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Five Boom or Bust Lineup Plays for Week 15

Welcome back, RotoBallers. In this article, I will cover five of my favorite boom or bust plays for Week 15 of the fantasy football season.

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.

Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.

 

Quarterback

Andrew Luck, Colts QB at MIN

Fantasy owners who went with the early round quarterback draft strategy have ridden Andrew Luck and his QB5 overall numbers so far this season to an appearance in the semi-finals, but in the playoffs, this may be the week to look toward the waiver wire for your quarterback. Luck’s two worst fantasy games of the season have been on the road against the Broncos and Packers.

In week 15, Luck and the Colts travel to Minnesota to face a defense that has allowed the third fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. With the tough road matchup, the Colts are 4.5 point underdogs with a team total of 20, a number they matched or surpassed in each of their first seven games, but have failed to surpass in three of their last five games. This is the perfect example of “not going with the guy who brought you there”, and I think it will end up being the right choice.

Verdict: Bust

 

Running Back

Tevin Coleman, Falcons RB vs SF

Tevin Coleman has been a high variance play throughout the season with scoring 14 or more PPR points in six of 10 games. Including scoring 19 or more in three games. The negative side of his variance can mostly be attributed to his health with two of his sub-10 PPR point games coming in the first two games back from injury. In week 14, Coleman looked healthy and had eight carries and two catches, two more touches than starter Devonta Freeman had in the game.

In week 15, the Falcons backfield will get to face a 49ers defense that has been porous against the run all season long, allowing the most fantasy points to running backs with an average of 27.9 PPR points per game. Even if Freeman returns to leading the backfield in touches, both players could have big days against the 49ers, especially if Julio Jones remains out.

Verdict: Boom

 

Wide Receiver

Alshon Jeffery, Bears WR vs GBP

Alshon Jeffery was having the worst season since his rookie year with 40 catches for 630 receiving yards and one touchdown in nine games when he was suspended four weeks ago. Alshon was struggling in an offense that was struggling to move the ball at all, particularly in the red zone.

In week 15, Jeffery returns to a Bears offense that has actually shown some promise, scoring 16 points or more in each of the last four games, including a 26 point performance against the 49ers in week 13. With Jeffery’s disappointing performance this season, many are struggling to put him into their playoff lineups, but with Matt Barkley showing competence and the Packers defense surrendering the eighth most fantasy points to wide receivers, Jeffery should put up WR2 numbers with possible WR1 upside.

Verdict: Boom

 

Tight End

Charles Clay, Bills TE vs CLE

There may be questions about Rex Ryan and even Tyrod Taylor’s job security, but there aren't any questions about how bad the Cleveland Browns defense has been this season. Charles Clay has surpassed 10 PPR points only three times this season. However, I think some of that can be contributed to the health of Charles Clay as he has frequently been listed as questionable with various injuries, along with missing a game in week 13.

In week 14, Clay scored a season high 14 PPR points. In week 15, Clay faces a Browns defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends with an average of 11.6 points per game. The downfield threat of Sammy Watkins opens up the middle of the field Charles Clay to be successful, so if you are soured on Clay because he has scored fewer than eight PPR points in eight of 12 games this season, some of that can be attributed to a lack of Sammy Watkins who is back and finally starting to look healthy again.

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:

Alex Smith, Chiefs QB vs TEN

It is unlikely that you are going to the waiver wire for a starter at running back or wide receiver during the playoffs, but it may be more viable to go to the wire for a quarterback. Year after year, week after week, Alex Smith seems like one of the more popular late round quarterback and streaming quarterbacks, yet he consistently goes unowned in over 50% of leagues.

I trust Alex Smith in my playoff matchups in one of his best matchups of the season against a Titans defense that has allowed the third most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Even if it is a “Hail Mary” play, there is value in safety at the quarterback position in the playoffs and Smith has scored 17 fantasy points in each of the last three games. Smith also gets a healthier Maclin in his second week back from injury along with a continually emerging Tyreek Hill who has given the Chiefs a big play threat they have lacked in recent years.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Lamar Jackson

Questionable to Return in Week 16 with Back Injury
Donovan Mitchell

Likely to Return on Monday Night
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Patrick Kane

to Miss Fifth Consecutive Game
Tyson Kozak

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Jakob Poeltl

Back in the Lineup on Sunday Night
Jack Roslovic

Ready to Return Sunday
Alexandre Sarr

Ruled Out Against San Antonio
NJ

Arseni Gritsyuk Back in Devils Lineup Sunday
Marvin Bagley III

Ruled Out Against San Antonio
Timo Meier

Available Sunday
Davion Mitchell

Available on Sunday Night
Jack Hughes

Returns From 18-Game Absence Sunday
Andrew Wiggins

Cleared to Play on Sunday Night
J.T. Miller

Out Week-to-Week
Quinshon Judkins

Done for the Season with Broken Leg
Gardner Minshew

Likely Tore His ACL on Sunday
Nick Chubb

Officially Active Against Raiders in Week 16
Gardner Minshew

Won't Return in Week 16
Woody Marks

Officially Inactive for Week 16
Quinshon Judkins

Carted Off in Week 16, Ruled Out with Apparent Leg Injury
Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins Hope to Trade Tua Tagovailoa in the Offseason
Woody Marks

Not Expected to Play in Week 16
Washington Commanders

Commanders to Retain Dan Quinn, Fire Joe Whitt?
New York Giants

Marcus Freeman is a Top Candidate in Giants' Head Coaching Search
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Expected to Return as Bengals' Head Coach in 2026
Las Vegas Raiders

Pete Carroll's Future with Las Vegas Raiders in Doubt
Mike Conley

Nears Return After Missing Four Games
Tee Higgins

Active for Week 16 Against Dolphins
Brandon Clarke

Exits After Brief Appearance Against Wizards
Derrick Jones Jr.

Nears Return From Sprained MCL
Herbert Jones

Head Injury Cuts Night Short
Ivica Zubac

Leaves Early After Suffering Left Ankle Injury
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Exits Early With Left Leg Contusion
Tage Thompson

Scores in Sixth Consecutive Game
Jacob Fowler

Posts First Career Shutout
Jonatan Berggren

Totals Three Points Saturday
Jake Evans

to Sit Out Sunday's Game
Zach Werenski

Injured in Saturday's Loss
Frank Nazar

Expected to Miss Four Weeks
Woody Marks

Plans to Play Against Raiders in Week 16
Tee Higgins

Likely to Play at Miami on Sunday
Drake London

Expected to Return in Week 16
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Play, Will Ease Back In
Romeo Doubs

Questionable to Return Against Bears in Week 16
Jordan Love

Ruled Out with Concussion, Replaced by Malik Willis
Jalen Smith

Expected to Remain in Lineup Sunday
Ayo Dosunmu

Probable for Meeting With Hawks
Jordan Love

Evaluated for Concussion, Questionable to Return
Coby White

Iffy for Sunday
Andrew Wiggins

May Remain Out Sunday
Davion Mitchell

Questionable for Sunday
Tyler Herro

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Sunday
Trae Young

Available for Sunday's Tilt
Doug McDermott

Active on Saturday
Rui Hachimura

Misses Battle of Los Angeles
Mike Matheson

Returns Against Former Team Saturday
Timothy Liljegren

Misses Saturday's Game
Mackie Samoskevich

Out on Saturday
Anthony Cirelli

Available Against Hurricanes
Brandon Hagel

Added to Injured Reserve
Nikita Kucherov

a Game-Time Call Saturday
J.T. Miller

Injured in Saturday's Win
Zach Bogosian

Unavailable Saturday
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic
CFB

Will Muschamp Becoming Next Texas Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Beau Pribula Set to Enter Transfer Portal
Bo Bichette

Willing to Make the Move to Second Base
CFB

Jeremiyah Love Officially Heading to NFL Draft
CFB

Jake Merklinger Leaving Tennessee for Transfer Portal
Mike Trout

Angels Open to Mike Trout Playing Center Field in 2026
CFB

Kansas State's Jayce Brown Intends to Transfer
CFB

Nation's Leading Passer Drew Mestemaker to Enter Transfer Portal
Justin Crawford

Phillies Planning to Start Justin Crawford in Center Field
CFB

Jayden Maiava Signs New Deal to Return to USC
CFB

Aidan Mizell Won't Return to Florida, Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

East Carolina Targeting Jordan Davis as Next Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Michigan QB Jadyn Davis Set to Enter Transfer Portal
CFB

Travis Williams Joining Texas A&M Defensive Staff

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