-Ending Foot Surgery
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Comes Close to Winning Again in Very Good 2025
Justin Rose

Turns Back the Clock in 2025
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Officially Questionable for Thursday Night Game
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Unlikely to Play in Week 15
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Jim Knowles Expected to be Hired as Tennessee's Defensive Coordinator
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"Good to Go" for Week 15
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Enjoys Solid Finish at Hero World Challenge
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has "One or Two" Things Left to the Clear Concussion Protocol
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Out on Wednesday With Knee Soreness
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Ruled Out for Week 15
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Considered Doubtful for Thursday Night
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Phillies Extend Manager Rob Thomson Through 2027 Season
Michael King

the Mets' Top Rotation Target?
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Could Move Back to Leadoff Spot
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Florida, Wisconsin Among Suitors for QB Transfer Kenny Minchey
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Bryan Harsin, Justin Wilcox Candidates for Washington State Head Coach Job?
Edwin Díaz

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Kyle Schwarber

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Ole Miss Hiring John David Baker as Offensive Coordinator
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Ty Howle the Top Target for Virginia Tech Offensive Coordinator Job
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Ranger Suárez

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Anthony Volpe

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Anthony Hill Jr. Declaring for 2026 NFL Draft
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