🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE NEW
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

Top 5 Boom or Bust Plays Week 5

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 5 of the fantasy football season.

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out FantasyAces DFS contests. New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces and make a $20 deposit will receive RotoBaller's full season NFL Premium Pass for free (including Premium DFS), normally a $59.99 value. Expert DFS research, sample lineups, matchup ratings and lots more!

Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge is back with a massive $500,000 grand prize and $1.35 million total prize pool, paying down to 800th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 10 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The 7,250 entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 10th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $500,000! Sign Up Now!

 

Quarterback

Carson Wentz, Eagles QB @ DET

Carson Wentz has been one of the most impressive rookie quarterbacks in recent memory so far this season with 769 passing yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions in the first three games, good for QB16 in points per game. With a bye week to prepare, Wentz and the undefeated Eagles will go on the road to face a Lions defense that has been matchup dependent to start the season, allowing 35 and 34 points to the Colts and Packers respectively, while only allowing 16 and 17 points to the Titans and Bears.

While some may not consider Wentz a bust possibility because he has yet to throw an interception in the NFL, he is still a rookie going on the road with the pressure of being on an undefeated team early in the season. However, Wentz is a road favorite at -3.5 with a team total of 24.5, which is why I think he is a boom play this week.

Verdict: Boom

 

Running Back

Kenneth Dixon, Ravens RB vs WAS

Last week, I cautioned against starting Jordan Howard because he was an unproven rookie heading into his first career start, that didn't work out great for me as Howard finished as RB16 with 16 PPR points, continuing to prove how it is all about touches at the running back position. This week, I am returning to the “fade rookie running back” well with Kenneth Dixon.

Dixon is expected to make his NFL debut this week against Washington, but that doesn't mean he is an instant insert into your fantasy lineups. Unlike Howard last week, Dixon doesn't have as clear of a role to RB1 touches with Terrance West and Javorius Allen, who was active for the first time this season in Week 4. Dixon is likely the superior talent in the bunch, but I think we need to see his usage before inserting him into our lineups.

Verdict: Bust

 

Wide Receiver

Travis Benjamin, Chargers WR @ Oakland

Between the Keenan Allen season ending injury and Benjamin's 29 PPR point performance in Week 2, Benjamin's fantasy value was skyrocketing with little sign of stopping. However, the following two weeks have not been as fruitful for him as he only put up 21 points in those two games combined.

Benjamin's decreased performance on the stat sheet isn't even the main worry for his fantasy value this week. Over the course of the season, the biggest issue with Benjamin has actually been getting on the field. Despite the Allen injury, Benjamin has still been third on the team in wide receiver snaps the last two weeks. So while the juicy matchup against Oakland may entice you to start Benjamin this week, he may not be on the field enough for it to matter. I see Tyrell Williams as the better and more intriguing play this week.

Verdict: Bust

 

Tight End

Jacob Tamme, Falcons TE vs DEN

This week Jacob Tamme is the classic example of situation versus matchup. Tamme is in a pass heavy Atlanta offense with a hobbled Mohamed Sanu and not much behind Julio Jones, but the matchup against the Broncos is far from ideal. However, Tamme is averaging 5.5 targets per game in the first four games and has reached the end zone in two of those contests.

Falcons/Broncos projects to be one of the higher scoring matchups of the week with an over/under of 47. This means that Tamme will likely get some chances at red zone targets. A touchdown is really all you need for a tight end waiver target to be a boom.

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:

Wendell Smallwood, Eagles RB @ DET

Wendell Smallwood was one of the most hyped rookies early on in training camp, although much of that hype went by the wayside when Smallwood sustained a preseason injury. Smallwood only got three carries in the first two weeks of the season, but did get his opportunity in a blowout against the Steelers in Week 3 and took advantage of that opportunity with 17 carries for 79 yards and one touchdown.

Smallwood is a good Hail Mary play this week because we will find out whether or not his solid play in Week 3 will earn him any snaps over Ryan Mathews. Yes, there is a chance that his Week 3 performance was solely a result of a blowout, but if he does get the touches in Week 5, he could boom once again.

 




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

Jose Alvarado

to Miss Two More Weeks
Brandon Williams

Sits Out Second Consecutive Game
Moussa Cisse

Cleared to Play Monday
Daniel Gafford

Won't Play Against Nets
P.J. Washington

to Miss One More Week
Baylor Scheierman

Makes First Start of Season
Brandon Ingram

Available Monday
Paul George

Good to Go Monday
Joel Embiid

Active on Monday
Sam Hauser

Cleared for Monday
Jaylen Brown

Won't Play Monday
Egor Demin

Inactive Monday
Moussa Cisse

Upgraded to Probable on Monday
Ziaire Williams

Misses Second Straight Game
Michael Porter Jr.

Returns to Nets Lineup
Cam Thomas

Won't Play Monday
Anthony Edwards

Sidelined For Tuesday
RJ Barrett

Remains Out Monday
Ja'Kobe Walter

Unavailable Monday
Kyle Tucker

Mets Meet With Kyle Tucker
Andrew Nembhard

Will Play Monday
Dalton Kincaid

"Should be Fine" for Divisional Round
Dean Wade

Sidelined on Monday
Conor Garland

Returns From Five-Game Absence
Kiefer Sherwood

Out Monday, Could Miss Several Weeks
Marco Rossi

to Miss 2-3 More Weeks
Louis Crevier

Back for Blackhawks Monday
Jordan Eberle

Available Against Rangers
Joel Eriksson Ek

Out Monday
Brad Marchand

Misses Third Straight Game
Jamie Benn

Returns to Action Monday
Brooks Koepka

Officially Returning To PGA Tour
Tucker Kraft

Hopes to be Ready for Week 1 of Next Season
CFB

Georgia Lands Kentucky Transfer Dante Dowdell
Matthew Stafford

has "Little Sprain," Should be "Good to Go"
CFB

Sam Leavitt Expected to Sign with LSU
Green Bay Packers

Packers Expected to Work Out New Deal With Matt LaFleur in the "Coming Days"
CFB

Dylan Raiola Commits to Oregon
CFB

Isaiah Horton Landing with Texas A&M
Jet Greaves

Beats Mammoth With 25 Saves
Roman Josi

Ends Dry Spell With Three-Point Effort
Joonas Korpisalo

Shuts Door on Penguins
Jack Hughes

Has Two Helpers in Losing Effort
Tomas Hertl

Matches Vegas Record With Five Points
Justin Sourdif

Exits With Injury Versus Predators
Denton Mateychuk

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Sunday
George Kittle

Suffers Torn Achilles on Sunday
Omarion Hampton

Active for Wild-Card Round Against Patriots
George Kittle

Ruled Out After Non-Contact Achilles Injury
Cole Perfetti

Contributes Two Assists in Sunday's Win
Carl Grundstrom

Misses Sunday's Practice
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Request Interview With Ejiro Evero
Travis Konecny

Hurt at Sunday's Practice
Thatcher Demko

Lands on Injured Reserve
Colin Miller

Injured Versus Devils
Bryan Rust

Remains Out Sunday
Los Angeles Rams

Mike LaFleur to Interview With Raiders and Cardinals
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Re-Signing Aaron Rodgers?
Matthew Stafford

X-Rays Come Back Negative
MacKenzie Gore

Yankees Pursuing Trade for MacKenzie Gore
Alex Bregman

Cubs Sign Alex Bregman to Five-Year, $175 Millon Contract
Freddie Freeman

Withdraws from World Baseball Classic
Max Kepler

Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
CFB

Cam Coleman Visiting Alabama on Friday
Omarion Hampton

Expects to Play Sunday Night
CFB

Eric Singleton Jr. Enters Transfer Portal, Trending to Land at Florida
CFB

NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss a Sixth Year of Eligibility
Omarion Hampton

Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend
Kyle Tucker

Mets Remain in Mix for Kyle Tucker
Ketel Marte

Will Remain With Diamondbacks
Rashee Rice

to be Reviewed Under League's Conduct Policy
Daniel Jones

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones
Davante Adams

Off the Injury Report, Will Play Against Carolina
Bo Bichette

Phillies to Meet With Bo Bichette
Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Fire Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Sam LaPorta

Plans to be Back for Training Camp
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
Rome Odunze

Plans to Play on Saturday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Finalizing Deal to Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
New York Giants

Giants "All-In" on Hiring John Harbaugh
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP