September 16, 2017

Craig Rondinone looks at some fantasy football lineup sleepers and busts for Week 2 of the NFL season. Under-the-radar booms and busts for fantasy football.

The NFL is back to normal now that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins will be playing games this week like the rest of the teams, so now there are more under-the-radar boom and bust candidates to choose from!

Some lineup decisions are obvious and don't require much analysis, but if you play in a deeper league with 14 or more teams and/or multiple flex spots, you may be faced with tougher choices for players on the proverbial bubble.

Here are some under-the-radar booms and busts for the second week of NFL action to help you set a winning lineup!

Week 2 Under-the-Radar Booms

Jacquizz Rodgers (RB, TB) vs. CHI

Rodgers is Tampa Bay’s top tailback with Doug Martin suspended and Charles Sims relegated to third-down duties. The all-purpose pipsqueak proved he can handle a heavy workload when he carried the ball 75 times for 324 yards and a score over a three-game stretch during the middle of last season while Martin was out. Rodgers will be facing an improved Chicago defense, but with Tampa Bay ready to play their hearts out for their devoted home fans that suffered through Hurricane Irma, and with Jameis Winston, Mike Evans and the passing attack poised to get inside the red zone countless times, Rodgers is an attractive boom candidate this weekend.

Joe Flacco (QB, BAL) vs. CLE

Nine completions for 121 passing yards. These are the type of numbers a wishbone quarterback in college or high school puts up. This is what Flacco blessed fantasy owners with last week, but the great news is that he faces a Cleveland defense that he has torched with regularity in recent years. The last four times he has played against the Browns, Flacco has thrown for eight touchdowns and amassed more than 295 passing yards in three of the contests. Bank on Baltimore establishing the pass after last week’s pass-attack debacle and Flacco throwing for around 300 yards and a couple touchdowns.   

Jamison Crowder (WR, WAS) vs. LAR

Crowder was an enormous fantasy bust in Week 1, giving his fantasy owners three paltry catches for 14 measly yards. He was banged-up because of a nagging hip injury, however, and should be in better health this week against a Rams secondary that was barely threatened in its opening contest. With the Rams zoned in on Terrelle Pryor and Jordan Reed, Crowder should find some openings in the defensive backfield and connect with QB Kirk Cousins on several passes from his favorite slot position. I think Crowder will have a big week, especially in PPR leagues.

Week 2 Under-the-Radar Busts

Jared Goff (QB, LAR) vs. WAS

The former first overall pick finally showed some serious flashes of brilliance last week when he ravaged an undertalented Indianapolis Colts defense for 306 yards and a touchdown toss. It was easily the best Goff has looked in his short career, but he still missed a couple open receivers and was facing arguably one of the worst defenses in the league. The immediate future is going to test if Goff has really become a viable fantasy option. Goff and his Rams host Washington, and Redskins’ cornerback Josh Norman might be able to cover Goff’s entire receiving corps by himself. Look for Goff to come down to Earth and have a subpar Sunday outing.

Kerwynn Williams (RB, ARI) at IND

Williams is slated to start this Sunday since fantasy franchise RB David Johnson is out for several weeks with a fractured wrist. The former seventh-round pick has probably been one of the most popular adds in fantasy leagues, but do not go assuming he will pull a Kareem Hunt and go bonkers. Arizona re-signed former starter Chris Johnson, and the Cards also have Andre Ellington who will eat up some of Williams’ touches, so the backfield is more crowded than a Tokyo subway. Williams could be a major bust for fantasy owners expecting him to be decent against the hapless and helpless Colts.

Jack Doyle (TE, IND) vs. ARI

Doyle is arguably Indy’s second-best option in its passing attack besides Pro Bowler T.Y. Hilton, and he was able to snag three catches for 41 yards during the Colts’ blowout loss against the Los Angeles Rams last week. But neither Scott Tolzien nor Jacoby Brissett are Andrew Luck, and Doyle is matched up against an Arizona defense that was No. 1 in defending tight ends in 2016 and kicked off 2017 by holding Detroit’s Eric Ebron to nine yards. Doyle will be hard-pressed to do much Sunday – or until Luck returns to run the offense.

More Week 2 Lineup Prep