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Five Boom or Bust Lineup Plays for Week 2

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 in the deep lineup leagues, when it appears you are a heavy underdog in your head-to-head matchup or even in Guaranteed Prize Pool Tournaments in DFS.

In this article, I will cover five of my favorite boom or bust plays for Week 2 of the fantasy football season.

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Quarterback

Jay Cutler, Bears QB vs PHI

Jay Cutler did not have a stellar start to the season in a Week 1 loss against the Houston Texans, finishing the week as the QB26 in standard scoring. However, Cutler has a much better matchup at home against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. The Eagles have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL and Cutler should be able to exploit that weakness with a healthy Alshon Jeffery matched up against rookie 7th round cornerback Jalen Mills.

So where is the bust potential? The bust potential is that Kevin White still hasn’t shown anything at the NFL level and the Bears lack a second receiving threat behind Alshon Jeffery, but I don’t project that to be a problem against the Eagles defense.

Verdict: Bust 

 

Running Back

Jonathan Stewart, Panthers RB vs SF

Jonathan Stewart averaged 4.3 yards per carry on 15 carries with zero receptions against the Denver Broncos Week 1. When a back isn’t heavily involved in the passing game, their production is heavily reliant on touchdowns, making them a boom or bust play.

In Week 2, Stewart and the Panthers are 14-point favorites, the biggest of the week, at home against the San Francisco 49ers. Stewart is one of the few backs left in today's NFL with little to no competition for carries on the running back depth chart. I expect the Panthers to get up early and Stewart will see 20 or more carries. With a projected team total of 31, it is likely that Stewart sees the end zone at least once.

Verdict: Boom

 

Wide Receiver

Dez Bryant, Cowboys WR vs WAS

What? A First Round Redraft pick on a Boom/Bust list in Week 2? And it is Dez Bryant? Last week against the Giants, Bryant showed that he will be more of a high volatility play than normal this season. The Cowboys will likely be one of the run heaviest teams in the NFL, particularly with Dak Prescott at quarterback.

In Prescott’s first career start, Bryant put up a disappointing one catch for eight receiving yards. However, Bryant was a foot short of adding a 30 yard touchdown to that stat line. If that happened, no one would really be panicking. In Week 1, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington showed that they won’t be using Josh Norman to shadow the opposing team's top wideout. I like Bryant a lot this week, and I think he will be the feature piece of the Cowboys offense this week - as he should be every week.

Verdict: Boom

 

Tight End

Gary Barnidge, Browns TE vs BAL

Gary Barnidge was one of the best waiver wire breakout players in 2015. After zero catches Week 1 against the Eagles, he is hitting some waiver wires again even though he can return the same value that he did in 2015. Barnidge showed the possibility of being a one-year wonder with his zero point performance, but I am not giving up on Barnidge just yet. He is my favorite boom/bust play at the tight end position Week 2.

With Robert Griffin III on IR, Barnidge will have Josh McCown at quarterback who was under center for his breakout season last year. With Josh Gordon still suspended, Barnidge has a good chance to lead the team in targets this week. If not, he will likely be second behind Corey Coleman. I think with McCown under center, he will lean towards the reliable Barnidge rather than the volatile Terrelle Pryor at wide receiver.

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 in most fantasy football leagues and could have a big week:

Breshad Perriman, Ravens WR at CLE

Breshad Perriman came into the NFL in 2015 as a boom/bust prospect with next level speed, and not-so-next level hands in college. His rookie season ended before it started due to injury, and his Week 1 debut occurred without much fanfare as he had a line of one catch for 35 receiving yards. The bust potential is obvious here, as there is no guarantee of target volume. But when looking for a hail-mary-type play, Perriman is the perfect example of a player who can pay off starting him with just one play. In addition, the Browns are likely the worst team in the NFL and Perriman’s skill set matches with quarterback Joe Flacco very well.

 




REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jrue Holiday

Wants to Stay in Portland
Ayo Dosunmu

Timberwolves Hope to Bring Back Ayo Dosunmu
Dylan Harper

Considered Questionable for Friday Night
De'Aaron Fox

Listed as Questionable for Game 3
Jalen Williams

Questionable for Game 3 Against Spurs
Alex Tuch

Hopes to Remain in Buffalo
Sidney Crosby

Wants to Play for "as Many Years as Possible"
Troy Terry

Could Miss Start of Next Season Due to Hip Surgery
Arber Xhekaj

Scratched for Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals
Jakub Dobes

Seeks More Success Against Hurricanes
Frederik Andersen

Looks to Stay Undefeated Thursday
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Not Taking Part in OTAs as Value Continues to Plummet
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Receiving Early Buzz at OTAs
Ashton Jeanty

Bigger Role Could be Coming for Ashton Jeanty in Year 2
Robby Snelling

Will Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Malik Nabers

' Goal is to be Ready for Start of the Season
De'Von Achane

Dealing With Injury at OTAs?
Dalton Kincaid

Says he Feels "Really Good"
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Door isn't Closed for Keenan Allen in Los Angeles
Ty Simpson

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Working Behind Other QBs
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is "Perfectly Healthy"
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Absent From OTA Practices This Week
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a Top Dynasty Target Even if He Doesn't Start Week 1?
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Dynasty Outlook Dependent on Landing Spot
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a Prime Dynasty Sell Candidate
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One of the Most Valuable Assets in Dynasty
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Tallies Team-High 25 Points in Game 2 Loss
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Records Eighth Postseason Double-Double
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Nolan Smith Arrested for Speeding and Reckless Driving
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Bounces Back With Double-Double
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads Thunder to Game 2 Victory WIth 30 Points
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Exits Game 2 Early Due to Right-Leg Injury
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Suffers Another Hamstring Injury
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Pots Another Goal in Game 1 Win Against Avalanche
Tomas Hertl

Extends Point Streak to Four Games
Pavel Dorofeyev

Scores in Fourth Straight Outing
Carter Hart

Records Third Consecutive Win
Timothy Liljegren

Capitals Re-Sign Timothy Liljegren to Two-Year Extension
Jackson Merrill

Tweaks his Back on Wednesday, Pulled Early
New York Giants

Giants Offense to be a Run-First Unit?
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Jerry Stackhouse Emerges as Bulls Head-Coach Candidate
Cooper Flagg

Kon Knueppel Headline All-Rookie Team
De'Aaron Fox

is Ruled Out for Game 2 on Wednesday
Jiri Kulich

Aims to Return Next Season
Jeremy Lauzon

Not Expected to Play Wednesday
Mark Stone

Likely to Remain Out Wednesday
Scott Wedgewood

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Sam Malinski

Set to Return Wednesday
Artturi Lehkonen

Expected to Play Wednesday Night
Cale Makar

Will Miss Game 1 Against Golden Knights
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Notre Dame-Stanford Rivalry Renewed Through 2028
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Ahmad Hardy Says He's "Back to the Road to Success"
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Texas Tech Graduate Judge Recuses Himself from Brendan Sorsby Case
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UCLA Tackle Jordan Davis Officially Eligible for 2026 Season
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Bret Bielema Supports Significant College Football Playoff Expansion
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Tom Kim

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Tony Finau

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Looks To Stay Hot at CJ Cup
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Evan Mobley

Bags Second Consecutive Double-Double
Donovan Mitchell

Produces Top Two-Way Performance in Game 1 Loss
OG Anunoby

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Mikal Bridges

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Karl-Anthony Towns

Extends Double-Double Streak to Four Games
Scottie Scheffler

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Jordan Spieth

Looking For Victory at TPC Craig Ranch
PGA

Matti Schmid Looks to Keep Recent Momentum Going at TPC Craig Ranch
Brooks Koepka

a High-Upside Play at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Yandy Díaz

Yandy Diaz Exits Early on Tuesday After Being Hit By Pitch
Chris Kirk

Continues Search For Putting Form at TPC Craig Ranch
Rasmus Hojgaard

Looking to Shake Off Poor Major Showing at TPC Craig Ranch
Joel Dahmen

is of No DFS Consideration This Week in Dallas
Pierceson Coody

is Not The Fun DFS Play He Used to Be
Gerrit Cole

to Make Season Debut on Friday Against Rays
Drake Baldwin

Braves Place Drake Baldwin on Injured List With Oblique Strain
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Ezavier Crowell has Immediate Opportunity at Alabama
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Mark Bowman a Day 1 Impact Player for USC?
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Bill Belichick Says Relationship with First North Carolina Team "Wasn't Great"
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Kemario Taylor a Breakout Candidate at Quarterback
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Trinidad Chambliss the Undisputed Top SEC Quarterback Entering 2026?
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Rocco Becht The "Unifier" of Penn State's Roster
Mattias Samuelsson

Picks Up an Assist in Season-Ending Loss
Jackson Holliday

Orioles Reinstate Jackson Holliday From Injured List on Monday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

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Jose Altuve

Astros Put Jose Altuve on Injured List With Oblique Strain
Corey Seager

Going on Injured List With Back Injury
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Reinstated and Starting on Monday Against Twins
Melquizael Costa

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Arnold Allen

Bounces Back
Daniel Santos

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
MMA

Dohoo Choi Wins His Third Consecutive Fight
Malcolm Wellmaker

Suffers His Second Loss In A Row
Juan Diaz

Scores Second-Round Submission
Christian Edwards

Defeated At UFC Vegas 117
CFB

Transfer Running Back Arnold Barnes Visiting Iowa State on Monday
Modestas Bukauskas

Gets Split-Decision Win
Jhostynxon Garcia

Expected to Join the Pirates on Tuesday
Colt Emerson

Mariners Promoting Top Prospect Colt Emerson to Major Leagues
Munetaka Murakami

Fantastic First Season Continues With Two More Homers
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Dazzles With 13-Strikeout Complete Game on Saturday
Blake Snell

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Clay Holmes

Could Miss Around Three Months
Jose Altuve

Exits After Swing
Corey Seager

Absent With Back Spasms on Saturday
Trevor Story

Hits the Injured List With Groin Injury
Blake Snell

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Kyle Schwarber

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RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF