TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

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.

Editor's Note: Purchase a full season NFL Premium Pass (including DFS Premium), and also get MLB Premium + DFS for free through the playoffs. Premium DFS research, lineup picks, expert lineups, tools and more. You can see screenshots of our NFL Premium and MLB Premium and DFS tools. What are you waiting for?

Featured Promo: Looking for some more fantasy football action? Adopt a dynasty orphan team over at FFPC. Sign up today and get $25 off any FFPC league. Sign Up Now!

 

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.

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Si Woo Kim

Looking to Return to Top Form at Bay Hill
Ben Griffin

Looking to Return to Form at Arnold Palmer Invitational
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks to Build on Cognizant Classic Win at Arnold Palmer
Sam Burns

Searching for Consistency at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Daniel Berger

Offers Sneaky Upside at Bay Hill
Jack Hughes

Contributes With Two Assists
Dougie Hamilton

Picks Up Two Points in Win
Jacob Markstrom

Cruises to Win
Dylan Guenther

Picks Up Two Points on Tuesday Night
Jeremy Swayman

Defeats the Penguins
Zion Williamson

Ready to Take on Lakers
VJ Edgecombe

Sustains Back Injury Tuesday
Ivica Zubac

Remains Absent Wednesday
Neemias Queta

Returning to Action Wednesday
Robert Williams III

Available Wednesday Night
Kris Murray

Iffy for Wednesday
John Collins

to Miss Second Consecutive Game
Obi Toppin

Probable for Wednesday's Action
Aaron Nesmith

Tagged as Questionable for Wednesday
Andrew Nembhard

Could Miss Another Contest Wednesday
Pascal Siakam

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
Santi Aldama

Now Ruled Out Tuesday
Justin Thomas

Making Season Debut at API Following Lower-Back Surgery
Santi Aldama

Available Versus Timberwolves
NASCAR

Collin Morikawa Hopes To Better Last Year's Runner-Up Finish at API
Emmet Sheehan

Behind in Camp Due to Illness
Cedric Coward

Returns to Grizzlies Lineup
Ty Jerome

Back in Action Tuesday
Brady Singer

Lit Up in Cactus League Debut
Anthony Edwards

Will Suit Up Tuesday
Aaron Wiggins

Starting Tuesday
Tommy Fleetwood

Isn't As Confident of a Start at Bay Hill as Previous Weeks
Christian Yelich

to Make Spring Debut on Wednesday
Khaman Maluach

is Available on Tuesday
Harrison Barnes

Out Against 76ers
Andrew Wiggins

Good to Go Against Nets
Anthony Edwards

is Downgraded to Questionable
Quinn Priester

Might Not be Ready for Opening Day
Josh Hader

Could Throw a Bullpen Next Week
Blake Lizotte

Unavailable Against Bruins
Marcus Foligno

Considered Week-to-Week
Jonas Brodin

Rejoins Wild Lineup
John Carlson

Misses Fourth Consecutive Game
Mikael Granlund

Troy Terry, Mikael Granlund Remain Out Tuesday
J.T. Miller

Lands on Injured Reserve
Mark Stone

Ruled Out Tuesday
Isaac Paredes

Starting at First Base on Tuesday
Kyler Murray

Will be Released
Trey Hendrickson

Bengals Not Using the Franchise Tag on Trey Hendrickson
Daniel Jones

Colts Place Transition Tag on Daniel Jones
Brendan Rodgers

to Seek Second Opinion on Shoulder
Adam Scott

Might Endure Tough Times at Bay Hill
Merrill Kelly

Throwing from 60 Feet
Aldrich Potgieter

Extremely Risky When it Comes to Bay Hill
Bobby Miller

Throws Off Mound Tuesday
Hunter Gaddis

Dealing With Forearm Tightness
PGA

Sungjae Im to Make Season Debut at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Jordan Spieth

an All-or-Nothing Option at Bay Hill
Harry Hall

Trying to Rebound After the Genesis Invitational
Jurickson Profar

MLBPA to Challenge Jurickson Profar's 162-Game Ban
Royce Lewis

Back in Grapefruit League Lineup on Tuesday
Matt McLain

Emerging as Late-Round Sleeper?
Spencer Jones

Changes his Swing to Resemble Dodgers Superstar
Nolan McLean

"Day-to-Day" With Illness
Ryan Gerard

Needs Better Start at Bay Hill
Edgar Quero

Showing Improvement This Spring
Jurickson Profar

Facing 162-Game Ban After Second PED Violation
Kenneth Walker III

Won't Get the Franchise Tag
Patrick Cantlay

Still Plagued by Bad Putting Ahead of Arnold Palmer Invititational
Daniel Jones

Colts Expected to Use Transition Tag on Daniel Jones
Thomas White

Marlins Reassign Thomas White to Minor-League Camp
Breece Hall

Jets Placing Franchise Tag on Breece Hall
Max Scherzer

Completely Past his Thumb Issues
CFB

Mark Stoops Joining Texas Coaching Staff
Francisco Lindor

Plays Catch, Hopes to Take BP on Wednesday
Mike Burrows

Looking Strong in Early Spring Action
Nick Seeler

Suffers Lower-Body Injury Versus Maple Leafs
Pierre-Olivier Joseph

Injured in Monday's Loss
Joel Armia

Moved to Injured Reserve
Artturi Lehkonen

Set to Miss Time After Getting Hurt Monday
Shea Theodore

Iffy for Tuesday Due to Illness
Mitchell Marner

Dealing With Illness
Mark Stone

Considered Day-to-Day
Jason Day

Attempts to Bounce Back from The Genesis Invitational
Jacob Bridgeman

Rolling into Arnold Palmer Invitational
Russell Henley

Looks to Defend Title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Alex DeBrincat

Collects Two More Points
Kirill Marchenko

Earns Three Points on Monday
Nicolai Hojgaard

Continues to Search for First PGA Tour Victory at API
Shane Lowry

Trying to Shake Off Last Week's Heartbreak at the API
Matt Fitzpatrick

Continues Scorching Start to 2026 Season
Keegan Bradley

Searching for Better Results Heading to Bay Hill
Khalil Mack

Will Play in 2026
MMA

Lone'er Kavanagh Gets Back In The Win Column
Brandon Moreno

Gets Outclassed
Marlon Vera

Loses Fourth Fight In A Row
Daniel Jones

Colts Have "50/50" Chance to Get a Deal Done With Daniel Jones
David Martinez

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Daniel Zellhuber

Loses Third Consecutive Fight
King Green

Gets Second-Round TKO Win
Felipe Bunes

Drops Decision At UFC Mexico City
Édgar Cháirez

Edgar Chairez Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Ryan Blaney

Falls to Eighth Despite Running Most of the Race in the Top Five At COTA
Ty Gibbs

Wins A Stage and Finishes Fourth At COTA
Christopher Bell

Earns First Top-Five Finish of the 2026 Season at COTA
Kyler Murray

"Repeatedly" Linked to Jets
Shane Van Gisbergen

Falls Short of Victory At COTA
Tyler Reddick

Wins At COTA and Makes NASCAR History
David Montgomery

Texans Acquire David Montgomery From Lions
Kyler Murray

Likely to be Released
Travis Etienne Jr.

Not Expected to be Franchise-Tagged
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Planning to Release Aaron Jones Sr.?
Tyler Reddick

Could Make History at COTA
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Still the Favorite at COTA
Christopher Bell

Will Be Tough to Beat at COTA
AJ Allmendinger

Could Contend at COTA
Connor Zilisch

Carries Plenty of Upside for DFS at COTA
Chase Elliott

May be A Strong Contender Again at COTA
Chris Buescher

Is Nothing But Consistent at Road Courses
Ross Chastain

May Be An Underrated Competitor for the Win at COTA
William Byron

Is William Byron a Viable DFS Option for COTA?
Carson Hocevar

Needs Clean Race at COTA
Kyle Larson

Could be A Decent DFS Option for COTA Lineups
Ryan Blaney

Could Ryan Blaney be A Sleeper DFS Option for All Formats for COTA?
Chase Briscoe

Should DFS Players Roster Chase Briscoe at COTA?
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Is A Favorable Value Option for COTA DFS Lineups
Ty Gibbs

Could Ty Gibbs Be A Rosterable DFS Play for COTA?
A.J. Brown

Patriots "Have Explored Trade Talks" Involving A.J. Brown
Lone'er Kavanagh

Set For UFC Mexico City Main Event
Brandon Moreno

Looks To Bounce Back
David Martinez

Set For UFC Mexico City Co-Main Event
Marlon Vera

In Dire Need Of Victory
King Green

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Daniel Zellhuber

Aims To Snap Two-Fight Skid
Felipe Bunes

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Édgar Cháirez

Edgar Chairez A Favorite At UFC Mexico City
George Pickens

Cowboys Not Interested in Trading George Pickens
Ashton Jeanty

Not in Line for Workhorse Role in 2026?
Anthony Richardson Sr.

Colts Give Anthony Richardson Sr. Permission to Seek a Trade
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF