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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

Cameron Johnson

to Miss Time With Bone Bruise in Right Knee
Jaxson Hayes

Considered Questionable for Christmas Matchup
Rui Hachimura

Likely to Return Thursday
Dorian Finney-Smith

Could Make Season Debut on Christmas Day
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Uncertain for Christmas Day
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Listed as Questionable for Christmas Game
Al Horford

on Track to Return Thursday
Jaden McDaniels

Iffy for Christmas Day
Brandon Williams

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
P.J. Washington

at Risk of Missing Second Straight Game
Klay Thompson

Likely to Play on Christmas Day
Max Christie

Probable for Christmas Day
Ajay Mitchell

Out on Christmas Day
Chet Holmgren

Available on Christmas Day
Lonzo Ball

Available Against Knicks
Evan Mobley

Listed as Questionable for Christmas Tilt
OG Anunoby

Returns to Action Thursday
Jalen Brunson

Available on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Davante Adams

Could Sit Out Final Two Regular-Season Games
Brock Bowers

Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Lingering Knee Injury
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Expected to Play on Christmas Day Against the Vikings
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Cam Whitmore

Out Indefinitely With Deep Vein Thrombosis
Corey Kispert

Lasts for 13 Minutes in Comeback Game
Jaxson Hayes

Makes Early Exit Versus Suns
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
Rome Odunze

Expected to Return This Season
Christian McCaffrey

Another Monster Game for Christian McCaffrey in Week 16
Brock Purdy

Throws for Five Touchdowns in Week 16
TreVeyon Henderson

in Concussion Protocol, Week 17 Status Unclear
George Kittle

Week 17 Availability in Question?
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Rashee Rice

Still in Concussion Protocol, Estimated as Non-Participant on Monday
J.J. McCarthy

Listed as DNP on Monday Ahead of Week 17
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
DK Metcalf

Suspended for Two Games Following Confrontation with Fan
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
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

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