Welcome back, RotoBallers. In this article, I will cover five of my favorite boom or bust plays for Week 12 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.

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• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Dynasty rankings

Quarterback

Philip Rivers, Chargers QB at HOU

Philip Rivers has been a staple in the top 12 quarterbacks throughout his career, but he has fallen just short of that so far this season, averaging 21.54 fantasy points, good for QB14. One thing that has attributed to the dip in scoring has been the success of Melvin Gordon. Last season with the struggles of Gordon, San Diego was forced to pass early and often, and Rivers led the NFL in pass attempts and completions. This season, he is on pace to throw 590 passes, 71 less than last season. Not only has Rivers passing volume decreased, but with Gordon fourth in the NFL with nine rushing touchdowns, Rivers hasn't been able to benefit from the offense being better as a whole and is on pace to throw three more touchdowns and four more interceptions.

This week, Rivers and the Chargers are on the road against the Houston Texans. The Texans defense has been one of the stingiest against quarterbacks, allowing the fifth fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season and have allowed only 16.4 points per game at home. Teams have been much more successful on the ground against the Texans defense as they have allowed the seventh most fantasy points to running backs so far this season, I expect this to be much more of a Melvin Gordon game than a Philip Rivers game.

Verdict: Bust

Running Back

Wendell Smallwood, Eagles RB vs GB

Wendell Smallwood was one of the most hyped rookie running backs early on this fantasy season. With his preseason injury and the success of Ryan Matthews early in the season, much of his hype subsided.

The prospects of Smallwood as a play this week is heavily reliant on whether or not Mathews and Darren Sproles play. What makes this more difficult is that the Eagles play on Monday night, so if you are deciding between Smallwood and a non-Packers/Eagles running back, you likely won't have the benefit of knowing whether Sproles or Mathews will be playing. It appears Sproles is the more likely of the two to play right now and that would be beneficial for a Eagles offense that will likely be pass heavy against a Packers secondary that has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers. If Sproles and Mathews are out, Smallwood will get the touches necessary to be a solid start in Week 12.

Verdict:

Sproles In: Bust

Sproles Out: Boom

Wide Receiver

Devante Parker, Dolphins WR vs SF

For the most part, Devante Parker's sophomore season has been a relative disappointment. Before Week 10, Parker had five consecutive games with less than 10 PPR points, but it appears that Parker is starting to put things together as he has 13 catches for 182 receiving yards and a touchdown in his last two games.

Parker is looking more and more like we thought he would in the preseason. His relevancy is growing just in time for a premium matchup at home against a 49ers defense that has allowed the 2nd most fantasy points to wide receivers so far this season. The emergence of Parker has also been bad news for Jarvis Landry. Landry has often been referred to as volume dependent, but he has always seemed to get the necessary volume to be a solid fantasy wide receiver. Although, if Parker emerges as a true WR1, that could mean Landry is better off on your fantasy bench.

Verdict: Boom

Tight End

Will Tye, Giants TE at CLE

Will Tye was one of my favorite MFL10 targets this offseason. Although, that hasn't worked out for the most part as Tye and Donnell have been splitting the tight end receiving work so far this season. Donnell has missed the last two games with an unspecified injury, and in those two games, Tye has seen 13 targets, catching seven passes for 65 receiving yards and one touchdown.

In Week 12, Tye faces a Browns defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends so far this season. The Giants are seven point favorites with a team total of 24. There should be plenty of fantasy points to go around for Giants pass catchers. In the event Donnell plays, Tye becomes less attractive, but he would still be a viable option for fantasy players facing injury and Bye Week issues at the tight end position.

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:

Seth Roberts, Raiders WR vs CAR

We are really digging deep for this weeks Hail Mary pick. The Raiders/Panthers matchup has the second highest over/under remaining in the week at 49.5 with the Raiders being three point home favorites. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree get the bulk of the receiving work for Oakland, but Seth Roberts has seen six or more targets in five of 10 games this season.

A lot of times, just finding an alternative option in a high scoring matchup can be a solid play and that is what I am projecting with Roberts. Oakland does rank ninth in the NFL in pass completions. They are facing a Panthers defense that has allowed the eighth most fantasy points to wide receivers.